AAHA = Amicale Alexandrie Hier et Aujourd'hui www.aaha.ch
GATHERINGS AND REUNIONS
Sacred
ROHNA U GHENA B’EL SALAM!
“Scattered pictures of the smiles we left
behind,
smiles we gave to one another
for the way we were”
Standing : Roger (Jocelyne’s husband), Jocelyne,
Seta, Rosemary, Marlène, Sonia,
From left standing : Jocelyne, Anna, Seta, Eliane,
Kneeling from left : Wilna, Marcellina, Sonia, and Jenny
From left : Wilna, Nadia, Aurora, Denise, Thérèse (standing), Marlène, Sonia (on her knees), Rina, Rosemary and Sylvia R. (standing)
Sitting from left Sylvia,
Jocelyne, Denise, Rina and dulcis in fundo …
List of participants:
Rosemary Boustaghi (France), Ketty Zambacca
(Canada), Thérèse Abdel Messih (Australia), Rina Aloi (Australia), Jenny and
Nicholas Richardson-Vafopoulos (England), Sonia and Sylvia Rizgalla (Australia), Anna
Serena Leone (Italy), Marcellina Mian (USA/Qatar), Nadia Khoury and Kathryn (her
beautiful daughter) (Canada), Marlène Keralla (USA), Seta Margossian (USA),
Sylvia Kouhi (Denmark), Sonia Kouhi (Switwerland), Aurora Pisani (Canada), Wilna
Buccianti (Italy), Eliane Palermo (Italy), Denise Boiridy and Carrol her husband
(Canada), Jocelyne Khoury, her husband Roger Kamel and their son Marc
(Canada), Caroline and Nicole Tujian (USA -Seta’s wonderful daughters), Jocelyne
Gazel (our second class teacher - Italy), Renada (Canada), Clare Mian (Canada),
Teresa LaValle and her husband Natale Polizzi (Italy), Wendy Bradford (
Chronicle of our “Dream week in
We were all very fortunate indeed to have with us our beloved teacher (second
class) Jocelyne Gazel, who joined the “Mad Crowd” and prepared for us all the
most sumptuous dinner upon arrival – it was a feast; the Lebanese, Italians, and
Greek cuisines honoured the table, not to mention the Turkish Baklawa
(Jocelyne’s speciality) for dessert.
The next day, Pentecost Sunday, we had Mass in the little chapel which belongs
to the estate where we also prayed and remembered our departed friends Slawka
Gribowsky, Ivy Triandafyllou and Nicole Chamaah. The afternoon was spent lazying
around the pool and catching up with our individual friends, whom some of us had
not seen for over 4 years!! Particularly with Rosemary Boustaghi (Corcessin),
Ketty Zambacca (Van Weel), Nadia Khoury (Lekas), Aurora Pisani (Bradford), Wilna
Buccianti (Perone), Denise Boiridy (who came with her husband Carrol), Jocelyne
Khoury (Kamel) who also came with her husband Roger and Seta Margossian
(Tujian). Later that afternoon I gave them a brief talk on the History, Art and
Architecture of Florence which I thought would give them a back drop to the
visits Eliana and I had organised for the group.
On Monday 24th May, we all took the bus to the
centre of
Tuesday 25th May, once again by bus we reached
the centre. This time it was a visit to Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti
where we had a picnic in the
Wednesday 26th was a quiet day at “Le
Montanine”. We all helped and prepared a luncheon “al fresco” in the terrace of
the lower villa in anticipation of the evening event which was going to be “Le
Grand Diner” à
At this point, we were joined by Teresa
Thursday 27th May we had the excursion by bus
(hired for the occasion) to San Gimignano and
The “last supper” for all of us together was at a Pizzeria en route to the
“Montanine”. We all sat on a very long table with laughter, songs and jokes.
It was an unforgettable event. Jamais deux sans trois!!
Photos sent by Eliana Palermo
Cologny, 23.08.2010
AAHA = Amicale Alexandrie Hier et Aujourd'hui www.aaha.ch