Culture Quest...

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Preview Day at Quest University Canada, April 14th

Another successful Quest Preview Day was held on Apr.14th. Here are some picture of the event and the progress of the campus. Enjoy...
Getting ready for the tour

Alex from the CEC visited

Into the Library

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Happy Greek Easter

Kaló Pás'ha!
This year, Greek Easter coincided with Easter and I was fortunate enough to spend it with my best friend, Sandra, and her family. The Greek Orthodox Church does not always celebrate Easter on the same day as the Catholic and Protestant Church because the Greek Orthodox Church historically followed a different calender.

Tradition says that the Virgin Mary dyed eggs red to celebrated the Resurrection of Christ and to celebrate life. At the Greek Easter celebration, each person takes a hard boiled red egg and challengers attempt to crack each others' eggs. The breaking of the eggs is meant to symbolize Christ breaking from the Tomb. The person whose egg lasts the longest is supposed to have good luck for the rest of the year. (Below: Sandra and I just cracked our eggs. Guess who won?)

The most traditional dish at Greek Easter is roast lamb which honours the 'sacrificial lamb' of Christain tradition. Other foods such as special breads, greek salad and spanakopita were served.
Dancing is another fun tradition at Greek Easter celebrations. It's also a good way to work off the feast that was eaten!

Sunday, April 1, 2007

International Festival at Chapel School in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Yesterday I attended the International Festival at Chapel School in Sao Paulo. What a fantastic event! This festival is to celebrate the diversity at the school and for students to share information about their culture by performing traditional dances, playing music and serving typical foods from their country.

Hundreds of students, parents, teachers, allumni and visitors participated in the celebration. I look forward to when Quest holds an event like this!!!

Here are some pictures of the day...

The last country to perform was Brazil. The energy of the Samba was electric. Everyone in the hall was dancing!!!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Wow Brazil!!!

What a great country. I visited the capital city, Brasilia, yesterday and met with one of Quest's Advisory Board Members, Heitor Gurgulino de Souza (Secretary-General Elect, International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), Brazil). Heitor and I not only visited two schools in Brasilia, but we also visited a number of historical sites. Below are some pictures of...

The Cathedral of Brasilia. A Cathedal that is mostly underground.

The monument of Juscelino Kubischek de Oliveira, the Brazilian president who moved the capital of Brazil from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1955.

A traditional Brazilian lunch (rice, beans and beef) with Heitor and his wife.

A great school visit at GALOIS. Thanks to all the students who stayed behind to ask questions and took this picture with me.

After school visits in Rio de Janeiro today, I visited the Christ Redeemer Statue on Corcovado Peak. What an amazing view of the city. Here are some pictures...

People posing for the picture

Impanema Beach from above

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Heading to Brazil...

I'll be in Brazil from March 25th until April 1st visiting Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Sao Paulo. If you would like to meet to learn more about Quest during my visit please feel free to email me at keely.stott@questu.ca.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Samantha and friends, Escuela Inglesa Kent and Guadalajara, Mexico

I just arrived back in Squamish and I'm missing Mexican food already (so today I had a burrito for lunch). I want to thank everyone for welcoming me to their schools and for all of their sightseeing and cuisine tips! I hope to visit again soon.

Here are some more pictures of my trip and the friends I made along to way...

My first enchilada with Samantha and her friends (Edgar, Chema and Diego)