GHS (’95) graduate and exchange student Martin Garayzabal grew up in sunny, big-city Cordoba, Argentina, and traveled to college-town Gorham, Maine with a love of sports, a gregarious personality and as he describes it, only moderate English language skills. He wanted very much to fit in, and so during the 11 transformative months that followed his arrival, Garayzabal adapted to a brand-new social life, pre-Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

At GHS, Garayzabal jumped in to spark the varsity soccer team in what Coach Gary Speed called, “the team’s best season in several years.” He joined the volleyball team and played competitive tennis for Coach Derek Pierce, happily assisted the GHS Chorale and quickly polished his spoken English. He learned to cook with his revered exchange mother, Carol Curran, and shoveled snow—an unknown activity in his hometown. He made friends as if he’d grown up in Gorham and was even voted Class Flirt in the GHS yearbook.

He talks about the Burkes, the Begleys, Angelo Sotiropoulos, and, he says, “many others, I don’t want to forget them!” then mentions his physics teacher, Bob Crowley, who had yet to become the world-famous survivor of the “Survivor: Gabon” in 2008. He talks about his “bestie” Sarah Ward, whose wedding he attended, and she his.

Garayzabal’s voice is humble as he reflects now, almost 30 years later, on the impact of his GHS student experience, when he was first chosen as one of three exchange students to travel to Gorham, the two others coming here from Russia and Egypt.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I learned so much. The GHS teachers, the kids my age, and most of all the Curran family—my ‘second family’—it all changed me forever. In that year Maine, College Avenue, the Curran house, became my place too.” It is important to note that in that year, 1995, the Gorham population was inching up on 12,000 individuals, while at the same time, the Cordoba, Argentina citizenry numbered 2,750,000, second in population to Buenos Aires.

There were other obvious differences. Summer here is winter there. “There is no Whoopie Pie or maple syrup in Cordoba.” Politics are different. Styles, and certainly cultures can seem different, at least on the surface. “I work now in the insurance business. Underwriting. I’m always busy. I think Gorham is quieter, in a good way, than big-city Cordoba, says Garayzabal: “People don’t rush in Gorham. They care about each other.” He is quiet for a moment.

He starts again proudly: “And then there is soccer: “You have the Red Sox and baseball. I have my Cordoba team the Talleres, in the Primera Division.” He and his family are huge fans of the team, attending games often and supporting the Talleres with what has become the entire group Garayzabal enthusiasm.

We talk about Garayzabal’s family today, three teenagers, two boys and a girl, and his dear wife Veronica. “We want our own kids to know the values of travel and meeting new people and of understanding other ways of life. I wanted them to hear my exchange student stories.”

Because he has never wanted to lose contact with his Gorham friends and the Curran family, there have been several visits to see friends in Maine and even a family visit with the Currans at their Florida condo a few years ago. Garayzabal’s voice is suddenly somber as he talks about the Florida vacation, and there is another pause.

“I should tell you that Mrs. Curran, Carol, my exchange mother, helped me so much. I miss her.” Sadly, he explains that Carol Curran passed away on February 14, 2019. “She knew when I was missing my own family and when I was feeling homesick and she would listen to me, and I would feel better. She was so kind and caring—like my own mother.”

Carol Curran must have known the important role an exchange mother plays. Here Garayzabal was sharing his idea of what “Exchange” may really mean: a new place made kinder and more comfortable by people who care about you.

To connect with Martin Garayzabal: martingarayzabal@hotmail.com.