Exchange Program to Continue

Chilean Visitors Stage Lively
Demonstration of Their Culture

By Margaret Lipman (September 22, 2005)

Masonites celebrated the success of the second year of the Chile – U.S. exchange program yesterday with a cultural presentation featuring traditional Chilean music and dance.  Principal Bob Snee and IB Coordinator Brian Dickson (a prominent organizer of the program) started off the presentation with a welcome to the Mason students -- en español, of course.  Ms. Andrea de Gatica (a former GMHS educator) and her sister, Ms. Nena de Gatica, an art teacher at Trewhela’s School in Santiago, explained the history of the program, from its start as a vision of linking two continents and cultures to a reality in which two groups of Trewhela’s School students and two groups of George Mason students have visited each other’s countries.

The Chilean students – wearing traditional, brightly colored costumes -- performed such dances as “Cielito” and “La Estrella,” representing the various regions of the culturally diverse nation, which boasts around 6,435 kilometers of coastline.  The Chilean students also performed three “Cuecas,” the national dance of Chile.  They were joined in the last “Cueca” by many of the Mason students (as well as Mr. Dickson) who had visited Chile during Spring Break and were now hosting Chilean guests.

Students enjoy a variety of food at Sunday's picnic.

Trewhela’s School music teacher Ricardo Jofré concluded the musical program with “La Mariposa,” which was sung by both Trewhela’s School and GMHS students.

Although the 20 Chilean students will return to Santiago on Friday, this is by no means the end of the exchange program.  Despite earlier doubts about organizing another trip to Chile in the absence of Ms. Andrea de Gatica, Mr. Dickson assured students that for Spring Break 2006, there would indeed be another opportunity to continue the experience that is quickly becoming a Mason tradition.