With the end of the school year fast approaching, the Amity Interns at Clearview Elementary will soon be heading back to their home countries. To thank them for all their help and hard work over the past nine months, and to offer the community a chance to wish them well, on May 19 Clearview hosted a farewell picnic at Goenner Park in Clear Lake.

 

Amity Intern Advisor Sue Hasbrouck thanked the crowd for attending, and the Amity Interns for all they’ve done for Clearview.

 

“Without their help and support and constant smiles Clearview wouldn’t be the same,” she said. “Amities make it even more wonderful.”

 

She introduced each Amity Intern, their host families, and their aunt and uncle (support) families. Afterwards, each of the Amities was given a gift to remember their time at Clearview.

 

Although excited to return home, the Amities are also sad to be leaving their new friends and family behind.

 

“I liked staying with the kids, sharing experiences with them and speaking with them in Spanish,” said Carla Pedra Piqué. “I will miss pancakes. Maybe I will start making them at home.”

 

She stated she would also miss the awesome library at Clearview, explaining that not all schools in Spain have one.

 

“It’s very important, you can pick out your own book you like,” she said. “You can use your imagination.”

 

Her host family was Gene and Julie Granberg, and her aunt and uncle family was Jay and Molly Johnston.

 

Raquel Del Cid Arriaza said she learned a lot of student methodology to bring back to her country. 

 

“I liked living with another family,” she said. “Learning their culture and language, and sharing my country’s culture with them.”

 

She earnestly stated she would miss the weather, saying, “I like to be in the cold, and my country (El Salvador) is hot! I will also miss my host family, the students and new friends.”

 

Her host family was Mike and Julie Nefs, and her aunt and uncle family was Brain Larkin and Terese Van Orsow.

 

Natalie Castillo’s best experience was learning about the educational system and teaching Spanish for the first time. 

 

“With my host family I’m used to living with four kids now,” she said. “That’s going to be really difficult [to leave]. I’ll also miss the changes of the weather, living here is like living on another planet. In Columbia you have either rainy or sunny.”

 

Her host family was Donald and Lydia Wade, and her aunt and uncle family was Blake and Melissa Tenvoorde.

 

“I enjoyed living with my host family, learning the culture and traveling everywhere,” said Paula Saturio. “At home I’m an only child, here I have a sister. I’m going to miss that.”

 

Her host family was Eric and Naomi Abfalter, and her aunt and uncle family was Matt and Joy Doke.

 

“It was my first time in the U.S. and it was incredible,” said Sara García. “I will miss the people I met. In Spain I have a big brother, here I have a little brother.”

 

Her host family was Curtis and Lori Johnson, and her aunt and uncle family was Jesus and Jessie Sandoval.

 

Iñigo De La Rosa’s favorite experience was going to New York.

 

 “It was my dream and I love traveling,” he said. “For me this is the best experience.”

 

He stated he would miss his host family and their food, especially hamburgers and Reese’s candy.

 

His host families were Sam and Lisseth Poole and Tom and Carrie Hoover, and his aunt and uncle family was Pete and Sharon Strobel.

 

Clearview has welcomed Amity Interns to their school for the past six years. Amity Interns are native speakers from foreign countries and are similar to student teachers. They travel to the United States to spend the school year working with students who are learning to speak their native language, which in Clearview’s case is Spanish. They stay with host families so they are completely immersed in U.S. culture.