Getting Ready for our guests!!

Tomorrow our sisters from Huaxia Academy of Beijing will arrive in Dallas. We could not be more excited!! This will be the 22nd visit between our two schools since our partnership began in 1997. The 14 students and 4 teachers from China will be here in less than 24 hours and we want everything to be perfect for their arrival - we want them to feel very special and welcome. Monday will be a huge and busy day in our school as that's when they will be officially welcomed to Ursuline.  We hope that you will follow along as we host Huaxia this coming week. For now, here is a little peek behind-the-scenes of the preparation for the visit....

Peace One Day

September 21 is the international day of peace, non-violence and cease fire which was established by the UN in 2001 as a result of the efforts of the NGO, Peace One Day. Every year at Ursuline, we celebrate this important day which calls us to peace within ourselves, with our community and toward the earth. Several years ago, we at Ursuline were visited by Jeremy Gilley, the independent film maker who initiated the Peace One Day movement. During that visit, we pledged to honor this day at our school every year. This year, we held a beautiful prayer ceremony where students received bracelets which will serve as a reminder of Peace One Day. For more information on this important day, its history and its impact, please visit  www.peaceoneday.org .

Farewell Brazil !

A beautiful Brazilian Toucan

On our last morning in Brazil, we visited the famous Iguassu Bird Park. The park is home to hundreds of species of birds, many of them native to Brazil. Many of the birds live in giant aviaries where humans can walk around and observe them in their natural habitats. In addition to birds, the park houses butterflies and reptiles. Walking through the Brazilian forest and observing these colorful and exotic creatures was the ideal way to end our magical time in Brazil.

Now we are home, safe and sound. We miss our dear friends, especially Wilson, Rafael and Sr. Helenice - each of them took very special care of us. We are so grateful for this wonderful experience and can't wait to share all that we learned with everyone back in Dallas.

Sr. Lois chats with a feathered friend

The butterfly garden was spectacular

Smiling for the camera

Another exotic friend

We've grown very close over these last few days....

How we hate to say farewell to Rafael!

Don't Rain on Me, Argentina....



Young engineers - ready for building!

Our last full day in Brazil was spectacular! In fact, we spent the day not only in Brazil but in Argentina and Paraguay as well. Our first stop during this extraordinary day was at the Itaipu Hydroelectric dam. The dam is massive - the 2nd largest in the world and it powers almost 100% of Paraguay and 20% of Brazil. It was constructed as a bi-national collaboration between Brazil and Paraguay so we were actually in both countries during our visit to the dam.





  

Tory in front of Itaipu



Professor Rafael with one foot in Brazil and one in Paraguay. By the way, today was Rafael's Birthday!!

After our morning at Itaipu, we crossed over into Argentina to see the other side of the falls. It was an almost perfect experience as the park wasn't crowded and the temperature was pleasant. Unbeknownst to us, however, was the formation of a massive thunderstorm directly above us which drenched us completely - but the experience was still awesome!  

On the train through the Argentine park

All smiles (even though we are soaked) at the Devil's Throat

WOW !

Walking along the Parana River as the rain calmed down

For  our last night and for Rafael's birthday, we headed to Rafain, a famous local Brazilian Restaurant which also has a spectacular dance show for tourists.  



Yay Brazil!

Posing with the chef !

Big hugs with our new friend Julio, the son of our wonderful friend and guide, Wilson.

Welcome to Iguassu Falls!

Greetings from Iguassu Falls where our happy group is making a short excursion before returning to Dallas. As many of you may know, Iguassu is located on the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. As Sr. Lois has said, it is the perfect place to contemplate the beauty of God's creation and to rejoice in the wonder of nature.  Even though it has been raining off and on since we arrived, our spirits have not been dampened - It has been an awesome excursion! Here are some highlights from yesterday...

Who are those ghosts in front of the falls?

Ms. Nipp and our old friend, Wilson, who has served as a guide for numerous Ursuline Dallas visitors in the past.

Smilin' in the rain

Awesomeness!

Sr. Lois and Marisela celebrating their arrival at "The Devil's Throat."

Coatis, racoon-like creatures, are native to Iguassu

Headed under the Waterfalls!

Can't wait to get wet!!

Farewell friends!

Oh, how sad we were to say goodbye to everyone from the Brazil Youth Meeting! Even though we were only together for a week, we grew very close to our new friends from Ribeirao Preto, Paraisopolis and Salvador. Our students were particularly sad to bid farewell to their stellar and loving host families from Colegio Santa Ursula.

Our last prayer together (for now)

One last funny friend photo

 

Had to have a celebratory last dance, of course!



The adults made new friends too! Ms. Nipp will miss her friends from the Brazilian Paparazzi.

Airport Farewells are never easy....

Hugging as long as possible before getting on the plane

Farewell Friends and Host families!!! Thank you for everything!!!

And so, we left Ribeirao Preto with great reluctance but with joyful hearts full of love and gratitude for this marvelous opportunity to be together as one Ursuline family. More coming soon from our final Brazilian adventure .....

On the plane to Iguassu Falls ....

Student Reflections

As we neared the end of the student meeting and of our time in Ribeirao Preto, I asked our students a few questions about their experience here in Brazil. Here is what they had to say...

Q: Please tell us about one special person you have met in Brazil.

Vivian: I can't just pick one! Everyone here has been so incredibly friendly, especially all of my new friends who have been interpreting between Portuguese and English for me.

Vivian and two of her new friends 

Q: How is your life in Dallas different from the life of the Ursuline students here in Brazil?

Vivian: I thought Americans snacked a lot but these guys have like 5 coffee / snack breaks a day in addition to the 3 main meals of the day. I've always been a light eater but Brazilians love to feed me... their food is kind of perfect ... I am in love with Brazilian food!

Vivian enjoying the delicious tropical foods of Brazil

Q: What have you learned about yourself on this trip?

Marisela: I have learned so much about myself !! I did things that I never would have done back home! I tested my limits with all the activities and if I failed I got back up and tried again. I learned that I can look fear in the eye and overcome it. Most importantly, I learned to trust myself... 

Marisela flys through the air at the Eco Resort

Q: What would you like to tell your friends at Ursuline Dallas about Brazil and the students here?

Marisela: UA - You MUST come to Brazil! It is amazing! I have never felt more at home and so loved by strangers.... It is an experience you will never regret. Ursuline Brazil, I LOVE YOU! You have opened your arms to us and welcomed us immensely! I wish I could put you in my luggage and take you back to the USA. I have learned so much and will NEVER forget you and all you have done for me!!

Marisela and a few of her new (and old) friends

Q: Any other comment?

Marisela: I feel that this trip should become a trip for more Ursuline girls to experience. It should remain for girls who see the problems in our world and want to fix them. This conference has been one of the most enjoyable and inspiring moments I have ever had in my four years at Ursuline. Thank you for letting me come here and for showing me a world I never knew!

Marisela reluctantly saying goodbye at the Ribeirao Preto Airport

We loved hearing what our students had to say about being in Brazil. More student reflections coming soon!

"SOS PLANET EARTH" Student Projects

Sr. Helenice "We are expected, as Ursuline educators, to form citizens who are able to spread peace
and St. Angela's charisma worldwide."

Our friends from Colegio Soledad presented their student initiative which involved going out into the local community to educate the public about recycling trash  

Ursuline students from Paraisoplis drew our attention to the issue of water scarcity on our planet



UA Dallas seniors show off home-made soap made by fellow Ursuline students from Paraisopolis

UA Dallas presented information about our LEED certified building, the French Family Center, as well as a description of the
UA Permaculture Club Garden Initiative

Ursuline Super-Hero "Super Drop" displays ideas for conserving water

Even though some of our UA Dallas friends like Sara A. are far away, we brought them with us via video to share
their eco-aware messages with the students at the conference

The theme of our meeting this week is "SOS PLANET EARTH" which aims at promoting cultural and educational exchange between Ursuline students. Additionally, we are together to discuss some of the urgent environmental issues which are devastating our planet. On Thursday, each school presented a project which was completed on a local level but which is part of a greater global issue. It was so exciting and impressive to see the work of the students and to learn about the action that they have taken to improve life in their school communities and beyond.   Some of the issues addressed were water scarcity, pollution and disease (specifically Dengue which comes from mosquitoes).  Our Ursuline Dallas students shared information about the LEED certified French Family Center as well as about our UA garden which was an initiative begun by Permaculture Club Leaders Marisela M. and Sara A. It was a wonderful day of learning and we all left with renewed inspiration to confront these important global issues.