Transcription
The Eagle Oct. 1969
Norma, Si!
Norma Martinez, S.H.H.S.'s foreign exchange student arrived in Newark in August to become Susan Bradford's sister for the year. A graduate of the commercial course in her high school in Honduras, Norma is the first AFS student to study in Snow Hill's business department. In addition to her commercial courses, she will complete her schedule with typically American classes English, American History and POD.
Norma hails from Chalveteca in southern Honduras just ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. She left her mother and father, who is a dentist, and two older sisters. Norma is Catholic like most Hondurans and attended a Catholic high school.
Scouting and Camping
The new Exchange Student has been active in the Girl Scouts and will continue that interest here as she joins the Senior Girl Scouts on their October camping trip to the Great Smokies National Park. She loves all that goes with camping the singing, the campfires and outdoor living. At home she enjoyed bicycling in groups, basketball, the beach, and parties.
Like Worcester County, Norma's homeland is largely agricultural but their crops are semi-tropical sugar cane, bananas, cotton, coffee, and tobacco. The industries are related to farming with livestock processing playing as an exchange student will help the major role.
The social life in Honduras for teenagers is mostly group activity. The parents are much stricter, and dates are usually chaperoned by a sister or friends. Single dating is usually reserved for twenty year olds.
The government is democratic with a president elected by the people.
Selected by American Field Service
Norma was selected by AFS after a stiff written examination. Her school record, her community activities and hobbies made her the choice of the committee to come to the U. S. for a year. Snow Hill was selected for her because it "matched" her home community.
Mr. John Hewlett has been selected as Norma's school adviser because he speaks Spanish fluently. Mr. Hewlett's own experience as an exchange student will help him advise her in adjusting to American school life. Mrs. Betty Laws will serve as her consultant when Norma begins her speeches and visits within the community.