My year here in Des Plaines with my U.S. family and at tending Maine West has been one of many new experiences and of happy memories for me. The first few days at school now seem strange to me. I knew just a very few of the kids that were going to Maine West; but when school started, I had classes with a couple of them, and I never saw the others. I soon realized that looking for them was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I have enjoyed the many activities that seemed to be continually going on at Maine‑all types of clubs, shows, concerts, and other annual events.

I am very proud of Maine West. I know that I have been very lucky to get the opportunity of spending my year here. I believe that Maine offers a very good education. The Student Council has impressed me very much because it allows us students to help in improving the school through the Student Council which speaks for us. The Student Council not only promotes better relations with the students, the faculty, and administration; but it also sponsors many charitable drives.

My year here in the U.S. has taught me a lot about your country, but most of all about you. Living among you and with my family I found that people are alike no matter what language, custom, or culture they have that is different from mine. Understanding is the most important factor for creating peace between people, so I have tried to understand your different ideas and ways.

I will never forget my year at Maine West with you. When I return home, I will be able to tell the people in Panama about your cities, your government, but most of all about you. I hope that I may some day be able to visit you after I return home, and I hope that I will be able to show you Panama if you ever visit it.

The American Field Service saying "Walk Together, Talk Together, all ye Peoples of the Earth" is very meaningful to me, and I hope it is to you.

Velma Welch '66

It seems to me it was just yesterday when a bus loaded with foreign exchange students entered the Chicago bus depot. Forty‑two youngsters from far lands were singing the American Field Service song. Just a few yards away our new families were waiting, and we were relieved to notice that they were as nervous and anxious as we were. As we went different ways, we realized the full magnitude of the adventure ahead of us.

The requirements of the new adjustment are not solely based on the personal qualifications of the students but also on the support of the community where they are sent. This is where you people come in. I am firmly convinced that without the wholehearted support given to me by the Ritter family, the members of this community, the AFS advisers, and especially by the kids of Maine West, I could never have done it.

By now I would be sitting at home, enjoying the privileges of my own society, disappointed by the high ideals preached by the American Field Service, and failing to believe in the possibility of an understanding between the peoples of the earth.

Our program is based on a dual goal: learn and teach. The students are to go to foreign lands and understand as much as they possibly can and let the people know about their own world, as much as they can, too. On the other hand, the members of the community also have this dual job; they are to live with the students to see how they live.

Now your job is coming to an end; let me tell you that you did the most tremendous job; it just could not have been better. Now our job really begins.

Farewell seems to indicate that everything is over and the fruit of the experience is just a pleasant souvenir. To me it is much more than that. I'll go back to Argentina and I'll let everybody know that in the U.S. the inhabitants are people just like us‑that you also speak the international language, laughter and tears, and that your way of seeing things is just like ours. I'll be your representative and I'll try to do the best job I can; I have behind me the energy given by friendship and understanding.

Gus Herrero '66