* Youth Seminar at Colegio Padre Hurtado *

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Colegios Padre Hurtado y Juanita de los Andes hosted an annual Youth Seminar for Service and Social Awareness. This is the 5th year and each year it grows. Many local schools are involved with speakers and mostly High School Seniors taking part. After presentations there is an open forum for questions and responses from the youth in the audience. I was impressed with the comments by these astute youth and their vision for the future of their country. There is much to be done in this country and this extremely fast growing cit of Santiago. In the past year, since McAuley visited in 2005, there are one million NEW residents of Santiago, bringing the total to around 6 million! Many of these new residents come in from the surrounding countryside for better jobs and hopes for the future. Many of these also live in slum-like squatter villages.

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A well-known Chilean news commentator and discussion facilitator assists in keeping the forum moving ahead. Other presentations included the Circo del Mundo which is modeled after the Cirque de Soleil of Canada. This organization trains often underprivledged youth in amazing acrobatic feats and creats show and travel opportunities for them for a solid career.

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Youth response to social concerns.

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Don Alejandro, of Colegio, gives a moving opening speech and welcome to the Youth Seminar at Colegio Padre Hurtado. Mrs. Dubreuil has a copy of his powerful speech. Once translated it may be posted on this blog.
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* Time at Starbucks *
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We took some time to ourselves, to re-group and spend time together. It was a GORGEOUS spring day. On the way down the street we saw a sprinkler and some decided to jump through it! We got some videos, too, but at the end, Will twisted his ankle a bit. He got some MAJOR sympathy from his girls!

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Sympathy for the Will.

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Buds for LIFE!

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Later some of us went back to Los Dominicos to enjoy the artisans and make a few more gift purchases. It's always a great place to just browse and enjoy.
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We`re flying out today about 8:30 pm. We have to be at the airport 3 hours prior with no liquids or gels in our carry-ons because of the recent terrorist threat. The hurricane south of Florida should pose no problems for our flight and once we pass Customs in Atlanta, we´ll call home to inform everyone of our arrival time and be on our way!
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GOD WILLING there will be NO MORE DELAYS in traveling!
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The last few days have been very very busy with final activities and preparations to travel. I will have to get up more pictures once we´re home because there is no time right now. We´re at school (Colegio) and are seeing as many people and classes as we can in the few hours left to us! Wrapping up any lose ends and saying our goodbyes (for now).
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Here´s a couple comments I have received that seem to highlight many sentiments:
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Miss Dubi
para nosotros fue un placer y una grata experiencia. Nos vemos mañana en el aeropuerto
Saludos
Familia ....
(for us it was a pleasure and a great experience. We´ll see you tomorrow in the airport.)

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Dubi,
Thank you so much for bringing me to Chile and basically giving me this expierence. My family, friends, and everything that has happend means the world to me. This has been the best trip of my life so far and my ties here (i feel) are for the rest of my life. Thank you so much. You've done a great job. I wouldn't trade this for anything! And whoever put me with the Mondragon family...thank them! Getting on the plane tomorrow is going to be so hard.

Hasta Mañana!
(US student)

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VIÑA del MAR

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One of the favorite weekend and holiday spots for many families of Las Condes is Viña del Mar which is just an hour or 2 west of Santiago. Below are photos of Mrs. Dubreuil´s day trip there with her host Maria Elena Junemann. (the photos are somewhat out of order and apologies are given).

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Casino at Viña

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Mansion - Museum

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Painting in the museum

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The Viña Amphitheatre where many famous concerts and shows occur.

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More photos of the seaside

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SUNSET over VIÑA

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Pastel painting by Terrilynn Dubreuil from a photo taken at Viña.

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Photos of the seaside north of Viña del Mar

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Photos of the landscape along Route 5 north of Santiago

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Dubi and Maria Elena having empanadas at a roadside restaurant.

Delicious food and a beautiful setting.

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Inside and outside tables at the quaint restaurant.

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Route 5 - where we missed the road because it was under water ... we went further on in the wrong direction (where there was actually a road with tar) before we found out we missed the main road!

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Dubita & Maria Elena near Viña

* CENTRO *

It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we decided to "escape" to the center of the city. Actually, a City Tour had been planned, but the teacher/guide was ill that day so the trip was cancelled. Once at the Center, we had a snack and spent a couple hours in smaller groups. A few of us went to see the ancient San Francisco Church and the Public Library building. Others had a lunch together.

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Then we all met again to catch the metro (subway) and micro (bus) to go home. From the center of Santiago, the subway does not go all the way to Las Condes, which is the area of the city where we all are living, so from the Metro exit of Escuela Militar, we have to catch a bus for the rest of the ride. It costs about 72 cents for each, and once aboard, you can go for a few blocks or completely across the city which can last over an hour of travel time. The Metro is very new, efficient, and so clean. Most of the buses are older, but very functional. The bus drivers are slightly nuts and often we find our bus about an inch away from the bus beside us! It´s amazing!

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inside the Biblioteca National (National Public Library)

Biblioteca National

outside window of the ancient Iglesia de San Francisco

an elderly worshiper in the Iglesia de San Francisco

one of the many altars at the Iglesia de San Francisco

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Robyn and Dubi found this sign ... interesting, ¿no? ...

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ERIN´S RETURN

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ANNA´S BIRTHDAY

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Erin had to say goodbye to some of her new friends here at Colegio when she left Santiago to return to school early. She is attending a satellite school for math and science in northern Maine this year. We will miss her at McAuley! Hannah and Dubi went to the airport with Erin´s family to see her off. With the new rules, because of the foiled terrorist plot in England, there are no liquids or gels allowed in carry-ons and we have to be at the airport 3 hours before the flight. Otherwise, from Chile, the flight situations continue to be basically the same.
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ANNA´S BIRTHDAY
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Anna celebrated her 17th birthday on Tuesday, August 15th, and her host family had a party for her. Most of us went to wish her a wonderful birthday. Her chilean mom had refreshments and a cake made with MANJAR (pronounced man-har) which is a caramel-like sweet that the students LOVE! It was a great time to be together.
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Anita and her chilean Mom.
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Sierra and Shannon at the party.