Tradição do Rotary International Intercambio dos Jovens

So I'm just getting back into the swing of this whole "blogging" thing again. So today I think I'll just write up a short little post before I go to the gym (which is amazing, and I HAVE to write a blog post about, maybe even later tonight...?), play some volleyball, and practice guitar. The typical Wednesday night. Anyway, I thought I would write about a very important RYE (Rotary Youth Exchange) tradition, and that is.....THE BLAZER! I'm not sure why we do it, other than the fact that it makes us easily spot-able in airports, but if you are a RYE student, it is an absolute requirement. Your blazer, which are navy blue from the U.S. and most other countries, but red from Canada, green from Australia and South Africa, and bright royal blue from France, is like a scrapbook of your exchange. Every exchange student has pins to represent their club, country, city, or flag. They are used to trade with other students, thus resulting in the acquirement of tons upon tons of pins from every corner of the world. Some RYE's make their own pins, other's buy them, and for some their clubs provide them. Mine are from my club, featuring pictures of Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway, and also handmade (shined pennies hot glued to pin backings). But pins aren't the only things you are allowed to put on your jacket. You can honestly put whatever you want on it. I've seen wigs, transit cards, plane tickets, bracelets, flags, candy wrappers and Happy Meal toys. I myself happen to have ceramic dutch shoes and a mini sombrero pinned on. The only idea is to FILL UP YOUR JACKET! Mine right now is completely barren. I seriously need to pin some more things on. Thank god we are expected to wear them in the airports, because by the end of your exchange (if you've done it right!) they should take up a pretty big percentage of your baggage weight limit.