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Article on one of the Members of
"Halau Ho'oheno Aloha"
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The Hawaiian Flag
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FACE THE WORLD FOUNDATION
October 10, 2002
Ben and Peggy Griggs were very excited to receive their second exchange student and learn about another culture. When I say another culture, I really mean it. Ben is African-American. Peggy is Filipino/Hawaiian-American. They live in El Paso, Texas, which has an 80% Hispanic population. Last year the Griggs hosted a young lady from Mongolia, and this year, an exceptional young man from Brazil.
Luckily, Joào Bibas was fully prepared to submerge himself into American culture during his ten-month stay in the USA. When he isn't attending Parkland High School, where he currently holds a 92.5 Grade Point Average, or swimming on the Varsity swim team, or taking his American girlfriend to Homecoming, Joào is attending hula dance rehearsals with his host parents! Yes, you read that correctly! Move over Brazilian Samba, here comes Brazilian Hula Dancing!
Ben and Peggy belong to a Hawaiian dance troupe called "Halau Ho'oheno Aloha." When asked to participate, Joào jumped in with both feet; wrapped in a lava lava with a conch shell in hand. The dance troupe recently performed at a festival in El Paso, and Joào was there to signify the beginning of the celebrations by sounding the shell.
"Hats off", or should I say "Leis off" to an amazing teen who is open to experiencing everything during his international exchange experience, not to mention representing Brazil equisitely, academically, socially, and culturally.
Joào returned to Brazil on August 2, 2003 and he is surely missed by his host mother and dad and his Hawaiian family.
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