March Break Trips

Guatemala Service Trip:

Students:

Students: Ismail Abdelmalek, Adam Bazzana, Rahul Bangre, Brian Cho, Boris Davidovic, Eric Fernandes, Miriam Henin, Luca Johnston, Andrew Lawrence, Adrienne Lee, Christine Lee, Armaan Mahajan, Erin Martell, Rachel O’Dell, Xavier Orlando, Husayn Panju, Isabella Rossini, Faith Ruetas, Alexandra Solomon, Kaylee Tantsis, Steven Tohme, Ethan Tran, Kaitlin Trendel, Sabrina Valenzuela Neto

Staff:

1. Ms. Ah-Chin

2. Mrs. Balkovec

3. Mr. Morrison

4. Mr. Spicer

Our Guatemala Experience:

Day 1 – Travel

The Guatemala team of 24 student ambassadors and 4 advisors met at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport at 6:00 a.m. Although a bit sleepy, they proudly sported their blue and white t-shirts and sweatshirts branded with the STL Guatemala logo. All went smoothly except for the delay we caused at the check-in due to the 12 extra pieces of luggage filled with school supplies, clothing, sporting apparel and sport equipment we had. Thank you to everyone who donated to our cause!

Day 2 – Explore Antigua and Coffee Plantation

Our first full day in Guatemala started with a morning walk to El Grande Church to celebrate Sunday mass followed by a walking tour of the cobble-stone lined town of Antigua. Ending the tour in the town square allowed us to experience our first taste of delicious local cuisine at the many available restaurants. In the afternoon, a tour of an independent Coffee Plantation started with an uphill 1 hour walk to the fields. Here, we were shown how to pick ripe coffee beans and a competition between groups quickly ensued to see who could fill their basket first. Returning to the home of one of the local farmers, we were shown the full process of removing the bean husks, drying, grinding and finally, tasting the delicious aromatic coffee.

Day 3, 4, 5 – Service at Santiago Zamora School

As soon as the children saw our coach bus, they came running to meet us at the gate with excited waves and infectious smiles. After some introductions, we presented each student and teacher with a personalized gift bag filled with school supplies. Their appreciation was clearly evident as they hugged and thanked us repeatedly! Many of the children began to immediately take out the activity sheets, books and crayons they just received to begin working on them.

Each morning, our STL students were given free rein to run the school. On the first day they led a language program where simple English phrases and words were taught. Using flash cards, songs and dances, we even picked up some new Spanish words in the process. On day two, an art program kept the students engaged with the painting of murals and team flags and making beaded bracelets. Finally on the last day, a sport day saw groups participating in a number of relays and activities. The universal love of play was evident as laughter and squeals of joy soon abounded. Each afternoon, after the students had been dismissed for the day, STL students worked hard painting five classrooms and the entire outside of the school’s main floor. Our students jumped in full force and embraced this service element of our trip. Despite the heat, there were no complaints and in true STL fashion, the “Little Ways” were clearly at work.

On our last day, we were surprised by a formal good-bye ceremony organized by the school. Having practiced the Guatemalan national anthem beforehand, we were able to sing along with them and then helped them in the singing of our Canadian anthem. We were each presented with a gift as thanks for our service. After many hugs and tears, it was an emotional goodbye to all!

Day 6 – Orphanage and Zip Lining

A visit to Hogar Virgen del Socorro was a humbling experience for everyone as we visited with the over 200 disabled children and adults. We were able to help with feeding of the residents and accompanied them on a moving caravan of wheel chairs through the Stations of the Cross. In the afternoon, it was off for an adventurous zip lining excursion where the hike up the mountain was just as scary and exhilarating as the zip lines for many!

Day 7 and 8 – Lake Atitlan and San Juan

A peaceful boat ride on beautiful Lake Atitlan brought us to the small town of San Juan. Here, we saw local sights, tasted rich, dark chocolate at a chocolate factory, and visited a Women’s Cooperative center to learn about the art of weaving. Treated to a traditional lunch, we ended the tour with a fun Tuk tuk ride – the small taxis that race back and forth throughout the city.

Day 9 – Tecpan – Iximche Mayan Ruins and back to Guatemala City

With our luggage packed and on the bus at 8 am, we made one final stop en route to the airport to the Mayan ruins for a history lesson. Following a traditional Guatemalan lunch, the ride to the airport was a quiet and somber one. Reflecting on our experiences over the past week, each person spoke about what they were grateful for.

After a long stop over, we finally shared hugs, gave thanks and said our good-byes.

Thank you Guatemala for an amazing opportunity!

Italy Trip:

A Taste of Italy

April 8, 2019

As many of us embarked on this journey, we had all heard amazing things about this trip from other students who had been on it in the past but we were still a little nervous! Some of us planned and set expectations, while others decided to simply go with the flow. But one thing was certain: this trip was going to be life changing.

Italy is, without a doubt, a magnificent country. It is rich with history, home to mouth-watering food, and filled with kind people. Our group was welcomed with open arms and treated with nothing but kindness from locals we had just met.

We experienced so many new things, such as trying our first cappuccinos and gelatos to taking our first steps in Rome. We ate fresh food all the time, including pasta, pizza, cannoli, tiramisu, and cheese. We visited the second oldest city in the world called Matera, took a boat ride across the Amalfi Coast, smelt the fresh sea water of the Gulf of Naples, were guided through the ruins of Pompeii, and received a blessing from Pope Francis in Vatican City. We also learned about many architectural landmarks including the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps in Rome, and the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. There was so much to see and take in.

Even though our pictures captured the beauty of our experiences; it was the experiences we hold in our hearts that we will treasure forever.

However, this trip could not be defined solely by the food and sights. Our group was truly one of a kind. No doubt being with the same people day in and day out for almost two weeks presented some challenges, but we all became close at the end of it. We made friends with people we never knew before, which was enriching of itself. We were very comfortable and this was evident not only during our tours but we also cooperated during our down time by playing games together, danced together and sang together. Ultimately, we created real bonds, and made memories that will last a lifetime. Nothing can match what we did and how we felt on this trip. Those ten days in Italy were incredible. If you don’t believe us, then sign up for the next March Break. You will see for yourself that this experience was nothing but marvelous.

Grazie, Italia.

Zaynab Jivraj and David D’Amico

Senior Boys' Rugby Hawaii Tour 2019:

It is said that some experiences are but ‘once in a lifetime’. The members of the STL Senior Boys Rugby team, truly understand the meaning of that statement following their tour to the beautiful Hawaiian island of Oahu The boys began the long journey to the island on Friday, March 8, 2019 and arrived at their hotel just before the stroke of midnight. Perhaps it was fitting that the boys awoke to find themselves in one of the most majestic places on earth; like something out of a fairytale or a children’s storybook. However, the awe inspiring scenery and vistas quickly became secondary as the boys had to focus and prepare for their first game later that morning in the 2019 Aloha Rugby Festival.

To say that the first game was a true test of equal parts speed, strength, and skill for our lads is an absolute understatement. Our Lions were set to face the reigning State of Hawaii champions in their first match. Despite leaving it all out on the field, the boys were outmatched by their opponents. However, the boys put on a fantastic display of Hawaiian ‘mana’ and stayed true to the mantra that ‘...you never lose and there are only two outcomes in a game; you either win or you learn!’ They did just that by competing extremely hard and matching up well against their opponents in their final two games; one on the second day of the tour and the other on their last full day on the island.

In between the second and third games of the tour, the team experienced some of the best visual, auditory, and gastronomical experiences that the island of Oahu has to offer. Following their game on the second day of the tour, the boys attended a Mass at St. Augustine by the Sea. The team was welcomed by the Tour Festival organizer (who is a member of the parish), and was also acknowledged by the Parish Priest and the entire congregation both during and following the Mass that was sung in Tongan. The following day saw the boys take in the military and naval history of Oahu. It began with a hike to the top of the Diamond Head crater--a former military mountain top lookout--followed by an afternoon spent at the historic site of the infamous December 6th, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

The following two days saw the boys travel to the North Shore of the island to take in some of the historical traditions and cultural experiences of Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Centre and the Kualoa Ranch. The last full day of touring was undoubtedly the most mesmerizing visual experience the boys had on the tour--and perhaps in their lives. They first hiked up the lush green gorge that led to the base of Manoa Falls. The surrounding nature (greenery) was so vibrant with colour, floral, and fauna that one would had to do a double take to allow the mind to comprehend that it was actually real and not a photograph or some virtual reality world. The next and final stop on the tour was the world renown Hanauma Bay aquatic wildlife sanctuary. Here the boys were able to get an up close and personal look at a variety of fish and coral reef species while swimming and snorkeling amidst the protected sanctuary which is actually in the middle of crater of an ancient volcano. It was an unbelievable experience of sensory overload!

Following their last game, the boys linked arms with the local team (Waikiki Beach Boys) and were led in prayer by the captain of the opposition. It was an emotional and memorable experience that the boys will never forget. The team was then treated to a barbeque by the host team pitch side at the beautiful Kapiolani Park.

Our boys developed bonds and friendships to last a lifetime, and true sense of ‘Ohana’. The coaching staff and chaperones on the tour could not be more proud of how the team represented the STL community. They were well mannered, humble, and respectful young men everywhere they went. The coaches received many compliments and positive feedback from a number of the festival organizers and tour guides for how well the boys conducted themselves both on and off the rugby pitch. On behalf of everyone involved in making this tour such a huge success, Aloha and Mahalo!