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Sue Reget: November 2005
Verona Area High School: Madison, WI
US to Lebanon BRIDGE Exchange
 The BRIDGE
program has left me both proud and amazed at the honesty, dedication
and sincerity of all involved in the exchange program. Having hosted
our Lebanese counterparts as well as completing our three week visit to
Lebanon, I have seen the entire circle of the program complete
itself. In both exchanges the host families were kind,
considerate, friendly, generous and committed to the program. To
know that every student will continue to communicate with his/her hosts
is testimony itself to the selection process of the families. It was
touching to see my students so moved when they had to finally say
good-bye to the host families.
Another
unforgettable component of the exchange was the welcome the entire
staff and student body at Universal School of Lebanon showed us. We all
felt absolutely comfortable and at ease with everyone in the school. By
staying in a classroom with host Lebanese students each Verona guest
was able to understand the curriculum, teaching styles, and schedule at
USL. The farewell party, with music, dance and presents was
incredible. To dance with the student body and teachers was absolute
fun and sincerely touching that they would make such an effort to bid
us goodbye. The Verona students will continue to talk about that
afternoon for a very long time.
Our tours of the
country provided us with an understanding of the long, treasured
history of Lebanon. Each of us had a different favorite site-from the
Ehden preserve, the Phoenician wall at Jbail, the grandeur of Baalbeck
or the souks of Tripoli. Our hosts proudly shared their culture
with us and we understand much more clearly the well deserved pride the
Lebanese have of their country.
The most special
events for me were the presentations our students gave for various
audiences. It was truly humbling to observe the seriousness,
earnestness and sense of humor that marked their presentations. I saw
them become more mature students who understood their mission as
ambassadors of goodwill. The reception they received, especially at the
schools in the south was so genuine that I knew the goals of the BRIDGE
program had been met.
By communicating
through the iEARN forum we were able to put aside some of our
apprehension about travel and the changing political environment.
It was especially fun to read the messages of the Lebanese Bridge
students who sounded so eager to see us in their country. Surprisingly,
we heard from students not part of the exchange who read the hundreds
of messages and followed the exchange unfold. The forum is an
indispensable format to encourage and facilitate communication between
the groups.
While watching a
presentation I felt the most profound sense of pride in all those
involved in the BRIDGE program. I have never worked with people who
have exuded such a sense of passion and commitment to a project over an
extended period of time. The separate organizations, the US Department
of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultrual Affairs, iEARN and AYUSA
all joined together and worked seamlessly. Every person I came in
contact with - the USL staff and student body, every school and its
students we visited, Eliane of iEARN-Lebanon, Christine at
iEARN-USA, Edith, Judith, and Ryan of the US Embassy staff, Megan
of AYUSA and all the remarkable individuals who hosted or helped-moved
me with their absolute sincerity and dedication. It was very special to
see the U.S. Embassy staff at our presentations and at an Iftar at the
Embassy. Their commitment really impressed me and I knew that their
support of the BRIDGE program was not just one of funding but of deep
seated passion to promote goodwill. Correspondingly, Megan Kenny of
AYUSA was instrumental in taking a sometimes shaky exchange to
completion. Her constant reassurance, diplomacy and patience created a
sense of confidence with the Verona BRIDGE parents that solidified
their desire to complete the circle of the exchange.
The Bridge
program allowed the students, staff, host families and communities of
Verona Area High School and Universal School of Lebanon to experience
the best of different worlds. That success will hopefully continue to
motivate the groups to communicate with one another-wherever in the
world they may be.
Click here to return to BRIDGE Testimonial page.
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