After all the hazzle of obtaining Canadian visas, our two scholarship students and Rebeca Galindo arrived for a ten day visit. What a joy to watch the girls experience wonder over so many things. They marveled at our beautiful Bow Valley and all its splendor. Thanks to John and Mary Cranston they had the thrill of a rafting trip down the Kananaskis River. Despite being frozen solid, they really enjoyed the experience. I had an added joy of having my 2 sons and sister here for a surprise visit at the same time. My family was such a help in entertaining the Guatemala guests. It was an opportunity for my natural family and my Guatemala family to get to know each other and better understand each others culture.
We took the girls to the Canmore Highland Games. They were blown away by the bagpipes and the marching bands. We spent 2 days in Jasper with stops along the way to photograph glaciers, falls, and Ice Fields. The girls had to taste snow since this was their 1st time seeing it. Thanks goodness it was a warm day at the Icefields. They attended the Canmore Rotary Club and were warmly welcomed. Doug and Lynn Jones took them to tour the Calgary Zoo which they loved. They saw animals they have never seen before. They rode the gondola up Sulphur Mountain in Banff. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and muffins up there as it was a very cool, windy day. It has actually snowed the night before on the mountain. They canoed on lake Louise. They chose to canoe rather than hike to the Tea House. Cannot say I blame them. We had a fun barbecue at my house for them, H&H Board members, and some scholarship sponsors. It was a really fun night. The girls did a presentation about Guatemala which everyone enjoyed. There were several dinners with family and friends that filled almost every minute of every day.
Would I bring scholarship students again to Canada ? You bet I would. The best outcome was these girls learned so much about Canada and Hearts & Hands. The visit gave them a better understanding of me and the country of the volunteers they meet 3 times a year. I think they were sometimes overwhelmed by what they saw and experienced. Someone asked me if I was concerned about them being unhappy with their lives after they see our affluent lifestyles. The answer is no. These girls are so well grounded in their family and their country and the desire to help their communities, they did not go home with any envy or unhappiness. They were just overjoyed to have had this opportunity. They are safely now back home and I am sure trying to encapsulate all the things they learned and saw. They must a little tired because I know I am.
Now it is on the the next event. Our annual fundraiser is this Thursday(15th) and then off to Guatemala on Friday with another group.
Till the next time, Jan
