TO MY FRIENDS IN WILLIAMSPORT

40 years after graduating from Loyalsock High School, I am still very grateful for all the help and knowledge I got in your school and country.
It all began in 1970 after I graduated from The LaSalle High School in my country, Venezuela. Since the university in my country was closed for political reasons, my mother, always worried for my education, got in touch with the International Fellowship organization for exchange students that took me to Williamsport.
Thanks to the generosity of three families, the Dorners, Sheaffers, and Brinks, and the Loyalsock High School administration, I had the opportunity to live for one year in your country learning your customs and language; things that really helped me in my education and to compare the different ways of living and idiosyncrasies of our peoples.
After my return to Venezuela, I started at the university studying veterinary medicine, graduating in July, 1978. I then did a month of practical training at the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Thanks to the English I learned in Williamsport, it was very easy for me to improve my knowledge by reading texts in English.
I then worked for a month at a Veterinarian’s clinic for large animals in Lexington, Kentucky, with Dr. Bill McGee with whom I practiced reproduction in mares. This was another great experience for which my English language learning at Loyalsock helped me succeed.
Then most of my career I worked at race horse farms and at my parents’ farm, where we breed Red Brahman cattle. Today I’m still living at my parents’ farm and have my one thousand-acre farm where I also breed Red Brahman cattle. Both farms are placed at Falcón state, 10 miles from Morrocoy’s National Park where we have very beautiful beaches and plenty of mangroves trees and channels.
In 2005 I took a course for radio and TV broadcasting. I did some programs on the local TV about farming and now I have a radio morning program of Venezuelan country music and comments about cattlemen and political issues. I also write all Wednesday for a local newspaper, just for fun.
On the 24th of this month will be held the party for our Loyalsock High School 40th class reunion in Williamsport. Regrettably, due to the political and economical situation in Venezuela, it is not possible for me to attend, but remember that I will be always very grateful for all the help and friendship you gave me, and remember me as a friend down here in Venezuela.

@willimusk
http://regionorientaldefalcon.blogspot.com
willimusk@gmail.com