Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993 TAG: 9305270618
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Paper plates and pizza, Reeboks and baseball caps, sports talk, hand-holding.
But the teens around this Roanoke County dining table had something more than age in common. Each left families in foreign countries to attend Roanoke Valley schools in a program called Academic Year in America.
Their observations on American culture are similar: School days are longer; the courses are easier; there is more emphasis on drinking alcohol when socializing; American TV is too commercial; and dating is more liberal.
The talk around the table centers at first on sports. Students from Germany, Japan, Brazil and Spain agree that sports play a large part in American culture and American education.
Ole Jutting, 17, from Germany, has tried every sport possible during his stay at Cave Spring High School, even youth league ice hockey.
"Oh, that one was real fun. I had only skated once before," said the burly 17-year-old.
Like many students involved in the program, Jutting was motivated to spend time in an American high school because of a desire to possibly attend college here.
"I think I would like to go to University of Hawaii," he said. Laughing, the other students in the program asked, "Who wouldn't?"
Many have career plans requiring at least four years of college, and they said U.S. universities are affordable and have reputations for academic excellence.
The foreign students' career interests are as varied as their American counterparts: language consultanting, microbiology, travel, medicine.
Fabio Squina, a senior at Lord Botetourt High School, is from Brazil. He likes American school because he has come in contact with many students from different countries.
"In Brazil, there is not much cultural diversity," said Squina, adding that he's had a good stay in America but he misses the conveniences of city life, like taking a bus, cab or the subway to social and other activities.
Botetourt County teacher Richard King is hosting 17-year-old Squina.
"We live way out in the country and we were concerned about transportation - teen-agers want to be with friends. . . . But it has worked out for us. We haven't had any problems," King said.
Squina said he imagined that host families looking for a foreign teen would like to see a clean-cut student, so he had his hair styled conservatively.
"Before, it was long on one side, shaved on the other. I guess it looked pretty wild."
As a souvenir of his stay in America, Squina sports a diamond earring.
For some, American high school social life has opened new doors.
Simona Palmieri, 17, from Rome, attended her first prom this spring. "That was really a great experience. We don't have prom in Italy," the Salem High School senior said.
Palmieri's experience has been so positive that she has mixed feelings about going home. "I'm really happy here."
Academic Year in America is an international agency that matches foreign students with host families in the United States.
"For many foreign students, the dream of a lifetime is to come to America - the melting pot. We should feel so proud to live in America," said Pat Russell, local coordinator for the agency. After 17 years of teaching and an interest in foreign students, Russell began working with Academic Year in America last year.
The program accepts students from 35 countries for educational experiences in all 50 states. Coordinators like Russell read profiles on students wanting to study here and choose those they feel can be matched with families in their cities. The organization has placed more than 300,000 students in 29 years of operation, she said.
"These kids get very excited to become a part of an American family."
To participate in Academic Year in America, students register in their own countries. Each must have at least two years of high school, teacher recommendations, a minimum C average, and command of the English language, said Russell. Included in each student's file is a photograph and essay written in English about why the student wants to come to America.
Students' parents, or a sponsor from their own country, pay all expenses during their stay.
"They were excited and scared when they arrived," said Russell. "Now they are speaking fluently, participating in numerous activities, being regular teen-agers."
For more information about Academic Year in America, contact Pat Russell at 362-7928.
by CNB