In his introduction of today's speaker, Rotarian Dan Mackey urged us to check last week's Rotarian on-line for information about Yi-Shin Shen, a Rotary Youth Exchange high school student from Taiwan who has been involved with just about everything and has lived with four host families.
 
Yi-Shin began by thanking the host families, then described some of the important differences she had experienced such her own bedroom, a piano, and a favorite coffee shop. Her favorite colors are black and white, and she believes that Fort Collins is the best town in the district.

She then showed pictures of other exchange students and noted that the United States has financially supported Taiwan which now has its first female president. It's important, she said, "To show that I care,"  then she sang a song from a musical that she had performed in. She then added that she loved New York and that her favorite novel was The Great Gatsby. 

In general, Yi-Shin concluded, her exchange experience had defined what life can be. Feeling humble, she's reading a lot and looking forward to the future. Stating that she wants to come back here for college, she read a poem that was displayed on the screen and said "Thank you so much" to Rotary. Then came the great surprise. With an orchestral backup, she sang an extended operatic aria. Her soprano voice was complex and lovely, and quite an indication of how talented an exchange student could really be.