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The FOGHORN
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
August 6, 2020
Aya Holcomb - HMB Exchange Student to Chile
Article by Steve Wilson
Screen Shots by Dianne Bobko
The normal order of business was changed to allow guest speaker Aya Holcomb, our just-returned-from-Chile Rotary Exchange Student representative, to present about her year. Aya was joined by her parents, Mari and Tom Holcomb, who host-parented Laura Ludwig, our Exchange Student this last year, for the entire year during her time in HMB.
Aya is headed for Binghamton U. for her undergraduate years and plans to study Biology. This past year was a "gap" year for her, and Binghamton carried over her admission a year.
Aya gave a very well-organized presentation and shared pictures about her time in Santiago. Chile is a nation of 18 M, with 6 M in her city. It is very much a first-world major city with a thriving commercial center and may high-rises. She described life with two host families, the first living in the wealthiest district in the East end of the city, the second in a more suburban or family environment in the South end of the city. the father in her first host family (Schell) is a retired General whose three sons have already participated in RYE. Aya attended a K-12 academy requiring uniforms (this simplified fashion dilemmas). This school was founded by the military and many students had active or retired military parents.
Aya described Chilean culture as being immediately warm and welcoming, with the traditional greeting being a form of kiss on the cheek (sadly suspended for Covid). the culture is very family-centered. Mid-day (big) meal is about 2:00 PM, with dessert. Strict quarantine requiring passes for travel was imposed initially because of Covid and has been reimposed at other points. This necessary precaution was widely observed but very much at odds with the culture and tradition.
Aya described especially vivid events during last September and October. September was a month of national celebration, commemorating its independence movement. October started a period of intense national unrest, with multiple street demonstrations and some violence. A form of martial law was imposed with curfews, and military were conspicuously deployed throughout the city. This is the first such use of the military since the dictator Pinochet. One march was estimated at 1.2 M participants, an indicator of the concern over issues such as reforms in education, pensions, minimum wages, health benefits, transportation and the constitution. Exchange students were kept very safe while this was going on.
Food was one of Aya's favorite things, and she described in words and pictures a number of regional and local specialties. The 30+ RYE students were able to travel to exciting places like the Atacama Desert and Patagonia before the Covid shutdown.
The club thanked Aya for the excellent presentation, and President Mary presented a virtual certificate (and It's Italia gift certificate) to her parents., Mari and Tom Holcomb.
Club Meeting - August 6, 2020
President Mary convened our meeting and Ralph Ely read an Inspirational Thought.
Guests
We greeted guests Laura Ludwig (ex-Exchange, now in Brazil) and Marla Dickson. Ginger checked in from her summer home in Michigan.
Laura checked in from Brazil and reported feeling isolated due to the Covid requirements. The change of worlds from HMB has been difficult.
Happy/Crappy News
Mitone says beach cleanup this Saturday and reported that other clubs are doing cleanups as well. Pacifica will assist us.
Mary announced virtual happy hour August 16 at 5:00 PM. Rose is in the process of organizing something with OLP church to provide backpacks for the coming school year.
Kevin and Debbie went to Pismo through Big Sur to visit granddaughter, very enjoyable; but the accommodations at Pismo (required pool reservations), gloomy weather and take-out only eating were not so great.
Ginger is enjoying herself in Michigan, with Covid measures about the same as here.
We had a drawing, which was won by Ed this week, but he got the green marble.
PHOTO GALLERY
