“A big thank you to each one of you.

The last three weeks have felt like a whirlwind, and if we step back to reflect on all the amazing adventures during that time period, it is obvious why. Thank you for making the last three weeks such a huge success for the students, school, and international program. I could not be happier with the academic, social, and individual learning and growth that we saw. I was so proud of each one of your students for stepping up to show our Colombian visitors who we are, what we love to do, and how we are a community and family.

The entire class banded together, as did each of you. Thank you for organizing so many meaningful experiences outside of school. I really enjoyed seeing our Grade 8 community and select Grade 9 families connecting outside of school. What happens in school is part of making these experiences important in our students’ lives, but the relationships built in your homes, and events as a group that help to build friendships, are what make the experience meaningful for all of us.

Thank you again for opening your homes and your support of our students and program.”

Remy – hanging out with friends in a cafe in Paris

Sarah – beautiful canals in Amsterdam

Paul – tiny neighborhood of Montmartre

Ryan Sandeen – weinerschnitzel in Amsterdam

Alex Rose – view of Paris from Sacre Coeur cathedral

Coleman – buildings along the canals in Amsterdam

Asher – being back in Amsterdam after 4 years and walking the twisting

alleys

Elena – being face to face with the Van Gogh self-portrait in the Musee

d’Orsay

Chris – the ease of crisscrossing Europe via train. One train ride

three countries!

Tatjana – seeing the Eiffel Tower light up in the early evening and

the quite inside the Notre Dame cathedral

Lydia – the intimate nature of Montmartre and the Sacre Couer.

Dylan – being on top of the Eiffel Tower

Sam – jamming into crowded metros

Maddi – Paris nightlife

Stearne – tiny cups of coffee in the cafes

Reagan – first view of the Eiffel Tower (after coming out of the

Trocadero metro stop)

Ryan g – speaking French with people

Lucas – seeing Paris from the Eiffel Tower

Jon – the relaxed atmosphere of Amsterdam (compared to the hustle

bustle of Paris) and the walkable nature of the city. Calm.

Sara Chu – being able to communicate with people in French. Feeling

more connected to the culture with less of a language barrier

Austin – immense size and beauty and immaculate preservation of Sacre

Coeur.

Had a great evening. After dinner we walked up the hill to Sacre Coeur

and were able to walk through the cathedral and sit down for a while

in silence and marvel at the sheer size and absolute magnificence of

the place. Students couldn’t belive their eyes and Paul and Asher went

back in as the rest of the group marveled at the view of Paris spread

out below. After a quick spin through the streets of Monmarte and “the

best ice cream in the world” we hit the metro and were amazed by how

much Laumiere, our final metro stop at the hotel, has come to feel

like home.

Good luck to the seniors from all of us!  We’re praying for good

weather!

Ben

Sacre Coeur

Andrew

After spending the morning in classes on Thursday, the students teamed up with some of Riverstone’s senior class for a tour of the State Capital and a tour of Boise on the famous trolley bus.

They were even treated to a site of the annual tea party at the capital building.

Andrew Derry

Ahhhh, we’ve just completed our last day of regular classes.  Today was spent working on the collaborative project, followed by a “surprise” going away party for the Riverstone students.  There was a great dance with a DJ, a live concert, volleyball, soccer, and concession tables.  It was over the top!  We had so much fun dancing, playing, and soaking up the very, very strong Colombian sunshine.  As the school day drew to close, the students starting talking about how hard it will be to leave.  Yes, they are getting very sad.  Many students took pictures throughout the day of the campus and their friends, all in an attempt to capture the wonderful experiences they’ve had.

Tomorrow, we will go on a field trip to several neighboring towns such as Sopo and Chia.  After visiting the towns, we will go to a traditional ranch for a farewell barbecue and games.  Another great day is in store for our students!  I’ll update you upon our return in the evening.

Katie

To view photos click here or here

The six students and two teachers, Gloria and Reinaldo, arrived yesterday will be with us for 10 days.

Riverstone students will have the opportunity to spend time in Rio later this year.

Thank you to all of our generous host families and welcome to our Brazilian guests!

Andrew

I am sitting with Katie and the kids in Math class again.  Today is their second lesson with trigonometry.  Seems like it is going OK.  Some of the kids are having a tough time with the current problem on the board.  They are solving for two sides of a triangle using sin, cosine and tan.

Katie and I spoke with each of the kids as they arrived this morning.  They had a phenomenal time at the water park this weekend!

After math they are moving into two hours of project time.  That will be from 1000-1200 Boise time.  We are starting that project time with an azimuth check by group.  I hope to find out if the intercontinental groups actually made contact on Sunday evening or not.  At any rate, I really think we should schedule a bit of time at 1130 Boise time for a Skype for the intercontinental groups.
Andy

As Katie Litzenberger takes over form Andy Johnson in Bogota, here is Katie’s morning update…….

Well, as Andy packs to leave, I am just getting grounded here in Bogota.  The kids are really enjoying their days here.  It’s great to see all of them together, working on projects, and learning so much about the culture.  You’d be amazed at their level of Spanish after only one week.  It’s really quite impressive.

Today’s classes consisted of math (another trig. lesson), project time, and P.E.  All of the teachers are extremely enthusiastic and make the learning inclusive and fun for all.  You’ll see some attached photos, all from the computer lab. Students are on the road to completing their collaborative projects and things are definitely beginning to take shape.

Oh, one other thing to mention is the farewell lunch that was held for Andy.  All of the CIEDI students signed a lovely card and the teachers provided a little toast and cake for his goodbye. Everyone is sad to see him go.  I know he’s left a very strong and positive impression.

Well, I’ll write more tomorrow.  I’m still a bit jet lagged, so I feel like I’m trying to write through a fog. Tomorrow we are on a field trip to the mountains.  It should be beautiful and awesome.

Katie

Click here for photos

The first words out of the kids’ mouths at the wrap-up yesterday were:  “CANCEL THE TICKETS!”  They are having a great time.  Yesterday they participated in the filming of a dramatized version of The Diary of Anne Frank.  They played the roles of the Germans and Dutch police who arrested the Franks.  Not a glory filled role, but one that they played well and seriously.  Apparently, they are going to enter the film in a South American film festival for school age children.  Our kids could be famous!

Next we spent a couple of hours in Spanish. Another excellent session during which we practiced in groups with conversation about everyday life, worked on vocabulary related to the family and the house.  We wrapped up with skits.  I participated as well.  I had a great time.  However, I want to make special mention of Jenny and Kristin’s group.  They participated in a simulation of television broadcast interviewing two norteamericanas visiting Bogota.  Kristin and Jenny’s Spanish was very fluent and relaxed.  They were amazing.

We also had about an hour of project time that all the kids spent finishing research and collaborating.

We finished the day with an hour and a half of dance.  Yes, I danced (and danced, and danced).  There is no other choice in Colombia.  We had a great time.  CIEDI’s dance teacher is phenomenal.  We practiced the meringue, the salsa and the cumbia.

…all well this morning.  Kids are doing great….well, that may not be entirely true.  We are currently in math class learning trigonometry in Spanish….a topic I find singularly puzzling…more so in Spanish.  I see our kids taking notes….that at least is a good sign.  We’re moving to Spanish next.  We will be singing I’ve been told.  Another one of my least strong suits  :)

We also had an excellent presentation on the Andean Condor by a group of men directly involved in reintroduction efforts here in Colombia.  We really got into the importance of gaining the buy in from the local population, demonstrating economic benefits from reintroduction and the importance of battling long-standing myths surrounding the condor.  I took a ton of notes.  Another aspect of the presentation that was superb was the demonstrated “sharing” of resources between the San Diego Zoo and the wildlife biologists here in Colombia.

Finally, I included four pictures from Math.  Juan Paulo is the mathematics teacher.  The other three, random photographs are of our kids furiously taking notes.  Juan Paulo is doing a great job.  He and I coordinated before class to confirm that he would do it in Spanish.  I felt strongly that was the best COA especially since the language of mathematics is international.  Erik G. just leaned over and remarked how much he was understanding just because of that one basic fact.

My last update was during the middle of math when the kids were learning some basic trigonometry…all in Spanish.  From what I understand almost all of the kids were able to successfully do the practice problems at the end of the hour.  Both Claudia and Juan Paulo were circulating and helping.  It was great to see the Riverstone kids helping Colombians and vice versa.  I was so impressed.  They are incredible kids.  Their parents should be very, very proud.

During the hour before lunch Dora Liz introduced us to a song by Juanes which we all practiced for an hour.  It was a great exercise for working our fluency with different word combinations and to increase our confidence with the language.  I think they are going to perform it next week (get ready Katie….Dora Liz doesn’t speak English and she really wants us to learn Spanish)

Lunch was great.  A huge amount of food and a lot of conversation with the other teachers.

We wrapped up the day with a 8-11 assembly.  Our kids did a short powerpoint about Idaho and then they performed the Cotton Eyed Joe.  CIEDI then put on a super cool music presentation by the 8th and 9th students.  It turned into the best school dance of ALL TIME!!!  I was dragged out on the floor by the juniors and danced, and danced.

More tomorrow!
Andy Johnson