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Jeanne Zweibel - Exchange Director
 ourteen ambassadors from Lima, Peru arrived in Omaha, September 7, and were greeted warmly by their hosts, with the help of Oscar Rios, who shared in Spanish, our happiness over their arrival and our plans for the day. Most hosts were armed with English-Spanish dictionaries and Joyce and Larry Kunkel brought along old Friendship Force friends, who speak Spanish.
Only two ambassadors from Lima spoke English, so the heros of the week were our own members who speak Spanish and Spanish speaking friends from the community. Sara Stephenson and Shirley Maly were invaluable in recruiting classmates from their evening Spanish class. Mariana Hilgert, who is the teacher of the class, interpreted for some group activities. Erica Birky and Oscar Rios, who gave freely of their friendship and interpreted throughout the week, are the daughter and son-in-law of Amy Birky and Rich Britton.
The welcome dinner will be remembered because of the friendly spirit and our damp clothes. We partied through one of Lincoln’s heavy rainstorms. Ambassadors were fascinated by the rain as they rarely have rain in Lima. The dinner was a potluck, held at Forest Lake Estates clubhouse. Oscar Rios brought the house down playing the bomloo, queno, ampona the charango, traditional instruments of Mexico. Ana Marie Quiros, from Lima, entertained us on the piano and Hedy Wright played her accordion during dinner.
The rain continued to follow us the next day. We left Lincoln under dry skies and drove into rain at Clay Center, where the weather cut short our enjoyment of Old Trusty Days.
The sun appeared Sunday morning just in time to bless us with glorious weather for our picnic breakfast at the Sky Knights Radio Control Model Airplane Club. We arrived to the smell of sausages on the grill and the sight of model airplanes in the sky. There was excitement over the stunts the planes executed. Hosts were Rich Britton and Ron Vogel. Some ambassadors later enjoyed seeing Ron’s workshop and the display of model planes he has built. Late in the afternoon ambassadors and home hosts enjoyed more beautiful weather and happy conversation at a BBQ-swimming party at the home of Kay and Lee Rockwell.
Guests enjoyed guided tours of the Museum of Nebraska History and the State Capitol, followed by lunch at the Governor’s Residence. Governor Johanns presented honorary citizenships to each of the ambassadors. That evening Jan Lingren opened her home for a banana split party where Chuck Godwin, Buddy Sizemore and Ardiss Cederholm scooped up award-winning banana splits.
Ambassadors had a day in and around Omaha, in which the highlight was the Lied Jungle followed by an IMAX movie. It was the Érst time our new friends had been to an IMAX theater. There was also a day in Nebraska City, including lunch at the Lied Conference Center or on the grounds of Arbor Lodge, a visit to the Greg Stuckenholtz farm, and apple tasting at some of the many orchards.
Charlotte and John Luethje outdid themselves when they entertained us for the farewell dinner in their home. Charlotte made her famous roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy. We had the very pleasant experience of being entertained by Buddy Sizemore, singing and playing his guitar. Jose and Amparo Melendez, from Lima, performed a traditional Peruvian dance.
This exchange took place during the week of the tragedy of September 11. Home hosts did an exemplary job of keeping their emotions in check and continuing with our planned activities.
Special thanks to committee members Kay and Lee Rockwell, Sara Stephenson, Amy Birky and Rich Britton, and Richard Spencer. Thanks also to Louise and Richard Terrell, Marilyn Paolini, Sara Kramer, Betsy Barkdoll, Fran Kess, Bob Wittstruck, Myra Meints and Agnes Adams whose helping hands made the dinners and coffee time run smoothly.
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