April, 2008

Dear BEST,

I have just completed my last day at SOM and I feel very sad to be leaving the company. All my collegues were lovely and friendly and I have learnt a huge amount of Spanish. I would now say I am almost fluent! Until July I will be spending my last 3 months in Madrid at Glamour Magazine as an intern, much like my time at the fashion PR company. My work at SOM meant that I had the opportunity to go into The Conde Nast office and ask directly if they had any space for interns and there was a space availiable.

Working at SOM has been a great opportunity for me and I would really like to thank BEST programs for initiating and organising everything out here for me. I really feel that the whole process of obtaining work in a foreign city was made very easy by you all. My sister is even coming out to do a language course at the school you organised for me! Many thanks and I will be in touch until I leave in July.

Best wishes,

Olivia Rollins
ollierollins@hotmail.com

November, 2007

Dear BEST,

I am really enjoying my internship and all is going well. I sent the contract in on time to my university so they know what I am up to. I realise that you will want a copy. My university does not require this and it will be difficult to get a signature from them as I am in Madrid and not going back to see them in the near future.

I have various responsibilities within the company, but mainly I am an assistant stylist. I organise collections into the database and style the showrooms. We had an event last Wednesday for an open day which I really enjoyed and think it went really well. If there is anything else you need to know I would be happy to inform you.

Kind regards,

Olivia Rollins
ollierollins@hotmail.com

July 3, 2007

Hi Jessica,

Yes, I am doing great. My internship is keeping me very busy. ESBA has given many unique opportunities to learn more about the EU. They are very nice and fun to work with. I love it here in Brussels. I hope to find a way to stay longer or come back someday. I just wish it would stop raining right now. Anyways, hope all is well.

Kind regards,

Virginia Ellis
btrcup2003@yahoo.com

Hola Jessica,

Sorry for not being in touch earlier. I do not have internet at my apartment so it takes a while for me to respond. Things are going great. I started my internship at the school in the reception office as well as teaching english twice a week to children. Today was my first day teaching and it went pretty well. It was not as hard as I thought. In the reception I do basic office duties like greet students, answer the phone, enter data into the computer etc. My spanish is improving day by day. Thanks for keeping an update on me!

Gracias,

Marcia Nguyen
mngy@hotmail.com

September, 2006

Dear Jill,

How have you been? How was Italy? How is business?

I have just returned from the east coast where I spent most of the summer jobhunting...with no luck. Now I am back in Minnesota where I have had a few interviews but nothing that I'm totally excited about. If I don't find anything by Christmas, I am coming back to Spain. I miss Madrid so much. It's sad, I still log onto www.elmundo.es everyday to see what's going on there. I read it was Madrid fashion week there. You're pretty well connected, did you get to go to any cool events? I still can’t believe that I got to hear Mario Vargas Llosa give a lecture. Or drink wine all night with Elsa Peretti. Or attend a concert at the National Spanish Orchestra. I will never forget the fun things I did with you.

Well, I hope all is well with you. Send me an update when you have time. Cuidate.

Besos,

Alison
atrauley@hotmail.com

June, 2005

Hi there, I just wanted to say hi. This internship working with immigrants here in Seville was really amazing and I'm glad I did it. I feel like I have more experience working with even more people from all over the world in all kinds of situations. Sometimes I was shocked by how hungry they were or desperate, pompous or intelligent and refined or extremely nice. I really saw a lot of everything. And I wish I could work in this sort of office, but it takes time here to get accepted by the Spanish Employment office. I'll be home this summer to enjoy the beautiful Berkshires while the weather is nice and then I must return to sunny Spain. The Spanish people have perfected the "enjoyment of life". They're really good at it.
Hope you are well at BEST

Tara Johnston
tarabel9@hotmail.com

Oct., 2004
Hi Jill,

Thank you so much for the kindness you have shown me over the past few months. Your positive attitude is inspiring, and I hope that we will keep in touch as I return to Madrid in a few months!
Have a good evening,
Kristen Bernardi

Sept. 2004
Hi Jessica,

The classes went very well; I think I learned a lot and I met a lot of interesting people at Tandem. Interacting is a great company; everyone is very nice and the atmosphere is very friendly. I'm glad to hear that they're happy with me too. Thanks so much for arranging everything. I can't believe how amazingly helpful and efficient you've been. You guys are awesome!
Muchas gracias,
Daisy

April, 2004
Dear Jill,

Thank you so much for everything! I am very sorry that I did not get the chance to meet up with you, but I´ll be here much longer. I met with Ivi. She was wonderful, and answered all my questions. I love living with Mari Cruz and Dani; they are very nice. Mari Cruz and I go out and try sangria this weekend, so I´m getting tons of authentic Madrid life! I am also having a wonderful time at Tommy Hilfiger. It is quite the experience, and my Spanish is bound to get better here with so much of it going around! (Mari Cruz and Dani have been very helpful with that as well.) I am sad to have to leave my classes, but I did meet some great people who I hope to keep in contact with! So I just wanted to email you and thank you for all your help! I´m having a wonderful time! If you have someone that would like to ask me questions, that´s fine as well. Buenos días!

Muchas gracias,
Annie Pham

¿Que tal, Jill?

I just wanted to drop you a note to say HOLA! My internship with American Express is going great! I couldn´t be happier. The people at the office are wonderful and I learn new things every day. Most of the time I work on the computer and help prepare presentations in Power Point for the sales representative and I also translate various documents from Spanish to English. I absolutely love living here in Madrid and I hope that I am able to stay longer than just three months. I thought it might be nice for you to receive a positive email! I hope all is well with you!

Take care!

Nora

Hi Jill,

There are a number of reasons why my internship at Pepe Jeans will be my best experience in Spain.

First of all, it allowed me the opportunity to work in the fashion industry, a field different from my college major.

This experience also gave me many cultural insights. You will get to live and be a part of the Spanish business culture - hands on. You will get to meet great natives (locals) and work with clients. Most importantly you will be learning the language.

The advice I would like to give to future interns is DO IT. It will be an experience of a lifetime. You only live once. What is 6 months or one year in another country?!!

Lisa Tai
leecactus21@hotmail.com

Hello, Jill:

Greta is very enthusiastic about her experience so far in Madrid. She is delighted with her home family and seems to be learning a lot about the city, people, and way of life. She loves meeting new people and is enjoying the program and her work place.

Lucy Bauer

Dear BEST,

Since I left Spain without contacting, I just wanted to thank you for all your help and for an unforgettable experience.
I have sent your website to other people who have asked me about the program, so I hope that they can also experience Spain in the way that I did.

If you would like to put me on the list of contacts for potential au pairs, please feel free to send them my e-mail address: courtneypredd@hotmail.com

Thanks,

Courtney Redd

Jill,

I was in Istambul for Semana Santa, so I just got back. The internship is great. It is great for my Spanish and Tomas and Carlos are so nice. It is really a perfect match for my skills; I am actually helping them apply to the World Bank to receive funds! I also wrote an article about their NGO that hopefully will be published in the Washington Post in a few weeks.
I did two extra weeks at Tandem. It is a beautiful school.
I am just writing to say that you basically did a bang up job organizing everything from apartment to school to work.

Hope all is well,

John D.

April 2, 2003

Hello Jill!

Things in Spain have been going great. I am really glad that I decided to take the language course my first two weeks here. Even though I believe I am more of a "textbook learner", I felt that Tandem had a laid-back teaching style with which it was great to brush up on my Spanish and meet people.

I have been travelling almost every weekend and have already seen Granada, Sevilla, Cadiz (Carnival,) Toledo, Valencia (Las Fallas,) and Segovia/La Granja so far. I have plans this weekend for Avila/Salamanca and will see Barcelona and Cáceres during Semana Santa. The country is absolutely beautiful! I have done many things around Madrid as well, including visiting El Escorial, and have plans to see Aranjuez and Cuenca.

Inma and Natalia have been great. Inma really goes out of her way to make me feel at home; she is a great host "mom."
Natalia is very sweet and easy to care for too, though I must admit she´s not AS much fun to be around with Inma present.

I wanted to give as much notice as possible because I am very grateful for my experience here. Thank you so much for
this journey!

Sincerely, Jennifer Young

Dear BEST,
I can't possibly thank you enough for the incredible time that I have had here in Spain and the opportunities that have come my way. I have been offered an indefinite, full-time job here in Madrid with a company and a job that I absolutely love, contract and everything! I also have a job giving English lessons on the weekends and holidays at a boarding school just half an hour from my office here. I'm not going to be back for summer school or even next fall for that matter, but I think opportunities like this are pretty rare. I have made so many friends and my Spanish has gone through the roof, much thanks to my roommates, who NEVER stop talking. I just wanted to let you know that I think you have a great program and will only continue to improve. You give us the head start; the opportunities are here, and what we decide to do with that is up to us.

Thanks again and take care.

Best Regards,

Marian Mauriello-Perth, Australia

"My internship at the Civil Courthouse of Madrid provided the unique opportunity to learn about and participate in the justice system of a foreign country while broadening my understanding of the difficulties posed to immigrants and minorities within a society. It also taught me Spanish legal terminology invaluable to my long-term career goals. I was an intern in the Department of Translation and Interpretation, attending trials and declarations involving foreigners, assisting to translate court decisions between Spanish and English, and interpreting for English-speakers. Most of the cases we dealt with involved Arabic-speaking Northern Africans or English-speaking Nigerians, two immigrant groups that frequently face discrimination in Spain. Watching courtroom proceedings and discussing relevant issues with my supervisors in the department has given me a much greater understanding of the ways in which immigrants and minorities struggle to receive justice under a foreign system. This internship confirmed my desire to attend law school with the end goal of providing legal services for indigent Spanish-speaking immigrants who similarly struggle within the U.S. justice system."

This experience was a very significant one for me both personally and "professionally"--it changed my life.

Bennett Barrow

Hi Jill! How are things? I have been kept busy here but I miss Spain so much! I am so happy with how it all worked out and my friends are so jealous! I want to thank you for everything, I could not have asked for more. It was wonderful to live with the Sanchez family plus I had so much fun and learned so much. Not only did I improve my Spanish, but I learned so many other things: cultural knowledge and skills, computer stuff, business management, teaching and creativity, and self-awareness!

I treasure the month I spent in Spain so much and I am in debt to you. Please tell the company how thankful I am for their kindness and especially thank Elena for putting up with me. Also, I have lots of pictures but I’m not in any of them. Let me know if you want me to send them. Take care!

Julie

Hola Jill,

Thanks so much for your little note. I can’t believe a year has gone by, it’s amazing! I often think about my time in Spain and it is nice to remember all the fond memories. Right now I am in Alberta working as a field assistant. I am helping a PhD student with her project on bats. It is lots of fun. I am looking forward to going back to the University of British Columbia. I hope that you are doing well. How are the interns this year?

Take care and thank you once again for making my time in Spain a great experience.

Cheers,

Angelique

Dear BEST,

When people ask me "how my trip was" I have no idea how to answer because it was one of those "you had to be there’s". But, you have been there and you know the obvious, like the beauty of the city, culture, broken language barriers, night life, food etc. However, I would have to say that the things that really stick out in my mind are the relationships I built with others and with myself. I learned so much about how others live, about how I react in different situations (that could never be simulated in the USA), and I can’t believe I’m saying this so young — how I want to raise my family. With enlightenment came the bad things too, and I am no longer so naïve. My host family, among other young people I met, have used their Spanish hospitality, and they said I could return "cuando quiera." So, by being a nice girl I have saved a lot of time and money on lodging cost…and you know I will be back. How could I not? Who knows, maybe I’ll relocate after college (if I can tolerate long enough!)

Thank you for your message. I’m so glad to write to someone who knows the depths of my excitement! I have a lot of photos. Do you want some? Let me know and I’ll get some out before I leave for school.

Thank you,

Jonnah

To Jill,

Thanks a lot!

Just a little note to say THANKS for everything. I’ve really enjoyed my trimester teaching EFL! Take care and best wishes.

Love,

Zoe

Dear Jill,

You reckoned the letter of recommendation would do the trick and did it ever! I particularly enjoyed all of the parts that made me sound like a Holy Saint! What a lovely complement to any resume package I send to prospective employers:) I’m just waiting on one more reference letter and then I’m going to start distributing myself around the globe. I really appreciate you getting everything to me so quickly… I hope your new computer with its new, super-sized capacity is working well for you.

I got a real-life letter from this girl named Zaira Perez (Luis´ friend) today and she writes about rain and cold weather in Madrid. I know that you told me so too, but I can’t believe it. I just can’t picture Spain soggy and sunless…what is this world coming to?!

Thanks so much again Jill for the faaaaaaaaaaantastico letter. You always say just the right thing.

Yours,

Helen

Dear Jill,                8/22/00

Thank you very much for letting me stay at your place for the past week and a half. I really enjoyed going to see the Spanish dances and the ballet. My experience as an Au Pair was great! And I know that I will definitely come back to Spain one day.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Besos,

Angelica

Dear BEST!,

Through this Au Pair program, I have learnt Spanish culture, history, cuisine, their values and hundreds of oddities. I have had great experiences here. If I had just visited here for a few months on my own as a tourist, I would have never had these unique experiences.

Thank you!
Millie

Hola Jill!

I will be leaving tomorrow evening for the states. I have truly enjoyed my experience in Spain, and look forward to telling all my friends and family about my crazy adventures. Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity to come here. You have a wonderful program.

Cheers!           Jennifer

Dear Jill,

Wow, I don't even know how to begin to describe the wonderful experience I had working as an au pair for BEST. A lot of people are asking me what my favorite part about Spain was or what will I miss most. I think the part of Spain that I will miss most was being accepted into a kind family and being treated like a beloved daughter. I feel fortunate that I was able to live in two different major cities in Spain, two months in Madrid and three months in Barcelona. The first family in Madrid was very nice, they helped me if I had any questions about transportation, sightseeing and anything else and they always invited me to family gatherings. Unfortunately, halfway through my service they decided to let me go. I guess we just didn't hit it off perfectly. They thought I was disorganized and were slightly offended by my American-ish eating habits. I felt they did not want to know very much about me and that they wanted someone more for childcare and language teaching than someone for a cultural, familial type of exchange. So I guess both parties involved were kind of uncomfortable with the situation. When they told me that I needed to find another family I was very nervous. I did not want to be alone in a foreign country without resources like income, a house and friends. However, my fears were instantly put to rest when you, Jill, took the trouble to drive over to my town and meet with me over coffee and inform me of the many other families that needed au pairs. I really appreciate how you came through for me right when I was feeling really unsettled and alone. You solved the problem very quickly and found me five possible families to live with. When I look back on it, I think I was very lucky to get to experience two totally different situations in two beautifully different regions in Spain. I got to be an au pair in a city for a family with two very small boys...I also got to be an au pair out in the country surrounded by mountains and forests for a young girl and her older brother. Although it was inconvenient to move at the time, now I don't think I could have been luckier. The second family was a gift that I will always treasure. They did so much to insure my happiness, took me to so many sights, and sometimes even stayed up until twelve at night talking with me. The little girl was quite a character, and although it took a little bit of time and patience for her to accept someone in her house who neither spoke the same language nor understood it, eventually we got to be close. Some things I will always remember about her are the both of us acting out the story of the three little pigs, us making cookies together and her licking off all the frosting on every cookie she'd decorate, playing by the seashore in La Costa Brava and making crocodiles in the sand, and wearing pillows on our heads while marching and singing "The Saints Go Marching In". Leaving that family was very difficult. I will never forget the expression on the face of the mother as my train pulled away, because it was the same expression I had...smiling eyes narrating all of the wonderful things we'd shared, and uncontrollable crying at the heartache of separation. The best moment I had in Spain was the night before I left, which also happened to be my birthday, because the family threw a big party, and invited all their relatives and some friends I'd made in town. I don't know if the family will ever be aware of how touched I was by the amount of thoughtfulness they displayed that night. I guess I learned a lot of independence over there, but also I learned how to really be a part of and rely on a family that I had never met before. Thank you so much for seeing me through to the end, and for aiding me in finding my Spanish mother, father, sister and brother. It was priceless. I would be delighted to endlessly praise this program to any prospective au pair because I definitely got everything I wanted out of it and more.

Love ya,

Former au pair, Sharah Truett
doesntlikehorses@yahoo.com

Hello Jill!

I will scan some pictures that I have with the girls. My experience as an au pair was unbelievable. My family took me in and treated me as a part of the family from the first day I arrived, when they ran up to me and hugged me. I felt as though I had become part-Spanish. They really went out of their way to make me feel at home and to make sure I was adjusting okay. I have never been so sad to leave a place.

I would recommend becoming an au pair for anyone who wants to see what she is capable of; someone who wants to experience the Spanish culture from a point of view not available elsewhere, and someone willing to keep an open mind to the situations she will encounter.

I became great friends with people from all over the world.

I will never forget. I will return for a longer period of time, and I will forever feel a sense of attachment to Spain.

I highly recommend becoming an au pair in Spain. I have so many memories from my experience: first arriving and not speaking Spanish very well, yet having to tell the two young girls what to do, falling completely in love with the country, the people, specifically one particular Spaniard, the food (delicious!!), the obsession with Real Madrid football, having the little girls exclaim 'Oh My God!' as her first English phrase, and the day I had to leave.

All I know is this program is wonderful and Jill continuously called me during my 3 months there to make sure everything was going well. I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect and I look so forward to the day that I can return.

Thank you for an opportunity of a lifetime; an eye opener and confidence builder that most people don't ever have the chance to experience!

Sincerely,

Erica Forrest

Dear Jill,

I apologize for the delay in my response. I had a wonderful time with the Lasala Compte family in Barcelona. They made an incredible effort to ensure that I was happy, active, and experiencing their culture. They helped me organize my life there: to open a bank account, to register at a Spanish school and at the music conservatory, and introduced me to their English-speaking friends, extended family members, and various au pairs. Once I was more familiar with the area and speaking Spanish proficiently, they encouraged me to travel during my long weekends. I went to Figueras with a friend from my music school to visit the Dali museum. (This was a memorable trip). I also visited various cities within France including Lyon, Perpignon, and Paris.

It turned out to be the perfect situation in which I could pursue my studies of music at the Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya. I enjoyed playing with an excellent guitar student; we performed several times throughout the year and gave a recital in May. Clara and her father came to support us (took lots of pictures just like a real family - very cute!) I was also able to study with the renowned Catalan flutist, Vicens Prats of the "Orchestre de Paris".

I enrolled at the Metropol Spanish School for Foreigners where I made many friends who had come from all parts of the world (Japan, France, Australia, England, Russia, Poland, America, The Netherlands, etc.), and learned the language relatively quickly. (I learned in one year what would have taken four in a non-Spanish speaking country.)

One of my greatest memories is from a weekend we spent in the beach-town, Calella, where the grandparents of the children own a condo. I spent several hours in the kitchen with the grandma (known as "Aba") learning to prepare several traditional dishes, namely gazpacho, tortilla de patata, paella, and a cake made from yogurt and olive oil! I was in heaven! Another great memory comes from a weekend spent in a small town in the Pyranees Mountains, where the grandparents own another condo. I went skiing with an Italian friend of the family. It was such a perfect day, we weren't wearing coats, gloves, or hats....just enjoying the beautiful snow-capped mountains on the way down the slope. It was breathtaking.

Of course, my relationship with the children, Pol 3 years old, and Clem 1 year, had become very strong by the end of my stay. Pol was so used to me, he called me Liz Compte Lasala. Clem's first words, instead of Mama or Papa, were "Liz yah, Liz yah"! It was terribly sad for me to leave them! I hope to stay in contact with this family for the rest of my life. (I have remained in contact with the parents via email and sent the kids special things through the mail like stickers, pictures of my dog and home etc). They are fun, energetic, and thoughtful people and became my best friends in Spain!

Advice for upcoming au pairs:

My most important piece of advice has to do with time management. Make up an imaginary schedule for yourself that includes your personal time for study, travel, cultural excursions, etc. before committing to a family. I met two charming German au pairs this year who were in charge of infants and were at home all day. These girls weren't able to leave their homes until 8pm at which time they would go to Spanish school. They were also responsible for cleaning and cooking while watching the babies. They were ready to go home after three months.

It's important to find a situation in which you have at least a few hours during the day to go to a museum, study Spanish, or meet friends for coffee etc. This should be a cultural experience!

Try to get the most out of your situation. Explore your city and make plans to travel. Try to make local friends! Assimilate yourself to the culture as well as you can and have fun!

Many thanks to BEST for finding such a great family for me. Best wishes in the future!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Landon "Liz"

Dear Jill,

I would just like to say thank you for arranging this placement for me, I am having a wonderful time with the family and living so close to Madrid. I work in the morning, and in the afternoons I help the family and visit monuments, museums and so on in Madrid - I even went to a Flamenco dance performance the other week, which I enjoyed a lot. The classes were excellent, and refreshed the Spanish I had learnt a few years ago. The family is very nice, and I love the children. I have been to Burgos and Candeleda with them for weekend trips, the baptism of Ignacio, and the wedding of a cousin. It is really a wonderful experience for me!
Once again, thank you.
Regards,
Keira

Hi Robin,

My name is Kendra, Jill asked me to email you. I help out a little in her office, but also I am an au-pair also. I have been here for two months already living with the family. Basically, I wake up with them at 8am, help them get ready for school, read Charlotte´s Web to them while they eat breakfast. At 9am they leave for school. Then I have free time to go downtown, explore, go to Starbucks, go out to lunch with friends, or shop (you wouldn´t believe how cheap even the cute clothes are here.) Then depending on the day, I have to be home either at 5pm or 6pm when they arrive home. I prepare a snack for them, then do reading, games, soccer or whatever with them until 9pm when I send them upstairs to take a bath. The mom prepares dinner for us, then she puts them to bed. And I am free to go out and party until 7am like a rock star - the Metro stops running at midnight, and doesn’t start till 6am! - or I just chill at the house. The family has a maid, so I don’t have to do laundry or cleaning, I just have to keep my own room and bathroom clean, and help with my own and the kid´s dishes. I met with a few of the other nannies, and it sounded like pretty much the same deal. The families Jill picks out are pretty high class. Most of us were even provided our own cell phone from the families, which was cool. Most of the other girls are working 5 hours a day with the kids, but I am only working 3. If you work 5, you get paid 50 euros, but if you work 3 like my family needed, you just get room and board. (That is why I’m helping Jill out...I don´t want to run my credit card bill up too high.) That is about all. I get along well with the kids, they are 2 boys ages 6 and 8. They actually behave very well, in spite of all their energy. I live in Madrid and visited Sevilla, but my advice is to be in Barcelona or Madrid. I was in Sevilla for a week, and though it was beautiful, I ran out of stuff to do and see. Also, the Metro in Madrid is awesome! I am horrible at directions, but can get around just fine on it, so that is cool. Well, that is all that I can think of to tell you. The men here wear really tight jeans, the women dress very stylishly, and clothes dryers are not very common here, so don´t be surprised if your cotton t-shirts stretch out and your jeans feel like sandpaper. =) People are very proud of their ham here, but it looks nasty - straight off the leg, hoof and all displayed. But not to worry, VIPS and Hollywood's are everywhere, and have American food. =)

If you have any more questions email back.

Kendra

Hi Jill,

I've only been back in Toronto for about 1 week and a half and still trying to re-adjust. It's about -10 degrees Celsius today, but let's not talk about that(ha ha). I had a fantastic time in Madrid and definitely was not ready to leave. I'm positive that I'll be back in the future. The overall experience was really enjoyable and I was able to accomplish two of the main things I had set out to do: (1) travel and see as much of the country as I can and (2) greatly improve my Spanish

Both of which were made even more possible by the fact that my both families were very flexible and accommodating. I was able to attend Spanish classes, travel, socialise, etc. as much as my schedule (and budget) would allow. I got along very well with the parents and children and I’m still in touch with the families by email and I have an open invitation for whenever I’d like to return :-D Thanks to the many lengthy after-dinner chats I would have with the parents, my conversational Spanish improved immensely.

I was very lucky to have a family that treated me like a family member and were very open and embracing. I was always made to feel comfortable and welcome. I met other girls in similar programs who had not had such luck with their families, so BEST should definitely be commended for doing an excellent job in that department.

Of course, working with children has its ups and downs as any other job, and all children have their "moments", but again I was placed with a great family and overall the children were very enjoyable. I have so many pictures, so as soon as I get them developed and uploaded, I will send them to you.

My main bits of advice to future Au Pairs would be:

1. Be flexible and accommodating, and considerate of your family. This way you establish a great relationship based on trust and compromise from the get-go.

2. Be open to the new/unfamiliar (e.g. cuisine.) Don’t make the mistake of not making the most of the experience by not truly immersing yourself in the culture.

That’s all I can think of for now. I’ll be in touch with the photos and let me know if you have any more questions.

Thanks,

Tish
Tisha Hall           tishakhall@yahoo.com

Hi Jill!

I just started my internship today in graphic arts at the magazine, and they have me working from 2-5pm. They use different programs here, but it has the same main idea; it is just a matter orienting myself to it. I can stay later to help them out, which I did today. Next month, they will have me working in the morning, I think from 10-2pm. I will have to discuss with them since they are moving to a new building, and they will have more computers for me. Today I helped out on a poster for the designer. Tomorrow I will be illustrating or doing some collage work for her. The programs I am using are Coral Draw 8, Quark, and Photoshop. Illustrator program is not used here for some reason. They also use freehand. So I am enjoying my internship. They give me a lot of creative freedom which I enjoy. I will keep in touch.

Take care.

Sonia Mae Beduya

As far as the internship, I really enjoy it. Marivi at CEAR is wonderful, as is everyone else there who I´ve met. My project is on the human rights situation in the DR Congo between the years 1998 and 2001. I am currently writing a 10(ish) page report on the topic for a judge.

Erica Tafoya - greentaffy@optonline.net

Dear Jill,

I am happy that the room in the shared apartment was not available right away so that I had the opportunity to stay with a Spanish family.

I LOVE my family. We had a rough start because they don´t speak much English at all and my Spanish is not the greatest, but we get along fine. They have another student with them now that speaks better Spanish and mine is also slowly improving. I´m glad I was able to spend time with them. They helped me through my first days here, telling me where I should go and encouraging me to speak more. They´re great.

Kirsten Vala

Jill,

I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am to you and BEST for acting so quickly on moving Ian out of his original family, and into another where he is so very happy. I was just in Spain for a week visiting him, and had dinner with his Spanish family whom I enjoyed very much. I also met his bosses at the school who seem like a great bunch and assure me that his Spanish is coming along well. I appreciate all of your efforts to see that my son has a positive and successful experience in Spain. We both thank you!!!!

Greta Kindermann