The month of June is a big one for Julius Cincikas. He will end his studies at Prior Lake High School and then travel to the west coast with a group of teenagers from throughout the world. On July 1, he will return to Minnesota, celebrate his 17th birthday, and a few days later, board a plane headed to Lithuania, where he will be reunited with his family after spending nearly a year abroad.

Cincikas is one of approximately 8,000 young people participating in this year’s Rotary International Youth Exchange program. The Prior Lake Rotary Club has been a long-time supporter of the program that was initiated 50 years ago, with the intent of providing young people the opportunity to learn more about other cultures, develop leadership skills and build lasting friendships with others throughout the world.

Cincikas had a pretty good idea of what the experience would bring when applying for the program. His brother was an exchange student last year and ended up staying with families in the Minneapolis area. His family has also made several trips to the United States.

He has brothers — two older and one younger. His mother works in sales and real estate, while his father owns a trucking company. He messages them daily and usually calls once a month.

After growing up in Vilnius, the largest city in Lithuania with a population of 700,000, he said living in Prior Lake did come with just a few surprises.

“You need a car to go anywhere here,” he said, adding that in Lithuania, drivers must be at least 18 years old. “Everything is so far away.”

Cincikas said the school systems operate very differently from his homeland. There are many more smaller schools that usually have enrollments around 600 students, in contrast to Prior Lake High School which has close to 3,000 students enrolled at the high school level. Lithuanian schools operate on half-year class schedules. He said the use of technology in classes here is much greater, “and the teachers are much nicer.”

Back home, all sports are run through local clubs rather than through the school system. There, he played soccer, and he continued to do so for the Lakers, along with joining the wrestling team.

Since arriving in August, he has lived with several Prior Lake families, with Don and Sheri Johnston serving as his final hosts. He said each family has provided new learning experiences for him, including going fishing several times. He’s definitely enjoyed a variety of different foods and has developed an affinity for fast foods.

Once he returns home, Cincikas will have two more years of high school before he officially graduates. In the meantime, he has tried to keep up with his class by doing online studies.

It’s been a good year, he said, and he has appreciated how friendly and welcoming everyone has been to him.

“Everyone here is so open,” he said. “And they like to talk a lot.”