Le Retour des Belges!

Last week we enjoyed the revival of our Upper School Belgian exchange, dating back more than 10 years, with the Institut du Sacré-Coeur (ISC) in Barvaux, a private school an hour outside of Liège.

Eleven junior-age students from ISC were accompanied by their English teachers, Mme Françoise Ghyse and Mme Aline de Ryck, and hosted by an amazing array of Parker families with children in JK through 12th grades. In my roles as Upper and Middle School French teacher and Languages and Cultural Studies Department Co-Chair, I have organized the Parker Belgian Exchange with Mme Ghyse every two years, apart from the pandemic's hiatus, since its beginning in 2013.

The fun and festivities over the Belgians' nine-day stay from Friday, October 25 to Sunday, November 3 included a beautiful gathering, followed by a boat ride arranged by parents Izabel and Anthony Olson, along with costume parties, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, classroom visits, Bulls games, numerous culinary delights and daily sightseeing. Most of the Belgians were visiting the United States for the first time, and all were new to Chicago.

There were not many dry eyes upon their departure but plenty of happy plans to meet up again on future travels. Countless merci's to the following Parker families for opening their hearts and homes to these very grateful Belgian teens: Kelley and Sanjeev Ahuja, Diane and Josh Berin, Joe and Caitlin Brody, Jymme and Steve Chaouki, Karen Cooper and Brett Reinholz, Liz and Steve Isaacs, Mark King and Lorraine Anderson, Izabel and Anthony Olson, and Dana and Jacob Ringer. Your new Belgian friends will never forget the incomparable experiences you provided them along with the lifelong international bonds you helped forge! 

Click here for photos of this visit.