"¡Qué bárbaro!" is an Argentine expression that roughly translates to "How cool!" Our first three school days at Colegio Inmaculada have been bárbaro indeed. Warm receptions. Kind families. Outgoing host brothers. Lively classrooms.
The school is entering into its four hundredth year of operation under the Jesuits and has a jardín (kindergarten), primaria (primary school), and secundaria (secondary school) on one campus. Some students spend nearly fifteen years in the all-boys school. ¡Qué bárbaro!
Monday began with the daily Argentina flag raising and national anthem, followed by the familiar "San Ignacio de Loyola," to which we dutifully responded, "Ruega por nosotros" ('Pray for Us').
Andrew Anderson '10 (left) and Karl Heiland '10 (right) are given the honor of raising the Argentine flag on a brisk Monday morning.
We received a detailed campus tour on Monday, led by Sonia. The boys are quickly learning the labyrinth that is Colegio Inmaculada.
Left to Right: Karl Heiland '10, Tommy Williams '11, Andrew Anderson '10, Jake Steffens '12, Jordan Brewer '10, Zach Jesberger '11, Brandon Blair '10, Max Gaynor '11, Bryce Welborn '11, and John Christ '11 await arroz con pollo outside the school cantina.
The school is entering into its four hundredth year of operation under the Jesuits and has a jardín (kindergarten), primaria (primary school), and secundaria (secondary school) on one campus. Some students spend nearly fifteen years in the all-boys school. ¡Qué bárbaro!
Monday began with the daily Argentina flag raising and national anthem, followed by the familiar "San Ignacio de Loyola," to which we dutifully responded, "Ruega por nosotros" ('Pray for Us').
Andrew Anderson '10 (left) and Karl Heiland '10 (right) are given the honor of raising the Argentine flag on a brisk Monday morning.
We received a detailed campus tour on Monday, led by Sonia. The boys are quickly learning the labyrinth that is Colegio Inmaculada.
Left to Right: Karl Heiland '10, Tommy Williams '11, Andrew Anderson '10, Jake Steffens '12, Jordan Brewer '10, Zach Jesberger '11, Brandon Blair '10, Max Gaynor '11, Bryce Welborn '11, and John Christ '11 await arroz con pollo outside the school cantina.During breaks, the students stand against railings overlooking a beautiful courtyard. The campus offers a depth of architecture and history that transports us to a previous time.
The students in Jardin (kindergarten) start learning English early. Here you'll find the forms of the English verb "to be" displayed like Spanish verbs in a classroom in Phoenix.
Señora Steffens found the tile work on a mosaic in the office of Fr. Gauffin, S.J. fascinating and photogenic.
But the tour was not only focused on school buildings and Argentine mosaics. The boys got a chance at the school's gym facility, the Ateneo, to preview the site of their USA-Argentina (Brophy-Colegio Inmaculada) futbol rematch.
Señora Steffens found the tile work on a mosaic in the office of Fr. Gauffin, S.J. fascinating and photogenic.
But the tour was not only focused on school buildings and Argentine mosaics. The boys got a chance at the school's gym facility, the Ateneo, to preview the site of their USA-Argentina (Brophy-Colegio Inmaculada) futbol rematch.
John, Jake, Jordan, Brandon, Bryce, and Zach figure out how to see "striker" in Spanish.
During another lunch in the cantina, students prepared for their first Wednesday journey to Alto Verde, an island across the Rio Paraná, where students in the exchange (intercambio) will work in several ministries set up by the Jesuits.
During another lunch in the cantina, students prepared for their first Wednesday journey to Alto Verde, an island across the Rio Paraná, where students in the exchange (intercambio) will work in several ministries set up by the Jesuits.
Karl, Guillermo, Zach, Tommy, Pedro, John, and Bryce anticipate their pollo con patatas.
TOP ROW: José Manuel, Sonia, Gabriella, and Father Gauffin, S.J. BOTTOM ROW: Señora Steffens, Mikki, and Mr. Damaso.
After lunch on Wednesday, we set out for Alto Verde by boat and received a tour of the island and the ministries there from Fr. Gauffin.
After lunch on Wednesday, we set out for Alto Verde by boat and received a tour of the island and the ministries there from Fr. Gauffin.
Students and teachers embark for Alto Verde.
Fr. Gauffin describes the iglesia built one hundred years ago through the generosity of others.
Fr. Gauffin describes the iglesia built one hundred years ago through the generosity of others.Brandon Blair '10, Jordan Brewer '10, and the other intercambio students meet with members of La Caritás, a group of women who minister to the people of Alto Verde.
When the group returns to the island next week, we will be working to restore the floors of the church's deck, visiting with people living in the neighborhoods, and providing ourselves as compassionate listeners to people in Alto Verde.
Meanwhile, ten Brophy students continue to attend classes at Colegio Inmaculada and blend in so that it's often difficult to differentiate who is who.
We look forward to creating, recording, and sharing more stories from Santa Fe.
Mr. Damaso
When the group returns to the island next week, we will be working to restore the floors of the church's deck, visiting with people living in the neighborhoods, and providing ourselves as compassionate listeners to people in Alto Verde.
Meanwhile, ten Brophy students continue to attend classes at Colegio Inmaculada and blend in so that it's often difficult to differentiate who is who.
We look forward to creating, recording, and sharing more stories from Santa Fe.
Mr. Damaso
