Mrs. Laura Bush poses for a photo with Youth Ambassadors representing Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, Friday, Jan. 26, 2006, during their visit to the White House.

Washington -- Fifty teenagers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay met with first lady Laura Bush at the White House, talked with two Supreme Court justices and spent a day at an American secondary school during their January 24-27 visit to Washington as participants in the 2007 Youth Ambassadors Program.

Each year, qualified secondary-school students compete for slots in the program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Brazil in cooperation with Partners of the Americas, Brazil’s Ministry of Education, U.S.-Brazil binational centers and other entities. Originally aimed at Brazilians, the Youth Ambassadors Program now has been expanded to include students from the Southern Cone countries as well.

The program, launched in 2002, offers young people the chance to broaden their knowledge of U.S. culture and improve their English language skills by touring Washington and living for about nine days with a U.S. host family.

Applicants must attend public schools, demonstrate academic achievement, be involved in some form of community service and not have traveled abroad previously.

Youth Ambassadors visit the U.S. Supreme Court. Youth Ambassadors pose for a photo with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.

NAVIGATING WASHINGTON

During their time in Washington, the students visited the Bullis School, a private coeducational institution in suburban Potomac, Maryland, where they joined U.S. teenagers for a full day of classes and took part in classroom discussions. They also were treated to a hip-hop dance class and an opportunity to ice skate.

The following morning they toured the White House, where they were greeted by first lady Laura Bush. They also visited the U.S. Supreme Court -- with half the group meeting Associate Justice Stephen Breyer and the other half meeting Associate Justice Antonin Scalia -- and the U.S. State Department. On their final day the students toured several museums and major landmarks.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES

During most of their two-week visit to the United States, the students live with host families in various cities and attend local public secondary schools. When they gathered in Washington, half of the youth ambassadors already had completed host-family visits.

“I enjoyed every moment of this trip,” said 18-year-old Rebecca Mayara Cavalcanti de Carvalho, a Brazilian who had stayed with a family in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her initial fear -- that Americans might be aloof -- proved groundless. “I stayed with the Bernstein family,” she said. “They tried to make me feel at home. My host mom tried to explain a lot about North Carolina; she was fantastic.”

The Bernsteins invited Mayara to attend their synagogue with them. “The prayers were in Hebrew,” she recalled. By observing the Bernstein family performing the rituals of their Jewish faith, “I became more tolerant” of different practices, Mayara said. “I feel it’s very important to be respectful.”

Osvaldo Rojas Cardozo, 17, of Paraguay, commented on the warm welcome everyone received in Washington. One highlight for him was the visit to the Bullis School because of the animated dialogue between students and teachers. “It’s a very different teaching style than in Paraguay,” Cardozo said. “At home, teachers don’t interact as much with students.”

Three other Paraguayans -- Maria Laura Zorrilla, Rossana Lopez and Daysi Garcia Carballo, all 17 -- also mentioned the differences in U.S. and Paraguayan teaching methods. “There was a lot of back-and-forth conversation between students and teachers [at Bullis],” said Zorrilla. “In Paraguay, there is lots of memorizing, and fewer books are available.” The Bullis School “is really big, and the students were friendly,” said Lopez.

The four Paraguayans are heading to Lawrence, Kansas, for their host-family visits.

GOALS AS YOUTH AMBASSADORS, AND BEYOND

All the students said they hope to stay in touch with the other Youth Ambassadors and their new friends in the United States. They plan to share stories about their U.S. travels while continuing their volunteer activities and reaching out to the disadvantaged. And all of them plan to attend university and pursue careers after they graduate.

The need for more civic involvement is one of the core lessons of the Youth Ambassadors program, the students said. They told USINFO the program has motivated them to seek new ways to contribute to their communities. And without exception, the students expressed a desire to dispel stereotypes about Latin America -- and about the United States.

“People are not that different inside,” said Cardozo. “Culture and customs are different, but not people.”

Lauren Monsen
USINFO Staff Writer

 

URUGUAYAN YOUTH AMBASSADORS WRITE HOME

Youth Ambassador Lucia Recalde, age 17, of Las Piedras High School No.1 in Canelones, writes from Washington: Our Washington Visit Following our busy but enjoyable schedule, we started our day with a freezing walk to the world-famous White House. Although we are accustomed to see it in the media, being there was an amazing experience. We walked throughout the East, Chinese, Green, Blue and Red Rooms. Then, waiting our turn to take a picture with First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush, we gathered all together in the Chinese room, where we could appreciate part of the every day furniture that American presidents have had. The picture with the First Lady was a highly remarkable moment, we will not forget in our whole life! She was brief in her speech but really kind with us. That's why we tried to enjoy it as far as we could, as we were aware of the few people that have this opportunity. Now, it's time for the U.S. Supreme Court. My first impression is surprising, I've got astonished with it's sophisticated marble building! Then, we were received by one of the most important Supreme Court judges, Justice Antonin Scalia. He was so kind with us, but he also made time to teach us how the law-system works in the United States. Then, we visited the library of the Supreme Court, where a woman told us of its history. We had lunch at 1:00 p.m at the cafeteria of the building, where we could rest for a while, and gather energy, as well. After that, we took the bus again, and we visited the Department of State. There, we had a meeting with both the Brazilian youth ambassadors group, and with Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon, whose experience, and vocation made the talk a highlighted moment. The questions the Youth Ambassadors made were really interesting and the answers became a kind of open-minding vision and advice about the Youth Ambassadors program, from Mr. Shannon's point of view. So we really had a good time there!! Then, we broke the rules and took a metro trip, which was not included in our agenda. However, as it was getting darker and colder, as well, we went to the Chamber of Commerce, as to share some time with a Brazilian group that was ending their Youth Ambassadors experience in the United States. We had a great time there, we danced, talked to them, and they shared their experience with us. We got on well with them, and exchanged our e-mails, so that we can keep in touch in the future. Finally, we came back to the hotel, tired but enthusiastic about the opportunity we are given with this program, and the unforgettable moments we are sharing with each other. Lucia

Youth Ambassador Renzo Costa, age 15, of Tala High School in Canelones, writes from Washington: The last day in Washigton before the trip to states Saturday 26 January of 2007, the day started quietly but the rest of the day wasn't. We had breakfast and after we were ready to leave the hotel and enjoy this wonderful day. First we went to visit the "Thomas Jefferson Memorial", and I felt as if I were in a temple of the most important laws written for who wrote the Declaration of Independence and was the third president of the USA. Then we visited the "Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial" that it has some small falls with ice, and a few quotations written by Roosevelt, it's was amazing. After that we saw "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial" that it had the names of the people who died in the Vietnam War, and also I realized that the people there were very serious. After we entered to "Lincoln Memorial " that had a big statue of him. I think that Lincoln is important for USA because he could keep the union between the north and the south. And we saw the "Corean War Memorial" While we were going to the Air and Space museum we saw a march in favor of peace in the world and principaly in Iraq and we decided to walk into the march. Then we had lunch at Mc Donald's in the Air and Space museum. We walked and saw very interesting things in this museum but the thing that most impreased me is the Combat Plane Simulator. I like the airplans but I love the simulator because gives you the oportunity to feel as inside a real plane, it's was fantastic!!! After we visited the "American Indian Museum" that had a lot of things about Indian cultures . We had dinner at Chinese restaurant, chinese food are very awful and spicy. I don't like it. And finally we went to hockey game (DC Capitols vs South Carolina Hurricanes) at Verizon center. It's was exellent because the stadium was fantastic, the people was funny but principaly the game was perfect. For me this was the best part of the day. Renzo

Youth Ambassador Valentina Groposo, age 17, of Tarariras High School in Colonia, writes from Minnesota: I think today was an exciting day for all the Youth Ambassadors, because we have met the families which we are going to live with for the next eight days. The Uruguayan group left the airport at midday and we arrived to Minnesota two hours later. I was very nervous because I did not know how my family would react until we met. My host-family, as the other families that were waiting for us at the airport, are so friendly and amiable... My host-family is so nice that they had hung a Uruguayan flag on their door!!! Now I realize that people are very similar all over the world, even though they come from different places and have different cultures. One thing people who I have met have in common -Youth Ambassadors from other countries, their escorts, Partners of the Americas staff and my host-family- is that they are openminded and always want to enhance their knowledge about other costumes or languages. I would have to say that I am very glad to be here, in the United States, and I have to give thanks to the Embassy of the United States in Montevideo and to Partners of the Americas for giving me this opportunity and to my host-family for receiving me at their home. I would also have to say that I am having a great time here and I will never forget this fulfilling experience! Valentina

 
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