Thank Yous & Reminders

THANK YOU!

Special THANKS to those below, and to EVERYONE who helped make this a successful and life-learning Academic Exchange between Colegios Padre Hurtado y Juanita de los Andes of Santiago de Chile; Catherine McAuley High School of Portland, Maine; and Cheverus High School of Portland, Maine. As the relationships between all these schools grow and improve, so does the improvement of relationships between countries in our ever-shrinking world today.

Lucia Pizarro - Program Developer & Coordinator and English Teacher at CPH-CJA HS

Terrilynn Dubreuil - Program Coordinator and Spanish Teacher at Catherine McAuley HS

Terry Finnerty - Program Coordinator and Spanish Teacher at Cheverus HS

Cecilia Gambino - Program Coordinator and English Teacher at CPH-CJA HS

Jane Glass - Chile List Serve (mailing) Coordinator and Librarian at Cheverus HS

Deb Payton - Program Coordinator and Cheverus parent (she organized so many aspects, but especially the Sugarloaf weekend at her condo and the Boston trip - these took a huge amount of planning and work)

Revs. Richard & Janet Weidler and the Woodfords Congregation Church Community for donating their facilities for the ever-so-popular Salsa Night.

Susan Pope for acquiring and organizing the Key Bank Sky Box at the Sea Dogs game.

Steven Beaudette for organizing the Augusta State Capitol tour and visit with the Secretary of State.

All the HOST FAMILIES for opening their hearts and homes to the Chilean students and their teachers.

To the McAuley and Cheverus High School communities for allowing the exchange and helping in a multitude of ways to create a welcoming and functioning atmosphere and schedule for the Chilean students and teachers.

To the CPH-CJA community and parents for sending these wonderful young people so we can get to know them and their culture better.




Reminders:

Check WebShots for FULL-SIZED photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/548677668rdYlSP

Actual McAuley Exchange Blog:
http://mcauleycja06.blogspot.com/

School Web Sites:
Catherine McAuley HS: http://mcauleyhs.org/
Colegios CPH-CJA: http://www.cph-cja.cl/
Cheverus HS: http://www.cheverus.org/

Fiesta & ADIOS

Fiesta de Despedida * Farewell Fiesta

The final days of the Chileans went so quickly. Now it seems impossible that they are gone. The farewell party at the Tarraza’s house was so nice – two birthdays were celebrated with cakes: Martin and Miss Carmen. Some of the kids went for a walk to the beach in the evening. We all chatted about the trip and what is to come.

Adios ~ Hasta la vista

The day of the fly-out arrived, everyone packing and getting ready to meet at 1pm at the airport for the plane which was to leave at 3pm. Becka, who arrived first, called around on her cell to those on their way. Her family was the first to arrive just before 1, and they learned that the flight had been switched to leave just after 1pm! Craziness! No one had been told of the change - the airline had not called anyone. No one would be checked in and ready to fly at that time.

When Carmen arrived at the airport, she talked with the airline manager and got them to make arrangements to get them to New York City on another flight – actually, another airline! Our hero, Carmen! (And the original company paid for the switch.) So, finally …

the departure took place just about as originally planned.

Some of these photos best express the bitter-sweet good-byes.

Many new friends, friends for life, buddies for now, those who will see each other again in June when Cheverus goes to Santiago, and those who go with McAuley in August this summer.

Still … it’s hard to let go of the newest members of our families.

Hasta la vista. Adiós y a Díos.

Don't forget to check more photos at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/mcauleyhs

http://mcauleycja06.blogspot.com/

FYI: also, Anny Dixon, Deering High School teacher and close friend of Mrs. Dubreuil, is spending this vacation week with a group of Deering students working in Guatemala:

http://deering.portlandschools.org/spanishclub/pages/guatemala.html

Sea Dogs Baseball

Thanks to the Pope family at Cheverus H.S., the Chileans got to watch a Sea Dogs baseball game from the comfort of the Key Bank sky box ... or should I say "attend". I don't believe there was really much watching of the game going on. Intermittently there would be cheers, especially from the Mainers in the group, and most participated in the songs and Slugger antics of "YMCA" and "Take me out to the ballgame". When the lighthouse arose after homeruns - it was a thing of mystery at first, but once explained was a point of excitement.


The day started out rather sunny, but by the middle innings a huge fog cloud floated in from the sea and then rain. At the top of the 9th a downpour fell and the boys laughed to see the stadium spectators running .. because we were dry in the sky box. The Sea Dogs won in a rain soaked finish. The guys were watching Brittish soccer on the tele. Between hot dogs, pizza, chips and Sea Dogs Biscuits - it was a good day.

City Tours in Maine

Augusta, Maine

The State Capital

The day started a bit chilly with a dusting of snow and a frosty fog. But considering how Maine USUALLY is this time of year, we were'nt too put off. We met at Cheverus to get on the bus for the trip to Augusta. A few other students, not host siblings, went with us.

We arrived at the Capitol building from the back and took photos in front of the State Seal (emblem). At the top is the North Star with the motto: "Dirigo" - which in Latin means "I lead". This refers to the historical tradition of "As goes Maine, so goes the Nation" (which doesn't usually hold true).

In the Capitol, we went to the House of Representatives which was in session and awaited the introduction of "the Student Delegates from Santiago, Chile who are in the balcony." There were also there a huge number of Maine bankers, as well as other visitors.

While waiting for further tours, and our students were very patient, we had a chance to take photos in the Hall of Flags. From there we had a chance to visit with the Secretary of State in the Governor's Cabinet room. Governor Baldacci was out of town on official business that day. After a loooong awaited lunch, the students got a quick visit to the State of Maine Museum.

It was a long travel day for everyone, and when we returned to Cheverus we had some quick pizza and soda before a great presentation by the group "Vertical". The speaker is originally from Chile, but now resides in the U.S. He has climbed Mount Everest, K2, and other major mountains. He spoke to the group about team work and organization and leadership. Amongst the three schools, CPH-CJA, McAuley, and Cheverus, we are working toward an internet project for leadership in the world through young people! This is just the beginning!

Thank You's and Goodbyes at McAuley

Four our last class day having the Chileans with us in school, they came to the Spanish Classes and just TALKED - sharing ideas, thoughts, feelings - (trying to do so in Spanish, but of course, it often became a bi-lingual situation .. which is still great!) The Chileans also got to check in with who would be coming to visit them this coming August in Santiago.

As a special thanks to the School Administration and the Host Siblings and some special teachers, the Chileans made Torta de Manjar - which is a greatly popular dessert in Chile. It's made with mil feuille (thousand layer) pastry and "manjar" ... a specialty from Chile which is similar to a caramel flavor but about the thickness of hot fudge syrup when it's cold. The students LOVE it! Those who had been to Chile last summer said it SO reminded them of being there... and I have to agree. (Notice the photo of Natalie enjoying every last morsel!)

Sister Edward Mary had an assembly to give everyone the opportunity to say "good-bye". She gave each Chilean student and Miss Carmen lovely wooden cut-outs that are hand-painted in the image of Catherine McAuley High School. It was an emotional time for many.



Memories - Looking Back

Tonight is the GOING AWAY PARTY for our wonderful Chilean visitors. They fly out of Portland airport on Tuesday, April 18th. From here they go to visit New York City, Washington,D.C., and Miami, to round out their trip to the United States, before they take the last plane home to Santiago. It has been an amazing and very-full-of-experiences month.

Photos and last thoughts from the Despedida and the Airport will be sent as soon as possible. I apologize for not getting this entry written in Spanish as well as English. Also I will put up an entry about the Sea Dogs game earlier this week ... sorry that some things are slightly out of chronological order. Memories often move around and get jumbled anyway ...