Encuentro en la ciudad de Tandil, provincia de Buenos Aires

El día 31 de Marzo se llevó a cabo la última reunión preparatoria del IGE que el día 22 de abril viaja rumbo al Distrito 5400 (Idaho). Con mucho entusiasmo y expectativas por la cercanía de la fecha de partida se desarrolló un día de trabajo intenso, que contó además con la esperada y alentadora visita del gobernador del distrito Sr. César Stafforini. Luego de compartir con el gobernador las diversas actividades que realizamos en los últimos 5 meses, él nos brindó su perspectiva y sus consejos para aprovechar al máximo la oportunidad que esta experiencia representa. Saludos!

¿Quiénes somos?

Patricio Picco – Team Member 

Sponsored by Rotary Club Trenque Lauquen

Patricio was born in General Villegas, Buenos Aires, Argentina on the 22nd of January of 1981. When he was thirteen, he moved to Rosario city to study high school. He studied chemical engineer in Buenos Aires city. Patricio has already had an experience abroad; he lived and studied for one year in London – UK.

Patricio’s father has a factory of boilers and tanks for milk industry and his mother is a librarian and a researcher in primary education. Patricio has a sister (Yuliana) she is thirty four years old. She is married with Martin and they have got two childs, Trinidad and Martin. Maximiliano (29) is Patricio’s brother. He is Industrial Engineer and works in automotive industry as quality manager.

Patricio started working to pay for his studies at twenty; he researched polymers for seven years at the Industrial Technological National Institute (INTI). He got his degree in Chemical Engineering at the National Technological University (UTN) in November 2006.  Since 2009, Patricio has worked for UTN the researching water.

He has always loved music and started playing drums since he was 13. He had played many different music styles but nowadays he is playing typical music from Argentina. Patricio’s hobbies also include reading books, studying drums, going out with friends. He also loves traveling.  Recent trips include a visit to Machu Pichu, Peru and a visit to Salta, Argentina.      

From this trip with Rotary, Patricio believes that his experience abroad will greatly add to his career growth and will allow him a better development in his professional career in Argentine. He hopes this trip to be a great opportunity to generate links between his University and local Universities. Patricio is really excited about this opportunity! 

  

"On my next trip I would like to know different water researching groups and waste water facilities there I could learn how international researching groups work and understand what they are doing to ensure water availability for present and future generations. I would also like to visit water treatment facilities. It will be very important for me to know how people use water and to get to know the culture better. I will be very happy to help in any way needed and give all the information about my occupation and my country". 
patriciopicco@yahoo.com.ar

Maria Fernanda Giaccaglia – Team Member 

Sponsored by Rotary Club Mar del Plata

She was born in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires. She is 27 years old and she is currently single. 

She is a lawyer and she works at FASTA University, where she is in charge of the Legal Department. 

She also teaches several courses of Law and Auctioneer in the School of Law in this University and she is practicing attorney in her sister´s law firm.

Mar del Plata is the biggest city of the district, with almost 700.000 inhabitants. It´s main economy activity is tourism. As an important fishing port, industry concentrates on fish processing. The area is also host to other light industry, such as textile, food manufacturing and polymers.

She likes reading very much and listening to music. She also enjoys travelling and spending time with friends.

She has got great expectations with this program. She thinks this is a great opportunity to get in touch with a new culture and learn from its people. She hopes to really get to know American culture, history, education, and politics. 

She is looking forward to achieve mutual understanding and friendship.

Sabrina Santos – Team Member 

Sponsored by Rotary Club Santa 

She is 28 years old and she is single. She has got a degree in International Relations and she is a Specialist in International Cooperation. 

She works at the International Cooperation Office of the Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. This Office has an International Students Mobility’s Programme and she also does other activities related to agreements (with local and foreign institutions) and cooperation projects in general.

The city where she lives, Santa Rosa, is the capital of La Pampa and it is situated in the northeast part of the province. It has about 140,000 inhabitants. Because of its location, it is connected with the biggest cities of Argentina (such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario) and it has all the basic services of a modern city: cinema, theatre, shops, recreational centers, educational institutions of all levels. Its main activity has to do with local government administration.

La Pampa’s economy is based on agriculture (more than 1.500.000 hectares sowed -wheat, oats, rye, sunflower, sweet corn) and livestock (bovine or cattle –meat and milk- ovine or sheep and pigs; over 3 millions of heads in total), apiculture and mining (salt and oil / petroleum).

She likes reading books and doing research about local internationalization. She also practices hockey, she enjoys walking and roller skating. She also loves travelling, knowing people and different cultures.

"I think that this exchange is really useful, not only for mi professional life, but also for my personal growing. GSE is a great tool to meet people, improve my English and, at the same time, learn about different cultures. Santa Rosa Norte Rotary Club sponsors me".

Silvio Vitarella – Team Member 

Sponsored by Rotary Club Dolores

He is 27 years old. He has lived all his life in Dolores “The first patriotic town”, because it was the first to be founded after our Independence Day. 

He is a History Teacher and he works in Instituto Franciso de Paula Robles, teaching to teenagers between 15 and 18 years old.

He also owns a Wine Shop with his father. This business was founded 60 years ago and it is a traditional place in the city. When his grandfather started the business he used to fill the bottles before selling it in the very same place where the Wine Shop works now.

Silvio likes to participate in different institutions; he is a member of Historicians of Dolores and of “Shooting Club of Dolores”. This last one was founded in 1901 and it was abandoned 30 years ago. He and a team of citizen have refounded the Shooting Club.

Silvio enjoys reading and writing history, he also plays bass in a rock band. They have recorded a CD. He likes spending time with friends and he is a sort of Play Station's fan. He likes sports, especially fútbol and Aikido (martial art). 

He is very happy to have this opportunity and to make new friends, learn from them and become a GOOD WILL ambassador from his club, his district and his country.
silviovitarella@yahoo.com.ar

Nerina Fernanda Sarthou – Team Member 

Sponsored by Rotary Club Tandil Oeste

She is 28 years old and she has got a degree in International Relations and a Master in Latin American Studies. She works as a teacher at the National University of Buenos Aires Province in 3 courses: Latin American History, Argentine History and Argentine Foreign Policy. 

She also does research activities. Currently, she has a scholarship from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET) to do a PhD in Political Science. 

The city where she lives, Tandil, is in the southeastern part of the province of Buenos Aires and it has about 123,350 inhabitants. The economy is based on agriculture, livestock and mining in quarries. It is also important the production of milk and dairy products. In the industrial production the metalworking sector as a whole holds supremacy over the rest. Tandil has as a curiosity: to be a plain surrounded by a ring of hills with the city in the valley. This makes it a very nice place and so in recent years there has been a significant increase in tourism.

She really enjoys travelling, not only abroad but also through her country. She also loves doing sports and playing music. She plays drums in a brasilian music band in Tandil. 

"Given the context of my experience, I think this program is a unique opportunity. This exchange is of great value to exercise the skills of an ambassador, in this case, an ambassador of good will that my training in International Relations has given me. Also, this experience would give me the chance to exercise my exploratory and analytical vocation in another country. Knowing and exploring the reality of other people in their different dimensions represents a great opportunity for me to improve my skills as a teacher and as a researcher. Tandil Oeste Rotary Club sponsors me".

Alfredo Fairbairn -Team Leader -
Sponsored by Rotary Club Tandil

He is 45 years old. His grandparent came from Scotland to Argentina at the beginning of last century. He is married with Mónica and they are parents of three sons: Guillermo, Andres and Nicolás Fairbairn.

He lives in Tandil, in the centre of Buenos Aires Province.

He got his degree in Law in 1990 and he is the CEO of his own Firm of lawyers.

Alfredo is a member of Rotary Club Tandil from 1995. He is currently member of “Colegio de Abogados de Azul”, “Colegio de Abogados de la ciudad de Buenos Aires” and Asociación de Abogados de Tandil.

Like an attorney in law he has managed many legal cases such as liability, claims and foreclosures.He is also a teacher of insurance law and he is getting involved in many programs of prevention of traffic accidents in Argentina.

Alfredo is also a current member of “Tandil Golf Club”, “Shooting Club of Tandil”, Andino Club of Villa La Angostura” and “Heart Care Association of Tandil”.

Alfred enjoys share his time with his family and friends. He likes playing golf, running and skiing.

He is grateful to The Rotary Foundation for this oportunity and he hope to make new friends and become a Good Wiil ambassador from his club, his district and his country.