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Published on Monday, July 25, 2005, in the Tracy Press.
On the first day of each new school year, teachers pass
out sheets of paper and ask their students to answer the question, “What
did you do on your summer vacation?”
For five Tracy teens, that first essay will be a breeze to write this year.
Along with chaperones Gene Birk, a member of the Tracy Sister City
Association, and Deanne Andrade, an eighth-grade teacher at Jefferson
Elementary School, students Niko Van Wonterghem, Sami Berenger, Jeff Hallam
and Alena Skelton, all 14, and Lorraine Davies, 13, spent a week in the
Azores earlier this month.
A 400-mile-long archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores were
colonized by the Portuguese and the Dutch in the mid-15th century. The
islands acted as a go-between for early explorers, such as Ponce de Leone
and John Cabot, on their way to the Western hemisphere. The early history
of the Azores is filled with tales of pirates and volcanic eruptions, but
despite these challenges, the islands flourished.
Ten years ago, in his search for Tracy’s next sister city, Gene Birk was
advised by leaders of the Portuguese community in Tracy to consider the
Azores, as many of them had familial and historical ties to one of the
islands, Sao Jorge. Birk quickly became intrigued with the island, he said.
The Tracy Sister City Association chose Sao Jorge’s biggest city, Velas, as
Tracy’s newest sister.
This is the second time a group of Tracy teens has traveled to Velas. The
first trip took place in 2003.
There is a rigorous application process for kids who wish to participate in
the youth exchange programs with Velas or Memuro, Japan — Tracy’s other
sister city — including a series of essays and interviews with the Tracy
Sister City board of directors. The trips, which cost between $1,000 and
$2,000, are paid through fundraising by the students.
Students attend monthly meetings to learn about the culture, folklore and
history of the Azores. They also learn a few important Portuguese phrases,
such as “Onde esta a casa de banho?” (Where is the bathroom?) and “Socorro!
Estou perdido!” (Help! I’m lost!)
Despite their extensive preparation, the travelers experienced moments of
surprise and discovery on their trip.
“I was surprised at how everything looked,” Alena said. “I expected a
European vibe, and I kind of got that, but (Velas) reminded me of San
Francisco because everything was on a hill. It was very urban, and I didn’t
think it would be like that.”
“I was surprised at the amount of people on the streets other than driving
cars,” Jeff said. “And when you drive around no one wears seatbelts.”
Because of some communication difficulties, the names and addresses of the
students’ host families were unknown to the chaperones and the children
before the trip, and Lorraine said she was a little nervous initially
because she didn’t know where they were staying or who they were going to
be with. The confusion didn’t last, however, and the kids spoke fondly of
their host families.
“I liked the host families very much,” Lorraine said. “They were very, very
kind and always made sure we had everything we needed.”
The kids unanimously agreed that the trip to Pico, a neighboring island, was
the highlight of the trip. Birk, Andrade and the students traveled in a
fishing boat to visit Pico’s whale museum and volcano, Mount Pico.
The group also explored Sao Jorge, visiting the dairies that are the center
of the island’s economy and attending a small festa across the island in
Topo, Sao Jorge’s second-largest city. They even schmoozed with the mayors
of Topo and Velas while attending the festivities.
The students all said they would offer words of encouragement to the next
batch of students planning to go to the Azores.
“I would encourage (other students) to go because it broadens your mind to
what island life is really like,” Alena said. “Not all islands are like
Hawaii and touristy. It’s cool to try to fit in with a new culture and
discover things about the world that most people don’t know. It really is
an eye-opening experience.”
“The best part about Velas is that it’s really laid-back,” Niko said. “You
get to see this wonderful place, see what Portuguese culture is like, and
have fun with friends.”
Anxious to return such wonderful hospitality, Birk has been working to
bring kids from Velas to Tracy, but the process has not been easy, he said.
“We’re hoping that if the current mayor of Velas gets re-elected this year
we’ll be able to bring some of their kids to Tracy,” he said.
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