Italy Day in Dallas

After the long weekend, our Chilean sisters returned to UA energized and excited about the cultural week ahead. Our first day, today, was focused on "Italy" and so we visited several people and places around Dallas with an Italian heritage and flavor. First, we visited Raviolisimo Ravioli factory which is owned by brother and sister, Phil and Chena Civello. Chena is a graduate of Ursuline Dallas and Phil attended Jesuit Dallas in the 1970s. The Civellos and their employees gave us a warm welcome which included a hands-on ravioli making demonstration. The students loved every minute and they learned a lot about how skilled one must be to create the perfect ravioli!  

Hello Raviolisimo!

Chena Civello at work

Phil explains the variety of products offered at Civello's

Time to try it ourselves! It's harder than it looks!  

Heart shaped ravioli for Valentines Day!

A little souvenir

Thank you to our friends at Civello's Raviolisimo!

After Civello's, we visited Jimmy's Italian grocery store where the students enjoyed Muffaletta sandwiches (a sandwich which originated in Sicily and was made popular in the USA by Italian immigrants in New Orleans) and cannoli. The DiCarlo family has operated an Italian market in Dallas since the 1950's so this store is an important and historical venue for the entire Dallas Italian community.

Tony welcomes our group - Grazie!

Delicioso!!

Buying a few tasty treats

All smiles!
 

Last, but certainly not least, we stopped at Campisi's Italian restaurant for lunch. We were greeted by owner and fellow Ursuline alum, Regina Campisi. Campisi's restaurant also has a long and special history in Dallas. Our lunch was delicious and we even got to eat some of the fantastic ravioli which is supplied by Civello's.

Pizza lovers!

Italian Cream cake - our favorite!!

Ms. Campisi and Mrs. Pezzimenti

Italy Day was a huge success!! The food was amazing!! We'd like to give a very special thanks to Mrs. Pezzimenti for helping to organize the day and to Ms. Smith for accompanying us. And a very special Grazie mille to Civello's, Jimmy's and Campisi's!

Dallas Day

After spending a full day in classes yesterday, our Chilean sisters were ready to go out into the city and to see a bit of Dallas today. Because the students were planning a trip to the 6th Floor Museum, the day started with a compelling conversation with Ms. Smith about Dallas at the time of President Kennedy's assassination.  While downtown, the students toured the Cathedral, the 6th Floor Museum and the Geo Deck at the top of Reunion Tower. Looking down from the Geo deck was a great way to see different neighborhoods and landmarks and to begin learning about this special city!  It was a fantastic first day in Dallas and all of the students are excited to enjoy the long holiday weekend with their host families.

A serious conversation with Ms. Smith about her memories of 1963

 

La Catedral de Guadalupe

Inside the Cathedral

A little fun USA photography

The best photo!!  

UA Welcomes the Chileans - Our first guests of 2016!!

It is with great joy that this morning we received our first delegation visit of 2016 ! Our sisters from Colegio Santa Ursula in Santiago, Chile, have come to visit us, led by our dear friend, Mr. Ramon Reyes, with whom we have worked since our partnership began in 2008. Mr. Reyes is the Director of Technology in Santiago and he is also a very accomplished teacher of German language. The whole group arrived in Dallas before dawn and, despite the early hour, they were met with great enthusiasm by their Dallas host families here at UA. This morning, the girls enjoyed a breakfast welcome reception and they greeted all of UA on the PA system. They are currently taking a tour of the school and soon they will be in their first classes. We are thrilled to have our Chilean sisters among us once again! 

Global Celebration Day 2015

Today was a very special day at Ursuline and for the Catholic Church. We celebrated so many things at school today  - The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the beginning of The Year of Mercy and Global Celebration Day! Students, teachers and many wonderful guests participated in the day which included a parade, Mass, small sessions, a presentation by our Uganda delegation, an African fashion show, a vibrant Global Christmas market, henna painting, an international student panel, UA student performances, and much more! It was one of the happiest and most colorful days of the year where we learned so much about cultures, languages and the diverse peoples of our world. Thank you too all who contributed to the success and festivity of Global Celebration Day!

 

Special guests from Kenya

Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting with our long-time friends from Kenya, Sr. Anne, Sr. Gretchen and Father Francis. They traveled from Nangina, Kenya to greet us and to receive items for the girls of St. Catherine's Primary School. In Dallas, we collected backpacks, underwear and shoes for the students of St. Catherine's, many of who are orphaned. Sr. Anne was very happy to receive the items on behalf of her students and she thanked all of Ursuline Dallas for our continued support of St. Catherine's school. Father Francis was also extremely grateful to receive and Ursuline laptop and he reminded us that his dream is to visit us in the USA. We hope that day will come soon!