As many of you already know, Juanita Chiviliua has been visiting since early November. (Please see this blog post for more information.) On Friday, December 4, she had the opportunity to meet Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo at our Brighton school. Here is the letter she read to him:
Muy buenos días a todos,
Yo soy Juanita de Atitlán, Guatemala. Trabajo en la Escuela Puerta Abierta. Quiero dar las gracias a Councilor Mark Ciommo por escribir la carta para la embajada de Estados Unidos en Guatemala , con lo que fue posible obtener mi visa y tener la oportunidad de hacer el intercambio con La escuela Pine Village. Este intercambio me ha dado la oportunidad de compartir con los niños, mi vida, mi familia y mi país, a la vez es una oportunidad para aprender cosas nuevas de su ciudad y poder compartirlo con los niños en Guatemala y poder darles la posibilidad de conocer el mundo a través de mis experiencias. Todo se lo debemos a su apoyo en este proceso, gracias por contribuir a realizar este sueño. La Puerta Abierta dice Gracias!!!
Good morning to you all,
My name is Juanita and I’ve traveled here from Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. I want to give a special thank you this morning to Councilor Mark Ciommo. He wrote a letter of support for me in presenting my case to the embassies of Guatemala and the United States. This letter was important in my successfully obtaining my visa, thus giving me the opportunity to travel to the US and to have my intercambio with Pine Village. This exchange has given me the opportunity to share many things with the children here, my life, my family, and my country. It has given me the opportunity to learn many new things about your city and its people, things I can share with the children I teach in Guatemala. They will be able to have the opportunity to know and learn through my experiences. My sharing with them allows them to see the world through my eyes. They are here with me. To all those that have supported me in realizing my dream I want to thank you from my heart. The Puerta Abierta Say: Thank you, Gracias, Meltiox