Visit to escuela no 1 in salto
Salto's Escuela No 1, Osimani and Lierena Secondary Educational Institute is the oldest school in the city, with its 175th anniversary coming up soon. I had the privilege of visiting this historic school during my stay in Salto, and it was an unforgettable experience. Accompanied by our host teacher, Victoria, and Fulbright ETA, Stephine Kurtz, we were welcomed by the school's principal and staff. Join me as I recount my experience to explore the school, its history, and its students.
The morning of our visit was quite chilly but refreshing as we walked our way to the school. The weather was cold, but the walk helped us warm up. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the principal, Silvia Sevrini, and Isabel Ingles, the Superintend of High Schools. We had a Meet and Greet session with teachers and staff, where Silvia shared the rich history of the school and gave us a tour of different departments. It was interesting to learn that the school was founded in 1848 and has seen many changes over the years. The library of Escuela No 1 is one of the highlights of our visit. It has an impressive collection of books, including 100 years old books, documents, and apparatus that remind us of its long history. The library is also equipped with modern computers and equipment to provide students with the latest technology.
The classrooms were filled with students eager to learn, and we could feel the energy in the building. One of our stops was at high school labs, where students were working on projects in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. It was amazing to see the advanced equipment the students had access to for their experiments. In the lobby, students were engaged in playing table tennis and chess. We were impressed by the range of extracurricular activities that the school offered, such as music classes, theater classes, and sports.
We ended our tour with a visit to the auditorium, where students had gathered for various events throughout the year. It was a great pleasure to observe the students in their natural environment and appreciate how passionate they are about learning. Our last stop was Principal Silvia's office, where we signed the visitor’s book, and she presented us with a memento of our visit. Silvia announced that she wanted to showcase me during their 175th-anniversary celebration in November 2023. It was an emotional moment for me, and I couldn't believe that the superintendent of a school like Escuela No 1 had recognized my work. I am looking forward to the celebration and am excited to be a part of this momentous occasion in the school’s history. The tour ended with as I felt honored to be part of the school's legacy. I could feel the pride and passion that everyone at Escuela No 1 had for their school, and it was contagious.
In the afternoon, we decided to explore the city further on our own and do some shopping. We walked to Plaza Artigas, a statute of the Father of Uruguay, Jose Artigas. Tourists from all over the world flock to this square, and it was quite an experience for us to witness this iconic monument. The Plaza was overarching the Iglesia Catedral de San Juan Church, which was the very first church in Uruguay. It has an archaic appearance building and gives us a better sense of Uruguayan culture and history. Our last stop was the Museo de Bellas Artes, where we learned more about the history and culture of Salto. Then, we went shopping for souvenirs and Mate cups. Everyone was excited to take a piece of Salto back with them as a memory of our visit. We found a souvenir shop, La Criolla, that has a variety of items, from clocks to Mate holders made from burned wood. The staff was very helpful in helping us find the perfect mementos for our time in Salto.
At the end of the day, we were all exhausted but satisfied with our experiences that day. It was a memorable trip. Since it was our last day in Salto, we celebrated our amazing experience at a local restaurant, Cafe La Trattoría. We enjoyed delicious traditional Uruguayan cuisine and shared stories with each other. Everyone was in high spirits, and we all couldn’t believe the amazing time we had in Salto. The cafe had a dessert menu with a variety of tempting treats, and we all shared a sweet ending to our unforgettable trip.
