MONTREAL HOSTS ADSS DRAMA STUDENTS

In February, ADSS hosted 10 Drama students from Montreal (Riverdale High School). This was part 1 of the YMCA Youth Exchange that had been awarded to the Drama Club. Much was packed into their 8 day stay in Port Alberni and, most importantly, many new friendships were made.
At the end of April, Part 2 of the Exchange finally happened and our 11 ADSS drama students traveled to Montreal to re-connect with their “twins”. Drama teacher, Kerry Robertson, and Planning 10 teacher, Laurie Hurst, were the accompanying teachers for this trip.
The very first night the ADSS students gathered at one of the host families’ homes and were introduced to authentic poutine. It was definitely a big hit and a perfect way to start the “cultural” part of the exchange!
On the first full day in La Belle Province, students were taken to a Maple Sugar Farm. This adventure included a huge brunch in which everything on the menu was accompanied by maple syrup. Lots and lots of maple syrup!! There was also a wagon ride around the “farm” and the tasting of hot maple syrup poured onto snow and then scooped up with Popsicle sticks. Yummy!
After the farm trip, and the return “home”, everyone went ten pin bowling. Lots of fun getting to play with the big balls and in a huge two leveled bowling alley!
The next four days were mostly spent at Riverdale High School. This school is situated in an area called Pierrefond, a mostly English speaking, suburbia type area in the West Island part of Montreal. ADSS students were presented with special “honorary” school uniform shirts to wear while they were in the school. (All Riverdale students wear their school’s uniforms to class!) These school days were filled with participating in Drama 10 & 11 classes, sitting in on their twin’s classes, and doing any missed school work. As they had done while in Port Alberni, Riverdale and ADSS twinned students performed their play, “The Exchange” three times while there – once for Riverdale’s next year’s grade 7’s, once for the school, and once for parents & friends.
Through out the school days & evenings, they also enjoyed a delicious pot luck lunch provided by Riverdale Staff, a wonderful potluck dinner provided by the Montreal Exchange parents, and a pizza night. ADSS students were also entertained with Riverdale’s yearly dance show, a short performance of scenes from the school’s recent production of Moulan Rouge, and a workshop on Bahngra dancing! Lastly, and for some certainly not least, students got an evening at the local and very large, Mall, to shop ‘till they dropped.
The Friday, with no school in session at Riverdale, was the “downtown” Montreal day! It started with everyone taking the commuter train and going to see the premiere of Spider Man 3 at one of the city’s major cinemas. The afternoon was a walking tour of the city, guided by Tanya Avrith (Riverdale’s Media teacher & co-teacher sponsor of the Exchange). Students learned a lot about the history of the city and especially enjoyed the time in the “old Montreal” district.
The final full day of the trip was spent in Quebec City with lots of free time to wander around the old walled part of the city and shop, eat, & sightsee. The last night was with host families. For the last morning, brunch was provided for everyone at local restaurant before departing for the flight home. Many tears, hugs, sad good byes transpired but with promises to keep in touch and re-visit each others’ communities in the future.
It was an amazing trip and survey of the students gave it a two thumbs up. A big thanks definitely must go out to Mrs. Katerina Kondonis, the Riverdale Drama teacher, who worked so hard arranging every part of the Montreal hosting activities. The last thank you goes out to the YMCA for their generous support of this very worthwhile Canadian Exchange program.

Drama Club YMCA Youth Exchange with MONTREAL!!!!!!!!