7/12/2004 - Argentinian Student Meets Rugby Greats

Argentinian AFS student, Julia Kerman (who is being hosted in Taupo, New Zealand) attended her first major rugby match when her host family Dave, Brenda, Jessica & Caitlin King took her to the All Blacks vs. Argentina match in Hamilton, New Zealand. Taupo-nui-a-tia College, Year Thirteen student, Julia, got right into the spirit of things with face paint, flags and rugby jersey. After the game, she was lucky enough to catch up with the Argentinian and All Blacks team and managed to get autographs from every player and her photo taken with all of them. The photograph shows Julia with Pablo Gomez Cora and the many signatures on her rugby jersey (that used to belong to her older sister!) Julia has another six months left in New Zealand.

For fellow AFS students, Martina Kucerova from the Czech Republic and Cami Ribero from Brazil, both hosted in Turangi, Saturday night’s game was the perfect end to their New Zealand experience. Both girls left New Zealand earlier this week following their experience. They were farewelled by Tongariro Area School at a special assembly last week that the girls described as ‘truly amazing’.

The three students were amazed at the players taking the time to sign autographs and have their photos taken with them. “It just wouldn’t happen at home. You wouldn’t get that close to national sporting stars,” they said.

_Visit AFS New Zealand’s new website at http://www.afs.org.nz