McAuley to Santiago, Chile 2006

2006-09-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

* Youth Seminar at Colegio Padre Hurtado *

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.

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.

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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2006-09-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

* 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!

Sympathy for the Will.

Buds for LIFE!

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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2006-08-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

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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2006-08-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

VIÑA del MAR

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).

Casino at Viña

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Mansion - Museum

Painting in the museum

The Viña Amphitheatre where many famous concerts and shows occur.

More photos of the seaside

SUNSET over VIÑA

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

2006-08-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

Photos of the seaside north of Viña del Mar

Photos of the landscape along Route 5 north of Santiago

Dubi and Maria Elena having empanadas at a roadside restaurant.

Delicious food and a beautiful setting.

Inside and outside tables at the quaint restaurant.

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!

Dubita & Maria Elena near Viña

2006-08-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

* 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.

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!

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

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

2006-08-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

ERIN´S RETURN

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.

2006-08-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

check our weather in Santiago de Chile:

http://www.meteochile.cl/reg13.html

2006-08-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

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ISLA NEGRA - Home of PABLO NERUDA
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Pablo Neruda is Chile´s Poet. He won the Nobel Peace Prize and is known world-wide.
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We visited his home on Isla Negra which is a quaint town by the ocean, west of Santiago. The setting is beautiful, on a ridge above the sea. The home tells wonderful stories of the life of Neruda. It is a serpentine group of rooms, each with its own special tale.
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The first living room has a collection of beautiful wooden figureheads from ships. There are angels from France, a huge one-piece Comanche Chief from North America, and Pablo´s favorite, a beautiful woman figurehead with glass eyes. When they would come from Santiago to Isla Negra in the winter, a fire would be lit in the fireplace and as the room warmed up, the glass eyes were the last. Because of this phenomenon, condensation occurred, and the figure would appear to cry.
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Passing through the dining room with two huge windows, one on the sea side with large glass bottles lining the base of the window, all in the colors of the sea, blues and greens; and on the land side were crystal jugs of earth tones, sepia and sienna. The round table was set with individual placemats with different pictures of ships, except for Pablo´s which had navitagional instruments, since he was the captain of the house. The glasses were from Mexico. Behind Neruda´s chair at the table is a huge wooden head of a pirate who gazes across the room to the opposite wall where a beautiful wooden figure stands, quietly gazing out at the sea. The enamored pirate ignored by the beautiful woman.
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Neruda bought the house with these two rooms, and slowly built the rest of the house, room by room, for his large and varied collections of objects from around the world. African masks of all shapes and intents, ships in bottles, Easter Island canes and carvings, trinkets and objects from many countries and peoples. Besides being a poet, he spent many years as Chilean embassador to various countries, including Burma, Ceylon, Java, Singapore, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Madrid. (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1971/neruda-bio.html).
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This room is one of his writing rooms. There is a small photograph behind the desk of him writing in this actual spot. They have arranged it to be as close as possible to the way it was when he lived there. The desk is actually made from a hatch door (from a ship) that floated in one day from the ocean. He fixed it to use as a desk.
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The huge fireplace in another room is a free-form design of semi-precious stones, which a female artist friend of his created. One large geode is the point of interest in this design, which Pablo himself placed there. This room has a tiny bathroom for his gentlemen visitors, with postcards of attractive and scantily clad women from around the world.
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Another room is dedicated to his childhood and contains a life-size sculpture of a horse. When he was young he saw this horse outside a shop which sold saddles and other livery items and he loved it. Forty years later he learned that the shop had burned and he immediately went to the owner and bought the sculpture. Sadly the horse was slightly singed also, with the mane and tail gone. He then, as whas his joy, had a welcome home party for the horse. All his friends brought gifts for the horse, and three of those gifts were actual horse hair tails. One is now the mane and the other 2 are the horse´s tail.
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I have many more tales and stories about the home, but will put those off for another time ... I know many are anxious to read this next blog and I want to get it published. See more photos of Neruda´s home: http://www.fundacionneruda.org/imagenes_islanegra.htm becasue we were NOT allowed to photograph inside the house since it´s privately owned.

Our group outside Neurda´s home, overlooking the ocean. This is near the spot where Pablo and his wife Matilde are buried. Below is Anna enjoying the beautiful view.

2006-08-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

* a bit of frustration *

It´s been a bit of a tricky week, but things are looking up! The sun has been shining for 3-4 days and that SO helps attitudes. We have a busy week coming up with Presentations to English classes for 3 days, then a visit to a public school here in Santiago, which should be quite a switch from Colegio. Friday there are no classes since it´s the ¨celebration¨ of Padre Hurtado (or now Saint Hurtado for almost a year) with a gathering at Colegio with other local schools. We, the group, will be talking about what to do that day, or families may have plans since it´s the last weekend here (don´t tell the group ... they DON´T want to hear that!)

My (Dubi) frustration recently has been getting photos up on the blog. For some reason they are not being uploaded. I did get some of the Valparaiso ones up, but not all, and after that the internet connection here at the house is not helping! I hope to get more up from school on Monday or Tuesday.

Monday I am having a meeting with the directors of the school for an overview of the program and any possible changes or improvements we can make for the future. We did some sharing when they invited me to their home for dinner yesterday, but we tried to keep away from too much ¨business¨ stuff and just enjoy the day. There are so many positive aspects to this program and a few glitches that can be adjusted for improvement.

Please, anyone associated with the program, drop me an email for any input. I´d so appreciate it: tdubita@yahoo.com

Otherwise, keep your eyes open for the updated blog info. Honestly, it IS coming! Thanks for your patience.

*Dubi

2006-08-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

* VALPARAISO *

A day trip to the coast to visit Valparaiso, where the Congress and House of Representatives is, as well as being a unique city built to blanket the surrounding hills with a quilt of colorful houses.

The map shows the area around Santiago, which is in the center. To the west, the coast, you can find Valparaiso and the smaller (slightly south) Isla Negra where the house of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Poet Pablo Neruda lived. You will see photos from Neruda´s home in another blog entry. North of Valparaiso is Viña del Mar where many families go to the coast for weekends and vacations.
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photos of the city Valparaiso

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The Congressional building in Valparaiso and the Deputado room. The back wall is copper, but unfinished, which represents the beginning of the creating of a law. In the Senate room, the copper wall is polished, representing the refinement of a new law.

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We were invited to lunch in the Congressional Dining Room by one of the Deputados who was a friend of a teacher at Colegio. (A Deputado is a Representative for his district). Initially we thought he would be dining with us, but the invitation was simply to eat on the top floor restaurant. Interesting note: they served us baked chicken, french fries and ice cream ... very US kind of food ... Dubi was definitely hoping for something more Chilean to go with the experience.

View from the top of the Congressional building.

The national seal in the central room where House and Congress and Leadership (including the President Michel Bachelet - Chile´s first woman president who took office in January of this year 2006). This huge seal (about 20 feet wide) is made of 10 separate pieces of marble, joined together yet able to separate and ¨float¨ on special springs and pulleys whenever there is an earthquake. This is to guard the seal from any damage.

Before leaving, all the students on the tour, US and Chileans, created a unity circle. (well, that´s what Dubi calls it)

2006-08-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

ARTISAN SHOPS * Las Ferias Artesanales

The Dominicos - a great location for purchasing the best of the best artisan work in Santiago. Sometimes also the priciest. But at this location many of the workshops are right behind the small stores or stalls where the works are sold. It´s an old Dominican church and monestary.

Entering the Dominicos.

a garden shop near the entrance

Anna making friends with the locals.

a couple of the locales within the feria

there are clean water streams that run through the walkways, spots for resting, eating, enjoying music, watching the artists work, and shopping. Notice in the white workshop/store that there is a second story where a second artisan is at work (peaking through the window).

After shopping, we went to the local Italian restaurant, one of Dubi´s favorites, and had a great meal. The desserts were amazing!

2006-08-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

DOWNTOWN * AL CENTRO

We take some time to go on our own to Downtown Santiago. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and although we discovered that initially we waited for the ¨micro¨ (bus) at the wrong corner, we so enjoyed the day.

Anna and Erin waiting for the micro.

climbing the hill: Santa Lucia

Robyn climbing ... it´s WICKED steep in spots!

A good shot coming back down.

The ¨gang¨at the TOP! (notes to those who were here last year: #1 Dubi didn´t close her eyes! #2 they painted over the names written at the top ... :(

Sierra on la torre de Santa Lucia

a BEAUTIFUL site on a gorgeous day

another city shot

Dubi in her Santiago-style garb (blending in better this year)

the gang ... well, most of it ... bacan shot

2006-08-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

SKI DAY

the Andes

looking back and down

Ski day was on Tuesday, August 8, and we went up about 2 hours into the Andes from Santiago to the ski resort El Colorado. The way up is a new experience for many of the students since the road is (in part) a series of hairpin turns on a mountain side. The view down is amazing. Do notice Becka´s face! But the road is well protected and the drivers are very experienced.

Occasionaly on the way up we see cows or horses grazing on the hillside. Occasionally there is a caballero who is a man on horseback who is a ranger for the area. They help anyone who needs assistance. Once we had to stop for a small herd of horses that was IN the road in front of us!

el Colorado

Amanda & Dubita

Erin - sprayed and covered with snow thanks to Sierra!

view from the mountain back toward Santiago

Hannah skied all day, almost without stopping!

Out on the slope.

Anna & Erin

The Chilean girls who went with us - mostly host siblings

The chilean guys - host siblings and friends - with Will.

on the way home - EXHAUSTED !

2006-08-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

SCHOOL * COLEGIO

patio de encuentro

mountains behind the school

looking down from the sports fields

some of the gringos on our meeting day

The school we attend, Colegio Padre Hurtado y Juanita de los Andes (boys´ & girls´ sides), is situated in one of the sectors of the city of Santiago which is higher in altitude, closer to the mountains, a sector called Las Condes. On a beautiful day, it is a beautiful place. Our students from Maine are attending a variety of classes and meeting many new friends. There is some frustration with their limits in Spanish in relation to some of the upper level classes like physics or calculus. The head of the program, Lucia Pizarro, has arranged to get the kids into optional classes such as art and drama, or into grammar school classes to work with the little kids. This has helped alot.

The school also provides us with with some good opportunities for extra activities and field trips. You´ll see those in upcoming blog entries. Lunch is given by the school, and the ski day is paid in total for us. Everyone at the school is very helpful and generous. I (Dubi) did have to write an email to the parents and teachers explaining how our students have had only 2-3 years of Spanish, where kids of the same age here have been studying English since kindergarden. To Colegio, English is the only and most important language for their students to learn. There has been more patience with the kids speaking abilities since I sent out this explanation.

Miss Carmen´s class

one of the young students

Assisting in the little kids´ classes is one of the most favorite things to do!

Shannon & Becka

the group is now close friends

We ´gringos´ have decided to have a meeting twice a week to check on each other and how things are going. Also, just to share some of our individual experiences! It´s been great!

2006-08-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

WELCOME - BIENVENIDOS

We were given a wonderful welcome party by the parents of the host families and the school. The directors were there as well as the families. The director of the school, Miss Paula Cruz, gave each of our students a photo design of all our faces around a picture of the Colegio (school) for a souvenier. There were good refreshments and wonderful times of sharing between all.

Mrs. Dubreuil introduced each of the girls to all the families and said a little of each of their interests and what levels of Spanish they have studied. Interestingly, many of the parents and teachers at the high school thought that our students had had as much Spanish as their kids have had of English. Their students start studying English in kindergarden, and therefore, by the time they reach high school, most of them have a great grasp of the language. So I have spent some time explaining to the teachers and the parents the limit of our students' Spanish. This has helped a great deal in expectations fo the Americans in school and at home.

introductions by Dubita

Becka here is very demonostrative of the genral attitude of our US students!

A photo of all the siblings together - US and Chileans.

This is the view behind the school ... very pastoral and relaxing. Beautiful, with the Andes in the background always, always.

US Students with their new friends at Colegio!

The US students seem to be VERY happy with their Chilean families. They tell me (Dubi) almost daily. It's only about a week and a half in, and already they're getting so attached here. I am very pleased with their experiences over all and also with their conduct. I have received a good amount of unsolicited compliments about our kids. It's great!

The first couple days here had absolutely beautiful weather, but the last number of days have been cloudy, cold, and very damp. A couple of nights it has rained tremendously, but that also helps to clear away the smog here in Santiago. If the sun would just come out, it would be BEAUTIFUL ... like spring in Maine. Even now there are spots of blue sky peaking through ... just waiting ... waiting ...!

We have been very busy with classes at school. There are many activities planned: skiing in the Andes, a City Tour (actually 2) of Santiago to visit the Presidental Palace, as well as some museums and other spots of interest, and a trip to the coast to visit the home of a Nobel Peace Prize winning poet: Neruda, and the Congress. There is also a long weekend coming up (4 days) where many families are planning to take their exchange kids to special places outside Santiago.

So, if you don't hear from us for a bit, do not despair! We are only VERY BUSY! It's an exciting time for these young North Americans and I am enjoying watching them experience this new view of life and the world. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts! You are ALL in ours.

2006-08-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

CHILE - finally!

Andes mountains and valley of Santiago

So our trip of 14 hours turned into the 41 hour mess ... but finally we arrived in Santiago! Our families here had been waiting about 3 hours (of course they had returned from the previous day when we didn't show up). Upon entering the airport, we were ready with our $100 in new 20s to pay for the entry fee. The lady there told us that with our new little pieces of blue paper that the Chilean consul had given us, we did not need to pay the fee. I double checked, was very pleased, and then the girls went to change their cash into pesos. Afterward we went to immigration and there they told us we NEEDED to pay the fee! What confusion! I explained what they had told us earlier, and we returned, with assistance to the first lady. Everyone, thankfully, had a way to pay the entry fee! We found out you CAN use a Visa card, cash, or traveler's check. Anyway, finally we passed through immigration ... and on to baggage claim then customs.

Once at baggage claim, we realized that only 3 people of us 10 had their check-on luggage from Atlanta! And already most of us had been wearing the same clothes for 2 days ... I checked and checked and checked. I finally sent the students through customs, with the assurance that I would find out about the luggage and would contact them, so they could go with their host families and maybe take showers and naps. I spent over another hour trying to ascertain where the luggage was. I finally left with the assurance from Delta that they would contact us the next day. (Which they did not, we called them, and not until late afternoon did the luggage finally arrive at Maria Elena's house, where Dubi is staying ... filling the hallway and dining room. Hannah's luggage was still NOT there and it was another day for her - we went to the airport from school the 3rd day to acquire her suitcases ... she was so happy, she was practically skipping! Only one suitcase sustained some major damage and we're working to get recompense) Well ... so much for the wonderous LUGGAGE story!

Colegio Padre Hurtado y Juanita de los Andes

* the SCHOOL *

The second day of school there was a "welcome" assembly for us. The students received their honorary ties and were presented by name to the High School. Dubi was surprised to say the Lord's prayer while another teacher, Cecilia, translated, phrase by phrase. Well, Dubi got lost and forgot the words. Niiiiice ... but she did her best, otherwise, not to embarass the "gringos".

The American students this year, like last, are very surprised at how disrespectful the students seem to be when the teachers and directors are at the front of the room, calling for quiet. It happens in many classrooms, too. One plus for our students!

receiving and putting on the ties and pins with the uniforms

Que Será, Será

ROBYN: Sure, the airport adventure is over, but the new adventure is just beginning for us all. It is the start of a new life, one that I hope to keep forever. My first thoughts: scary, amazing, nerve wracking, exciting, and at the same time wonderfully wonderful. Having a second place to call home made it even more exciting, but making me miss my family all the same. Before coming here, it was only talk. And now that I have arrived, the reality of this trip is kicking in. It was definitely not what I had expected. No matter how many stories were told to me, how many memories, or how many pictures that I saw, it is not the same as actually being here. It is way better!

Que será, será. Whatever will be, will be. What will happen within the next month is unknown to all of us. We have to let life take its course, and hope that things turn out for the better. The adventure is just beginning, and a new life is ahead of us.
adios. ~Robyn

in the Patio of the school

checking e-mail from home

new friends!

2006-08-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

el viaje * the trip

to SANTIAGO de CHILE

We arrived in Portland wonderfully on time, checked all the pertinent information and got minor ¨business¨ out of the way. While waiting to board the plane, we took photos and then said our ¨goodbyes¨ to the families. Once inside the gate, we waited ... for about three hours. There was a delay due to something with the crew from some other airport. Anyway ... before we even took off, this is where the problems began ...

goodbyes

waiting in Portland for the plane

The plane took a ¨short cut¨ to Atlanta, so we were very hopeful that we would make our flight from Atlanta to Santiago, but no such luck. We arrived, RAN down through the airport to our gate, and the plane was still there ... but they would NOT let us board. The plane was ¨closed¨. The kids were waving at the window trying to get the pilot to let us on ... a scene, for us of another age, from The Graduate!

A long story, short: we had to stay overnight in a hotel which Will found for us. An Adventure. When we return, we have to deal with Delta because they did not cover any of our costs ... Here are a couple photos from waiting for transport to the hotel and Becca with breakfast the next morning. The overnight was nice, actually, and then a day exploring Atlanta, Georgia, before returning to the airport for our 10:30pm flight out.

waiting for the van at midnight ...... Becca with breakfast!?

Atlanta, Georgia

All together and Will with his gift from the girls .. memories of breakfast.

Yep, some of them tried southern Grits.

Soldiers at ATL airport awaiting their flight to Iraq. Very emotional for us.

So, finally back at the airport and near our gate waiting for the 10:30 flight out. These students are very imaginative. The things they found to do to keep themselves occupied were great ... fun, entertaining, and at times a bit wacky, although non-intrusive to others waiting. I was very impressed and pleased with them. Here´s Amanda watching her favorite Beauty and the Beast, Anna and Erin being crazy, and Will thinking up another game. At other times we were just waiting, waiting, waiting. THIS flight was delayed until 2 a.m. If it had been the night before, we would have made the plane ... figures, right? But this is how travel is and we need to be flexible during our adventures! Again the kids were exemplary and I so appreciated their patience.

our corner

waiting, waiting, waiting ... note on the display where it says the plane departs at 00:15 (midnight) ... it was already about 1:30 a.m. at this point .. and the flight was originally to have left at 10:30 pm!

Dubi trying to catch a bit of shut-eye wherever and whenever. When we finally arrived in Santiago (catch the next blog for that story) and at our homes ... I, for one, slept for 17 hours straight. A flight of 14 hours had turned into a trip of 41 hours ...

ah ... ADVENTURE!!

2006-07-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

FLYING OUT TODAY!

Here we go. Less than mere hours until we take off to go to Santiago, Chile. Yesterday we had a meeting with Vertical Foundation Experience (like Outward Bound) ... in preparation for a weekend activity we'll be doing while in Chile.

Watch for the next entries from CHILE ... coming soon!

McAuley to Santiago, Chile 2006

2006-04-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

2006 Preparation

Tickets are purchased. Plans are made. Details, of course, yet to be completed. BUT, we have a group of 8 girls and Mrs. Dubreuil from Catherine McAuley HS to be joined by one young gentleman from Cheverus (who cannot go with the Cheverus group in June, so will be going with us in August!)

The plan is to go for basically the month of August again, actually arriving in Santiago in late July. We hope to make some minor adjustments in what we do -- Miss Carmen is going to look into the chance of us possibly taking a week outside the city, staying with a group of Sisters of Mercy in Chile. Lucia is matching up families to host us. We're doing travel plans AND plans to be totally prepared to return to school when we get back in August -- since the school calendar isn't even out yet and we're not sure exactly when classes start! God will provide the ways and means ... we're just plain excited!

Here's a few faces: