Interested in learning more about other countries and cultures? Want to gain
a whole new perspective about our country? Let us encourage you to consider
looking into an exchange program such as AFS, American Field Service.
Over the past 14 years Sue and I have had the pleasure of hosting 5 exchange
students through the AFS, American Field Service, program. These students were
all high school age and had completed their high school courses and thus were
enrolled as a High School Senior. Since they had already graduated or would upon
their return home they were not enrolled in courses leading to a high school
diploma but rather took courses in American History, Government, English, P.E.,
and various Science courses and elective subjects. They all had a full class
schedule and took part in extra-curricular activities that suited their individual
interests.
Our first exchange student was Vladimir Polyakov, or Volodya. He was a tall
gangly young man from St. Petersburg, with a serious interest in learning about
the 'American experience', as he would call it. Deeply philosophical and greatly
interested in 60's rock n' roll, Volodya chose to attend the High School where
I worked as Planetarium Director for the Kansas City Missouri School District.
Southwest HS was part of a city-wide desegregation program and the student
population was largely minority. Volodya fit in well with the students and I
think he learned a great deal about what this country is about through the friends
he made during the school year. Volodya now has a Masters Degree in Business and
works in Public Relations for Baltic Beer in St. Petersburg. I am looking forward
to our visit to Russia next year and sampling his products!
This is a picture of Volodya and his father Eugene.
Two years later Sue and I hosted the first of three exchange students from
Ecuador. Graciela, from Quito, attended Lee's Summit HS and with a good command
of English and French she fit right in with the students. She attended LSHS during
its last year as the only high school in Lee's Summit - we now have three high
schools! The halls were extremely crowded between classes and the distances she
traveled in those short 5 minutes were quite a challenge but she survived.
Graciela returned home and attended college where she earned a degree in Architecture.
She is now married, to Rodrigo, and they have just recently had their first baby.
This is a picture of Graciela and her new daughter, Ema.
Two years later (a pattern is developing!!) Sue and I hosted Lana Terprstra,
a Dutch young lady from the city of Hoerne, north of Amsterdam. Lana attended
Lee's Summit High School and made many friends with students there, but typically
hung out with two other Dutch speaking exchange students from Iceland. Lana was/is
very outgoing and is very outspoken (spelled blunt) about things she encounters in
life. She was a wonderfully independent young lady and fit right in with our
lifestyle of expecting our exchange students to make themselves at home. Lana is
still attending college and currently is in Ecuador in a volunteer program that
will eventually place her in the Galapagos Islands. I had the wonderful opportunity
to see her while I was in Ecuador recently and got to spend some time catching up
with her and her life. Sue and I plan on visiting Holland next year to visit with
her and family.
This is a picture of Me with Patricia, Lana's Belgium friend, and Lana on
my right, and Maritza on my left after we rode the cable car, Teleferico.
Maritza Acebo was our second exchange student from Quito and she hails from the
small mountain city of Guaranda. Located south of Quito and nestled at the foot of
Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador, Guaranda is a beautiful 'old' city
with
very narrow steep cobblestone streets, with hardly any level place. She also
attended LSHS and survived her year quite well. Maritza is now a lawyer and works
in a law office in Quito.
This is a picture of me with Maritza and Omar at Puerto Lago, near Otavalo.
Omar Lopez was our last and most recent exchange student. Omar coincidentally
was from Guaranda. He was sort of the typical teenager - interested in rock and roll.
Coming from a musically-inclined family Omar played the guitar and drums. While here
he purchased an electric guitar and special effects foot pedal and we often enjoyed
his afternoon and evening solo jam sessions. Omar is currently attending university
in Quito where he is still undecided about his major - but then he just started this
October.
