6/6/2006 - Roses from Isabel: How an AFS student found her Argentine soul
AFS volunteers often ask themselves how their day to day work with AFS host families and students actually makes an impact on the larger world outside their small communities. In Argentina, in the small city of Reconquista, AFS volunteers realized that generosity and an open heart go a long way in creating a more tolerant, just, and peaceful world.
Isabel Hore-Fazan has been living with her AFS hosts, the Corti family in Reconquista, since her arrival in the country last August, 2005. An exchange student from the United Kingdom, Isabel approached her AFS volunteers in March, 2006 to ask them is she could meet with members of the local chapter of the association of veterans of the Malvinas (Falkland) war.
Initially, her AFS contact Nadia Gazze, was puzzled by Isabel’s request and asked her why she wanted to meet the veterans of a confrontation between the United Kingdom and Argentina that occurred in 1982. Isabel explained that during her previous eight months in Argentina she had harbored a secret that made her unsure of herself and of her being completely accepted by her Argentinean family and friends. Her father, Isabel said, had been a marine with the United Kingdom’s military forces and he had actively participated in the conflict more than 25 years ago. She no longer wanted to keep this a secret and live in fear of being rejected by the citizens of a country she had come to love and appreciate.
The meeting was arranged on April 1st and gathering her courage, Isabel revealed her father’s involvement in the war to the veterans that had congregated to meet her. One of the veterans, Gustavo Martinelli was at first astonished to be speaking face to face to a citizen of the UK since it was the first time he had encountered one since the war. Slowly, the initial awkwardness melted away as the veterans shared personal stories with her about their involvement with the war. The veterans also shared with Isabel what they considered the message of their educational outreach to the local area’s schools: War is destructive, divisive and unjust. The young people of the world must hear our message because they are our best hope for a peaceful future. Isabel’s agenda, however, extended beyond simply meeting the veterans. The following day was to be the day in which Argentines commemorated their soldier’s participation and pay tribute to those lost in combat during the conflict and she wanted to be a part of the activities.
Isabel once again joined the veteran’s but this time they all headed to the larger commemorative celebrations that were going to be held in Reconquista. After the official ceremonies in which many local, provincial and national dignitaries were present, Isabel and the group of veteran’s from the Reconquista association headed out to the Plaza San Martin, where the monument to those fallen in the conflict had been erected. There, among the various guests, which included the governor of the province of Santa Fe, Isabel read a letter that she had written for the commemoration and which we reproduce below:
My name is Isabel Hore-Fazan and I am a 16 year-old AFS exchange student from England. I have been in Argentina, living with the Corti family, my hosts, since August of 2005.
v I have learned a great deal about the Argentinean culture, its people, its geography and history. Precisely here in Argentina is where I’ve come to know the Malvinas the way I know them now. In my country I had heard about a group of island called in English “Falkland Islands” but here I’ve learned their true name: Malvinas. I am now aware of the depth of feeling that the name “Malvinas” evokes in the hearts of the Argentineans. I have had the opportunity here in Argentina, to also learn more about the history of my country.
The war of 1982 in which both our countries participated has left many wounds. I do not condone violence as a way to obtain what we want. On the contrary, I believe in peaceful dialogue among our people. I believe that this will help us understand each other better. As an AFS exchange student I acknowledge that peace is a dynamic concept that is threatened by injustice, inequity and intolerance. Each and every one of us is responsible for developing the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.
Because of all of this, and because since this last August, my heart also feels cherishes the Argentinean national identity, I would like to honor all the soldiers that fell in the Malvinas conflict of 1982. I do this from with humility, as a 16 year-old exchange student, and in the name of my people.
Once Isabel had finished reading her letter, she placed a floral offering of white roses at the foot of the monument. The roses symbolized the British people and their white color was meant as a symbol of continued peace among the two countries.
Thank you to Juan Manuel Buyatti, of the AFS Reconquista Chapter in Argentina for writing the Spanish version on which this story is based.
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