Today is the last day that we are in Rafaela. We wrote goodbye cards for our host families and all the students told us that this exchange program should be longer than two weeks. We will see what can be done in the future. We sent bouquets of flowers to our host families, as a token of our appreciation, but we have no words to describe the way the whole town has opened their hearts and homes to our Atlanta contingent.
Our host families have been outstanding, offering everything and then some. At La Plaza school we could not have felt more at home. Everyone here, young and old, has seeked every opportunity to interact with us, and learn about our schools, our city, our culture, and our country. There is great expectation in Argentina about the impending US presidential election. Much is at stake for the US and for the world, and the world is watching.
At the same time, we have learned about Argentina, Rafaela, and La Plaza school. We have seen, first hand, the consequences of unresolved conflicts between the Argentinian government and the farmers. For two weeks, we have lived in an environment where things are different: not better, not worse. Just different. And hopefully we will come back with a better understanding of ourselves and others.
Tomorrow, at the crack of dawn, we are scheduled to fly to Buenos Aires. After a long night of dancing, they will probably all crash as soon as we get to the hotel :-)
- Agnes and Don