Farewell Dinner
Last night we had our farewell dinner at a local Pizzeria with Rodizio, where they come around with various offerings, sort of a buffet brought to your table.
The highlight, of course, was not the food, but the opportunity to formally say "Good-bye" to the many people we learned to know here. As Kirsten said at our presentation, "We arrived as friends but we leave as family". Well said, Kirsten.
I don´t think anyone from Astorga came and we hoped to see João Carlos and Rita and others, though several from Astorga told us at the conference that they could not make it, including Aran.
Manoel and Beth from Arapongas were there as well as the da Costa family, Luis Octavio and Ana Maria along with Nalini, and Luis Carlos and Marcia.
From Apucarana, we had Gilberto and Val and their daughters, Joacir and Eliete with Maria Clara, and others. Of course, many people from Londrina were there including Jose Botelho and spouse, Dimas and family along with Andrea from Matamoros and the youth exchange fellow from Belgium, Jose Pelayo from the Rotary Foundation, and all of the local host families.
After some formal good-byes, it was time to say our final farewells to those from out of town, with some tears of course.
Both sides sincerely opened their homes to their new family and hoped to see each other at some future time. Whether or not that happens. . . . .
Okay, so it´s noon on Monday and we meet at the airport in two hours for our departure. Not sure about the others, but my bags are packed and I did not need to leave too many things behind. Recommendation for the future: either bring along plenty of things to leave behind or bring back things for the other exchange group to lighten their load, or leave plenty of space for gifts from your hosts. You´ll welcome any extra space you have.
This may be out last post from Brazil but hopefuly we can add some photos once we get home on Wednesday.
Roz is staying with a friend for some extra days in Rio while the rest of us have less than a day on our own. The busy pace there should help us sleep some on our flight home, otherwise we´ll be sleeping in the Miami airport on arrival.
My wife, Sharon, is planning to be in Indianapolis by the time we arrive to take the Fort Wayne people back to Fort Wayne before we get back to Goshen. Some parents of Fort Wayne people may meet us in Indianapolis. We´ll see.
Thanks for following our experience and we would love to show you our pictures when you have several hours!
Doug
The highlight, of course, was not the food, but the opportunity to formally say "Good-bye" to the many people we learned to know here. As Kirsten said at our presentation, "We arrived as friends but we leave as family". Well said, Kirsten.
I don´t think anyone from Astorga came and we hoped to see João Carlos and Rita and others, though several from Astorga told us at the conference that they could not make it, including Aran.
Manoel and Beth from Arapongas were there as well as the da Costa family, Luis Octavio and Ana Maria along with Nalini, and Luis Carlos and Marcia.
From Apucarana, we had Gilberto and Val and their daughters, Joacir and Eliete with Maria Clara, and others. Of course, many people from Londrina were there including Jose Botelho and spouse, Dimas and family along with Andrea from Matamoros and the youth exchange fellow from Belgium, Jose Pelayo from the Rotary Foundation, and all of the local host families.
After some formal good-byes, it was time to say our final farewells to those from out of town, with some tears of course.
Both sides sincerely opened their homes to their new family and hoped to see each other at some future time. Whether or not that happens. . . . .
Okay, so it´s noon on Monday and we meet at the airport in two hours for our departure. Not sure about the others, but my bags are packed and I did not need to leave too many things behind. Recommendation for the future: either bring along plenty of things to leave behind or bring back things for the other exchange group to lighten their load, or leave plenty of space for gifts from your hosts. You´ll welcome any extra space you have.
This may be out last post from Brazil but hopefuly we can add some photos once we get home on Wednesday.
Roz is staying with a friend for some extra days in Rio while the rest of us have less than a day on our own. The busy pace there should help us sleep some on our flight home, otherwise we´ll be sleeping in the Miami airport on arrival.
My wife, Sharon, is planning to be in Indianapolis by the time we arrive to take the Fort Wayne people back to Fort Wayne before we get back to Goshen. Some parents of Fort Wayne people may meet us in Indianapolis. We´ll see.
Thanks for following our experience and we would love to show you our pictures when you have several hours!
Doug
posted by Doug Risser at 7:52 AM
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