From sisterhood to laptops, girls from both sides of the “pond” share a lot of similarities.  As students in 3^rd period Journalism I learned in a recent donut-laced press conference with the visitors, Serviam plays a major role in both schools. 

“Service projects and charity work are all incorporated into the school day and into our lives,” said Jessica C.  

Sports, however, play a somewhat lesser role in the lives of the British visitors.    “We usually just play for fun,” Kirsty G. said, noting that all the recent hoopla surrounding March Madness was somewhat confusing to them.

Perhaps the most significant difference revealed itself when the Wimbledon students were asked to compare the two schooling systems.  “Our grade levels are different from yours,” said Natalia I.  The school is termed a comprehensive school for Roman Catholic girls ages 11-18.  References to grade level are quite different than they are in the United States.   

Natalia also explained that many students pursue sixth form entry at approximately age 19, which is a selective curriculum at the university level.  Ursuline junior Lauren H. confessed,” Though the girls eloquently explained the curriculum levels, we are still trying to fully grasp the concept.”

A concept which was familiar to everyone in the journalism room was the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament.  The world’s oldest tennis tournament has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877 and is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. 

“Yes, our school is one of the ones which often provides ‘ball girls,’” the girls proudly exclaimed  in unison.  Although none of our visitors had yet to serve in this capacity, they know classmates who have.

Students explained that being selected as a Wimbledon ball girl is highly competitive.  After being nominated by a school head teacher, the candidate must pass written tests on the rules of tennis and pass fitness, mobility and other suitability tests.  The tennis matches, the only Major still played on grass,   takes  place over two weeks in late June and early July.

Of course, the press conference veered to topics of music choice and One Direction, to the Royal Family, to the misconception, voiced by Jessica and Natalia, that “it is always cloudy and always rainy in England.”   That myth disavowed, students and their chaperones, teachers Chrystelle Howell-Mari and Lisa Thefaut, all agreed that the warm, spring like weather experienced during the Dallas visit was “delightful.”

Aside from visiting a number of classes, the girls took in the Arboretum and particularly enjoyed their service project at the North Texas Food Bank.  Toward the end of their stay, they offered a presentation in the Kiva about their school and joined their host students at a luncheon Tuesday before they left for DFW to return home. 

“Way too short.”  “Please come back.”  “Come and visit us.”  All of these quotes were overheard both at the press conference and at the parting luncheon.  One of the gifts exchanged at the luncheon was the photo taken immediately following the press conference.

In a journalistic note, online editor Cecilia L. ’12 said, “We are planning to include articles from Ursuline Wimbledon on the UABearFacts.com website.” 

Plans are also in the works to combine efforts to commemorate International Women’s Day which is held March 8 of every year to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. 

As the visitors meandered down the back hall stairs to the room,  UA girls situated chairs around the long tables for their guests to sit.  “What is a typical day like at your school?” came the first question.

Fundamental to the Chileans answer, that their school, all girls pre-k though 12, lasted for nine hours was the girls’ unanimous endorsement of the three recesses during that time.

“We begin class at 8: a.m.  and spend 15 minutes with our head teacher to pray and talk, then class starts,” said Sofi.   She explained that each class is 40-45 minutes long, and that students could not have more than two class periods without a break.  Lunch is at 1:45 p.m., and classes are finished at 4 p.m.

The girls differed in reporting the amount of time spent on homework.  Answers ranged from one to three hours with 1 ½ hours being the favorite response.  “We are on summer break now,” said Maria, “so it is hard to even think about homework.”

A big plus for Ursuline Dallas in the eyes of Elisa is that students here change classes and classrooms, getting to move about the building and to have a diversity of students as classmates.  “In Chile, the teacher moves rooms instead of the students.  We have no frees, and we are pretty much with the same people all day,” she said.

For those several who had traveled to the United States before, the most common destinations were Miami and Orlando.  Maria, however, has been to New York and Nevada as well as Florida.

“I was ready to hear a lot of country music when coming here,” said Connie.  All readily agreed that they had heard plenty of that along with doing lots of shopping, (“same as you do,” laughed Maria)   Florencia noted that they had also seen the zoo, a rodeo, the Dallas World Aquarium, a Maverick’s game along with dining at such places as Dave and Busters, Cheesecake Factory and several Tex-Mex spots.

The majority of girls said that while they did not follow daily U.S. politics, they did know who the president was.    In other U. S. matters, however, music caught the group’s attention.    “I have more English music on my iPod than Spanish,” said Sofi.  “But,” she added, “Spanish is better to dance to.”

There are about 60 girls per grade at Ursuline Santiago, according to Florencia.  All indicated intent to go to college , and most thought it would be in Santiago, the home of many fine Chilean universities.  Maria explained that it is not uncommon for a student attending a university in Santiago to continue to live at home until graduation.

This group described a wide variety of vocational plans, from historian, to psychologist, to designer, to doctor.

The press conference ended with an impromptu rehearsal of Cristobal Fones, a Jesuit Priest in Chile’s, religious vocal which the group will sing at the AM Liturgy Feast of St. Angela Jan. 27

A comfortable air of fun and friendship prevailed in the Journalism Room Friday, Jan. 20 as the Bear Facts staff hosted and interviewed the 12 visiting students from partner school Collegio Santa Ursula in Lima, Peru.

The girls ranging in age from 14-16, are staying with host Ursuline families during their three week  visit  where they are attending classes, doing a service project, sightseeing around  the metroplex, and generally just being introduced to Ursuline Dallas.

While Bear Facts reporters interviewed each girl individually, a group interview preceded this.  Immediately the visitors described their school day in Lima, which runs from 7:40 a.m.-2:55 p.m.  as being very different.  “We don’t have time for electives like this journalism class,” several responded.  Stating that they had eight- 45 minute-classes a day with two breaks, the Peruvians also lamented the fact that they could not carry or use laptops.

As many of our visitors have told us, a highlight of visiting Dallas is the shopping.  Stories  of visits with their host families to NorthPark Mall dotted the interview.   A love of shopping was definitely a similarity.   A  big difference between the cultures they cited , however, was the way Peruvians and Texans eat.

“Our big meal is at noon, and we just have a sandwich or something like that for our evening meal,” Camila R. said.

Shared with their American counterparts is a devotion to Facebook and other forms of social media.  The girls also spoke of learning German, the primary world language at their school because the school was founded by Ursulines from Germany.

“Interviewing the group was fun,” said Cecilia L.‘12, on line editor for the Bear Facts.  “We are getting right to work on an online segment which features some fun facts about each of our guests.”  These facts and a few pictures should be posted the first part of next week.

     The first student delegation of eight students and one teacher from Chile will arrive Jan. 12 to begin a stay filled with visiting classes, seeing the sites of the Dallas area and participating in a community service project.  They will represent Colegio Santa Ursula Vitacura in Santiago, Chile.  As is usually the case, visiting students will stay with Ursuline students in their homes.

     Shortly after on Jan. 14, two teachers and 12 students will arrive from Colegio Santa Ursula in Lima, Peru.  Their agenda is similar to that of the Chileans, and both will join the Spirit of Uganda, the performing tour group of Empower African Children, and Ursuline students in a festive campus parade on Global Celebration Day.

     Watch this spot for more information and plenty of pictures from this triple global treat which is coming soon.

“Now that we have advanced Chinese language classes, students can better interact,” Ms. Nipp said. With fewer language barriers, students freely chatted with each other.

Besides sharing language, students also shared their love of singing. During the Chinese students’ stay, the language classrooms were filled with the high pitched yet melodic voices of the Huaxia girls. Students from both Huaxia and UA came together to sing several songs, perhaps most importantly, the Beijing Olympics song.

This song describes the open arms in which Beijing welcomes world visitors into its country. It also emphasizes harmony and reminds us that friendship is key between our two countries, the United States and China.

Ursuline girls served as hosts, helping the Huaxia girls adjust to life in the United States; from the school life to the culture and even the food. When visiting the State Fair, the Chinese students were surprised by the different foods. Several refused to eat fried chicken because of its “ugly” appearance.

During school hours, the Huaxia girls enjoyed the more carefree environment of Ursuline. Over the course of their stay, students from both schools became more open to showcasing their talents. At the end of the Huaxia girls’ stay, they presented their talents in music and dancing to Ursuline.

One student masterfully played the pipa (a plucked Chinese instrument with four strings and a pear shaped body) and another sang Taylor Swift songs. Ursuline girls applauded even more when the Huaxia girls showered them with Chinese candies and small gifts. And with that happy note, the Huaxia exchange trip ended.

“It was a big success,” said Ms. Nipp.