|
“I love Americans,” said
Evlizy Alfandega of Mozambique, expressing a sentiment
echoed by a number of the exchange students. “They are so
good; they are so kind. I love the food.” Evlizy, who is
spending this year at Bowsher High School, explained that
when she applied for a scholarship for the ACES program, her
knowledge of the country was pretty much limited to the
big-named cities of the East and West Coasts. Being told
that she would ne headed to Toledo, OH brought about a
certain amount of confusion.
“I said ‘great,’” she
recalled. “… where are you? I had to Google that one.”
Aytalina Struckhova, who
is at Lake High School this year, hails from the coldest
major city on Earth, Yakutsk – a Russian town so far east in
the world’s largest country by area that it’s a seven-hour
flight from Moscow, the capital. “I love everybody that I
have met here,” she said. She also noted that she
appreciates the relatively warm Toledo winters!! Also from
Yakutsk is Maria Zemskova, who has also basked in the Toledo
temperate climes.
From Thailand comes
Natyama Paduka, who spoke of being in the Muslim minority in
that country, as she is in America, but expressed her
appreciation for the fact that “the life here is so good.”
Natyama also spoke of advice she had been given about the
task of an exchange student – explaining Thailand to
Americans and, later, explaining America to her Thai
countrymen.
Muhammadjon Saidov from
Tajikistan, “the smallest country in Asia,” he noted after
listening to Russians speak of the great size of their
native land.
From South Africa came
Refiloe Raphasha to spend her senior year at Bowsher where
she is maintaining a 4.0 grade point average for the year.
“It’s a different culture but I embrace it … American people
are just wonderful people. The level of support in this city
is just wonderful … it’s mind blowing. Toledo is a wonderful
city.”
Refiloe noted that she has
been particularly impressed by the way Americans take to
heart their duty to spend time on community service – an
obligation not in vogue in her homeland, but one that she
wishes to instill in her fellow citizens when she returns.
As much as he is enjoying
his experiences here in America, Sheheryar Saidov of
Pakistan did point out the one thing he misses. “Spices,” he
said to the amusement and agreement of the other students
from warm climates. Here, in America, said Sheyeryar, people
think that spicy means only “hot sauce.” After the laughter
subsided, he explained that he could name 11 spices that the
cooking here in America lacked in general.
Other students present for
the gathering were Mohamed Abdallah from Egypt, Fatuma Ahmed
from Kenya, Victor Bocquillon from France, Malika Kairatova
Nur from Kazakhstan, Ashraf Khamis from Tanzania and Angel
Zhou from China.
Also present for the event
were a number of Books4Buddies Ambassadors, home from
college for the most part – Armand Arce, Tyson Robinson,
Paul Thomas, Jr and Christopher Smith.
Families interested in
hosting one of the ACES International students can call
419-450-0631, email
traceeellis.goglobal@aol.com or visit website
exploretheworld.org.
|
