Franci McClenathan, middle, community representative with AYUSA, is pictured with four exchange students who she represented in Poweshiek County during the 2022-23 school year. They are, from left, Nina Beier, a 16-year-old junior from Germany; Kanyapak (Hommy) Muannuch, a 15-year-old sophomore from Thailand; Paula Labad, a 16-year-old junior from Spain; and Lucas Flaig, a 17-year-old junior from Germany. Nina, Hommy and Paula stayed with host families in Brooklyn while Lucas spent time with a Montezuma family. If interested in hosting a foreign exchange student, contact McClenathan at [email protected] or visit www.ayusa.org to learn more about the program. Furnished photo. Four foreign exchange students had their dreams of studying in America during the 2022-2023 school year come true thanks to some generous, volunteer families in Poweshiek County.
Nina Beier, a 16-year-old junior from Germany, joined the family of Lacey, Karlee, and Brock Bellenger in Brooklyn. Nina decided to be an exchange student because of her dad’s encouragement as he had been an exchange student and wanted her to have the same opportunity. Nina had fallen in love with the English language and after watching American movies, she really wanted to experience prom. Nina arrived here in August and returned to Germany June 1. She really enjoyed getting close to her host family and friends at school. While at BGM, she joined choir, was a varsity football cheerleader, attended her first prom, and ran with the track team. She was also a member of the Brooklyn Ruritan Club. Nina said, “Coming to a small town from a city has been fun to experience.” Paula Labad, a 16-year-old junior from Spain, joined the family of Jill, Craig, Jeryn, Ashton, and Chenli Kalinay in Brooklyn. Paula chose to be part of the exchange program after having friends in the program share how great their experience was. Paula arrived in Iowa mid-September and returned to Spain June 9. At BGM, she played volleyball and basketball, attended prom, ran with the track team, and played softball up until her return flight. When asked what she enjoyed, she shared, “Everything! I really love the sports in school and that you can do more than one sport throughout the year.” Kanyapak (Hommy) Muannuch, a 15-year-old sophomore from Thailand, joined the family of Stevie, Joe, Shadlee, and Trinity Hazelwood in Brooklyn. Hommy had always wanted to see America and improve her English, so the exchange program was a perfect way to do both. She also wanted to see what it would be like to live away from her parents. Hommy arrived in late September and returned to Thailand June 16. When asked what she enjoyed most her stay in America, she said, “Because it’s very different from Thailand, I love everything…the environment, the school, my host family, everything.” Being part of the backstage and set crew for the school musical and playing basketball were activities that Hommy took part in while at BGM. Thanks to her host family, she also became an Iowa Wild hockey fan. All the friends she made, having a locker at school, going to prom, and all the snow during the Iowa winter will be some things she will always remember. Lucas Flaig, a 17-year-old junior from Germany, joined the family of Heidi, Jim, and Kenny Criswell in Montezuma. Lucas chose to apply for the program after his mother recommended it and after his best friend returned from a good experience being in Maine for a year. Lucas was a five-month student and arrived after Christmas for the second semester, and he returned to Germany on June 11. He enjoyed the Iowa landscape because it is like his hometown, although Iowa has more fields and is quieter than his city. While at Montezuma High School, Lucas attended prom and he ran with the track team. He was hoping to play football, but unfortunately arrived after the season was over. When asked about his experience here, Lucas said, “It was a great and fun time. I can recommend that to everyone who wants to see something new, and I am very thankful for everyone who supported me.” Each of the students shared their culture with their host families by cooking traditional dishes from their countries and some brought gifts to share with their families and community representative. AYUSA, Academic Year in the USA, is a non-profit organization founded in San Francisco in 1981 dedicated to developing intercultural awareness through high school educational exchange. American host families can be of varying dynamics. They can host one or two students, be married or single, raising school-aged children, have grown children, or be without children, be working full-time or retired, live in town or in the country. Families are asked to provide their students with a bed of their own, a place to study, three meals a day, transportation to events, and an open-minded, loving home. Exchange students come with their own spending money and insurance and years of studying and speaking English. Both students and host families have constant support from the AYUSA team including monthly contact from their community representative. The goal is always to build a relationship that will last forever. When fighting back tears at the airport as you say ‘see ya later,’ you know you have done the program correctly, you have gained a family member who is taking a piece of your heart. Hosting is a life changing experience…for both the student and the host family, as well as a cultural enrichment for your community! AYUSA staff is currently interviewing host families for the 200 plus students still hoping for their opportunity to study in the United States during the 2023-2024 school year. If you have any questions, please contact local community representative Franci McClenathan at [email protected] or visit www.ayusa.org to learn more about the program and our students or to start your host family application. If you are unable to host, but you know a family who you think would be great, please ask about our referral fee!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2024
Categories |