Brisa Yanel Hernández Salomé, this year’s Waunakee High School exchange student, comes from Minatitlan in Veracruz, Mexico, a city rich in tradition and culture. 

With soon-to-be-Rotary-member Ivan Arias helping to translate, Brisa spoke about her homeland and a little about her home city at the Waunakee Rotary Club meeting Sept. 21. 

She was sponsored by the Rotary Club there, which is part of District 4195 with several other cities. Brisa is in her second semester at school. The school which offers basketball and volleyball for sports. Brisa is interested in art and performing arts. 

Minatitlan is on the banks of the Coatzacoalcos River and has the largest Pemex Refinery. It is the 6th most important city in the state, with a population of 145,000. 

It has several monuments, including St. Peter the Apostle Parish and a statue of General Lazaro Cardenas del Rio. It also has archeological zones with vestiges of indigenous cultures such as pyramids and mounds. 

Veracruz has one of the largest and oldest Mexican ports. It was founded in the 16th Century by Spanish colonizers. It also has a World Heritage Site, El Tajín and an aquarium with a reef fish tank, along with a very rich heritage evident in the pre-Columbus architecture. 

A large part of the tradition is Carnival. Brisa said while Brazil may have the largest Carnival in the world, Veracruz probably has the second largest. 

The state also celebrates The Rana, where they decorate a branch and sing Christmas carols in the street. Another tradition is the Burning of the Old Man, when, to ring in the new year, a pregnant widow symbolizes the mother of the new year. Both holidays include traditional dance and songs. 

Another tradition is the Day of the Dead, where people offer food to the departed, hold parades and festivities. 

Son Jaroch music and dance of Veracruz also features traditional dance and music, a musical genre Brisa said is widespread.

Veracruz also has some magical towns, including Orizaba, where the snow capped Pico de Orizaba mountains are located. 

The country of Mexico, the United Mexican States, is the 14th largest in the world, with 4 million square miles and 118 million people. The mother tongue is Spanish, but 67 indigenous languages are spoken there. 

Brisa said it has a diverse landscape, with mountains, deserts and jungles, along with ancient ruins.

“I’m very proud of my culture, the people and the heritage,” Brisa said, and expressed her gratitude to the club. 

Afterwards, President Jennifer Tasker presented Brisa with two tickets to see her favorite band, Queen, in Chicago with a friend. The club members pitched in to help purchase the tickets. 

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Other News: 

-Jeanette Jordee helped pack books and games over the weekend to go to the library in Guatemala.

-Food for Kidz has three spots available Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. The food will be sent to an organization who will get it to Ukraine, along with Maui. People are needed to work behind the scenes, stocking the stations with rice and beans. You’ll be rewarded with lunch from Mission Barbecue.

-The Madison Breakfast Club is hosting a youth literacy benefit in Verona. 

-NAMI’s Walk for Mental Health is Oct. 7. 

-Bob Klostermann is planning a leaf-peeping cruise on leaving at 1 p.m. Oct. 15. 

-Preliminary numbers from Wauktoberfest indicate the funds raised are down just slightly from last year, when the club set a record, Ken Pesik said.  

Upcoming Events

-Oct. 8 - Food for Kidz

-Oct. 7 - NAMI Walk for Mental Health

-Oct. 15 - Leaf-peeping cruise

Guests: Ivan Arias. 

Visiting Rotarians: None

Birthdays: Sept. 30, John Cullen.

Anniversaries: Sept. 28, Peggy and Bob Acker-Farber; Oct. 1, Sara and Paul Whitley.

Greeters: Sept, 28, Patrick Durden and Fritz Durst. Please see the Tuesday newsletter to sign up for greeter and set-up shifts at your convenience.