Abigail's Experience

September 3rd-5th

Hello from South Africa! The past two days have been a roller-coaster for everyone. Our 28 hour journey all started at the St. Louis airport where we said good-bye to our family and hello to the adventure ahead of us. Then, we flew to Detroit, Michigan where we ran to catch our next connecting flight to Amsterdam. The Amsterdam airport was overwhelmingly big and I felt like we had to walk miles before reaching the next gate. After all of these connecting flights we were finally off to Cape Town, South Africa. Although being stuck on a plane for many hours was not fun, I loved being surrounded by people from all over the world on all of these flights. I had plane seat neighbors from Europe and the United States just like us. Overall the travel on the way here was very smooth and easy.

    When we arrived in Cape Town we were greeted by our tour guides that are taking us around the city for the next couple of days. They are both very nice and introduced themselves to each of us one by one. As we walked out of the airport I was looking around and I saw so many pictures and illustrations of Nelson Mandela (he is also on all of the rand which is South Africa’s currency). I could obviously see how important he was here. One of our tour guides later supported this observation by telling us “Nelson Mandela made South Africa free for us. There is no longer division between blacks and whites”.

On the first day of touring Cape Town, we visited Table Mountain and the District Six Museum. Table Mountain provided an outstanding view that looks out above Cape Town. To get up to the top we rode in a gondola lift that shuttled us up on a cable. The views were breathtaking and the sights were so good that it made up for it only being 4 degrees up there. Ground level temperatures this time of year in Cape Town are in the comfortable upper 50s. I had two sweatshirts on but I regret not packing a heavier coat! At the District Six Museum there were many pictures and street signs on display from before Apartheid. I learned Apartheid means “complete separation” and in South Africa it was specifically a system that forced black people out of certain areas in Cape Town and declared those areas for whites only. We spoke with an elderly man who was living in District Six when Apartheid took place and it was very interesting.

As I bring this to a close, I realize how incredible it is that I am here. I am so grateful and blessed that I was able to participate in this once in a lifetime trip. It is so exciting to experience new things and I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Friendship Across the Ocean

I can say that last week was the best week and fastest week of my life! The friendships and memories I have made during this short week will never be forgotten. All they way from discussing how to say nutella to going to Walmart with Shauna and Imogen for the first time. Not only did they learn that the portion sizes are huge here but they learned that Ursuline is not only a sister school but another home for them!




My favorite memory with them was picking them up from the airport and seeing them for the first time. Before they came to America I had skyped them so I had an idea of what they looked like, but I was still a little nervous. What if they thought I was weird? What if we did not know what to talk about? I remember seeing them turn the corner and just sprinting in their direction practically knocking them over. At that moment I knew that this was going to be the best week of my life. Once we got home they gave me loads of chocolate and biscuits(aka cookies). And as they would say it was very nice. I learned so much from Shauna and Imogen in one week and I can't wait to got to England and visit them. I an grateful to have an amazing friendship with people that live across the ocean.








-Abby England, '16

True Sisters Will Never Be Drawn Apart

It amazes me how close I have become to girls I have only known for a week, it’s absolutely crazy!  As all of the host students were waiting at the airport with our signs that we made for our Brentwood arrivals, I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown…...I was freaking out!!!!  I was so nervous about having two random girls that I had never met in person, although I had been texting them for three months prior, stay at my house for a whole week!!!  I literally thought I was going to cry I was so nervous, and I was terrified for the moment when I would first see them, should I hug them, shake hands?  To be completely honest, I was a nervous wreck.  Now, when I think back to that very first day, I was absolutely nuts, because when it was time for them to leave I was crying because I wanted them to stay, sad that they could not have stayed for two weeks, and I felt like I had known them my whole life.  This might sound crazy, but it is the absolute truth, the global education program at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis has changed my life.

Me and my sister, Katrina, who is a senior, became friends with our England girls, Mikki and Molly, right away.  They both came running up to hug us when they first saw us holding their signs at the airport.  I will never forget that moment, especially because it made all my nerves fly away.  We did many things during that week that bonded us together as true sisters, including getting our nails done for homecoming together, bringing them to a movie theater, going to an American football game, and eating dinner at ballpark village.  However, the most fun part of having them stay with us was the little things, like the late night chatting and laughing until our stomachs hurt, our intense ping pong tournaments, our daily selfies in the car on the way to school, figuring out the different words that they use, hearing their American accents, and our laughter at the most random of things.  I always tell myself to cherish the moment, because soon it will be a memory and you will wish that you had it back, and no matter how “cringy” it might sound, that is my motto that I will always follow.  I always told Mikki and Molly to cherish the moment, and by the end of the trip, they were saying it to me.  There were two moments in particular that I will remember for ever.  Mikki and Molly gave us gifts on the night before they were going back home, which were I love London sweatshirts, necklaces, and the most meaningful part….little notes written from the heart.  In her note, Mikki said: I really have had such a wonderful experience and it is all down to you and your family who I can honestly say I love so much!  This made me burst into tears, because I honestly love her so much, and to here Mikki say that made my heart so happy.  That night, the night before they left, we stayed at home, watching movies, chilling, playing ping pong, jamming to our favorite tunes, eating, laughing, and my favorite part….stargazing.  Mikki, Molly, Katrina (my sister), and I took pillows and blankets outside and laid down on the concrete pad for almost an hour just watching the stars from my house which sits in the middle of the woods.  Even though we were not even talking to each other, it was by far the best moment of the trip, and I was silently crying as we looked up at the sky, because I did not want my sisters to leave.  I was so thankful to be able to meet these two girls, and I am truly blessed that Mikki and Molly are now a part of my life.  I know for sure that I cherished every moment of their visit to St. Louis, and I am sure that they did too.  They may live on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but Mikki and Molly, Katrina and I are friends forever, never apart… maybe in distance, but never at heart.  Until I see you again Mikki and Molly!  I love you so much.

-Erica Rebholz, '17

First Connections

Waiting at the airport with the posters in my hands, my nerves were running wild. I was so anxious for the Brentwood girls to round the corner, I was 'buzzing' as they would say. Once I spotted my two students, Charlotte and Lauren, I freaked out and ran towards them. Although the neon signs and screams seem to have overwhelmed the England girls, our first hug was priceless! It was so wonderful to see Charlotte and Lauren in person and (most importantly) to hear their accents! Of course the first thing I asked each other was, "How funny do we sound?" The car ride home was full of questions and good vibes. Bonding over our common likes, like Taylor Swift, and our differences, like driving on the opposite sides of the road, were just the start to our friendship.

After showing them around the house and giving them time to settle into their rooms, Char and Lau came down with the sweetest gifts for Reba and I. London sweat-shirts, postcards, and tea cups were just a few of the many gifts I was given. We made them chili and noodles and talked about more differences and their home. They were tired so we all went to bed, excited for their first day on campus and their presentation. I cannot wait to continue spending time with my two newest friends! They are just so 'stinking cute'! Bring on the rest of the week, more inside jokes, bonding moments, and fun times are for sure coming our way! So happy to have this experience with these lovely girls!

-Caroline Adams '16

Brentwood England Visitors Arrive at UA!

On Monday Ursuline St. Louis hosts eagerly awaited the arrival of the Ursuline visitors from Brentwood England at the airport. After a smooth journey over to our side of the pond, the visitors were greeted with handmade signs and smiling faces.

Ursuline St. Louis and Brentwood students at the airport

The excitement was in the air on Tuesday as the school greeted our dear guests for the week. Student ambassadors lead the group on a tour. Afterwards, the Brentwood group came up to the art room to create screen printed bags aided by some of our art students.

Art students help with screen printing

A finished bag

The whole school got to enjoy a presentation that the Brentwood students carefully prepared for us. We viewed a video the students made of their school, we saw some similarities and differences. The students are divided into different houses which are run by a system somewhat like our student council, but across grade levels. We also exchanged performances of our school prayers and songs along with cheers. The energy in the auditorium was very high with lots of enthusiasm from both groups. I could sense the strong bond of our common Ursuline connection, and suddenly it felt more like family coming to visit rather than strangers. How powerful!

Host sisters and visitors together after the presentation

In the evening the host families and visitors gathered together in the UA Cafe for a Welcome BBQ. We are excited to see what the rest of the week brings. Look forward to blog posts written by host students shortly.

A host family with two Brentwood students at the BBQ

Brazil 2015 Photo Slide Show

Enjoy a slide show of captured moments from the Brazil Trip 2015

Arrival in Ilheus, Bahia Brazil

Yesterday, we had a safe landing followed by a warm welcome by our sister school in Brazil. A lot of excitement all around as greetings were exchanged and everyone went off with their host families.

Just Arrived in Ilheus

A Warm Bem-vindos from Brazil!

Today we will spend some time at Piedade. We have already been impressed by the evidence of the school's study of St. Louis this year. More on that to come.

Student posts to follow, expect one per day.

Welcome at Piedade