History-Making President's Visit Thrills Students
By Lori Aratani
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 9, 2006
Two weeks isn't a lot of time, but if you really, really practice, you, too, can master the Chilean national anthem. And if you're really, really lucky, like 14-year-old Dao Hoang was yesterday, you'll have the opportunity to play "El Himno Nacional" for someone really, really important -- someone like Michelle Bachelet, the first female president of Chile.
Bachelet, in Washington to meet with President Bush, took a side trip yesterday to her alma mater, Westland Middle School in Bethesda, where she was a student in 1963. She also attended nearby Wood Acres Elementary school in 1962. Bachelet and her family lived in Bethesda for two years while her father, Alberto Bachelet Martinez, was assigned to a military mission at the Chilean Embassy.
"It's, I would say, a strange feeling to come back here after 33 years," Bachelet, 54, told a crowd of students awe-struck that a president -- a president! -- had once walked the same hallways they do today.
Dao, who plays saxophone, and other members of Westland's school band worked hard to master the Chilean national anthem in time for Bachelet's visit.
"Well, it's rather fast, and it keeps going and going and going," Dao said, describing the tune. "It's a hard song."
But their efforts paid off. When Bachelet arrived at the Bethesda campus shortly after 9 a.m., she stepped out of her car and, ignoring her security detail, strolled over to the front lawn, where the band was playing.
"Congratulations," she said, when they finished. "That was wonderful."
The Bethesda campus, which offers a Spanish immersion program as well as a middle-years International Baccalaureate program and has a number of international students, was in full frenzy yesterday. Eighth-graders Brianna Crayton and Ashley Silver were among students chosen to line the front walkway of the school and greet Bachelet.
"This is so exciting," said Ashley, clutching a miniature Chilean flag. "I've never met a president before."
Inside the school, which was called Western Junior High School when Bachelet was a student there, students and staff could hardly contain themselves.
"We are humbled and excited," said Westland Principal Ursula A. Hermann. "It's not every day that we can welcome a woman who has made history."
Bachelet was presented with several gifts -- a picture of Glen Echo Park, a shawl made in the United States and a drawing that included the Chilean national flower, the copihue (or Chilean bellflower), combined with the black-eyed Susan, the official Maryland flower.
"Most of all, what I want to say to you is boys and girls can be president of the United States -- or since many of you are from other places, your country, if you work hard," she said. "All the best for you. I am so happy to be here."
Bachelet then took questions from students.
Vanessa Salgado, an eighth-grader, asked Bachelet how it felt to be the first woman president of Chile.
Bachelet paused for a moment before answering.
"I feel enormous responsibility," she said. "I feel a huge responsibility, because there are lots of expectations by women and by men. I won't fail. I'll do my best, and I'll work hard."
Another student wanted to know whether it was difficult to take care of a country and a family.
Bachelet -- a single mother of three children, ages 13, 21 and 28 -- smiled and gave a soft chuckle before answering.
"It's hard," she replied. "My daughter, when I was a candidate, she said to me, 'Mom, don't worry, it's only four years.' "
Afterwards, Bachelet waded into the audience to shake hands and meet students.
"She shook my hand! She shook my hand!'' said seventh-grader Brene Moseley, rushing back to her girlfriends and waving her right hand in the air. "She said 'Hi,' and I said 'Hi' back. It was a very moving experience."
For students with ties to Chile, the presidential visit was a special thrill.
"I was amazed she could find time in her busy schedule to come visit us," said eighth-grader Diego Pizaro, who as one of three Chilean students at the school was in charge of welcoming and escorting the president when she arrived.
"I was shaking," said Diego, dressed in crisp khakis and a navy blue polo shirt with white stripes. "But she was so warm-hearted."
Diego's father, Jorge, proudly showed off one of Bachelet's campaign posters, which the president autographed.
"This is so incredible," he said. "She made us proud."
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