Hola from Mexico City!! I am writing from Mexico City as the Chaperone of the Graham Schools International School to School Exchange (ISSE) delegation being hosted by Olinca Schools. The International School-to-School Experience (ISSE) is a unique international program for schools that provides for the exchange of thoughts and ideas through face-to-face contact with children from other countries around the world. It is non-profit, non-political, and non-religious in nature. The program gives all 10-12 year old school children the opportunity to experience and understand other cultures on a first-hand basis. It is an innovative approach for schools that realize the importance of international experience in modern school education.
If you have been following my journals, you know that my Mexican "daughter" Reni was at my house when I received the call that I had been selected for PolarTREC. She is now hosting my daughter! We will be attending Olinca Periferico Campus...I will post some pictures once we visit there!
So today was the FIRST day of our summer vacation...WHY was our alarm set for 1:00 AM?? Simple - we had to drive to the Columbus International Airport and arrive 2 hours before our scheuduled 6:00 am departure! Do we look bright eyed and bushy tailed??
Our flight connected through Atlanta...for Mikey and Grant it was their FIRST airplane flight. They figured that after the four flights that make up this exchange trip, they will be "expert travelers". When we arrived in Mexico, we were greeted by smiling familiar faces that made up the Mexican delegation that visited us!
After leaving the airport, we went to Boll Tlapan...I was told by Mauricio that this is the BEST BOWLING ALLEY in ALL of Mexico City. Well, the kids all had a GREAT time. They ate hamburgers and french fries, bowled, played games, and talked and laughed and talked some more.
Everyone is tired after such a long day but everyone is looking forward to all of the fun and learning the next 13 days will bring!
Signing off from Mexico City, this is 2010 PolarTREC Teacher Chantelle Rose!