Eighth-grade Spanish students at Maple Place School, Oceanport, and their teacher, Christine Brody, who corresponded with Gina Nappi in Paraguay OCEANPORT- What began as a homework assignment for Christine Brody's eighth-grade Spanish class at Maple Place Middle School has evolved into a long-distance correspondence.

Gina Nappi, the daughter of a friend of Brody's in Little Silver, is a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. She began her two-year commitment last summer shortly after graduating from Temple University.

Brody thought itmight be an interesting project for her eighth-grade Spanish I class to track her progress.Her students were assigned to checkNappi's blog andmonitor her day-to-day activities in Paraguay.

When Nappi posted a wish list of things she missed from back home and items that the Paraguayan villagers could use, Brody's students rose to the occasion.

Nappi wrote about missing things like maple brown sugar, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese and American music. She also noted that the Paraguayan children could really use items such as coloring books and crayons.

Gina Nappi, a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, opens her care packages from students at Maple Place School. "My students and I decided that we would put together a care package to accommodate Gina's wish list," Brody said. "Well, my students reallywent to town. In totalwe packed three large care packages loaded with stuff, including two soccer balls, art supplies, food, CDs, magazines, letters and more."

The package took about two months to reach Nappi, who finally received it just a few weeks ago.

Though very appreciative of her packages, Nappi joked with students on her blog that she believes "the term 'snail mail' was coined here in Paraguay" because the package took so long to reach her.

Nappi's students in Paraguay are currently finishing their summer vacation, which ends next week, and at that time she will distribute letters from Brody's students as well as their generous gifts to her students.

In her blog,Nappi gave a special thanks to Brody's class, who "spoiled [her] rotten."

"I received three packages from them, each at different times, and each one truly rockedmyworld!"Nappiwrote in an e-mail. "Included in their packages were soccer balls, tons of arts and crafts supplies, and a box full of food to keep me eating tillApril.

"I just want to thank you all so much for your generous donations," she told Brody's students. "It was truly a surprise, and kept me smiling all the week long."

Brody mentioned that many of her students had written letters in both English and in Spanish, or a combination of the two in hopes of finding pen pals among the Paraguayan students.

"I promise to share your notes with a local classroom when school starts up again here at the end of February,"Nappi told student via her blog. "Please keep your questions and curiosity coming, and if there's anything I can help you out with let me know!"