By Jolaine Kingery

Forty-four South American students arrived in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 30, to spend three days in homes with Atlanta families to learn more about the American way of living and American culture.

Quito, Ecuador, is where most of these young Catholics come from although one was from Chile and one was from Paraguay. Ranging in age from 16 to 21, they are part of the Cardinal Spellman Student Exchange which has been in operation for 13 years. Father John Porter, Salesian Director of Vocations at Don Bosco College in Quito is director of the program.

Arriving in Atlanta from Miami, the students will also visit Louisville, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Boston, New York, Washington, D. C., and Disney World before returning to Ecuador in October. In each of these cities, the students will stay with Catholic families, mostly those with teenagers, who feel they also benefit from the exchange.

Herb Farnsworth, Christ the King, and Carol Martin, Immaculate Heart of Mary, were in charge of arranging the host families in Atlanta. These included Barbara and Al Purdy, Judy and Bill Carnan, Sharon and Paul Lang, Jean and Dave Guinee, Anna Mae and Nick Castricone, Murice and Avery Grainger, Gini and Nick Belluso, Jean and Joe Ryan, Jean Dawkins, Joliaine and Bill Kingery, Bernice and Ed Trotochaud, Mrs. James Weeks, Mary and William Faber, Phyllis and Don Gareis, Mary and Bob Callahan, Carol and Dave Martin, Charlotte Brown, Flore and Roland Fredette, Rita and Gordon Nash, and Janet and Gordon Wadsworth.

Ms. Clara Maria Galarraga, chaperone for the young people this year, wishes to thank the families in Atlanta for the kindness and friendship received.