Portugal May 2022 – CNG Class of '71

Colegio Nueva Granada, Class of '71. 51 years ago, our class of about 60 students graduated from the American school in Bogotá Colombia. We received a good education, graduated with American High School Diploma and Colombian Bachillerato. But not less important, our schoold days were happy days. I had a number of close friends, but even with those who were not my buddies, we were united by a bond of which we perhaps at the time were unaware of, but that after 50 decades proved unequivacal. Hurrah for social media! Two years ago, we started a WhatsApp group of our class. Classmates joined the group, and quickly we had over 30 members sharing memories, updates, music, jokes etc. We intended to meet physically at a silver jubilee celebration at our Alma Mater, but Covid-19 thwarted the initiative. Second best, we got together in an enjoyable and informative Zoom video conference with over 30 participants. Lost classmates on occasion keep joining the WhatsApp group, which remains alive and kicking. We are all evidently happy to be back in touch.

The plot thickens: Soon after we reunited, I had a dream to give a second chance to our deep-rooted bond, live it out and enjoy it once again. I reached out to a few classmates who I considered crazy enough and would go for it. Jorge Blanco was not a very close friend at school, and I had not seen him in over 5 decades. Nevertheless, from our recent contact and collaboration to promote our group, I felt our school days’ bond definitely still holds true. With my wonderful friend Mauricio Bautista I have been in constant touch, and we have met and visited on several occasions. Jorge and his Kath remained close friends with Maria Teresa Muñoz, to whom I am forever indebted to for giving me a much-needed emotional support during a crisis on our graduation trip to Cartagena. I was overjoyed to see her some years ago at a school get-together. 

After 2 years of Covid-19 related postponements and many preparations, the four of us, with Mauricio’s Geno and Jorge’s Kath, made it come true. With great delight, converging midway from Houston, Miami, Quito and Bet Shemesh, we finally found ourselves adjusting seat heights for our following day's bike tour, and then dining and drinking to life. That is how, in a beautiful Paradero with a stunning view over the Douro river gorge, in a village at a remote northeastern corner of Portugal, started one of the best weeks in my life.