We were invited to the University of Arizona Study Abroad Fair yesterday, as the Foundation Papa sits on the Board of, has donated scholarship funds for study abroad. Over 1200 students attended the Fair. We were there the first 2.5 hours and enjoyed every second, learning about programs, places, and ideas we weren't familiar with, like a six week camping trip to Namibia studying various things including getting to know a tribe of people that don't measure time. We were wishing we were college students again! We also saw Alan, one of Boys and Girls Club kids, now a senior at UA, who did a Study Abroad program in Australia over this summer.
I was in touch with the Director of Study Abroad a few weeks before the Fair and offered to host a wine and cheese party at our house late yesterday afternoon, after the Fair. The Director made the guest list of about 12-14, including Alba, whom we spent a day with in June in Orvieto, Italy. We were happy to see and spend time with Alba and her friend, Simona, a chef, who also came from Orvieto and created a special six course dinner at a local restaurant while visiting. We enjoyed all our other guests too, leading programs in South America, religious studies in India, exchange programs in Mexico, journalism in Spain, and more. We all went outside to enjoy the evening's sunset. Arizona sunsets are beautiful!
