5 minute read
1960s AFS ALUMNI STORIES
AFS Spirit Still Alive and Thriving by Ellen Alexandra Lothe, Norway
Ellen Alexandra Lothe, Norway & Jayshree A Mehta, India | AFS Alumni 1967
An exceptional relationship, forged between Jayshree and Ellen has grown steadily stronger by the years, and they have shared their lives since the very beginning.
In the summer of 1968, bus #58 departed from Delaware with 43 teenagers from all over the world for a month-long journey across the USA. It was a very particular group: AFS students who were completing their experience in the USA. It was also a very particular summer and year: the Vietnam War, the hippie, antiwar and civil right movements were reshaping US society. It was the year Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, massive anti-establishment protests, riots and uprisings exploded in major cities around the world... and the Beatles were still together.
Fifty years later, 14 of those AFSers reunited in Costa Rica to celebrate life and to renew the bonds of friendship we formed that summer. The idea of a reunion came our dear Eugene Ragghianti from Australia. Eugene did an immense detective work during the two years prior to the 50th anniversary: sending snail mails to all our old addresses. Can you imagine what hard work it was for Eugene to find us all! Most of us had moved – several times, even – some of us had changed our surnames, and of course some of us had passed away. Some very few were not to be found despite all efforts.
Little by little, we who had been “found” by Eugene joined in as assistant detectives Jayshree was the detective who “found me” and I was put on Eugene´s growing list of Bus#58-participants. Efforts of Eugene and his detectives culminated in our 50th anniversary reunion in Costa Rica in July 2018, with Guillermo Chaquero Barcón and Ana Lorena Montero Lefevbre as hosts. 13 of us managed to participate; with 4 spouses we were 17 in total. On the last day of their reunion, they were honored with the visit of Daniel Obst, AFS International President, and at that moment a selfie became absolutely necessary.
'We have a greater purpose in our lives (as AFSers...) in favor of peace and environment. It is our responsibility to be part of a world movement in favor of peace We must keep insisting positively on peace agreements and diplomatic means to deal with conflict – anywhere and everywhere '
Walk together, talk together, all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
The group decided on Norway as our next venue, and planned to reunite three years later, in 2021. The Norwegian group took the responsibility with great honor and pleasure. However, in 2021 we all were still abiding by relatively strict covid regulations and our reunion was postponed till 2023.
On June 5th, 2023, 25 AFSers from Bus#58 (some spouses and one granddaughter included) met in Oslo and stayed together in Norway for a wonderful 10 days up till the 15th. The Norwegian welcoming committee consisted of Margit Solveig Thon from Ål in Hallingdal valley, Harald Bergmann from Asker outside Oslo, Bjørn Dæhlie Hersoug from Tromsø, and myself Ellen Alexandra Lothe from Oslo.
Our group did the “usual” tourist things: visited interesting sites in Oslo, Bergen, Ål, Vøringfossen, Eidfjord – we went by train, bus, tram and metro. We also had an interesting afternoon with Fredrik S Heffermehl, Norwegian human rights lawyer, peace activist and author He told us about his lifelong quest for human rights, peace and disarmament The meeting with Fredrik gave new perspectives to war and peace, global and local.
Our dear Jayshree was SO much missed. She had planned on participating together with her husband Ajit, but at the last minute they both could not. However, Jayshree was with us in spirit all along. The 55th anniversary reunion is now history. But the group decided to plan for a 58th one in Australia, sometime between March-April 2026. Eugene, Cathy and Ian took on the task of planning, for which we are all very grateful. Until then, love and peace to all AFSérs all over the world.
I got back to Quito last night with my heart full of great memories Our happy memories are overwhelming.
Gloria, Ecuador
So grateful for what we experienced together, and for the friendship and memories we created.
Margit, Norway
The time together was indeed precious and reenforced those amazing AFS bonds forged many years ago.
Sheila, from South Africa currently in New Zealand
As AFSers, we have a greater purpose in our lives in favor of peace and environment. It is our responsibility to be part of a world movement in favor of peace We must keep insisting positively on peace agreements and diplomatic means to deal with conflict – anywhere and everywhere.
