MAY 26, 1972
Estelle Represents AFS for Maine
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Linares Dias and their six children will be hosting Estelle during her stay in Peru. Mr. Dias is the second secretary at the National University.
In Peru Estelle will have a host-sister who is 18 years old. Freida is a student at the University where her father teaches and is in a pre-med course.
Estelle will be attending school in Peru because our summer is their winter. Her Spanish in grammar school will be of some help to her on her initial arrival.
Estelle was interested in applying for the foreign exchange because "My parents lived a year in France and they always talk about the wonderful experience it was. My interests are international relations, and the chance to meet so many different people personally is a wonderful opportunity."
Students are not chosen because of any financial status as explained by Estelle. "The AFS adult committee kept on eliminating us and after several interviews including one at our home, we went to a picnic where all applicants from the area met. We had to give an impromptu skit. From this, I guess, the final decision came.
"Then the letter from New York arrived where I had to specify how much my family could pay. They expected us to cover spending money, gifts, plane fare to New York, and passports. The rest is covered by the AFS Committee."
Hamid Rahim, our exchange student from Afghanistan, says that probably the most trying time for Estelle will be at the beginning. "It is difficult to meet people and begin finding friends."