#18

from a parent: These youngsters are indeed very resilient. My daughter has handled all sorts of changes while she has been there and been able to get beyond anything overly trying. Thanks to you for being there for them. I heard that the first power point presentation went well (we all get a case of nerves doing oral presentations -- I can't imagine doing one in a foreign language where the audience gets to ask questions!) I hear the softball demonstration was a big success too. The phone cards are working fine. Thanks for everything you are doing.

Dubi: We had a great field trip today to the Center of Santiago -- a beautiful hill from which we could see most parts of the city, the National Library that had a great exhibition about creating Dialogues of Peace in the World, areas of colonial and famous buildings of the city, and La Moneda which has an amazing history in the country, including being the site of the Military Coupe of 1973. It was facinating and emotional. It was there, in ´73, that the popularly elected Socialist President Allende was killed by the soon-to-be Military Dictator Pinochet. The dictatorship lasted about 15 years and now Chile has a strong history of democratically elected presidents. At this point the country is in the process of elections in December for the next president, and the forerunner is a woman! A few of the Chilean students came with us on the field trip and had prepared some tri-fold brochures with photos for us .. they were bilingual, written and illustrated by the students themselves. There was good interaction between all the students ... a great day to solidfy the relationships created in the exchange. (I will get more photos up as soon as I can.)