AAHA = Amicale Alexandrie Hier et Aujourd'hui : www.aaha.ch
GATHERINGS AND REUNIONS
VC
- EGC - SHS
International
Reunion
Crete, October 2nd - 9th 2005
The Victoria College Association of North America
The English Girls' College
The Sacred Heart School
"Already another year gone by and time for our Annual International School Reunion!!! The general consensus was that our 2005 International OVC/EGC/SHS reunion be held in Greece from October 2nd through 9th 2005 and the beautiful island of Crete was our chosen destination.
OVC Costa Caradimitropoulo our active committee member was responsible for arranging our stay at the luxurious five star Grecotel Rithymna Beach Hotel however, due to unforseen circumstances, Costa was unable to attend. Regardless of the short notice 'convener responsibilities' fell entirely on the 'broad shoulders' of none other than yours truly !!
Participants came from as far as Australia and in all we numbered 36; together we spent a great week relaxing, enjoying the sandy beach and swimming. Undoubtedly in comparison to last year's reunion in Bulgaria, this year's reunion 'slower pace' was quite noticeable and appreciated.....seemingly, we're not getting any younger!!
The week's program offered optional excursions with a recommendation of three. A tour of the city of Rethymno and a visit to the Arkadi Monastery. A cultural excursion was held to historical Knossos to visit the excavation sites of the Palace of Knossos dating 2000BC followed by a visit to the Museum of Heraklion where the largest collection of Minoan findings can be viewed. A visit to the former capital of Crete, Chania (considered to be one of the most beautiful towns of Greece) presented us with Turkish and Venetian architectural styles, a very unique and impressive townscape with narrow streets and alleys, old mansions and arcades, mosques and minarets.
On the social level, we held our Welcome Cocktail with OVC president Samir Zalzal welcoming the participants. A Cretan Greek Evening where the traditional dishes were served accompanied by a profuse flow of Ouzo and Raki topped off with entertainment of folklore music and dancers. Worthy of a special mention was our Gala Dinner : a gourmet menu featuring champagne and lobster. The sit-down dinner was served in style by white-gloved waiters !! Obviously, "Goodbyes" aren't always easy, nevertheless, this year our Farewell Dinner featured lots of laughter and a most appreciated surprise....... indeed exceptionally so because one of our EGC participants from Cairo, Egypt, the lovely Safinaz Nabih-Daoud, was secretly and exclusively allowed into the Chef's kitchen to prepare to everyones' delight a unique dessert ....Om Aly ! Needless to say we couldn't have ended our reunion on a 'sweeter' and higher note.
Promises to meet next year INCHALLAH on new territory/continent maybe across the Atlantic?
So to all, I say keep well and be happy until we meet again in 2006."
Nicole Biancardi-Francescutti
Photo 1 : Group photo of all participants
Top Row, Left > to Right : Pierre Ackad; David Elzik; Sarkis Kedeshian; Youssef Elzik; Jack Rizopoulos; Capt. Robert Mussawir; Samir Zalzal; Ahmed El Gammal; Elie Fiani; Ron Crowdy; Dr Adib Barsoum; Lesley El Gammal; Amina Hamada-Shaarawi.
Middle Row, Left > to Right : Djehane Hussein; Kitty Elzik-Butcher; Julie Elzik; Karine Ackad; Rose Najarian-Kedeshian; Safinaz Daoud-Nabih; Nicole Biancardi-Francescutti; Joy Barsoum; Sonia Debelak-Fiani; Jocelyne Assaf-Sargologo; Josette Nimé-Erlandsson.
Bottom Row Seated, Left > to Right : Beckie Counio-Haiat; Elly Lagoudakis; Despina Frangoudis-Rizopoulos; Rose Sofer-Saleh; Rosette Zalzal; Diane Abecassis; Rosmira Mussawir; Linda Ichay-Stroun; Denise Schaub; Marlene Strong-Crowdy; Joceline Francis-Riches; Minouche Riches.
Photo 2 : The EGC participants' group and guest.
Standing, from l > r : Safinaz Nabih-Daoud, Djehane Hussein, Kitty Elzik-Butcher, Minouche Riches, Amina Hamada-Shaarawi, Jack Rizopoulos
Sitting, from l > r : Rose Sofer-Saleh, Beckie Counio-Haiat, Diane Abecassis, Joceline Francis-Riches, Elly Lagoudakis, Despina Frangoudis-Rizopoulos
Photo 3 : The SHS participants' group photo and guests
Standing, l > r : Ron Crowdy, Elie Fiani
Sitting, l > r : Nicole Biancardi-Francescutti, Jocelyne Assaf-Sargologo, Marlene Strong-Crowdy, Sonia Debelak-Fiani, Linda Ischay-Stroun, Josette Nimé-Erlandsson
Photo 4 : The VC participants' group photo and guests
Standing, l > r : David Elzik, Sarkis Kedeshian, Youssef Elzik, Samir Zalzal, Ahmed El Gammal, Capt. Robert Mussawir, Pierre Ackad, Elie Fiani, Dr Adib Barsoum
Sitting, l > r : Rose Kedeshian, Julie Elzik, Rosette Zalzal, Lesley El Gammal, Rosmira Mussawir, Karine Ackad, Sonia Fiani, Joy Barsoum
Photo 5 : Sightseeing in Knossos
Mission accomplished....Participants headed home. It's time for "Les responsables" to celebrate the success of a memorable school reunion !
Photo 6, from l > r : Jocelyne Assaf-Sargologo, Nicole Biancardi Francescutti, Hotel's General Manager Mr. Dimitris Tsounis
Participants
Last Name-Maiden Name First Name, Affiliation, Residence
Abecassis Diane EGC Geneva CH
Ackad Pierre VC Oldenberg Germany
Ackad Karine
Barsoum Adib VC Philadelphia U.S.A.
Barsoum Joy
Butcher Elzik Kitty EGC Guilford U.K.
Counio Haiat Beckie EGC Montreal Canada
Crowdy Strong Marlene SHS Bristol U.K.
Crowdy Ron
Daoud Nabih Safinaz EGC Cairo Egypt
El Gammal Ahmed VC Cairo Egypt
El Gammal Lesley
Elzik David VC California U.S.A.
Elzik Youssef VC California U.S.A.
Elzik Julie
Erlandsson Nimé Josette SHS Virginia U.S.A.
Fiani Elie VC Sydney Australia
Fiani Debelak Sonia SHS Sydney Australia
Francescutti Biancardi Nicole SHS Montreal Canada
Hussein Djehane Guest Cairo Egypt
Kedeshian Sarkis VC New Jersey U.S.A.
Kedeshian Najarian Rose
Lagoudakis Elly EGC Athens Greece
Mussawir Robert VC Marbella Spain
Mussawir Rosmira
Riches Francis Joceline EGC Milan Italy
Riches Minouche Guest Milan Italy
Rizopoulos Frangoudis Despina EGC Montreal Canada
Rizopoulos Jack
Saleh Sofer Rose EGC Montreal Canada
Sargologo Assaf Jocelyne SHS New York U.S.A.
Schaub Denise Guest
Shaarawi Hamada Amina EGC Montreal Canada
Stroun Ichay Linda SHS Geneva CH
Zalzal Samir VC Toronto Canada
Zalzal Rosette
AAHA = Amicale Alexandrie Hier et Aujourd'hui : www.aaha.ch