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My SYA Moment (is it really possible to just choose one?) was running alongside sheep in the grassy plains surrounding Mont St. Michel with my classmates and friends Nick Dale and Griffin Grinnel.

I am not sure I have experienced a richer sense of childlike freedom and joy before or since. To me, that moment is so typical of SYA's encouragement of its students to engage with culture on their own terms -- where respect, curiosity, and care are primary, and inhibition is secondary

I am so grateful to Tom for supporting so many others to be able to develop and cherish SYA Moments of their own. Thank you, Tom, for your incredible friendship and stewardship of SYA!

Jamie Silverstein (FR 08)

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Years ago, when I found myself desperate for a job, any job, I checked off Spanish speaking on an application. It had been about a decade since I had returned home from Zaragoza, and I hadn't used much of my Spanish since. But I needed the job and I figured the language was still in there somewhere and that I could wing it filling in the technical vocabulary. And wing it I did, zooming all over the state of Texas giving presentations about insurance to Spanish speaking employees in various industries. I was able to do it because of course the language was still in there, thanks to my year in Zaragoza, but more importantly because winging it was what life in a foreign city, with a foreign family, in a foreign language was all about. That ability to just jump in and figure it out, with a little grace and patience from my host family and the fabulous teachers at SYA, was actually a greater gift even than the language ability, and I am grateful for it to this day. A few years after taking that job I ended up hosting an alumni cocktail hour with Tom, who had just joined SYA, in Austin. He also granted me grace and patience (I thought I could get away with an outdoor venue that Fall, but it was still VERY hot) and I'll never forget his warmth and conviviality. In the years since it has been a joy to see him on his visits to Texas. I'm always amazed at how much time he spends with every alum and parent and how he genuinely wants to know about each person's experience. SYA was indeed very lucky to have Tom, and we'll miss him here in Austin!!

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My SYA moment was on the bus ride to Charles de Gaulle Airport following a whirlwind year. Throughout the bus ride, my amazing new friends and I talked about our favorite memories from the year, our future plans, and, of course, when we would see each other again. Spending this time with them, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the incredible community I had become a part of.

My SYA moments are still happening, and my year abroad at 17 has continued to shape who I am. It was the reason I chose to pursue my undergraduate degree at Sciences Po, and the friendships I made during that year abroad have continued to enrich my life. I met my three best friends at SYA, and together we have backpacked through Vietnam, skied in Japan, and traveled around Europe. SYA provided me with a family far from my island home and introduced me to a group of people who are curious, kind, adventurous, and ambitious. I am so lucky to be an SYA alum.

To Tom,

Thank you again for your contribution to this program. I still remember you welcoming my friends and me off the plane when we arrived in Boston after our year abroad. You took the time to connect with each of us and ask about our experiences. This attentiveness and care are among the many reasons SYA is so special. Thank you for all your hard work!

Mahalo,

Tamzen Lim - SYA France '22

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It's hard to pinpoint a single SYA moment, though I'll never forget sitting on the plane departing Newark thinking, "Have I just made a huge mistake?" Visiting Viterbo this spring, 25 years later, I can honestly say getting on that plane was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

That first year in Viterbo was unforgettable for all of us who were part of it, and returning this spring to revisit the places and people that shaped my time there was a powerful experience. I don't know how often you find a place that becomes a true home, but Viterbo, in huge part thanks to SYA, is and always will be that for me.

SYA changed me. It changed how I see the world, and what I know is possible in it. I've never been the same… in the best ways possible. Having the opportunity to revisit the program and support its continuation and growth has been a true privilege. Thank you, Tom, for inviting me back, for giving so many of us a place in the world we never knew we needed, and for leading by example to ensure others will find it too.

Brittany Toscano Gore, IT'02

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I just celebrated my 50th SYA reunion! To this day I am not sure how that 16-year-old, shy, introverted, self-conscious, naïve teenager got on that airplane to Barcelona. But I am awfully glad she did. The self-confidence, curiosity, adaptability, and resourcefulness I cultivated that year set me up for life. Of course, I didn’t know it at the time. I remember that first weekend with my host family, fighting back tears, not understanding a word. Did I make a huge mistake? Fast forward to the end of the school year. While most students were making plans to return home, I decided not to. I skipped my graduation, borrowed a backpack from my host family, bought a 2-month Eurorail pass and off I went. You could do that back then.

SYA instilled in me the power and magic of communication. Armed with a few words, an open mind and a smile, one can go almost anywhere, make a friend and find a bathroom.

Pam Eaton ES'76

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pam with spanish host sister and friends

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My daughter spent a year in Rennes, France during your presidency. She was 15 when she left the USA and returned just two weeks after she turned 16. Her year in France was transformative, her experiences and host family amazing. Cannot thank you and the SYA organization enough for what has been given to her, both then and now. The year she spent abroad impacts her life currently and will continue to grow and strong independent young woman.

Sincerely,

Heather DelGrande aka mom of Zoe DelGrande SYA 22-23

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Tom, all my best to you and your family as you embark on the next chapter. I will miss your leadership and wise judgement - know that you have left SYA a much better place than when you arrived, and that you will be missed.

A memorable SYA Moment happened right after I got off the bus in Rennes, on a rainy Sunday afternoon marking our arrival for the school year. I was shepparded over to my host mother (Mme. Maffeis), full of confidence in my high school French. She started talking some gibberish very quickly, and I quickly realized that in fact I did not speak French at all! I spent the next several hours saying inane things in French like "your home is pretty" or "it is raining" because that was all I could think of to say...after which my new French family would respond in gibberish which by the end of the evening I understood to be very fast, fluent French.

The other 'Moment' happened that same evening at dinner and was two-fold: 1/ I was served only some soup and bread, and thought I'd starve over the next nine months, not knowing that Sunday evening is a light meal in French households, after the large Sunday afternoon meal I had missed; 2/ my French brother fetched the cheese from the closet! Having grown up in Florida I thought we'd all die from some terrible food poisoning from leaving food outside the refrigerator but of course I learned all about succulent, ripe French cheese and grew to love it.

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One of my memories is a recent and simple one, but made me smile. At the end of the recent SYA Italy 25th Anniversary celebrations, we took a trip on the Saturday to Tuscania, a town not far from Viterbo. The last part of the trip was a visit to Casa Caponetti. The trip was to visit the Etruscan tombs Lorenzo (SYA friend) and his family have on their land. After a tour of the tombs we had lunch, followed by a presentation on their superb olive oil. At the lunch, which Lorenzo described as "very simple", one of the dishes was "Panzanella" VITERBO-STYLE PANZANELLA

Until the 17th century this recipe was made without tomatoes. This is the present-day recipe.

Ingredients (serves 4):

400g stale bread
2 tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 onion
Basil leaves
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons vinegar I was at the table with Tom when he raised a glass of wine and said "this is incredible", and continued to enthuse about how simplicity and great ingredients are all you need. Tom, I wish you all the best, it's now time to rest a little and enjoy every moment of your retirement. This means you can now spend more time here. A presto!

Dave Lutchner - SYA Italy

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Tom,

Thank you for taking SYA to new heights! When one looks back at your decade of leadership at SYA it is defined by strength and stability. The school is in such a position of strength financially and programmatically. The experience that SYA gives its students is life changing, and your work ensured that SYA Moments will be enjoyed by thousands of future students. On a professional note, I have loved my time on the Board with you. You are a wonderful leader and even a better friend. On a personal level, my daughter, Cade (IT ‘24) still remembers meeting you and Maggie when you visited Viterbo with such fondness; thank you for connecting with students in such meaningful ways. Grazie Mille!

Chuck Baldecchi, Charlotte Latin Head of School; SYA Trustee and Parent

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My defining SYA moment came during the financial aid cycle when I received an email from a father seeking clarification about the amount of support his son had been awarded. When I replied that his son would receive full tuition assistance, I was deeply moved by his response.

The father wrote back, astonished and overwhelmed with gratitude: “Really? I am so incredibly grateful and am crying for the first time in 20 years.”

His words have stayed with me. In that moment, I was reminded of the profound impact of SYA and the generosity of the donors who make these opportunities possible. Because of their support, students are able to pursue experiences that might otherwise remain out of reach, and families are given the chance to see life-changing dreams become reality. Moments like this are a powerful testament to the difference SYA makes and the transformative power of giving.

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On a Saturday morning while my daughter Mary Heath was an SYA student, I phoned her; she was in a store in Viterbo. She asked me to hold on for a moment — I listened while she suddenly starting speaking to the store attendant in what sounded like perfect, mellifluous Italian! That was the first time I heard her speak Italian, and it occurred to me right then what the value of the SYA experience is!

Tom, thank you for making it all possible and for advancing the organization in so many ways during the past decade! We’re all going to miss you!

Dennis Manning, Headmaster (retired), Norfolk Academy 2001-23; SYA Trustee & IT Parent ‘12

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After more than 28 years of living SYA as a second home, I find it truly difficult to choose just one especial moment from so many trips, classes, and simply life itself, shared with the outstanding and unique students we have always had.

Most likely, I would choose a crowded sala full of students listening to Ángel Vilalta and his stories about SYA or our Civil War, with a respect and attention that I have never seen again. I would also choose Stephen Foster’s touching and compelling speech at the inauguration of our permanent site at Paseo Pamplona, reminding all alumni and students always to show up when they receive the SYA call. Both of those moments had something of a revelation about who we are and where we are going.

And what I can easily remember is the first time Tom came to visit us, ten autumns ago, and how he conducted his first assembly with the students. Instead of simply giving a speech, Tom spoke to them in a relaxed but institutional way and, most importantly, encouraged them to speak, creating the assembly together with them. This ability to listen in such an attentive, warm, and approachable way, while at the same time showing such a gift for synthesis and for summarizing the issues at hand, has always impressed me throughout these years, especially during my role as Summer Program Director, a period from which I keep many fond memories and many moments of learning.

Many thanks, Tom, for all your dedication and love for SYA, for always creating a grateful, happy, and positive atmosphere, and for steering the helm of SYA with such firmness and direction, allowing that Aurelia, transformed into an airplane, continue to ‘carry’ so many students safely to port.

I wish you all the very best in your next chapter. And please do not forget to weigh anchor from time to time and come back to visit us. ¡Hasta siempre!, un fuerte abrazo,

Marta

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I knew very little about SYA (or about independent schools generally) when I came to work at SYA in 2015. In my first days I spent time reading through previous communications, including the 40th anniversary magazine, and it quickly hit me how unique and transformative this experience is for those who discover it and are brave enough to take the leap. Shortly after I completed my first year, Susan Nelson and I traveled to Beijing to visit SYA China. Before that trip I thought I understood SYA, and during that trip I learned that what I knew barely scratched the surface. While in Beijing we spent time in classes, instrument lessons, with teachers, the Resident Director, and host families, and most importantly, with students. I saw firsthand what SYA looks like in real life and heard from students who were actively experiencing it. I felt profound gratitude to be part of this organization... a pride that continues today.

In 2017 we celebrated 50 years of SYA France, which was the first international event of its size SYA has hosted. Seeing how many people showed up - some who had not been back in 50 years, some from other SYA campuses, and others who visited their host families regularly - demonstrated how passion for the SYA experience endures.

In working with Tom for the last decade, we have traveled all over the country and to various countries together. In spending so much time on the road with a colleague, you come to see (and with luck, enjoy) their humanity. I will spare Tom any embarrassment by simply saying that one of the best things about Tom is how unpretentious he is, especially given his role at SYA, and Exeter before that, and his wife's roles. Whenever we would book his lodging for a trip he would say, "I just need a place to close the peepers at night." Alumni, parents and donors connected with him because of his warmth and friendliness, deep care for SYA, and his resourcefulness.

I wish Tom the best in retirement!

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Tom, I can’t point to a single moment, but rather many moments when we shared the French acronym MDR to capture what, in our work, was sometimes simply beyond explanation. Thank you for your partnership, your support, and for bringing perspective to those moments. Mina Qadir

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My most memorable moment perhaps dates back more than 25 years, when I first entered the school building in Viterbo (Italy). I was waiting for a interview in the Salone (the mail hall) for a position as an Ancient History teacher. I looked up at the ceiling and I saw amazing frescos depicting hunting and fishing scenes, which I later discovered were painted in the early 17th century. The idea of working in such a place, I thought, must be incredible. It was a true premonition. Santo Sammartino, SYA Italy classics teacher.

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In addition to partnering on some important SYA initiatives, such as and among others, developing a strategic plan and putting The Campaign for SYA together, when I think of Tom and so many “moments,” I return to two, in particular, that reflect Tom’s character.  The first involved a flight from Boston to Paris when Tom was seated next to a young lady, who had clearly been overserved before boarding the flight.  Without going into detail, the way Tom handled an “unfortunate situation” revealed his equanimity, compassion, grace, and patience.  The other memory involved complimenting Tom on a shirt he was wearing that had initials monogramed on the cuff.  When I asked Tom about the shirt, he told me that he found it at a clothing store in a “discounted” bin.  Did it matter that the initials weren’t his? No, he just liked the shirt.  Tom is authentic, humble, unpretentious, and easy going -- qualities that are universally admired but not often encapsulated as conspicuously as they are in Tom.  And finally, I will always smile when I think of Tom’s wonderful sense of humor and so many hearty laughs we enjoyed along the way.

Congratulations, Tom, and thank you for your remarkable leadership and dedication to SYA over the last ten years!

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Of the many moments that have shaped my professional and personal life over more than two decades with SYA, one stands out above the rest: my first visit to SYA China in 2010.

The moment I stepped off the plane in Beijing, I felt completely out of my element. As a blonde speck in a sea of black hair with no Mandarin language skills, panic set in. In Europe, I could at least rely on my French to decipher signs and find my way. In Beijing, I had to rely on people.

What followed was a lesson in trust, curiosity and connection. Students introduced me to the lives they had built in China. One shared a meal with a migrant family who welcomed us into their one-room home with extraordinary kindness. Another showed me Beijing's art district, where I witnessed assumptions melt away the moment she spoke flawless Mandarin. Others guided me through the Forbidden City, bustling markets and hidden corners of the city I never would have discovered on my own.

But it was a day on the Great Wall that left the deepest impression.

As part of my visit, I spent a day with Lili and her mom Amanda. I expected a typical sightseeing experience at one of the more accessible sections of the Wall. Instead, we ventured to a remote stretch of the Wall that most visitors never see. Lili and her mother were hikers. I was not. I was wearing fashionable street sneakers, not hiking shoes, and I developed an insane fear of heights.

In some places, the Wall barely felt like a wall at all.

I climbed hand over hand, step by step, often refusing to look down and sometimes refusing to look to the side. With their encouragement and patience, I kept going. Eventually, I accomplished something I never believed I could do.

I paid for it with sore muscles for days afterward, but I came away with something far more valuable. If SYA students could summon the courage to leave home, immerse themselves in another culture and embrace the unknown, surely I could do the same.

Standing on that rugged stretch of the Great Wall, I realized that the limits I had placed around myself were largely self-imposed. The experience removed the box I had built around what I thought I could and could not do.

That lesson has stayed with me ever since.

Tom often speaks about the transformative power of stepping beyond your comfort zone. Long before I fully understood it, I experienced it myself on a mountainside outside Beijing. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the courage our students demonstrate every day and a lasting reminder that growth begins where certainty ends.

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I’ve made so many wonderful memories working at SYA for the past decade, but there’s one in particular that truly stands out. I chaperoned the group flight for the Class of SYA France 2023 and spent a few days in Rennes with the students during orientation, but I also had the privilege of having dinner with a host family during that time. I remember being so nervous picking up a bouquet of flowers (and having to use the limited French language skills I had!) and heading to their flat and ringing the doorbell to go upstairs. We made small conversation (I understood more than I thought I would!) and shared hors d’oeuvres while watching the news. I’ll never forget watching the coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing while in this family's living room and toasting to her over spritz!

The meal was lovely, and over the course of the night, I learned that they had seven children of their own and hosted 11 SYAers over the years! We even took out the photo album and went through all of them. It was amazing. One of their daughters returned home during the meal, and we all stayed late talking and laughing and sharing dessert. I didn’t get back to my hotel until well after midnight! This night was so out of my usual comfort zone, but it’s an amazing memory that will stick with me for a lifetime. ❤️

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My SYA moment came since before I started working at the home office. First, my daughter -Regina ES'11, had a fantastic experience in Zaragoza. More recently, when I was deciding whether to come work for SYA, which was in itself incredibly enticing given how much I already loved SYA, a good friend shared with me what a kind-hearted boss I would find in Tom, and that was so true! I feel fortunate to have worked for Tom these 4 years, seeing him work so hard to champion SYA's mission while always facing challenges with an upbeat attitude. Happy Retirement Tom, we'll miss you but we know you won't be too far!

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My friend from SYA got married this past winter in Pittsburgh. I was visiting schools in New York to talk about SYA the day before the wedding, and traveled straight to Pittsburgh from there. On the plane, I sat next to someone who was on the final leg of her journey back from studying abroad in Spain. I got to tell her that I was going to the wedding of one of my study abroad friends, and that even over 10 years later, some of my closest friends in the world are from SYA. She was so happy to hear that since she had made some great friends while abroad, but didn't know if those friendships would last. Once I landed in Pittsburgh, I met up with two other SYA friends who I was attending the wedding with and we got dinner and caught up. It felt like a perfect full circle moment, as both an alum and someone who now works at SYA! - Quincy Abramson IT'14

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I feel I was especially fortunate in my assignment of host family (although I know many alums feel similarly lucky!) I was the youngest in my family in the U.S., but in Barcelona I was a big brother. My host mother was a widow and raised four amazing children with whom I am still friends today, I’ve attended each of their weddings and one of them was able to make it to my wedding as well.

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Every time Tom visited the school, he somehow ended up spending quality time with the tiny 🚙 that had the personality of a Ferrari and the confidence of a limousine.

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Every time Tom visited the school, he somehow ended up spending quality time with the tiny 🚙 that had the personality of a Ferrari and the confidence of a limousine.

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On his last visit, Tom and I took the little beast for a ride around the city. The car rattled, squeaked, and sounded like it was fighting for its life uphill, but somehow it still managed to turn heads. We had an amazing conversation while sightseeing, mostly because the car was too small to avoid eye contact. 😂

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My SYA moment was on our spring trip to Sicily, Mr. Scanlon made individual calls to all of us announcing that if we could procure a fresh fish from the market, we'd grill them for dinner that night in the piazza outside our hotel. He'd managed to convince the local street vendor to grill all our fish and dedicate his little space to the SYAers. So, my vegetarian friend and I traipsed across town right as the markets were closing and I purchased a fish (the first one I'd ever bought). I to this day have no idea what type of fish it was. We then proceeded to store them in the hotel fridge, before having the best, authentic, local experience on the piazza. BYOF became the slogan of the year -- bring your own fish! Katie Kurtz IT'19

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The best thing about SYA is that you learn to fend for yourself. You are in a completely different culture, out of your comfort zone and far from family and friends. This experience is invaluable in gaining the confidence to succeed in your own projects in life. My only regret is that I should have participated in 12th (instead of 11th) grade because the program changes your priorities and they may not align entirely with the college prep mania that awaits an eleventh grader upon returning to the USA after a year in Europe.

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Close to Christmas, a few friends and I ate dinner at the Creperie Sainte Anne and then attended a concert at a nearby cathedral. The sky was dark, snowflakes swirled, Christmas decorations twinkled, and one of the pieces was sung a cappella. I've forgotten the playlist, but I'll always remember the magical feeling of that evening. It was one of those moments you wish never ended.

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My year in Barcelona was a terrifying experience and one which formed me absolutely. I was a scared kid who rarely went out sightseeing and stayed home with my host family. There I learned Spanish fast. I also made the decision that I believe in this form of education. At some point we all decide if we believe in growing together or in growing apart as individuals and as nations. My experience in Spain led to my first resounding decision that we should grow together. I have been living now in Austria for 24 years. SYA made me capable of that. Rev. Clemens Timothy Galban, ES '82.

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I feel so lucky my son Liam was able to visit Spain and was provided such a supportive experience from SYA + host family. These students don't get this opportunity any other way. I loved visiting him in Nov, my first trip across the Atlantic! So happy for all him and his experiences :)

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My host family! The mom, also named Isabel and a yoga instructor, and I became quick friends. The daughters were all the same age of my sisters and I so it was an immediate fit. I've seen them twice since and talk frequently! Isabel Whelchel ES'16

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One of my most meaningful connections was another girl on the trip with me. From the start we were immediately close. SYA was able to bring me together with someone from the complete opposite side of the US. This was just one example of how SYA was able to make such awesome connections. We still keep in touch today! Viva SYA. Isabella Corley

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Over the decades I have randomly come across several SYA alums of different SYA + world locations, different ages and decades, different walks of life, and we always bond quickly in the shared understanding of becoming a global citizen at a young age and how that catapulted us into a life of better understanding the world, appreciating cultural diversity and finding meaning in the commonalities across differences. Wendy Williams FR'80

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I remember visiting the Extremadura region and Valencia for my two class trips. Extremadura was not a trip I was looking forward to, but Valencia was. Both turned out to be some of my favorite trips because of the relationships I formed on the trips. Clay LeBourgeois ES'19

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When I went to SYA the first thing I wanted to do was row on the Ebro. That was the easy part. While navigating the river proved challenging, I didn't easily connect to the Spanish kids I was rowing with. My SYA Moment came after a semester of awkward interaction and forced conversation which eventually turned into connection. When, to my great surprise, my teammates invited me to play pool with them after practice, I knew I had made it. Leo Tsai Badenhope ES'25

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I remember having my full family come visit my host family and my host mother made the most delicious meal. No words were really exchanged, aside from me translating some remarks between my family and my host family. My mom still says it was the best meal she's had in her life. Cannon Gill IT'15

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My SYA moments were many, but one that stands out was when I realized my understanding of French and French culture was such that I could read Ouest-France and Le Canard enchaîné papers with my host father and discuss news and politics. One night he walked into the room and burst out laughing because the mayor of Paris had broken his leg in a minor car crash. Peter Kirby FR'79

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I made some of my best memories and friends to date during my time in Beijing at SYA. The experience of arriving to the SFO Hotel with zero clue of what to expect, zero Mandarin language ability and zero friends is a fear I still very much remember to this day. It is one I think of often when I am in an unfamiliar or daunting situation in life. The experience of landing at Beijing International Airport with voices around me talking in a tongue incompatible with my vocabulary, and a sea of foreign faces. This memory provides me the courage in my day to day life knowing that I accomplished everything I wanted to during that year — becoming fluent in Mandarin, making best friends that became groomsmen, and falling in love with the culture. There is no such thing as unfamiliar, only not yet explored. Maximillian Jungreis CN'11

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The first day with my host family was the moment I knew I was in the right place. That immediate connection with people seemingly different from myself reinforced just how similar we all are. They made me feel like a member of the family. I'm so grateful for my Spanish family. Thank you SYA. Paige Altbaier ES'25

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One moment that captures what SYA means to me was our academic travel to San Sebastian. It was amazing to spend a week with good friends in such an incredible environment, and I was really grateful to be in such a unique spot. Jacob Goldberg ES'25

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There’s this pizzeria in Viterbo that serves pizza that stretches across TWO pizza plates — they are that large. That pizzeria was a class favorite. Also, grabbing pizza bianca for a snack in between classes...yum! Katie Corley IT'10

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We also enjoyed M. Bierry in Rennes. He had a demonstration of the guillotine that he gave in class using a student volunteer and a box of matches. No quick-thinking student ever got scorched fingers. Went to visit one of my French brothers in Paris last summer: still connecting. Paul Kueffner F'71

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One memory out of many: We went on a school trip to the coast of Bretagne in October. The landscape was like nothing I'd ever seen before and everything. The world was so much bigger yet more familiar than ever before. I started to want to breathe as many airs as I could in this life. Claire Bradley Ferrall FR'19

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Attending the birthday party of my host cousin (in my final weeks there) and understanding conversations I overheard, sharing looks with my host sister Mavi, filming TikTok dances with my host cousins, and playing soccer with my host brothers. Everything felt so natural, like this was where I was supposed to be. All of my stress and anxiety during past family gatherings about not understanding the lnaguage, being an outsider, questioning why I came abroad, were proven to be just fears ... the reality was I am part of the family and no language restricts that. When the nonna kissed me goodbye at the end of the party, I knew I would always have this forever family to return to. Helen Milito IT'25

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There are many, many SYA moemnts that left a lasting impact on my life. But one that feels deeply personal and impactful was when I first returned to China after my host mother passed away (about a year earlier) in 1999. My host father (Baba) took me to visit my host mother's grave on a typically smoggy Beijing day. Standing over her grave, he told my host mother, "Don't worry, Katie is here now and she will help me take care of Chen Xi (my host sister). This statement felt like such an intimate and familial moment that solidified that we were forever tied as REAL family. Kaitlin Solimine CN'97

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Too many [SYA Moments] to name! But I remember returning to China after our "Winterim" trip to Vietnam. We stepped off the train and it was so familiar to again smell the coal smoke, to hear Mandarin, to eat a bowl of rice and stir-fried eggplant at a too-short table on a too-short stool. It was delicious, but more than that, it was home. Wendra Liang CN'00

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To get to France, I took a 10-day trip on an oceanliner to Le Havre and then a bus to Rennes where we stayed in a dorm for 3 days before meeting our families. During those 3 days I cruised the old town with my classmate, Chuck LeBarge. He loved the architecture of the old city and in a beautiful courtyard, he pointed to an apartment and said, "I want to live there." And I swear to god, he was assigned to a family who lived in the apartment to which he pointed. I'm grateful for my fluency in French. I've used it in Haiti, Tahiti, the ER in Oakland, CA, Guadaloupe and Martinique. I'm grateful for my French family, all of whom I'm still in touch with 57 years later (3 sisters and 1 brother). France still feels like a second home. Taking my moped to Mont Saint Michel and ditching the tour guide to run throughout the whole cathedral -- basements to the ramparts. TColin Feeney FR'68

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One of my favorite parts of the Italy program was the focus on Latin literature and poetry. And a key moment for me was on our trip to Sicily when we ent out to the coast and recited Ovid. It was magical. Charlotte Renfield-Miller IT'05

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My favorite coffee shop in Zaragoza, Criollo Cafe, had a barista named Victor I grew very close with. Just recently, he invited me to his wedding. SYA has given me lifelong connections that I will never forget about. Thank you. Hanna Husain ES'23

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Every Sunday, my French family came together for a big lunch. My mohter made fabulous meals. She introduced me to Coquille St. Jacquie -- shellfish were entirely unknown to me at home in NYC. Baked Alaska! For real! We'd start with a glass of some aperatif -- Guignolet was my fave. I couldn't believe I was being offered an apertif at 16. Naturally, I loved it. Alex Alger FR'79 CN'12P

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After Morzine Christmas vacations in a French literature class, something clicked. I had been the lagging Southerner, a little daunted by the Andover/St. Paul’s/Exeter brilliant guys a first girl in the first year of girls and with a southern diphthong to boot. A point made, disagreed and erupted in fluent French, surprising my classmates, the professor … and me! Laura Heery FR'72

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Immediately after my introduction to my host family, they took me home, showed me around the house (a grand and spacious early 19th century structure), and left me in my bedroom to unpack and settle in.

I needed to use the WC (after learning what it was). I sat down and did my business while preoccupied with the difficult prospect of understanding and communicating with my host family, and encouraging the excitement and novelty of the day to suppress any lurking homesickness.

Then I noticed the absence of toilet paper. I found the pile of cut-up newspaper.  But then I looked to flush – no handle, no knob or button. I searched the room, but managed not to find the pull chain by the elevated water closet’s stand pipe.  So my relationship with Madame began with her showing me how to flush the 19th century commode - after the fact. A wrong-footed start for a young American chastised by Lederer and Burdick’s then popular “The Ugly American”, but not yet indoctrinated by “Le Defi Americain” of L’Express editor Servan-Schreiber.

Eight months later, I knew I had grown, or at least progressed, when I attended my final Friday afternoon conference about contemporary French life and politics at the Lycee Chateaubriand down the Quai from our School Year Abroad classrooms at L’Institut Franco-Americain. After the lecture, I asked a long question. The speaker first praised the question, then warned that I might struggle to find the best relevant source on the issue, since it wasn’t available in French but could be found in English. In the midst of “les evenements de mai 68,” this interchange was evidence, or so I convinced myself, of achieving at least part of what I had hoped to achieve.

Fifty-seven years down the road, with mild erosion of my accent, and even less fluency, I find that the personal growth (and the Saturday morning Introduction to Art History classes) have endured a good bit longer.

Please accept my congratulations, Tom, along with my fond recollections of recall my indomitable classmates, our teachers Harris Thomas, Leonard Stevens, Crayton Bedford, M. Bierry, Mme. Nebout and all our other Staff Rennais.

Seth Alper, FR 67-68

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A few years after my SYA home stay experience in China and after my host mother passed away unexpectedly, I visited my host family in Beijing. My host father, sister, and I visited my host mother's grave on an overcast and humid summer day, so that I could finally pay my respects. As I stood there at her gravesite, my Chinese father put his hand on me and tilted his head toward his wife's grave. "Don't worry," he said. "Our other daughter Katie (as he called me) is here now. We'll all be okay." Standing there together, it felt as if a loop had been eternally tied around me and this family. No other study abroad experience could match the bonds created when living with a family as a teenager; we are still in close touch (my host family was present at my wedding, and mine at my host sister's) and I will always deeply thank SYA for providing me with such a meaningful, life-long bond. -Kaitlin Solimine, CN '97

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Where else could you be taught French language, pronunciation and -- importantly -- intonation by a former French Boy Scout leader, which means French Resistance Fighter during the Nazi occupation of France in WWII? That was SYA France in the late 70s for me. The beloved teacher was Marcel Bierry, whom I recall wherever I see a "gros radi rosi." Elizabeth Carey FR'79

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So many memories ... I think the best was when my mother came to visit and took me and a group of friends to the local dumpling place. She was so pleased and proud to see how at home and comfortable I was in such a different environment. Eilidh Higgins CN'05

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Growing up I was always much more into math and science and hated English. It was always the one subject that I got the lowest grade in also. I would never read the assigned books in English at Exeter because I always found them really boring, so to arrive at SYA and be introduced to writers like Baldwin, Calvino, Hemingway was just so inspiring and eye-opening because here were these incredible writers but who were writing about a lot of the same things we were going through. I will never forget the feeling of getting my first 100% on an English essay - I still don't know if it was any good but the encouragement was life-changing. I've spent the last 8-9 years working on a debut novel inspired by this year -- hopefully we'll know soon whether or not that education rubbed off on me! Zaffie Lawal FR'19

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Five of us took the initiative to go to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. We were given the freedom and independence to book our own travel, accommodations and events and it was a moment that could never have transpired in our lives back in the U.S. We even booked an overnight train back to Paris, which was an adventure in itself for a bunch of 16 year olds. Rhiannon Archer FR'06

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Best year of my life .... stepped off the bus and I knew then I could not understand that my life would be changed for the good. Sydney Townsend ES'05

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I had been with my host family for one month and the son arrived. He wanted to know if I was truly "getting into" French culture. The test was the smelliest cheese. I duely ate the cheese and turned blue/green. My French mother said to her son, "You are terrible, she is 'vache qui rit'" and told me to go to the bathroom. She was so kind and sympathetic and made my year. Eleanor Assa FR'94

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Being in the kitchen with my French mother cooking supper by the stove wearing a tall lace coif and straw clogs, speaking Breton to her daughter, and my French mother taking a pair of tongs over the steaming pot on the stove and pulling out the head of a cow, with eyeballs included, and placing it casually on a platter. Great mother, great family, new traditions, old recipes. Mira Stout FR'77

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My first unfiltered cigarette, my first hangover, my first French kiss. And I returned to St. Mark's and almost failed out. These are the moments that taught me what the real world was about. Mark Twain said it best, "Don't let school get in the way of your education." Enrique Cuan FR'87

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Mealtime was big with my host family, and I was a picky eater always trying not to offend. One evening, we were gathered around the table eating a meat I'd never had -- it seemed mysterious. I asked in Chinese, "What are we eating: My host sister rapidly replied - in English -- "monkey." My heart sank. How could I politely refuse to eat the rest? Also, what were we doing eating monkey?! I asked her to say it again in Chinese; she did, and I breathed a sigh of releif - we were eating donkey. Eve Denton CN'07

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We were evacuated in May 1999 - my host father, who I could not communicate with in August, turns to me, in Chinese, and says with tears in his eyes -- "this is not a problem between people, Anna; this is a problem between governments. We will always love you." I learned a language, a culture and a way of loving and understanding." Anna Ansari CN'99