They were sponsored by Experimental International Learning, which is part of World Learning Organization in Vermont, USA.

Mrs. Cruz said this year 1002 students from all over America had gone to 27 countries, including Mongolia for the first time. This is her third time taking a group and she has been to Scotland and Spain previously.

Her husband, Josue, was with eleven other students in Orroroo for the home stay component of their trip. They had all spent four days each in Sydney and Adelaide before coming north.

The American students only met at Los Angeles airport, and as the USA is so diverse in cultures, like a melting pot, they learn about their own sub-cultures as well as Australian cultures. Students staying at Booleroo Centre came from Miami Beach, New York, Chicago, New Jersey, California, Florida and Tennessee.

Going to the football and netball was a different experience for them, although they found the weather a bit too cold. Group activities included climbing Mt Remarkable, seeing shearing and 4-wheel driving over the Bridle Track.

Various activities with individual host families ranged from quilting to kangaroo shooting, and all things between! One highlight was visiting Orroroo for a concert with the other group. Laura and Josue Cruz have an acoustic folk music band “Calahoney”, and played mostly original songs, and were accompanied by Orroroo singer Terry Williams. They have their second album coming out later this year.

On the last day of their stay, the American visitors were taken on a tour of the Booleroo Centre District School before lunch with their hosts. Principal Jennie Dicker and School Council Chairperson Jo Kelly thanked them for coming and being part of the community and hoped they would keep in touch. They were then given Aussie backpacks containing souvenirs such as caps, boomerangs, beanies, Australian flags and of course a koala!