Colegio Marista Rosario (Brazil) visited Colegio Chamberí (Spain)
The visit to Colegio Champagnat de Chamberí (Madrid, Spain) was one of the most significant activities of the exchange programme. I can illustrate it with the following words of the students: ‘We were well received at Colegio Aristos, but we felt even more welcomed at Colegio Champagnat de Chamberi’, ‘We recognised many similar characteristics to our school in their way of being, even though they speak a different language’.
I would like to highlight here the recognition by our group of the value of welcome, so characteristic of the Marists, which was very present in the way the school organised itself to receive us.
Before our visit, Rafael contacted the school to arrange a date and time for the visit. Shortly afterwards, the teacher Marta, who works with the music component, contacted us to organise the meeting, as, according to her, she is ‘ passionate about Brazilian culture and speaks Portuguese’. Based on her suggestions, we organised the activities.
We were welcomed by the pedagogical coordinator, the music teacher Marta and a group of pupils. As soon as we arrived, we noticed the similarities, which is very significant when you are in a foreign country.
The group showed us around the school, including the pastoral room, which contains images very similar to those we have in the Rosary. We were welcomed with the offer of a ‘breakfast’ in the school dining room, with something very typical of the Spanish, churros with hot chocolate.
The exchange students participated in the school playground, and the students from the school approached them with great interest and curiosity, trying to chat and exchange. The teachers there even found it difficult to lead their groups back to class when the break was over, which made for a very interesting connection.
After the break, our exchange students and we, the leaders, together with some of teacher Marta’s students, went to the music room to participate in the planned activities. There were exchanges about expressions of the different languages, similar words with very different meanings, which provoked a lot of laughter and connection between everyone. Music was also an instrument of exchange, even to discover the power and importance of Brazilian music in Spain.
It was a very interesting experience of identification. The students left in high spirits, and even found it hard to say goodbye, as they would like to continue this rapprochement.
Recognising ourselves as part of this big Marist family was very special for all of us, and I am sure that we will carry this experience in our hearts forever.
Suzana Diemer – educational counsellor of Colegio Marista Rosario