THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611010219
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 77 lines
It was like a session of the United Nations as teen-agers from 14 countries gathered to meet each other, exchange experiences and munch on pizza Tuesday in Chesapeake.
The Great Bridge Woman's Club sponsored a pizza party at A Place for Girls on Cedar Road to honor 30 foreign exchange students who are living with local host families and attending Chesapeake city schools this year. There are about five foreign exchange students assigned to each of the six high schools.
The students are from Brazil, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Turkey, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia, Japan, Indonesia, Germany and Spain.
Sarah Branham of the Great Bridge Woman's Club presented each student with a T-shirt, personalized with the flag of the student's nation in the center surrounded by the flags of the other students' countries. On the shirt sleeve, a patch of the Great Bridge Woman's Club seal was stitched with the student's name in the center.
During the evening, the teen-agers moved from table to table swapping school and family stories and trading phone numbers.
``It is as great an opportunity for us as it is for the foreign exchange students,'' said Thomas. A. Felton, supervisor for art, foreign language and English as a second language for Chesapeake high schools. ``The students get to experience our country, and our students get a taste of other cultures. It expands both horizons.''
When the students return to their native country, they take back a sampling of who we are as a nation. That has greater impact than any other media, Felton said.
To study in America, the students contract with a private agency, such as Youth for Understanding, for placement in a community with a compatible host family. Travel and personal expenses are paid for by the student or their family. The host family does not receive any financial assistance.
``It's a lot of work and a great challenge to host a young person from another country,'' Sandy Phillips said. ``But it is a wonderful experience.''
Sandy and Michael Phillips and daughter, Sarah, 7, have been hosts to more than 22 students for short-term visits. This is the third year they have opened their home to a student for a full year. Yuko Sato, 17, of Japan is making her home with the Phillipses while she attends Indian River High School.
Jonna Anttikoski, 16, from Finland, is living with Marti and Charles M. Rintamaki and attending Hickory High School. In the past, the Rintamkis have provided a temporary home for German, French and Finnish students. This year, they had a special surprise when they discovered that Attikoski's older sister lives in the same small Finnish town where Charles' father had lived as a child.
Anttikoski was surprised when she saw how large Hickory High School is. Her town is not much bigger than the school, Anttikoski said. And she said the classes are a lot easier here than back at home where she took 38 courses over a regular school year.
Mariya Teplukhina, is from Kazakhstan, an independent country formerly a part of the Soviet Union. She also thinks the classes at Hickory High School are much easier than in her country.
``But I like the way the teachers put a lot of attention on the students,'' Teplukhina said. ``America is a very friendly place.''
Valenina Katunina, 17, also from Kazakhstan, attends Deep Creek High School. She likes American literature and Spanish, and is astounded at all the different clubs and sports programs that are offered. In her country, sports, hobbies and clubs are independent of the school program.
``All cultures should take the time to get to know each other,'' Katunina said. ``Students can help relations between nations.''
Kathy Christian, a second-grade teacher at Deep Creek Central Elementary School, has two students living with her family, De La Motte Wulff, 18, of Sweden and Inbal Gilgen, 17, of Switzerland.
``We enjoy asking each other lots of questions as we learn about different ways of life,'' Christian said. ``Although you have to have an open mind and enjoy a little chaos at times, the experience is priceless.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Christina Varveris
Swiss exchange student
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION by CNB