Those in the back row from the left are; Linda Catlin ( teacher from Arkansas City), Holly Catlin, her daughter, Tomás Ayala, Trey Vanahill, Harrison Helmick, Kaitlyn Mosher, Karen Hyde (Lawrence High Spanish teacher), Juan Eudes Afara Maciel, the Governor of Itapúa, and in the back row, Adelle Loney.

Front row from the left: Alba Ayala, Nora Elbanyouny, Anna Dietz, Amber Hicks, Katy Thelman, Erin Ice.

Bienvenidos!

From left to right are:  Mara Antell, Karen Hyde, Stu Strecker, Lorena Larroza, Eduardo Benitez, Marie Otani, Diego Ivasiuten, Adriana Denis, Max Bolf, Pat Wittry, and Rocío Kisser.

As part of the trip, students did some cultural presentations in Encarnacion.  Jasmine Sims did a pretty nice job of explaining the blues and singing at Eurosur on presentation day.

You can view her presentation by clinking on the link below and advancing through the slides by pressing the forward arrow key on your computer–enjoy!

Encarnación Presentation 2010

Where?  At the ECM, up on the KU Campus

When?  Saturday, February 13th

What Time?   1:00 to 4:30 PM

The ECM is located at 1204 Oread Avenue–see you there!

Samantha Schwartz,  Editor-in-Chief  
Lawrence High Newspaper–The Budget

Just days after arriving in America, Paraguayan exchange student junior

Marcelo Franco already had a nickname—the human jukebox.

Franco’s host and Spanish I student sophomore Alex Mckinsey christened Franco after hearing him play songs on his harp from memory. Franco says he knows about 60 songs from memory, and they take an average of three months to learn.

Franco shipped his $1,000 harp from Paraguay to the United States.

“It was too big to fit on the plane I was on, so they had to ship it separately,” Franco said.

Not only was it his harp’s first venture from home, but it was Franco’s as well. Before January of this year, Franco had never been on a plane or train before.

Now Franco is the only exchange student from his school in Paraguay at Lawrence High, while 12 of his classmates reside with Free State students.

“It is weird to go to a public school [like LHS],” he said. “In Paraguay, the good schools are all private.”

Franco attends an experimental school in Paraguay where his graduating class consists of 45 students.

“In my school we do not get to pick our classes. We also stay in the same room and different teachers come to us.”

In Paraguay, Franco said students learn more languages as well. Franco can speak English and Spanish as well as Portuguese and Guarani.

His biggest disappointment? The food.

“In Paraguay I usually eat hamburgers for lunch,” Franco said. “I had the spaghetti here, and I couldn’t really eat it. It was gross.”

Franco’s favorite dish back home is Sopa Paraguaya. Though it directly translates to “Paraguayan soup”, it is actually similar to a cheesy corn casserole.

Before he returns home, Franco hopes to ski, snowboard and ride a motorcycle.

“It works out well,” Mckinsey said. “We like to do all of the same things.”

In just a few days, Mckinsey and Franco have developed a bond. Mckinley is a great admirer of Franco’s talent on the harp, and he and his father plan to help Franco record his music in the United States.

While Franco is a gifted harpist, he said he will not be joining any instrumental ensembles because he is more of a solo artist.

Mckinsey suggested he join choir.

“We sing together in my car,” he said to Franco earnestly.

“That was different,” Franco said with a smile.

Franco will staying with Mckinsey for six weeks.

“It’s so exciting,” Mckinsey said. “I’ve known people who have hosted exchange students, and they have always had a great time, so when I heard about this I jumped at the opportunity.”

Photo Credit: Samantha Schwartz

Franco (far right) poses with his host Mckinsey (second from right) and other Lawrence High Spanish students. His welcome party on Thursday Jan. 21 was complete with fresh-baked cookies, juice and a several performances by Franco on the harp

Free State exhange students bring Paraguay’s spirit to the heartland

By Sara Kenigsberg · February 1, 2010 

Free State High foreign exchange students from Paraguay delivered a cultural presentation Monday at Van Go

Using art as the vehicle, Van Go is devoted to delivering constructive activities to children at risk for drug and alcohol use, teen pregnancy, truancy or delinquency.

Founded in 1997 as an innovative way to help fill existing gaps in social services, Van Go has been a lifeline for hundreds of kids and teens in crisis.

This year’s group from Itapúa spent several hours learning more about Van Go and also participating in several cultural and creative activities, including sharing items of cultural significance from Paraguay and singing, dancing and sharing information about Paraguay.

There was also time for pizza and brownies–special thanks to Jane Imber for helping to arrange the day and helping to make it a special time for everybody involed.

Here are some photos–it was fun!

photos from the amazing fiesta-

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