Hi Hetty,
I just wanted to take an opportunity to thank you properly for your visit. It was such an honour and a special privilege to have you in Kalgoorlie. Our students at Goldfields Baptist College have been talking about your speech all day, and to all of their teachers. They appreciated your traveling out to see us so much more than I could ever have imagined, and were very disappointed not to hear the end of your story. Other students have given me money to purchase the last copies of The Children’s House of Belsen because they so badly wanted to find out how your story ended, and have asked me to get them signed for them when I come to see you in two weeks. It is lovely to see their enthusiasm about something so important. Many of the students who bought a copy of your book have already begun reading them. All of our students who attended were touched by your story, and many of the staff at the school have told me they were sorely disappointed not to be able to attend. I am sure there will be a lot of enthusiasm at the school at the prospect of getting you to visit again next year. Certainly, the students who attended have said that they think as many students as possible need to hear you speak, so I certainly hope we can do this again in 2014.
I very much look forward to seeing you again at the beginning of September, and hope you had a pleasant flight home.
Thank you so much again for the absolute privilege of allowing me to spend so much time with you these past two days, and for making such an effort to visit our little city and speak to the students. I know the kids who got to listen to your presentation will never forget the experience, and will hold you in their hearts for a very long time. We don’t often get people as special as yourself to come out to us, so it will be well appreciated for many years.
Thank you again Hetty, and I’m deeply sorry for the unceremonious, very rushed farewell this morning at the airport. I can say a proper goodbye when I see you in two weeks. J
Warmest wishes,
Marisa.