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11/27/2011
Results of the Selection of Candidates for the Secondary School Exchange Programme January-June 2012 in USA
On the 5th October the Interviewing Board of ESU Argentina met at the offices of Cambridge ESOL Argentina to select one candidate to study in USA from January to June 2012, on the scholarship that the USA Branch offers students of all our member schools every year.
Several pre-selected candidates were interviewed, all highly recommended by their School Heads. After careful consideration we chose in the first place Lola Penélope Roig Vibart from Saint Alban's College. Runner-up was Mercedes Troisi Allende from Saint Brendan's College.
As it happens every year, we had the pleasure to meet the best representatives from our member schools, students with excellent scholastic level and outstanding personal qualities. Our task was extremely difficult, for in such instances it is very hard to take a final decision to fill the single place that is being given to Argentina.
We were agreeably impressed at all the candidates' fluency, command of the language, clear views and personal qualities evinced during the interviews. We are certain that these qualities will make them succeed in whatever path they choose to take in their life.
We want to congratulate their parents, their teachers and their schools for having helped shape these very special people who will doubtlessly leave their mark in the future of our country.
Susana Berdeal de Cravino
ESU Argentina
Executive Committee
10/19/2011
SECONDARY SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
AUGUST – NOVEMBER 2011 IN ARGENTINA
Danielle Shulkin from USA – COLEGIO "SAN ANTONIO" - ARECO
COORDINATOR MRS SUSANA CRAVINO – ESU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
 Last August we received Danielle Shulkin from USA on the SSE Reciprocity program. She stayed with us for two months during which we had the chance of getting to know a wonderful young lady!
Danielle is well mannered and very independent. Though she tended to stay fairly quiet in class, she was always well prepared to work and tried hard to comply with tasks both in Spanish and in English.
She travelled to Bariloche with our Year 12 group on their Graduation trip. This was a wonderful opportunity not only to get to know one of the most beautiful places in our country but also to share experiences with boys and girls her same age and get to know each other in a more informal context.
We hope she has enjoyed her brief stay in San Antonio de Areco as much as we have cherished her visit to Colegio San Antonio.
Cecilia Furze de Garrett
Head of English Studies
Colegio San Antonio
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09/09/2011
The English-Speaking Union Argentina
Dear Member of the ESU,
As in previous years, ESU Argentina has been offered a Secondary School Exchange Scholarship in the USA. The programme implies living in the USA, either on campus or with an American family, for six months as from January 2012, while attending the sixth form at an excellent American school and graduating from that school in June.
We are looking for an Argentine born boy or girl who graduates from one of our member schools in December 2011, with excellent interpersonal qualities and sound academic skills, and an adequate profile to represent our country.
The scholarship will cover the student’s living expenses whilst in the USA, room, boarding, tuition and fees.
We are convinced that this is a very interesting experience for our graduates from High School, as evinced in the reports of previous scholars. Already, many of our member schools have had students profiting from this opportunity in USA, and every year we are receiving students from USA on the reciprocity program.
Candidates interested in this scholarship should send their CV, application form, a brief letter explaining their reasons for applying, parents’authorization and a letter from the School Head to Susana Berdeal de Cravino, ESU Argentina Board Member, Sanchez de Bustamante 1969, 6º B, Buenos Aires 1425. The material must reach us before September 25th; and selected candidates will be called for an interview on the first week of October.
Yours sincerely,
Susana Berdeal de Cravino
ESU Argentina
The Executive Committee
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05/25/2011
SECONDARY SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
JANUARY-JUNE 2011 IN USA
GONZALO BENEGAS – COLEGIO SAN ANTONIO - ARECO
COORDINATOR MRS SUSANA CRAVINO – ESU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Dear members of the ESU,
Standing at the end of my journey, I would like to thank you. Coming here was unexpected and magical, but I realize that behind lies the committed effort of the English-Speaking Union. These four months at The Governor's Academy have passed really fast; I saw new things every day.
I have fallen upon a very special place: a traditional New England preparatory school, founded in 1763. Everything here has a long history, including the monumental forests and the first pilgrims' houses. I arrived and I found everything alive. Despite the record-breaking snow, the campus was swarming with new faces, going from class to dinner to practice.
 I have taken courses in English, Mathematics, Physics, Art History and Macroeconomics. An important load of homework was balanced with open discussions in class. In economics I was able to bring forth a lot of case studies from Argentina, while I was intrigued by the stories from our teacher, who had actually worked in Wall Street. Paradoxically, our English teacher, much like Mr. Keating in “Dead Poets Society”, was trying to turn us away from materialistic careers. The English class focused on Love. We read Romeo and Juliet but we also delved into our childhood memories.
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I was struck by the variety of students at the school. I met people from as far as Japan, Iran, Hawaii and Kenya. Sharing these months with them has been mind opening for me. Coming from a small rural town, I have never encountered so many different religions, for example. As I entered the school I felt a sense of community. Bonds are easily established between people of even different years, as they share some classes, as well as sports and dormitory life. I met wonderful people with which I will keep contact. I was truly inspired by the friendliness of some, the hard work of others, and the wisdom of still others.
I was given the chance to try two new sports: ice hockey and lacrosse. First day on the ice I fell hard and I cut my chin. I stood up and in a few more days I became fully integrated to the team. Lacrosse is a sport originally played by Native Americans. We played exciting games and I got to know other schools as well.
I have traveled so far... to learn about myself. Placed in a totally different environment, I wanted to see how I reacted. It was like starting a new life, no one having any preconception about me. I could just be myself and see where my heart pointed. I have grown a lot these months. With a global perspective, I realized the need to reconcile the differences between people and to recognize we are all partners at this strange happening called life.
It is the same reality we are living. I come back full of ideas and projects and with the desire to live life wherever I am. I am immensely grateful to the English-Speaking Union for giving me this opportunity at such an important stage of my life, and I hope that many more young people can live what I lived.
Yours faithfully,
Gonzalo Benegas
07/07/2011
2º REPORT
Dear Members of the ESU,
I have finally set foot in Argentina. It has been a week here and everything is different. I have a lot of things to do here and new things will start filling my mind, but my experience at The Governor's Academy has marked my soul. It has opened me to a lot of new opportunities I had never imagined, and it has summoned in myself a new kind of will.
My final days were splendid. The Sun shone on the last events which I tried to squeeze hard as they ended. The graduation reflected a long tradition and at the same time launched us into our future. It was sad to leave so many good friends behind, after four months of living and growing together.
I will start studying at UBA in August, starting the CBC for Exact and Natural Sciences. However, I will apply to transfer next year into some colleges in the USA. I like the liberal arts system- to encompass all my interests- as well as the possibility to do research early in the career.
Once again, thank you very much for giving me this chance. I hope to see you in your next meeting.
Yours faithfully,
Gonzalo Benegas
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Results of the Selection of Candidates for the Secondary School Exchange Programme January-June 2011 in USA
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On the 7th of October the Interviewing Board of ESU Argentina met to select one candidate to study in USA from January to June 2011, on the scholarship that the USA Branch offers students of all our member schools every year.
Several pre-selected candidates were interviewed, all highly recommended by their School Heads. After careful consideration we chose in the first place Gonzalo Segundo Benegas from Colegio San Antonio. Runner-up was María Victoria Gettas from Colegio Jesús María de Buenos Aires. And María Craviotto, from St George’s College North, came out third.
As it happens every year, we had the pleasure to meet the best representatives from our member schools, students with excellent scholastic level and outstanding personal qualities. Our task was extremely difficult, for in such instances it is very hard to make a final decision to fill the single place that is being allotted. We were agreeably impressed at all the candidates’ fluency, command of the language, clear views and personal qualities evinced during the interviews. We are certain that these qualities will make them succeed in whatever path they choose to take in their life.
We want to congratulate their parents, their teachers and their schools for having helped shape these very special people who will doubtlessly leave their mark in the future of our country.
Susana Berdeal de Cravino
ESU Argentina
Executive Committee
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The Secondary School Exchange Program brings another USA scholar to Argentina
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As you must all know, last year we started receiving students from USA on our SSE Reciprocity Program. Clara Mc Neil came to Northlands College for two months and then travelled to Mar del Plata to attend Holy Trinity School for another two months.
This year we will be hosting Matthew Coz from Avon Old Farms School, Connecticut, USA. He will come to study at St George’s College, Quilmes, from August 2nd to September 16th. Then he will go to Escuela Argentina Modelo from September 17th to November 20th.
Matthew is eager to make the most of this opportunity to meet new people of his age and exchange experiences. He is an excellent student, President of the Student Council, and fully committed to his scholastic responsibilities. He is also very keen on sports and truly devoted to social work.
Let us get ready to welcome Matthew and, later on, all the others that will keep on coming to our country to learn about us and continue strengthening bonds among ESU members in the world.
Matt Coz pdf
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Secondary School Exchange Programme January-June 2010 in USA
The Governor's Academy EEUU
On the 7th of October the interviewing Board of ESU Argentina met at the offices of Cambridge ESOL Argentina to select one candidate to study in USA from January to June 2010, on the scholarship that the USA Branch offers students of our member schools every year.
Several pre-selected candidates were interviewed, all highly recommended by their School Heads. After careful consideration we chose in the first place Agustín Suárez Ortega from Del Viso Day.
Agustin Suarez Ortega Report
10/16/2009
Results of the Selection of Candidates for the
Secondary School Exchange Programme January-June 2010 in USA
On the 7th of October the interviewing Board of ESU Argentina met at the offices of Cambridge ESOL Argentina to select one candidate to study in USA from January to June 2010, on the scholarship that the USA Branch offers students of our member schools every year.
Several pre-selected candidates were interviewed, all highly recommended by their School Heads. After careful consideration we chose in the first place Agustín Suárez Ortega from Del Viso Day School, over eight other applicants. Runner-up was María Julieta Crouzel from Colegio Jesús María de Buenos Aires.
Also, we met María Florencia Montesinos, Luciano Manuel Mónaco and María Victoria Catta from Escuela Argentina Modelo, Ana Paola Keller Sarmiento from St Andrew’s Scots School, Mariana Welsh Miguens from Colegio Jesús María de Buenos Aires, Francisco Accornero from Del Viso Day School and Jacques Marfort from Colegio Champagnat.
We were agreeably impressed at all the candidates’ fluency, command of the language, clear views and personal qualities evinced during the interviews. We are certain that these qualities will make them succeed in whatever path they choose to take in their life.
We want to congratulate their parents, their teachers and their schools for having helped shape these very special people who will doubtlessly leave their mark in the future of our country.
Susana Berdeal de Cravino
ESU Argentina
Executive Committee
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08/25/2009
SECONDARY SCHOOL EXCHANGE SCHOLARSHIP IN THE USA
Dear Member of the ESU,
As in previous years, ESU Argentina has been offered a Secondary School Exchange Scholarship in the USA. The programme implies living in the USA, either on campus or with an American family, for six months as from January 2010, while attending the sixth form at an excellent American school and graduating from that school in June.
We are looking for an Argentine born boy or girl who graduates from one of our member schools in December 2009, with excellent interpersonal qualities and sound academic skills, and an adequate profile to represent our country.
The scholarship will cover the student’s living expenses whilst in the USA, room, boarding, tuition and fees.
We are convinced that this is a very interesting experience for our graduates from High School, as evinced in the reports of previous scholars. Already, many of our member schools have had students profiting from this opportunity, and last year we began with the reciprocity program in our country.
Candidates interested in this scholarship should send their CV, application form, a brief letter explaining their reasons for applying, and a letter from the School Head to Susana Berdeal de Cravino, ESU Argentina Board Member, Sanchez de Bustamante 1969, 6º B,
Buenos Aires 1425. The material must reach us before September 25th; and selected candidates will be called for an interview on the first week of October.
Yours sincerely,
Susana Berdeal de Cravino
ESU Argentina
The Executive Committee
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Dear ESU Representatives,
It is hard to find the right words to thank you enough for this unique opportunity. Western Reserve Academy has now become an important part of my life and I will always be grateful to the English Speaking Union for allowing me to discover this completely different yet amazing new world. I can now say without a doubt that, to this day, being at Western Reserve has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life.
I can still remember the day when I found out that Hudson, a small town in Ohio, was going to be my new home for the next three months. With little exposure to the world, I had no idea what to expect. I was nervous, anxious, excited, even scared. What I did know, however, was that this was going to be a life-changing opportunity. I therefore decided to set myself three main goals to make the best of my experience. The first one was to improve my English and to take every opportunity that would maximize my educational experience at Western Reserve. My second goal was to get to know the American culture, gain new perspectives and develop a more distinct and international mindset by bridging the best aspects of both my Argentine and American worlds. Lastly, my third goal was to make new friends and to fully integrate in the American culture.
When I finally got to Hudson I was mesmerized by the town, the green spaces, and most importantly, the school itself. I will never forget the excitement I felt when I first saw the beautiful campus, with its buildings covered in snow from the cold winter. Also, I will always remember the warm welcome from students and faculty members, who always made me feel like I was part of the school from my very first day.
Now, after being in the United States for almost three months, I can confidently say that my English has improved a lot, particularly thanks to the classes I am taking: English, pre-calculus, physics, U.S history and Constitutional Law. Having to study and discuss challenging topics in English has allowed me to communicate better and express my ideas more fluently and coherently. Furthermore, I found especially interesting the way in which certain topics are approached and the different methods of teaching. Last week, I started taking some AP classes to compare them with those from the IB program and I was fascinated by the extraordinary variety of course offerings, which allow students to explore a diverse selection of topics. The school has an exceptional and intellectually stimulating academic program that enables students to open their mind, expand their perspective, exchange ideas and, in that exchange come to new understandings and appreciations.
Moreover, being submerged in the American culture by myself has taught me how to deal with different cultures and become more tolerant and open-minded. I have learned how to travel by myself and be more independent. Fascinated by the dimensions of multiculturalism, I have now come to believe that gaining exposure to different worlds and cultures will elevate my educational experience to pursue my same life goals at a greater scale. My positive experience at Western Reserve Academy has made me confident that I am a citizen of the world and that I want to continue expanding my academic goals in the United States. I have decided that I want to go to college at Washington and Lee University, a small liberal arts school in the Virginia, in order to keep cultivating what I have learned from this experience.
My social life has also been a great part of my days in Western Reserve. I not only met tons of new people from across the United States, but I also made many close friends, who I am certain that I will be seeing in the future. I was amazed by how welcoming everyone was, especially when helping me to adapt during my first days. One of the most fun parts of my experience was learning to play lacrosse, a very popular American sport. Although this sport was completely new to me, I soon learned the basics and this was really useful to meet new people and interact more with the students. Moreover, since I am truly passionate about rugby, I became part of Hudson’s rugby team and I was able to meet even more people from not only the school but the town too. This definitely helped me to be more sociable and I can say without a doubt that it was one of the most fun parts of my experience.
Words are not enough to express my gratitude to the English Speaking Union for believing in me and making me an ambassador of my country in such a unique institution. It has truly been a wonderful experience and I will always remember my days in Ohio with kind and positive thoughts. I want to especially thank you all because this experience has really helped me to grow up both personally and academically and be more prepared for future challenges. I cannot emphasize enough how much I have learned these past three months and I think this wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t without the help of the English Speaking Union. So once again, thank you!
Yours Sincerely,
Freddy Tovo
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Dear ESU representatives,
I am back in Argentina after living the most life-enriching experience of my entire life. Spending those five months studying at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio made me change my mind about my future and opened my mind to a whole new social and political system and several different cultures.
I cannot stress enough how important this exchange was to me. It touched the deepest and most personal threads of my being. It helped me get to know myself better and consequently, to understand the world around me with greater conscience and much less prejudice. It encouraged me to leave behind Argentinian ethnocentricity and appreciate the value of each race and nationality.
Thank you all for this opportunity. I will be forever grateful.
On a different note: is there anything I can do for ESU now that I am back?
Once again, thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Camila Crescimbeni
Buenos Aires, July 16th, 2008
A young lady knows when she falls in love. She recognizes those unexpected tears when she looks out into the snowy fields at night and the incontrollable shaking of her arms when she goes to bed in supernatural ecstasy. When she wakes up to the sound of the alarm clock on a very cold winter day, and even though she’s far away from the place she calls home and it’s -8ºC outside she gets up grinning, she realizes that spring and a gentleman are not the exclusive triggers of romance. She has fallen in love with Western Reserve Academy and the world altogether.
Only 5 hours after landing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, she walks around Western Reserve Academy’s majestic campus feeling she’s walking the steps of someone else’s life. She then stocks her stuff up in her new bedroom –a single in Ellsworth, the biggest dorm at Reserve- while friendly girls knock on her door to introduce themselves. She takes a refreshing shower and goes to dinner at 6pm -three hours before the usual habit of her biological clock- to be greeted personally by the Headmaster, who invites her to an ice-hockey game. And while she’s sitting on the grades at the ice rink watching all Reserve students screaming: “Go team!” as she has so many times seen in movies and read in books, she smiles to herself and closes her eyes anticipating a thunder of accomplished dreams and surprises for the following 5 months.
Dear ESU representatives,
Even as I lie here reminiscing, I still feel that lightheadedness of those first days when I started discovering a whole new world around me, a world I knew existed but had never quite felt part of. I got to Hudson, a small city in northeast Ohio, in the middle of a very rough winter. People kept asking how I managed to cope with the extreme weather and were surprised to hear that I actually loved it –the snow, the wind chills, the early sunset- because I was there to live a different life, and the cold was part of that full experience.
One of the most astonishing and adorable things about Reserve is the kindness of the faculty and students, who were immediately drawn to me and the two other exchange students from Germany and the UK and helped us cope with the confusion of the first days. Faculty members there are mostly faculty families -couples who live on campus with their kids. Hence, students frequently visit their teachers after school or during the weekend both to receive personal help sessions and eat home-baked pies that help blow occasional melancholy away and remind us of the petty cultural rituals of our families.
Besides American kids from every state, students come to Reserve from countries all around the world like Korea, Singapore, Ghana, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, France, India, China, Mexico, and more. This creates an extremely interesting mosaic of mixed races and nationalities as we all become immerse in the American culture, which is not our own but provides us with commonalities that encourage a cultural exchange by contrast and comparison. I played soccer with the Germans and the Japanese, learned how to meditate with my Buddhist roommate, discussed arranged marriage with an Indian girl, danced hip-hop with African-American idols, went to Catholic Church with my Mexican buddy René, watched the Americans play basketball and the high-ranked sport lacrosse. I also experienced the whole multicultural hurricane together: eating burritos and nachos with my Canadian and American girlfriends, dancing “reggeaton” with the Europeans, eating American chocolate chip cookies with my Ghanaian friend in French class.
If anything, my stay at Reserve was always far from monotonous. I went out looking for challenge and I found a very diverse and architecturally gorgeous campus, with students willing to learn and improve. Without idealising American education system, I was positively amazed to see the respect students have for their teachers even outside school. Student-teacher relationships are based on mutual trust and responsibility: a class could be left alone in the middle of an exam and students would not raise their eyes from their sheets. This provides an excellent learning environment as each student tries their best to excel and avoid mediocrity.
All the classes I chose were incredibly interesting and helped me develop a series of skills. I took Creative Writing, Public Speaking, US History, Topics in World History, English IV, French I and Drama, and luckily got Highest Honors scores both marking periods. Since sports are compulsory for every school term, I did Contemporary Dance during the winter and Track during the spring. Having one and a half to two hours of exercise every day proved to be very healthy for my body and mind, as well as an excellent opportunity to meet people and make friends.
There were dozens of other extracurricular activities and clubs to join, such as Ballroom Dancing, the Fashion Club, the Prom Committee, the Science Club, etc. One of the greatest and most fun experiences of all was auditioning for the Spring Play, “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” by William Shakespeare. When I was chosen by our Drama Director, Mrs. Ong, to play Queen Titania, I was beside myself with delight. We had to practice after dinner every day for two months, and both the rehearsals and the performance were absolutely enjoyable.
On Friday and Saturday nights we would chill and dance at the Green Key -the student lounge at school- and during the rest of the weekend we could eat and shop downtown, take the “Fan Bus” to support our various teams on their games and meetings, attend the School Dances or go to faculty-organised activities like movie-rounds, music recitals, shopping outings, etc. Also, on several occasions I decided to sign out to friend’s houses off campus, and I got to live with American families for a few days and exchange views on national and world affairs.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we had Morning Meeting; that is, the whole school would gather for half an hour at the Chapel to make announcements, discuss upcoming events, congratulate teams, make a moment of silence for the American and Iraqi lives lost each week and (in my opinion the best part) listen to the wise and always useful words of our Headmaster, Doctor Henry Flanagan. Reserve was first built in 1826, and one of its richest aspects comes from that very old legacy of hundreds of generations that have walked across its green fields and studied under the shade of the same trees. Its traditions and symbols live in us, fortunate students and graduates of this prestigious boarding school.
I believe I could go on forever about the marvels of Reserve and my trip, but in essence, all I need to express is my eternal and sincere gratitude to everyone in the ESU for giving me the opportunity to explore my past and present and dream better dreams for my future, develop my social skills, learn inside and outside the classroom, gain physical and intellectual independence, and celebrate the richness of diversity, all through this wonderful English language. Thanks for selecting me to embark on the adventure of my life and helping me become a true citizen of the world. I promise I will pay it forward.
Yours sincerely,
Camila Crescimbeni
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Dear members of the ESU,
First and foremost, I would really like to thank all of you here in Argentina and in the United States for making this great experience possible. I feel honored to have been chosen as the Argentine ambassador in a school in the United States, and privileged since people like you considered that I could carry out the difficult job. I agree with the other girls who were chosen in the past years when they say that it is really hard to thank for something as big and amazing as this experience.
In a little town in the middle of North-East Ohio, I found one of the most incredible places I will ever go to and the kindest people I will ever know. Excellence, integrity and compassion is what best describes Western Reserve Academy. Every person and everything there reflects those strong words. Not only academically, but also they are excellent people who are always willing to help and to make your stay as enriching as possible. I had never lived on campus before, and I did not know how that changed things. WRA campus is the perfect place to shape students into strong and successful adults by offering an amazing number of opportunities for personal growth. Academically, excellence is evident. Teachers and students reflect hard work and passion for what they do. I chose to take five courses: English III, US History, Comprehensive Chemistry, Physics Honors and Precalculus. I got the Honor Roll for every Marking Period and I know that I could not have done it without the help of the exceptional teachers Reserve has. Sports are really important too, and they are a great opportunity to know people and have fun.
Now that I am back in Argentina I can see with hindsight all I did, and it is amazing. I never thought I would ever live something like this. Going alone to a new school, a different country, with a different language and habits, with new people, I have to admit that it was a bit scary. The first weeks were strange. On the one hand, I wanted to know everyone, make friends, and have a great time. But on the other, I missed everyone here in Argentina and forgot why I was there, what I wanted to achieve. However, as days went by and with the help of loving and kind people from Reserve and obviously my family and friends, I began to realize that I really wanted to be there and how much I wanted to learn from them. After that day, everything got better and I could enjoy all I did. Friends from different countries also helped, since they knew how I felt. Reserve has people from many different countries such as Canada, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Jamaica, and Thailand.
All in all, I am sure that what I lived in Reserve will never be erased from my mind, so as the incredible people I got to meet there. I grew a lot from this experience and I really hope I was a good representative and that I made you feel you were not wrong when you chose me. I will always be grateful and I also hope students here make the most of this opportunity because it is a once in a lifetime thing.
Yours sincerely,
Carolina
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Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish words could express my gratitude towards
the English Speaking Union, but unfortunately, I
cannot find the proper way to thank you all and
perhaps I will never feel it’s ever enough.
However, I would like to share with you a quote
by Marcel Proust, “Let’s be grateful
for those who give us happiness; they are the charming
gardeners who make our soul bloom”…
for my whole entire being is in blossom when I look
back at the most wonderful five months of my life.
Every time I recall my beloved Western Reserve Academy
I have nothing but the kindest words towards its
faculty and people. I recall a school community
welcoming students from all over the world and hence,
making frontiers just an unknown concept. I also
recall so many other values such as brotherhood,
honesty, which definitely make Western Reserve Academy
the prestigious high school it is. When it comes
to the Headmaster -Dr. Flanagan- and his wife, the
teachers and every single member of this wonderful
human group, I would have to mention their unbelievable
quality of comprehensible people who made my stay
such an unforgettable one. Furthermore, since most
of the faculty lived on campus; it allowed us, students,
to count on their disposition twenty-four hours
a day. This helped develop an excellent student-teacher
relationship, where education was also transferred
to the most diverse and indispensable aspects of
life and human behavior.
But when I close my eyes, I happen to remember my
friends. People whom I shared joyful and pleasant
moments with, hard working days, bittersweet recollections
and some new experiences as well. I close my eyes
and just picture myself with them; the open dorm’s
parties, competitions against the faculty, going
to Church on Sundays or sharing a drink downtown.
All of them are there… my Croatian, Japanese,
Korean, and of course, American friends. All of
them, with their peculiarities and uniqueness but,
at the same time, put together on a same journey
to explore and travel. They represent an important
part of my life and now they belong to this enriching
and growing friendship.
But this experience not only did provide me with
a social and personal growth, it also helped me
improve and expand my academic skills as well. Calculus,
AP European History, English, Physics and Art were
the courses I took during my stay at Reserve. Being
a very rigorous and strict secondary school, my
classes demanded plenty of study and homework. Nevertheless,
the teachers made of them such lively and dynamic
lessons that time went by without further notice.
The experience of being constantly exposed to English
introduced me with a new willingness to devote my
life to such a wonderful language. I’m back,
determined to share my growth and understanding
with anyone open to feel and live such a wonderful
adventure.
Once again, from my very humble position, I thank
you for granting me with this enriching life experience.
I feel I’ve been transformed into a more comprehensible
and open minded human being. Thank you for expanding
my horizons and helping strengthen myself in a world
which today still finds it difficult to accept borders.
I truly wish and hope many people live, feel and
breathe what I did… I believe that happiness
is contagious… Why not become the gardeners
of our beloved Argentina?
Yours faithfully,
Ines.
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Dear members of the ESU,
I want to thank you for the opportunity you gave
me to go to the United States to study. It was
an amazing experience. I had to start from scratch
in a different school, in a different country
and put my skills and personality to the test
while doing my best to succeed in both the educational
and the social grounds. I’m happy to say
that I think I indeed succeeded.
It’s curious how my trip started with the
wrong foot and then got so much better. I say
this because my flight got delayed and I had to
stay in Washington DC for 7 hours. After that
things got much better. I arrived to Raleigh,
NC and I absolutely loved the city. It’s
extremely different from Buenos Aires. It’s
much smaller and quieter. The streets are green
and it’s really safe.
The dad of the family picked me up along with
Mr Kates, a Spanish teacher. They were really
nice and so was the family. I really got along
with the parents and both girls Hannah and Caroline.
The family prioritized school and sports and were
really supportive to me.
The school, Ravenscroft, was beautiful. The campus
was huge and the buildings were spotless. I chose
to take Literature, Composition, Web Page Design,
Choir, AP Macroeconomics and AP French. The classes
were all very interesting, led by very good teachers.
I specially loved Literature and Macroeconomics.
From the very first day, the kids at school were
really nice to me. I noticed there was a lot of
ethnic diversity, specially compared to Buenos
Aires and my school. Everyone accepted each other
and saw beyond the race or religion. For the first
time in my life I had friends who were Korean,
Indian, African American and Pakistani. That really
opened my mind.
I made friends really fast. I became close to
very different groups of people, all equally interesting
and kind. I even traveled with friends on two
occasions during spring break and after school
ended. I had a blast.
During winter break I traveled as well, but with
the family. Caroline the younger daughter had
a soccer tournament in Washington DC so we all
went there for 3 days. It was really interesting.
I went to the Smithsonian Museum and the Holocaust
museum and learnt a lot. I also went sight seeing
to the mall and saw lots of monuments.
After 5 months the moment all of my friends had
been long waiting for came: Graduation. There
were two major celebrations: Baccalaureate, a
religious celebration in a church and the Graduation.
The latter was gorgeous; it was in an open space.
Everything was really well decorated and it was
very touching. It was just like I’ve seen
on TV.
This experience was definitely a life changing
one. Although I’m home now I still hold
with me precious memories of my friends, the family
and the teachers. I will miss Raleigh very much
but I will hopefully go back to visit sometime.
Once again I want to thank everyone in the English
Speaking Union who made this wonderful trip possible.
I will never forget it.
Pictures
 With
Hannah and Caroline (the daughters of the
family) in DC. |
 At
Atlantic Beach during spring break |
 At
Baccalaureate with Courtney and Neil. |
 At
a party with Ravenscroft friends |
 At
Bald Island, a beautiful beach sport with
Elise and Lynnae after school ended |
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June
8 th , 2005
Dear Sir/Madam,
It is very hard for me to accurately convey how
much the five months I spent at The Peddie School
in New Jersey have meant and still mean to me.
I want to thank the ESU for giving me the opportunity
of living one of the best experiences of my life,
one that I will never forget.
I had no problem adapting myself to this new environment
because the country, the school and the Peddie
community welcomed me with open arms. At first
I did not know exactly what I would encounter,
but both academically and socially, this experience
far exceeded my expectations. Peddie has rightly
earned its reputation as an excellent preparatory
school, and I feel honoured that I could be a
student at such a prestigious institution and
benefit from its varied classes and extracurricular
activities. The courses I took there have helped
either awake or reinforce my interest in different
fields of knowledge – from Speech and Debate
and Literature classes to the current events we
discussed in Studies of Modern Africa or of Modern
Middle East, they all helped me grow into a more
cultured and learned person. I could even nourish
a love I had of art by taking an Advanced Placement
Art History class, which I found out was ranked
the best art history class in the world by the
College Board of the US.
Peddie is a school with a tough and challenging
academic schedule, and I spent many hours studying
and doing homework for all my classes. But in
spite of this, I still had time to make many friends
that made my stay at Peddie one of the most fun
times I’ve ever had. I could not have asked
for anything better. I had fun cheering for my
friends at basketball games (immersing myself
in the “Peddie Falcons” school spirit
all the way), going out with them for a cup of
coffee at the nearby Slowdown café, playing
Frisbee in spring, or just hanging out with them
in between and after classes. The memories of
the past five months will remain with me forever,
and the many friends I made are true friends with
whom I will keep in touch and visit (and they
promised to visit me too!), because what we lived
together is unforgettable and too wonderful to
let go. It was hard for me to say goodbye but
I know this is only the beginning of a long lasting
friendship with all of them.
For all this I want to express my gratitude once
more (and it will never be enough) for this great
opportunity. Getting to know a whole new different
culture like I did, meeting so many amazing people
and learning about so many different things was
an experience which I will always remember, and
I thank you for this.
I received a while ago my grades for spring term,
and I just thought I'd inform you of it. This
is what I got:
Fiction Writing: 90
Abnormal Psychology: 97
History of Modern Middle East: 95
Music Studies: 97
AP History of Art: 97
I also received yesterday a certificate that says
that I obtained High Honors for spring term as
well (two terms in a row!). I'm very proud of
it actually, and so was my mom, and I thought
I'd share my academic achievements with the ESU
too.
Yours faithfully,
Ana
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June
30 th , 2004
I am Angeles Spinassi, the last winner of the
Scholarship you very generously give out every
year to an Argentinean candidate willing to spend
six months studying in a private School in the
United States. I wanted to express my gratitude
for giving me the opportunity of living such an
enriching experience.
Spending six months in the USA enlarged my horizons
regarding my future academic career. As I told
you in the interview we had before my trip, I
am deeply interested in the psychology of handicapped
children. It was – and it still is – my wish to
dedicate my professional life to this cause. During
my stay at Peddie, where I counted with excellent
psychology classes and caring teachers, I could
discover a whole new side to this topic of which
I am very fond. I could get an insight into the
great advances there are in that field, and could
see there is so much to do in Argentina. As a
consequence, I came back full of hopes, ideas
and dreams for which I am willing to work very
hard.
My stay at Peddie also helped me develop other
interests, such as writing and drawing. I took
three English classes that helped me get a better
understanding of the language. I took a fiction
writing class as well, that trained me in the
art of novels and stories, something that here
in my country I didn't have much access to. I
had the wonderful opportunity of having a successful
writer as a teacher, Mr. Watkins, who shared with
us not only his experience but his love for writing,
which was terribly contagious. Not every day one
has the chance to be taught by professional authors.
All of that enabled me to come back full of expectations
and plans regarding this activity, and I will
be starting a fiction writing course in Spanish
in the near future. I could also discover a hidden
love I had for Visual Arts, making it one of my
present hobbies.
As you may see, this trip made me get to know
myself better and helped me develop the gifts
God gave me.
But these are not the only things I gained through
this experience. I will always carry with me the
unforgettable memories, the special new friends,
the wise teachers I met on the way and the life
lessons I learnt. It is not always easy to be
alone in a foreign country so different from your
own, but it helps you grow and mature.
I hope I was a good representative of my School,
my beloved country and of the English Speaking
Union in Argentina.
In conclusion, I find words are not enough to
thank you for the opportunity you presented me
with. I sincerely hope many other young people
can live what I lived.
Yours faithfully,
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