Canadian exchange students say goodbye to Colégio São Luiz, Brusque

The welcome of the Brusquenses and the closeness between students and teachers were what surprised the students the most.

After 15 days of living the routine at Colégio São Luiz, in Brusque, the seven students of the Séminaire du Sacré-Cœur, in Quebec, Canada, say goodbye to Brazil this Saturday the 21st.

This exchange marks the second stage of the partnership between Colégio São Luiz and the Canadian institution which, at the beginning of the year, welcomed students from Brusque who form the school’s volleyball team.

For the director of Colégio São Luiz, Father Silvano João da Costa, the experience brought important learning.

“It is a feeling of gratitude for everything we have experienced in the presence of Quebec students and teachers. We share our way of being and doing education in Brazil, everything is welcoming,” he assesses.

Father Silvano also thanks the families of the school students who welcomed the exchange students, as well as the teachers who were most involved in the project.

“These are unforgettable moments in the history of our institution, which celebrates its 120 years of founding amid international experiences. It is then that we realize that the smile, the embrace and the welcome are the same in all cultures, which gives us the certainty that it is love that unites us,” expresses Father Silvano.

Human warmth

Expectations exceeded and experiences that will remain forever engraved in our memory and our hearts. It is with this feeling that young Canadian women leave the city.

“It was much better than I expected. What I liked most were the people, very welcoming and always happy. When they see us, everyone gives us a hug, it’s really nice,” says Ellie Marris.

The Brazilian way of being was also what most enchanted Océane Lernay-Joly.

“The students here are very united and close. It’s great to be greeted with such kindness in the morning when you arrive at school. It’s a very good day,” he said.

Joana Daigreault also appreciated the affection she received from the people she met. “Everything happened as I expected,” he guarantees.

Young Mia-Lee Berniquez in turn talks about the closeness between students and teachers. “It’s really cool to see the relationship in class, the active participation of students and the exchanges that occur, generating learning. In Canada, classes are always very calm, very different from what we saw here.

The various events organized by Colégio São Luiz were also welcomed by the exchange students. They attended the opening of the institution’s 36th Marathon, on the night of October 17, and were delighted with the project.

“We realized how strong the culture is. Students are engaged, dedicated, participating and coming together. It’s very impressive,” says Mara Fournier.

For Juliette Quesnel, among her memories will be the architecture of the city. “The places here are all open, with lots of windows and outdoor spaces. In Canada, buildings are closed because of the weather,” he reports.

Gabrielle Grandin experienced volleyball more intensely in Brusque, even if there are no major differences in learning and practicing this sport. “Playing volleyball in Brazil was really cool. I could even play more,” he expresses.

Redemption of securities

The coach of the Séminaire du Sacré-Cœur volleyball team, Gilbert Landry, accompanied the students and was amazed by what they experienced.

“The beauty is impressive, even in the rain. The cleanliness of the town and the school also attracts attention,” he says.

It highlights the presence of values ​​in the students’ routine. “We have noticed how the charisma of a Dehonian institution is revealed and present in the daily life of the school community.”

Mother of one of the exchange students, Marie-Josée also emphasizes the extent to which values ​​translate into feelings and humanize the school routine.

“In Canada, we are more introspective. Here, it was possible to find values ​​such as welcome, receptivity and human warmth.”

She also cites the visit made by the group to the Business Association of Brusque, Guabiruba and Botuverá (ACIBr), as an important moment to understand this union that stimulates common growth, through the associations.

“We saw how much we take care of each other here. There is the concern that everyone grows together and helps each other as a community. We also noticed a lot of respect between students and teachers, in addition to everyone’s admiration for the school. There is a strong sense of belonging.

The coordinator of the International Program of the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, Anastasiia Lavrynets, emphasizes the importance of introducing students to Dehonian values ​​put into practice around the world.

“They understood that we are not alone in Canada: we are a family. It is important to explore schools within the same congregation. We are not a single point in the world, we are Dehonians for the world. »

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