I was a stranger in a strange land

I was there two years. Not long enough in my mind. I wish it had been longer.

@jerzgirl Have you ever been back?

@1creekgirl I wish. But with the current political situation, I would never try to go.

It surely is. And it helps prevent the prejudices far too many people have in our country.

@allen0187 Absolutely! It was from a Venezuelan neighbor that I learned that we in the US are not the only Americans. They view themselves as Americans, too, albeit South Americans.

@jerzgirl true. You get to see the world form a different perspective.

I cried and begged my family to let me stay. Of course, I had no idea that my education wasn't free or how much it actually cost in a private school. I thought all school was free. I had made friends there that I had never been able to do in New Jersey (except for one I'd known since diapers). In fact, the response to me walking into my class after coming home was "Oh no! She's back." But I am in contact with former school mates on Facebook who all reminisce together about our times there plus voice our opinions on current events

@sjvg1976 Definitely.

@jerzgirl that's good to be in contact with your school friends.

Dad was asked to go to Saõ Paolo, Brazil when I was in high school, but he got sick there and the doctors were only treating the symptoms. Mom went to bat for him and contacted the plant manager here at home and told him Dad needed medical treatment he wasn't getting there. He ended up being brought home. Turned out he had contracted amoebas. After that, he contacted the international division and asked to be released from their list of willing travelers. He retired in 1981 after thirty years working for them. I know quite a few people who spent a decade or more traveling where their father's employer sent them. Their experiences far exceed mine, but my time there were the best years of my childhood. I even begged them to let me stay after they went home, rationalizing that i could live with their good friends a street away brought there by the same company. It wasn't until years later I learned the company had paid my tuition that my parents could have never afforded. I believe it's more than $30K a year now. One thing is, though...I have tried Venezuelan foods since leaving home and I am a fan! Wish I'd learned that while there. I did develop a love of tropical fruit while I was there. They weren't easy to find when we got home. That has since changed.

@RebeccasFarm My parents are both gone. Dad passed in 2003 and Mom in 2008. It doesn't seem that long ago. Dad was 80 and Mom was 92.

@jerzgirl Oh yes tropical fruit would be hard to find then. You poor Dad sorry to know he got sick as well. They were very good parents to you then. Are your parents still alive then Wendy? That is a cute pic of you there.

I know. But there are limitations on how spoiled a child should be. I was never at that limit because my parents couldn't afford extravagance. Thankfully.

I've tried clams here, but I don't like them at all. Little Neck, Big Neck - I was grossed out by them with that long tube like neck...and they were rubbery. But I will eat Manhattan clam chowder and fried clams. They're cut into smaller pieces.

@LadyDuck Big oysters are harder and harder to find. But I love fried oysters.

@jerzgirl I have tried clams in the United States and I also did not like them at all. Also oysters are too big and not very pleasant, while French oysters are very good.

I was there two years. Not long enough in my mind. I wish it had been longer.

I was smitten from the first day. It's permanently etched into my brain and heart.

Thank you.

I agree. Maduro is destroying a beautiful country, forcing people to flee and not allowing humanitarian aid to come in. They thought they were going to get fairness and equality for all, but got a dictator who keeps it all from the people who were supposed to benefit. Their government is authoritarian, not socialistic. Even Chavez was better than Maduro.

@porwest Oh yeah, he began the decline, but it just seems to me Maduro has been Chavez on steroids, like he's got to prove he's 'more' somehow.

@jerzgirl Chavez is the one who destroyed the country. As soon as he got in there, it was pretty much done.

I'm in regular contact with them on Facebook. At least the ones I've found or who were found by our 60s alumni group. My class only had 10 kids and that was the entire grade. People moved in and out as their parents were transferred. I had kids from Denmark, Canada and Cuba in my class. I had a blast.

@jerzgirl That's great.