Look
Out! The 4-H Spirit is Contagious!
The story of one American teen's visit
to Poland as a 4-H peer trainer.
When you really believe in what you're doing it shows. In fact, in 4-H alumnus Catalina Burillo, it not only shows, it bubbles over. And if you're anywhere close by, look out—Catalina's enthusiasm is contagious. So contagious in fact, that it spread all the way to Poland!
As a junior majoring in Spanish at Michigan State University, Hart, Michigan resident Catalina came in contact with 20 Polish 4-H'ers who came to Michigan for the 1995 Michigan/Poland 4-H Exchange Program.
"I got a call from Andrea Ay, a retired Extension agent, who asked me to a daylong 4-H Peer Plus program for the group from Poland," Catalina relates. "I never imagined that I would find myself not only doing the program when they were here but traveling to Poland to do leadership and diversity training for them there!"
The opportunity to do the training in Poland came at the invitation of Polish 4-H Foundation Director Artur Karp. Catalina was in Poland from February 24 to March 10, 1996, where she traveled to Bialka Tatrzanska in southeastern Poland's Carpathian Mountain region to be part of a three-day retreat involving the 20 teens who had been in Michigan. These teens now make up the All-Poland Junior 4-H Leaders Exchange Club. They were joined by another 15 teens selected to participate with the group. Together, they represented 36 Polish provinces where 4-H is now active.
"The Polish kids have so much energy. They wanted everything I had to teach and were still going strong at ten o'clock at night!" Catalina laughs. "The Polish 4-H'ers aren't dealing with the kinds of racial issues we have, but there are stereotypes that are pretty much the same no matter where you go. We talked about how to work together and express your views while still being polite. The kids are warm and friendly. I feel close to each and every one of them.
"4-H has done so much for me," Catalina says. "I feel part of what's happening in Poland and I want to help make it grow."