It was a pleasant surprise when I was invited to attend the most recent meeting of the Great Decisions group by Ellen Flynn, the group’s moderator. Originally part of a lecture series hosted by the Mattapoisett Women’s Club, Great Decisions is now sponsored by that group as a self-standing discussion group. On March 25, Flynn had also invited the three foreign exchange students who are nearing the end of their school year at Old Rochester Regional High School.
Meeting in the library community room for eight weeks beginning in January and usually ending in February, the harsh winter storms had the group meeting through the end of March this year. I had never heard of this group previously and was surprised to learn that in the greater Tri-Town area, Great Decision groups had been meeting for 40 years. That intrigued me, inspiring some online research once I returned home.
But for now, it was all about observing how these young engaged students would digest the last session of the Great Decisions 2015 season and how the members would engage them.
First, we watched a short film about the designated topic on this day, “Brazil’s Metamorphosis.” The film is a PBS production that touched on the political and entwined economic history of the country and its people.
The students seemed interested in the material, but like some teenagers, somewhat reticent to speak their minds in front of a group of older persons. As was pointed out by one of the more senior members of the discussion group, “I guess you are wondering what a bunch of senior citizens can do.” Several members told the students that they still liked keeping actively involved in world issues and still had something to share.
As for the students, they provided their own feedback on the film, as well as personal information about their lives in their home countries and their school year here in Tri-Town.
Paola Briceño of Mexico said, “We have huge problems similar to Brazil.” When asked about her year in the United States she said, “All stereotypes are not true,” meaning what she had learned about the U.S. prior to coming here had now been by and large dispelled. She plans on one day studying to become an architect.
Antoine Geller from Belgium plans on studying languages, but is unsure about a career path, while at the same time, being rather clear that traveling throughout the world is a major goal.
“It has been a good year,” said Geller. “The U.S. is very different from Belgium.” As for the film Geller said, “I knew a lot about Brazil. We studied it (at his school).” He also added that, “The U.S. is very diversified … so different from state to state.”
Mari Belmonte from Argentina is looking forward to a career in medicine, following in her mother’s footsteps as a cardiologist. Belmonte echoed that the U.S. had been a bit of a surprise, and not like her preconceived notion of a country filled with fast food-eating insatiable consumers.
“Here, I didn’t like the snow and school was very different,” she shared. And as for Brazil, the information in the film had been new to her, saying all she knew about the country was that, “We are soccer enemies.”
Accompanying the students was ORR’s AFS-USA Exchange Student Program Chairman Kim Corazzini, also the high school nurse at ORR. Corazzini, who has been the leader of the ORR exchange program for the past nine years said, “ORR always has been supportive of the exchange program … it’s good for our students.” She said that local students have had their eyes opened to the wider world through the visiting students, how young people have tremendous struggles in other parts of the globe and that, “…safety is not a given everywhere.” Ending on a lighter note she said, “And they now know we don’t always go to McDonald’s.”
The students had to return to school leaving the more senior members to delve more deeply into the topic of Brazil’s present-day struggles and future goals. The group consists of about 20 people from various walks of life, most with, how shall I say, years of seasoning. Yet all had an eagerness to understand complex issues, exchange ideas, and a desire to attempt to contribute to positive change.
Flynn thanked the students for their attendance saying, “These kids are our hope for the future.”
Great Decisions is funded by the Foreign Policy Association.
For more information on Great Decisions, you can visit www.fpa.org or contact Susan Pizzolato, Mattapoisett Public Library Director at spizzolo@sailsinc.org.
By Marilou Newell
