April 2011 Issue

Van High School Counselor Bill Giles and
Paripat "Bas" Kittiyaowamon of Bangkok,
Thailand hold up the Thai flag.

Influence A Nation - Host an Exchange Student
By Timna Rutledge
 

Enriching the lives of all they meet with their unreserved candor and pleasing manners, exchange students Paripat “Bas” Kittiyaowamon, Rinata Smagulova, Mariya Savruk, Tibor Herz, Chaewon “Chelsey” Kim, and Yara Khalil have spent most of the last year in schools throughout northeast Texas absorbing American culture.

Each student claimed to be more proficient in English as a result of living in the United States; and each one is full of memories and fun experiences to take back home with them in June. Van High School Counselor Bill Giles, has become close friends with Bas, who is from Bangkok, Thailand. “He’s learned more English and speaks it well now,” said Giles, who added, “We’ve also benefited because he’s very happy, positive and very sensitive. He’s given a lot to us, to Van and to Van High School.” Bas, in turn expressed his appreciation for Giles and said, “He’s helped me with everything, just everything.”

Some of Bas’ favorite memories he’ll always treasure are of the Mardi Gras trip to Bossier City, Louisiana that he took with other exchange students in the area, and his 18^th birthday party with his host family, Bill and Angie Hullum of Van and his host family brothers Michael, Cooper, Braden and Cory. Bas laughed as he recounted being thrown into the swimming pool and said that birthday spankings are a “weird tradition.” In Thailand, he looks forward to marking his 18^th birthday with a big family dinner, where his father, Pairol, a shoe factory owner and his mother, Beniawan, his 15 year-old brother, Chachawat and 13-year-old sister, Supatha await him.

Bas said that he was worried about his family when an earthquake recently struck his homeland. However, he has been able to focus for the most part, on his studies and playing soccer for Van High School. “I love soccer,” he said. In Thailand, he explained that his coaches are very serious about the sport, but don’t actually practice as much as do teams in Texas. “Here, I play for fun.”

In April Bas will fulfill his dream and visit New York City. “I want to see the really big city. Everybody say, ‘If you go to America and you don’t go to New York City, you haven’t really been to America.’”

Rinata Smagulova from Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, Mariya Savruk of Buchach, Ukraine, Tibor Herz from Frankfurt, Germany, Chaewon "Chelsey" Kim of Seoul, Korea and Yara Khalil from Lebanon have all enjoyed their stay in America.

The general consensus between each of the six students is that “America is very big and very pretty.” Some of the students were able to take a road trip in March during Spring Break, to see Washington DC. Each described a spectacular drive through several states and the awe-inspiring views of the Blue Ridge Smoky Mountains. They felt welcome and inspired in the capitol city with so much to see and so many languages spoken, with tourists from all over the world.

Kaufman High School’s exchange student, Chelsey, from Seoul, Korea remembered the nation’s capitol. “It was really fun to see the Senate of the United States. It was so special to me.”

Chelsey described the biggest difference she’s noticed between Americans and Koreans. “I’m really enjoying the American culture. Our culture is really strict. There’s more choices here, like extra-curricular activities. And, I have time to think about long term goals.” Though she would miss her mom and dad, Chelsey would like to continue her studies in America one day; but at age 17, is yet uncertain which career path she will take.

Her host family, Carmen and Roy of Kaufman are a lot of fun. “They are like real family,” said Chelsey. Not used to having pets, Chelsey jokingly described her host home, “It’s like an animal ward.” In her big city, Seoul apartment, there are no animals. Compare that to a gaggle of geese,  flocks of chickens, pigeons, dogs and a cat in her “home away from home.” “It’s like, so fun to live with a lot of animals,” she exclaimed.

Yara also arrived last August and came from Miniara, Lebanon, a small town which the Greek Orthodox student proudly boasted, contains about seven churches. While describing differences, Yara said, “Here everything is big, especially in Texas.” She continued, “In my country we (families) spend a little more time together. Lunch is the biggest meal and that’s where all of us meet.”

Back home Yara has her father, 13-year-old brother and extended family awaiting her return. She misses her brother a lot and said with a grin, “We used to fight a lot. I’m a typical older sister and can sometimes be mean to him, but after coming here, I really appreciate him and my family more. I really miss them.”

Yara’s gracious host family is John and Kelli Allen and Joan and Chuck Allen of Wills Point, where the 16-year-old attends high school.

One of Yara’s favorite ventures here was also the Mardi Gras trip. “It was a lot of fun to collect beads. I’m very competitive.” However, she hadn’t counted on Mrs. LaJuan Dixon, Regional Manager of the Pacific Intercultural Exchange (P.I.E.), being just as competitive and collecting the most strands.  

“She’s more talented than she lets on,” La Juan said of Yara, who plays the flute back home.

In fact, each of the students showed remarkable talents and the desire to forge their own way as young adults. The girls in particular agreed that they’ve learned a sense of independence and responsibility while here in the U.S., that has promoted personal growth, while the boys felt empowered by people who reached out to them offering support.  “I’ve learned to do everything on my own,” said Yara. “I also learned how much my family means to me. Even if I were on the other side of the world, they will always be there for me.”

Seventeen-year-old Mariya Savruk from Buchach, Ukraine felt much the same way. She loves spending time with her two host sisters and said in perfect English, “Every day I drive to school with my sisters. Sometimes we go to the movie theater. It’s fun.” Celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with her hosts, Mike, Kristie Jones, their daughters and extended family, reminded Mariya of home and she said, “I realized how much I missed my family and really love them.”

Mariya said that while living in Wills Point, “Ive learned how to be on my own and make my own choices and be independent.” She enjoys tennis and credits the schools here with giving students more choices, such as band and sports, so they can develop their talents.

“Every day I discover something new,” Mariya said with enthusiasm. One of her fondest memories she’ll take with her when she leaves is of her trip to San Diego, CA where she attended a world conference to promote better understanding amongst different peoples. She also visited Sea World, the Scientific Museum and took a dinner cruise.

Tibor Herz, from Frankfurt, Germany was most impressed by all the memorials and history represented in Washington DC. His positive impressions of the people in Wills Point, where the 18-year-old attends school, is evident in his accounts. “The American people are very open. People always offer me a ride if they see me waiting after school.”

Explaining the difference between his simpler life back home, and how with more affordable gasoline and more wide open spaces, Americans drive everywhere they go, he said, “I live in a small village with 3,000 people, about 30 minutes away from Frankfurt. I have to ride my bike every morning because the school is in the next town, two miles away.” He added that there aren’t many activities in his village, people walk most places they go, and that one must drive to bigger cities for entertainment. The one church in the village is rarely full and that is perhaps the biggest difference Tibor has noticed in Wills Point. Here, he said, “The people are more motivated to go to church than in Germany.”

The fact that schools here implement sports into the curriculum is persuasive to students like Tibor, who has taken up power lifting with the encouragement of his classmates. “It’s more fun having sports and studies together,” Tibor said. “I especially like the school spirit. In Germany you’re not connected to the school at all. You just go to school to go to school. You feel a part of something bigger here, than in the schools in Germany.” However, he and the other students did admit that the academics here are easier and that they will have much to make up when they return home.

While Tibor’s mother and sister await him in Germany, he is making many fond memories with his host dad, Jeff Peterson. Tibor, enjoys Jeff and his friends who take  him golfing on the weekends. “I’ve never done it before, so I mostly drive the golf cart; but I like learning to play.” Often Yara joins Tibor and his host dad at the movies. And, “Since we are not the best cooks,” Tibor said of Jeff and himself, “we eat out a lot!” In fact, Tibor and Bas both claim a love for Mexican food, along with American classics.

For 17-year-old Rinata Smagulova of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, “My host family will be the best memory I take with me. All the best impressions, emotions and memories are all connected with them,” she said of Bob and La Juan Dixon of Will Point. Her own family back home has big gatherings at new year’s, when the family exchanges gifts, puts up a new year tree and celebrates with singing, dancing and picture taking.

Rinata said that she lives in a small city with about 300,000 people. She doesn’t know of anyone who lives in what was once the traditional yurt (a round, wood-framed tent). The 20-year-old country, established after the disbanding of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, is more modern than some might think. She snickered as she recounted how some have asked if they even have cell phones in her country. Her answer was, “Of course we have cell phones.”

While in the United States, “DC impressed me a lot,” Rinata said. “I felt like Washington was the capitol city of the world because there were so many different languages and people from around the world.” She also admired what she called the “breathtaking” view of the sun’s rays falling down around the mountains of Tennessee.

Like her fellow P.I.E. students, she believes the freedom she’s experienced in American schools to choose her own classes, has helped her become more independent and she feels more in charge of her future. Rinata referred to a quote by President Theodore Roosevelt, “Progress has brought us both unbounded opportunities and unbridled difficulties. Thus, the measure of our civilization will not be that we have done much, but what we have done with that much.”

Returning to the States one day to see the many friends they’ve made, is a desire each of the students share. The messages each want to send are similar in that they each promote hope for understanding. Korean student, Chelsey said, “It’s really important to tell foreign people about my country.” She worries that people may think Korea is under-developed, when it is a very modern country, manufacturing many electronics, and with some of the world’s largest churches in their cities.

Christian Lebanese student, Yara, has found herself clarifying to a few curious Americans that just because she is Arab, “…doesn’t mean I’m a terrorist.”

In conclusion, each of the students wanted to thank their host families, P.I.E. and the State Department for allowing them as guests. “We love America!” they all chimed. “Get involved. Be a host family,” encouraged Yara. “Please host other students,” Rinata confidently agreed, “We are so much fun!”

La Juan Dixon, who is already looking for host homes throughout northeast Texas for next year’s exchange students said, “It’s a way to bring a country to you, especially if you can’t go to visit another country.”

For more information about how to host an exchange student, visit http://www.Pieusa.org, email La Juan at ldixon3375@aol.com, or call 866-783-6084 or 888-743-8721.