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After visiting with the Lions Club (during Lake Texoma Week) I found out about who Julien C Hyer was for the first time (which is so unlike me, I usually Google everything). He was a judge in the Nuremberg trails - who saw the need to promote international understanding after WWII. I remember my trip to Poland for a Holocaust memorial trip. When I was at Auschwitz my guide told us that we were standing in the lowest place humanity has ever reached - created by hate and fear. For me to think that Mr Hyer saw that too and wanted this Lions Camp as well as other were created to bring humanity to a new height after that terrible war - a high created by mutual respect and love... I don't know if we will solve world peace here this week, but I do know that once you know something, you no longer are afraid of it or hate it. As long as we have that love & knowledge something like Auschwitz will never be repeated again. I am so really happy that I get to experience that low (Auschwitz) and now have this high (JCH Camp) in the same year is so special to me.
Thank you Lions for all you did to make this entire experience possible for me and all the other exchange students.
Lior Peer - Israel
Even though everyone has posted a lot of pictures and said a lot of wise words, I think I should say something as well. First of all, thank you, all the campers, Counselors Karen, Teri and Glenn, all the host families - especially the lovely Dahlkes, the Mcleans, and everyone else who worked for this camp or gave their money and/or time. Five weeks ago I left Finland to come to the US for the very first time, and on the last night I came back as a wiser, kinder, more patient and tolerant person. All of us, the JCH campers, have learned a lot and experienced so many amazing things. This trip was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I got so many new friends and met some amazing people. It doesn't matter if you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Atheist, or if you are going to vote for Trump or couldn't care less about politics, if you're from Taiwan or Brazil or Finland; there are still so many more things that we have in common than what separates us. The world would be so much better place, if everyone had at least one International friend to give them a new perspective. I will miss all of you and if any of you ever come to Finland, I will help you with anything I can.
Sanni Tiusane - Finland
Even a few years later I still look back at my time at the JCH Camp as an unforgettable experience. I met people from all different parts of the world, who each had their own stories, habits and talents. It was an amazing opportunity getting to know everyone. Also learning about the real Texan culture was an absolute blast and a time that I will never forget. I am extremely thankful for the hospitality that was shown to me by my Host parents, the Camp Counselors as well as everyone else that was involved in any way.
I would highly encourage everyone to participate in the JCH Camp and have the experience add to the development of their own personality.
Florine Lim - Netherlands
I absolutely loved pretty much everything about the whole experience that the Julien C Hyer Lions Youth Camp has offered us. The five weeks I spent in Texas were some of the best of my entire life up to now. It was amazing getting to know all the campers from everywhere, learning about their cultures and becoming friends with them. It was also amazing to be with everyone everyone who Hosted me and let me into their homes - like I was part of their family. Also the many others that were there to just help us out. Everyone with the Lions treated us as real family, took great care of us and made this experience unforgettable. I'm sure I will remember this short time I spent as a Julien C Hyer Camper forever.
I just Loved being part of this Camp and am really grateful I had the opportunity to do so.
Ana Paula De Marco - Brazil
I’m just back to home where I live, but over the past two years I’ve now got other homes that are thousands kms apart... I’ve always been used to answer “Italy” when someone ask me where I am from, but now I should add Mexico and Texas. All because thanks to the #lionsexachanges in those two awesome lands, I was able to meet brilliant people, who welcomed me as If I’ve always been one of them and that’s what home means.... Despite the missing flight this last month was unbelievably amazing because it was full of great experiences that I’ll never forget and I hadn’t ever done some of them before, but that all wouldn’t have been possible, if magical people didn’t spend their time or support for it and so I won’t ever stop being grateful for what my kind and friendly host family (Glenn and Michelle) did, without forgetting Counselors Jamie, Shannon, Teri, Karen, and Forrest.
Dario Nesi - Italy
36 different people from 21 different countries with 36 different beautiful personalities... We laughed, cried, cry laughed all together. We would not be able to experience all these stuff without Karen and Glenn's guide or any of the wonderful Host Families. And you would not even imagine how honoring it was to be chosen as the best female camper too. I became best friends and companion with people who are not in my age or even religion or from my country! I laughed and communicated with people whose first language was not same as mine, and we managed to understand and guide each other in ways I would not have dreamed possible. We shared ONE love and heart. I met people with different cultures, religions and thoughts that I now call MY Friends. This was how I have been able to have seen the whole wide world. This is how I grew. Thank you so much for letting me be who I am. I love all "y'all. "
İremnaz Ergüden - Turkey
I remember keeping a young man from Norway, probably 10 years ago. We continued to be friends and I was known as his "American mother". He came back the September after camp with another Norwegian and he lived with me for three months, bought a van here from a Lion and traveled all over the US and then Hawaii for a year. Within a few years later my family traveled to Norway and we stayed at his house and met his sister. He and the other Norwegian young man took us on our own tour of their area of Norway. These relationships last forever. Every year has been someone different and someone who remains in my memories. The Julien C. Hyer Camp is a wonderful endeavor for Lions Clubs, and we should all participate and get to know that all the peoples of the world have the same behaviors, the same struggles and the same passions.
PDG Terry Hawkins - Lubbock Host Family
Trying to describe how being at the JCH Camp was is hard - but in a good way. It’s one of those things that just changes your life in a way you never knew it could. I went to this camp as a Texas camper, not really knowing what to expect. I have made lifelong friends that I still talk to regularly. I love being able to be a apart of their lives, even many years after the camp and from so many miles away. They all have a special place in my heart! I can’t say what an impact the campers and all the Host families have had on my life. I still think about all those nights we stayed up having dance parties, and we just loving every second of life. I think about every trip we went on all over the state. It seems like most every night we stayed up either just talking about life or we were being able to cry and vent to each other, knowing we were in a safe space. If you ever have a chance to do this Camp, I highly encourage you to so! I promise you will make lifelong friends, who will support you and love you, even years later.
**Found my Facebook post from 2016: July has been the best month out of my whole summer. I came to a camp called Julian C Hyer Youth Exchange, when I first heard about this I thought well this should be fun. I was so excited to come and meet foreign exchange students and to get to hang out with them for a whole month. I first met everyone at a pool party Diana and David were so gracious to hold at their house. Some people I became friends with as soon as I met them others I didn't talk to as much. Week one was mainly for us getting to know our host families and the people we were staying with, I was kinda shy and not outgoing this week cause I was still figuring everything out but once Week 2 came around the week we had to get to know the campers while we were at the camp was the week that there was no stopping us. We danced every night and everyday we either played soccer, volleyball, swam, or all of the above. I would've never thought that I could ever get this close to 37 people in only a week. Week 3 we went to Wimberley/ Austin we got to sit on a bus together for hours on end and we went to many fun places there. We ran around the Riverwalk like we owned that place. It was fun showing them my favorite vacation spot. Week 4 we went to Lubbock. Lubbock was the most beautiful place. We did so much in that week so don't listen to to people when they tell you Lubbock has nothing cause it has amazing people and amazing things. Week 5 is our last week together. This week we all try to do as much stuff together as possible and I think we accomplished that. I can honestly say that during this trip I have made lifelong friends (That I will go visit next summer) You guys have been amazing and I'm so happy that I have gotten to meet y'all and that y'all were all so amazing. I love y'all and I will never forget any of you no matter where I go in life. So goodbye for now we will meet again.
Destiney Brown - Texas
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