Notes from Haiti: Final Day in Montrouis

Greetings everyone,
As you all know, the last few days have been quite eventful. However, today has been a great final day in Montrouis.  First, we have moved on to new lodgings, and so far, they have been good to us. Sooner or later we were all going to realize how much we appreciate air conditioning, and though that time came a little sooner than we all expected, it did make the night pass by a but more smoothly for everyone. 

It's a good thing, too, because we needed all the energy we could muster to teach the students at St. Paul's how to use the computers. The joy on the faces of the students--and teachers--made all our struggles worth it. Seeing a group of people who did not even know how to type slowly learn how to use computers amazed us all. By the end, despite our language barrier, students were making videos and typing documents. We were hard-pressed to pry them away in the end!

Afterwards, we went back to the seminary to eat a delicious lunch and to clean up the grounds one more time. Once there , we were all able to revel in exactly how beautiful the view at the seminary is.

Best,
David Yee, Emily Geiger, and Brian Kane

Notes from Haiti: Visiting St. Paul's School

Hello everyone!
Today, we visited our sister school, a K-9 school called St. Paul's here in Montrouis.  Our kids endured a slight moment of discomfort and reservation to begin, but those misgivings soon gave to the joy you see in the pictures.  Touring the classrooms and the grounds to the school opened our eyes to the clear needs of these children, but also the power of the humanity always  behind the issues.  As we left, we surveyed the computer lab with hopes to make preparations for a short training session we'd planned for Monday. We found, though, that the computers had not yet been opened, and needed to be charged. On our way out, we each grabbed a computer to charge back here at the seminary and we will make sure that our plans for Monday succeed! Our afternoon's work, then, is to charge these computers, do some small cleanup tasks around the seminary, eat, and, of course, enjoy the beach. It's sure to be another fun, full, and fulfilling day!
Best,
David Yee, Emily Geiger, and Brian Kane

Notes from Haiti: Saints on the Beach

Greetings everyone! 

We're all about to go to bed now after having some fun by the beach and enjoying a delicious dinner.  No matter the setting, it seems we can't keep this group from lively discussion!  As the sun set over the beach, we sat down to discuss our days and experiences, and honestly, we couldn't stop the curiosity from bringing forth question after question, and before long, the sky had turned pitch black. It was a full day of travel, for sure, but everyone is excited for more!

More to come!

David Yee, Emily Geiger, and Brian Kane

Notes from Haiti: We have arrived!

Dear Parents,

We have just arrived in Montrouis, Haiti safely.  Soon, I will send a picture of us settled in! In the mean time, know that we are well and got here with no problems! Thank you for all of your help and support this early morning!  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch!
Best,
David Yee, Emily Geiger, and Brian Kane

Normandy Exchange: Saints and their French Exchange Partners

Normandy Exchange: Reflections on Normandy

Catherine Fonveille ‘13

Bayeux is a dream, especially for a French-speaking art history student/lover like myself !  My host family has balanced giving me a taste of family life with showing me the beautiful sights in Normandy.  After classes one day, it was amazing to see the Bayeux tapestry.  Leila (’13) and I reveled in every scene, talking about what we already knew (from our Art History class at SSSAS) and what we were learning.  The best part of the trip, though, is how comfortable I’m beginning to feel speaking French.  This experience has been priceless !

Leila Malikyar ‘13

This exchange has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of my life !  Not only have I formed wonderful relationships with the French students, my French has also improved greatly.  The students’ welcoming and warm nature have allowed me to feel confident in my speaking abilities, even if I still have to practice.  In addition, I have seen and admired some of the most gorgeous art and architecture in Europe.  Apart from the hospitality and history though, I’ve experienced French laser tag, billiards, and high school.  It has all been so fascinating !

Normandy Exchange: Reflections on the 23rd Annual Normandy Exchange Trip

 Monika Damman ‘13

This trip has been the trip of a life-time, in short.  My "correspondant," Pascaline, and her family, are so loving and generous to me :  basically, they’re my family for the week.  I can’t possibly wait for her to come the US.  The family took me to see Port-en-Bessin, Ste Mere Eglise and Chef du Pont.  Also,  her family has a history of cider-making, so we visited the family farm where the grandparents live.  This week, we have gone with our buddies to school each morning, and on Monday, we visited Bayeux.  The next day, we visited the Normandy Beaches and American cemetery.  It has all been exciting, the people are wonderful, and of course, the food is too !

 John Carter-Hirt ‘14

My stay in France has been amazing so far.  There is always good food and lots of it !  I have yet to have a meal with less than three courses !   We took a long walk around his neighborhood where we saw lots of animals , especially horses, and I learned that this region is famous for horse raising.  In walking distance from my family’s house is a very old church which was built in the 11th century!

Luke Markham ‘14

France is an extraordinary place!  The laid back nature of the French is the best part.  The Mont-St- Michel was excellent and actually seeing the sun for the first time in days was an added bonus.  My "correspondant," Paul, and his family, have been extremely kind and caring.