Peruvian Student Exchange: All's Well That Ends Well

GEOGRAPHY LESSON - Gabriel Richard High School students Mary Heil (left), Robert Esteves and Laura Magliano hosted several young Peruvian students during the past week, including Marco Gayozzo (second from right) and Jorge Herbozo (right). The two South American students are among 15 young people spending several weeks in Ann Arbor as part of an educational exchange. (Staff photo by Larry E. Wright)

Peruvian student exchange: all’s well that ends well

By Roger Le Lievre

EDUCATION REPORTER 

A visit to Ann Arbor by 15 high school students from Peru is “working out and going smoothly” following an uncertain start nearly a month ago.

The confusion and concern that surrounded the students’ arrival subsided in the wake of explanations by Translex, Inc., a student exchange firm that helped bring the teenagers to the United States.

Now, Sue Reinhart, Ann Arbor program consultant for Translex, says the young people’s stay is winding down to busy and happy ending.

When the Peruvian students showed up rather unexpectedly Jan. 28, Ann Arbor school officials expressed concern because the school board had vetoed an exchange program with Translex and the foreign students weeks earlier.

But Peruvian organizers of the trip say they were aware before they came the Ann Arbor school board had voted “no” on the exchange, but decided to come anyway as an “educational tour.”

NOW THE YOUNG people are in the midst of a busy schedule of classroom visitations, museum tours, and trips to Detroit, the Jackson Space Center, and Fairlane Shopping Mall.

This week students concluded a four-day visit to Gabriel Richard High School, Greenhills, St. Thomas Academy and Pioneer High. They have been staying with local hosts after living for the first few days in a local hotel.

Language and culture classes have also been continuing at the Translex offices, 1955 Pauline Blvd.

“There have been so many that have helped us: Mr. McDowell at Greenhills; Dr. Madley at Gabriel Richard; Sue Tons, Spanish teacher at Pioneer; Mary Daby at St. Francis...and so many others,” said Reinhart.”

The University of Michigan Alumni Association has offered to lead a U-M tour, as have officials at Concordia College.

“We’ve been busy,” is how Reinhart summed up the past few weeks.

MEANWHILE, Robert Moseley, assistant superintendent for Ann Arbor schools, says the local district is still adhering to a hands-off policy because of possible liability as well as board policy that says only “approved” groups can come in.