Our New Home

We arrived in Rafaela on Sunday afternoon to a very warm welcome from the entire high school student body. The hosts introduced themselves and swept students and chaperones away to get to know their new home. All accounts are that the host families are everything that we have hoped for. The kids are encouraged to think of this family as "their family" and as this home as "their home."

This morning the entire school, from little tykes to 5th year honchos, welcomed us at 7:30 and sang the national song (as they do every morning) as they raised the flag outside. Students were invited to a welcome breakfast, then sat down with Anna, Ted, and Liliana Copetti, Director of the English school and coordinator of the exchange program on the La Plaza end. Liliana talked to the kids about differences in the Argentine educational system as compared to the U.S. For example, kids stay in the same class throughout the day while the teachers change classes. Also, after their fifth and final year in our equivalent of high school, students must decide what career they must follow and apply to the university that will suit their needs. The Westminster group gathered for our class just before the lunchtime break. We debriefed our experiences in Buenos Aires and discussed moments that we will cherish, moments that made us uncomfortable (which is inevitable when travelling abroad), and differences between the US and Argentina.

The kids headed back home (as they will every day) to eat with their families. Then for the afternoon session they sat in on three levels of English classes, from the novice level to intermediate. Hopefully the kids will keep you updated with the goings-on at school each week. But they are still being showered with affection and attention, so the chaperones will continue the news feeds :)

Speaking of attention, the primary school kids, who occupy the ground floor of the school, are awestruck by their newly arrived guests. They peek around corners, dare one another to come up and give us a high-five, then run back to their group embarrassed and swelled with pride. One demure girl of 6 or 7 years walked up to Austin and asked him his name, age, and what sport he likes to play. It was adorable.

But, before we arrived in Rafaela, we spent another two wonderful days in BA. Friday night the group was treated to tango lessons followed by a three-course meal and tango show. The dancers who put on the spectacle were the very same that taught us the steps of the tango. Upon entering, they led us to a dark, dingy basement where it was not difficult to imagine an impassioned tango taking place before captivated spectators for decades preceding. With women on one side, men on another, and the instructors in between, they walked us through the steps as a group, then the male and female instructors practiced with us individually. Everyone caught on quickly, although we were all looking at our feet the entire time, despite the stern warnings from our instructors.

Then finally, we were paired up, couples first, random stragglers second. Apparently we were all random stragglers. I myself was paired with a Brazilian woman in her 50's whose husband refused to dance with her. I would have gotten her name, but she spent the entire time yelling at her husband (pardon the inexact translation) "If you won't do it, I'll find someone who will!!" I'm sure the kids have similar stories. I'd like to ask them to add them to this feed by clicking on the comment link below. ¿¿Por favor??

They did a wonderful job lowering the anxiety level, getting everyone involved, and making it on 10% terrifying and 90% fun. At the end of the lessons and before heading upstairs for dinner, the lead instructor presented us with our tango diplomas and this photograph.