Daily Courier Piece on Our Exchange Students Middle/High
Posted January 25, 2010
HENRIETTA – Among some of the new faces at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy for the 2009-2010 school year are the faces of Suada Turayfi and Valentina Vicuna.
The students are only here through this school year, both travelling to the United States as part of exchange programs.
Suada is a native of Siberia and Valentina of Colombia. Both have been in the U.S. since August.
Getting used to life in the United States hasn’t been terribly difficult for either, but it has been eye opening, the girls said.
“She’s learned a lot about the political situation in America,” said Suada’s host mother, Janet Jau. “In Russia the residents are told that all Americans agree with their president. She was in shock watching the news here to see that wasn’t so.”
This is Suada’s first time in the states, and in Siberia she lives in the city.
“It was kind of difficult to adjust to but I did it,” she said. “It is a very nice country.”
Suada is here through an international exchange program through 4-H. The Jaus have been hosting exchange students through the program for several years, Jau said.
“In 4-H, the motto is to give to your community, your country and the world,” she said. “Through the program we are given a list of names and the opportunity to choose from a girl or a boy – we only got to choose from a name or interest.”
Jau said through the program the student comes to live with a family and the family isn’t supposed to change anything about their normal living. Students are required to attend 4-H activities and retreats, however.
Suada has gotten to attend 4-H congress and teen retreat and has also enjoyed other day-to-day activities her host family takes part in.
“I like to volunteer with my family,” she said. “It’s nice to help people.”
Valentina is here through Aspect Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers affordable study-abroad opportunities to students from around the world. Valentina’s host family is the Nicholas family, who got involved in exchange programs through their daughter, Maci.
“She is interested in cultures and what goes on in different countries,” said Maci’s dad, Tim Nicholas.
Unlike the 4-H program, Maci and Valentina got to know each other before Valentina arrived in North Carolina, talking over the Internet via Skype. The two are like sisters now, and having Valentina in the house is like having a fourth child, Nicholas said.
“It’s a big responsibility to take on someone else’s child,” he said.
Maci will travel with Valentina to Colombia for two weeks when she returns home this summer.
“After I come back, I don’t know what I’m going to do – we’re really close,” Maci said.
Both Valentina and Suada are enjoying their courses at TJCA – Suada is a junior and Valentina a senior. But school is very different in the United States than in their home countries, they said.
“We study 10 or 11 years in Russia,” Suada said. “We can’t choose our classes – we have to study everything.”
Another difference, she said, is the school building itself.
“They don’t turn the heat on until the government says so,” Jau said. “Suada has said it’s been so cold she couldn’t grasp her pencil.”
Valentina said her school in Colombia doesn’t have walls, only a roof to keep out rain.
“We don’t have lockers and we don’t switch classes,” she said. “Our classrooms are outdoors – we don’t have walls.”
Modern technology has allowed the girls – who will spend almost an entire year away from home – to keep in touch with their families. Valentina has used Skype to talk to her family each week and Suada e-mails hers. And Valentina’s family is planning to visit her here in February.
The experience has enriched their host families, too, Jau said.
“Our families learn about their cultures and languages,” she said. “And they study harder than American students, so they influence them that way too.”
Getting another perspective on the world in which we live has been one of Maci’s favorite parts of having a Colombian “sister.”
“You don’t have just one view,” she said. “It’s awesome to hear other things about their countries.”
Contact Flynn via e-mail at aflynn@thedigitalcourier.com.
