by Brittney Clark
Reporter, Flyer Flash
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Roaming unfamiliar halls thousands of miles from home, living with strangers, heavily relying on virtual translators just to get by - this is the beginning of the life of the typical foreign exchange student.
This year, there's a small group of four, all from different countries (Russia, China, Spain, and Japan), who have had a similiar experience. Scary as it may seem to be so isolated from all that you've ever known, and ever more isolated in a place so unlike your own, for them it's actually exciting - they are eager to learn about Americans and their culture.
For Julia Akentyera, native of Kazakhstan (located in Central Asia and Eastern Europe), the most striking thing about America - and Dixie High students in particular - is their social attitudes. “Everyone is so polite and super nice,” she says.
In her country, relationships are more of a formality; for instance, you’d be considered “crazy,” “mental,” or “drunk,” for acknowledging a stranger in any way. For someone who speaks three languages (Russian, English, and Kazakh), the universal language of kindness is the only one that she can easily understand.
The difference in cultural norms is so vast, in fact, that she feels as if she’s “in another life.” Not used to the overall openness, she really feels welcomed here - especially while at the football games. “The Dixie spirit fills me from my face to my toes, and I feel like a Dixie Flyer!”
This feeling of belonging only intensifies in choir, her favorite class. “I feel myself part of something big.” She also likes it due to the fact that, like many other things, it’s a new experience for her.
ZongYaag Wang, from the crowded, overpopulated country of China, is grateful to be an exchange student. Though this isn’t the first time he’s traveled to America, he can’t help but notice the contrast between the educational system of the United States and China. He is largely in favor of the United States.
“Education here is better,” he says. “In China it’s stupid, boring and hard.” One of the reasons he feels this way is because students cannot choose their own classes - there aren’t any electives. In addition, the teachers are more rigid and strict.
Having a strong dislike for school, his attention is more fixated on basketball. “It’s good for my body,” he affirms. He’s also biased for the delicacies of his country - his favorite place to eat is Panda Express.
Interestingly, if there is one thing about his country that he thinks Americans should know, it is that the Chinese “cannot use guns... but China can use guns to fight for war.” Despite his seeming nationalism, he has yet to be homesick.
From the capital of Spain, David Velarck underwent the transition from a small, private high school to a large, public one. That wasn't much of a challenge for him thanks to his football buddies. "They were my first friends," he says. He's been playing football for Dixie since the beginning of the year, and it's the main reason that he's proud to be here.
Though he says he’s here in America to learn about its culture and language, there are other things he’s learned that he didn’t sign up for - such as the vulgar slang.
For instance, the most awkward experience he’s had so far was when he was walking past an old woman and she swerved toward him spewing profanities because she thought that he had spit on her. That’s one memorable piece of the American culture that he is likely to pass on to Spain.
If there’s one part of his culture that he’d want Americans to know about, it’d be the food. “It’s delicious,” he comments. Along with the food, of course, is the late-night fiestas; you simply cannot have one without the other. Being someone who always has a party fever, he’s curious to experience how Americans party - and meet new people while he’s at it.
Taro Kikahara is a Japanese anime enthusiast who, like Julia, really likes the American people. "Everyone looks funny and happy," he says. Being a scuba diver, horseback rider, and soccer player, he naturally noticed the scenery, especially the mountains; they are his favorite part about America.
Other places that he's explored include Idaho, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Arizona. Outside of the North American continent, he’s been to Korea.
If an American were to travel to Japan, he says the most surprising thing they'd see are the small stores. Difficult as it may be for one to imagine school without a football field or theater, that's the reality in Japan: they are without both. Another part of his culture that may surprise is the fact that they aren't religious. "Almost all Japanese don't believe in God."
So far in his experience here, he has learned how to be mentally strong and patient. The most notable lesson, though, is that "Americans like to be cheap with everything." His favorite part of their "cheapness" is indulging in his morning breakfast burritos.
If there's anything else one would like to know about them that hasn't been revealed here, feel free to ask! They are more than worth seeking out and getting to know. Be forewarned: there may be minor communication problems. However, living in the midst of twenty-first century technology, that’s not a valid excuse not to try.
This year, there's a small group of four, all from different countries (Russia, China, Spain, and Japan), who have had a similiar experience. Scary as it may seem to be so isolated from all that you've ever known, and ever more isolated in a place so unlike your own, for them it's actually exciting - they are eager to learn about Americans and their culture.
For Julia Akentyera, native of Kazakhstan (located in Central Asia and Eastern Europe), the most striking thing about America - and Dixie High students in particular - is their social attitudes. “Everyone is so polite and super nice,” she says.
In her country, relationships are more of a formality; for instance, you’d be considered “crazy,” “mental,” or “drunk,” for acknowledging a stranger in any way. For someone who speaks three languages (Russian, English, and Kazakh), the universal language of kindness is the only one that she can easily understand.
The difference in cultural norms is so vast, in fact, that she feels as if she’s “in another life.” Not used to the overall openness, she really feels welcomed here - especially while at the football games. “The Dixie spirit fills me from my face to my toes, and I feel like a Dixie Flyer!”
This feeling of belonging only intensifies in choir, her favorite class. “I feel myself part of something big.” She also likes it due to the fact that, like many other things, it’s a new experience for her.
ZongYaag Wang, from the crowded, overpopulated country of China, is grateful to be an exchange student. Though this isn’t the first time he’s traveled to America, he can’t help but notice the contrast between the educational system of the United States and China. He is largely in favor of the United States.
“Education here is better,” he says. “In China it’s stupid, boring and hard.” One of the reasons he feels this way is because students cannot choose their own classes - there aren’t any electives. In addition, the teachers are more rigid and strict.
Having a strong dislike for school, his attention is more fixated on basketball. “It’s good for my body,” he affirms. He’s also biased for the delicacies of his country - his favorite place to eat is Panda Express.
Interestingly, if there is one thing about his country that he thinks Americans should know, it is that the Chinese “cannot use guns... but China can use guns to fight for war.” Despite his seeming nationalism, he has yet to be homesick.
From the capital of Spain, David Velarck underwent the transition from a small, private high school to a large, public one. That wasn't much of a challenge for him thanks to his football buddies. "They were my first friends," he says. He's been playing football for Dixie since the beginning of the year, and it's the main reason that he's proud to be here.
Though he says he’s here in America to learn about its culture and language, there are other things he’s learned that he didn’t sign up for - such as the vulgar slang.
For instance, the most awkward experience he’s had so far was when he was walking past an old woman and she swerved toward him spewing profanities because she thought that he had spit on her. That’s one memorable piece of the American culture that he is likely to pass on to Spain.
If there’s one part of his culture that he’d want Americans to know about, it’d be the food. “It’s delicious,” he comments. Along with the food, of course, is the late-night fiestas; you simply cannot have one without the other. Being someone who always has a party fever, he’s curious to experience how Americans party - and meet new people while he’s at it.
Taro Kikahara is a Japanese anime enthusiast who, like Julia, really likes the American people. "Everyone looks funny and happy," he says. Being a scuba diver, horseback rider, and soccer player, he naturally noticed the scenery, especially the mountains; they are his favorite part about America.
Other places that he's explored include Idaho, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Arizona. Outside of the North American continent, he’s been to Korea.
If an American were to travel to Japan, he says the most surprising thing they'd see are the small stores. Difficult as it may be for one to imagine school without a football field or theater, that's the reality in Japan: they are without both. Another part of his culture that may surprise is the fact that they aren't religious. "Almost all Japanese don't believe in God."
So far in his experience here, he has learned how to be mentally strong and patient. The most notable lesson, though, is that "Americans like to be cheap with everything." His favorite part of their "cheapness" is indulging in his morning breakfast burritos.
If there's anything else one would like to know about them that hasn't been revealed here, feel free to ask! They are more than worth seeking out and getting to know. Be forewarned: there may be minor communication problems. However, living in the midst of twenty-first century technology, that’s not a valid excuse not to try.
Ahh Brittany! You're such a great writer:)
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