The Awesome Experiences in America !!

Hey everyone my name is Polly, I’m from Thailand. Now I live with my host family, in Two rivers, Wisconsin. They are one of the coolest families I’ve ever met

On the first day here, I had a first good impression because they were so welcoming that I didn’t feel like living in a new foreign place at all. They prepared a nice meal for me and it was just impressive. Overall, everything couldn’t be more perfect despite the fact that i was VERY exhausted from 22 hour flight.

Then after that, I had about a week and a half before school started. My host family took me to several places; on the second day my host sister, took me to a coffee shop to meet her friends and another exchange student from Mexico’, and then we went to help out with Salvation Army to feed the kids, (Oh! what a great experience), and then the other day, my host parents took us to door county; it was such a beautiful beach; blue sky, clear sand and nice weather, also we had dinner at American restaurant where i got to have a deep fried cheese curds for the first time, and they were so good
Anyway, we also went to other places such as, Washington house where they sell ice cream sundae, the lady at the shop was so nice: she gave me a free ice cream cone as a gift for i just came here for the first time, it was very kind of her and I really appreciate that. Moreover, we went to Swedish restaurant (I saw real goats on the roof, that was pretty amazing), also I got to do a lot of activities with my host family and meet so many people.. I really enjoyed my time here, in Two Rivers, WI

Well..I have only been here for about 2 months and I still got alot more to learn. Whether the experiences are good or bad, I’m sure they are worth it because I know by learning from them, i would gain maturity and wisdom as time goes by…

Now I’m pretty excited for what I have to encounter in the next few months such as Christmas, winter, etc. and whatever it is, i’m positive it’ll be good

P.S. Thanks PIE for this amazing program

By Ploypatcha Meesuwandecha (2010-11 student from Thailand)

Explore USA with Thai exchange student

I believe that many parents don’t want their own children to be outside alone, especially in foreign country.  But to practice being at the top of the throne and being a successful person, I think they have to let me be challenged with a new culture, people and experience.

I was an exchange student from Thailand. I lived in Bangkok, a capital city of Thailand. Over there, it is always vociferous, I’ve never met silence in the city, don’t you believe me ?  I was flown to the city of South Bend, IN known as main passageway between Chicago and Detroit. Here, it wasn’t really noisy for me. I lived in a suburb of South Bend where you can see just fields, schools, and a couple of supermarkets. But we still have downtown tho!

First thing here that I expected to see is SNOW because in Thailand we don’t have snow.  It’s hot and humid all around the year.  I kept waiting and waiting, but finally I saw it! That was my extraordinary experience for me. Plus, I went to Chicago with my friends. I love over there so much. I think there is not really traffic jam because there are a lot of public transportations. I’m glad that I was here being a foreign exchange student and living with a wonderful host family. I want to appreciate everyone who supported me to be here. Thank you my family, friends, and especially PIE. Thank you so much!

By Pongsakorn Prohdeengam (2010-11 student from Thailand)

Favorite Family in the World

Hello everybody.  My name is Nebila Lemkecher and I’m a 22 yr old student from Tunisia. I was an exchange student with PIE in 2005/06 and it was the BEST year of my life. It has almost been 5 yrs since I’ve been back now and I’m just still homesick to the USA

I lived in Charleston, South Carolina. My host family was the BEST ever and thank god for internet because we chat everyday and we’re making plans for me to go visit them. I learned alot from this amazing experience and met alot of people from all over the world that I will never forget.  It made me stronger and I learned how to be an independent woman and work things on my own in my community!  I’m sooo grateful for that.  Thanks PIE for everything and thanks to the YES program also.  My whole life changed.

Have fun everybody !!!!!!!!!!!!! Mouahhhh <3

PS: We’re all family now

By Nebila Lemkecher (2005-06 student from Tunisia)

The Best Year of My Life!

Hi my name is Alejandra.  I am 16 years old and I’m from Veracruz, Mexico. This has been a really crazy year.  When I first came I was really, really, homesick!  But you have no idea how glad I am that I decided to stay.  I have an amazing host family and the best German brother I could ever ask for.  I mean, sometimes he is kinda annoying, but he really is my brother and I have no idea what I am gonna do without him. And my host family, wow, they gave me more love than I have ever seen in my life, i just love them… so if you are thinking about become an exchange student, my advice would be go for it.  It will change your life forever!!

By Alejandra Alverdi, GA (2010-11 student)

The Truth Is…

Hi everybody.  My name is Rinata and I am an exchange student from Kazakhstan. I Live in Wills Point, Texas.

The purpose of me writing this down is not to show off or try to put myself above all the other exchange students, but I really want everybody to know how happy and blessed I feel with my host family.

I live with Bob and La Juan Dixon, they are great. Bob is a business owner and also a writer. He was in the air force and has been to a lot of places and he knows a lot. It is always fun to listen to his stories.  My hostmom is a regional manager for PIE and she is very fun. She is a wonderful lady and very dedicated to her job. She looks amazingly young and always has a good mood. It is amazing, but she always knows if there is something wrong with me and she would always help me.

We go to a lot of different places and always do something fun. Most of all, I enjoy going to different cities with them. They’ve lived a bright and interesting life and know a lot and would always tell me a lot of stories. I really got to know a lot of American history with their help  I think every host family should be as good as mine. I like that they treat me like a part of their family. I always get to be at family gatherings and through those I got to see real American traditions.

I have only two more weeks to spend living with them and now looking back, I cannot remember a single serious argument or anything like that between us.

I am so happy that I had become a FLEX finalist and now I am proud to say that I have American grandparents.  I think we bonded really good. It’s going to be hard to leave, but there is always an end to everything.  I just want to tell how much I love my host family and how thankful I am.

I hope all exchange students had a great year and that students 2011-2012 will have an unforgetable and fun year.

By Rinata Smagulova,TX (2010-11 FLEX from Kazakhstan)

My Second Lovely Family

I cannot believe that it is time to leave soon I am so grateful for this nice year in the USA, It was like a dream, being here!  Thanks for my host family, that gave me such a great opportunity. Especially I am so thankful for my host sisters. I love them very much! I am sure I am going to miss them a lot. Hannah and Sarah became my closest friends, the most amazing sisters and just really good girls I have ever met.

I also cannot imagine my life without the Wynn family that became my second lovely family in the world.  I am so grateful for them that they gave me a great opportunity to experience real american life! I loved this year a lot!  :) I know that I will never forget them and I will do the best to see them again. My dream came true, I visited the USA and they were the most important part of my american life. Sarah and Hannah became the best sisters that I could ever imagine and Bruce and Barbara are the nicest parents. Thanks to PIE for connecting our lives

By Nasiba Nurmatova, MN (2010-11 FLEX from Kyrgyzstan)

Wedding in Florida!

Hi  This picture was taken in Florida during my host mom’s brother’s wedding!  I really enjoyed participating in it!  Thanks To PIE for the opportunity and of course to my Host Family, the Armstrongs,  for taking me everywhere!

By Leyla Novruzova, MN (FLEX 2010-11)

Spring Break and the Washington Beach

Having lived 30 minutes away from the Arabian sea (Indian Ocean), I, a Pakistani foreign exchange student to America, took for granted the majestic nature and pure serenity that the ocean invokes in a human being. For me, the ocean brought to mind the warm sun, beckoning waves and acres of flat land covered with golden sand. Suffice to say, my enhancement trip to the South Beach and the La Push Beach in the Washington,USA, widened my concept of the ocean and it’s beauty. As we drove to these picnic spots, my eyes caught a glimpse of the the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Wow. That’s the only word that came to my mind at the sight of this natural beauty. Dressed in four layers of clothing, I waddled my way to the beach along with my American mom, Teresa Newton, my American sister, Liberty and a couple of great friends which included Kate, Laurie and Rachael. Gravity might have made an apple drop to the ground but the force that attracted me to the water that lay beyond the rocks covering the beach was undoubtedly stronger. Forcing my feet to ignore the coldness of the rocks, I let the first American ocean wave hit my feet. The feeling that ensues such contact with nature has always overwhelmed me. It felt absolutely great to be in the ocean water again, even if it was 60 degrees cooler than what I was used to. Shrills of laughter filled the air as my friends felt cold water sweep across their feet. And of course a photo shoot followed as the side of us that wants to capture all the fun filled moments came alive. After spending a pretty long time at the ocean with our feet smelling like sea salt, we made our way back. After spending a night at Laurie’s residence, we went to my mother’s sister (aunt Joy’s) house. True to the popular spirit of American country folks, Aunt Joy and mom’s other sisters treated us with great hospitality which made me feel a part of my American mother’s family, something only an exchange student can have the pleasure of enjoying. True, visiting the Pacific Ocean was main goal of the PIE enhancement trip however I feel that the whole experience of getting to know my mom’s side of the feeling and being treated like a family member was truly a priceless experience, and definitely something I will cherish forever. Thanks to the PIE exchange program, and my American parents who planned the trip to the ocean, I was able to experience a great day at the Pacific sea and a lovely American family experience as a whole.

By Syeda Ramshah (Pakistan)

Wherever I go

My name is Juarez, I’m 16 years old and I’m from Brazil. I go by Juno, since people here can’t pronounce my name, or pronounce it funny!  I’ve been ‘writing’ this testimonial in my mind, but I just didn’t know how to put down in words how thankful, how happy I am and how great my experience has been.  I live in Dallas, GA. It’s a suburb of Atlanta. I’ve been here for about 8 months now and my journey is almost over. I live with the Owens Family, also regional manager in GA, and Ana, a girl from the country of Georgia. I don’t know how to explain how thankful I am for the host family I was picked by!  They’re such great people and I love them so much. I’ve learned things with them I thought I could never learn!

Coming to America gave me the chance to see how things work here, how people are here, gave me the chance to learn but it also gave me the chance to teach.  Exchange program is not about going to another country to go shopping, or to go show how awesome your country is and others are not! It’s about being DIFFERENT. I learned that nothing is good or bad, it’s different.  I also learned that every single person is different on its own way, and that’s what makes us incredibly special. Who we are!
Speaking of being different: I’m openly gay since I was 13, and now I’m 16 and I could not be happier. I’ve met people here that accept me for who I am, Juarez or Juno, people that love me and respect me just like in my home country, Brazil! I go to a school where I have incredible friends, who I love so much, I also go to a southern baptist church on Wednesdays & Sundays, Fellowship Baptist Church. I have no words to describe how those people changed my life! I do believe in God, but I’ve never felt so close to him like when I’m there.

Before I came here, I heard a lot of stuff about the South of the United States, but just like any other place… it has good and bad people and I think that it’s your job to make people respect you, it’s how you put yourself out there.  Personal things aside, I got to experience things like Thanksgiving, a Prom Night with my friends here and everything was so worthy! Every hour, every minute, every second of this experience was worth my tears missing my family, my home country and everything else.  I know I shouldn’t use the word forever when nothing lasts forever, but as long as I live these people here will ALWAYS be inside of my heart. I love Brazil, and I’m proud of being Brazilian but I’m also proud of being a ‘almost’ American! This country conquered my admiration for its history, and culture.

Things are getting sad, since I’m leaving in one month and some days from now, but I always think, everything happens for a reason, and I’m so glad I’ve had this chance. I was really mature when I first got here, but now I can say that I’m grown.  My conclusion to this is: It’s not about the skin color, it’s not about the religion, it’s not about one specific country, it’s about all of them and about promoting peace between them!  Thanks P.I.E for the chance, thanks for the good care, thanks to my host parents Stanley and Teresa who basically gave me the best gift in the world: A really special year!  I hope to be remembered after I leave, if I am not… it’s OK. But everything here will be always with me, inside of me, in a part of me. Because wherever I go, I’m bringing America, inside of my heart.

By  Juarez De Sousa, GA (2010-11 Brazil)

Washington DC

I am Sino Usmonov, from Tajikistan.  I live in Rockwood TN and I just wanna say that times flies by really fast, it seems like i came to the USA like last week!  Last week, we had unforgeable week in Washington DC!  We had so much and I met a lot of new people almost from all over the World.  This picture was taken in World War II memorial and I just wanna add a couple words.  I really appreciate PIE for hosting me and for finding me a GREAT family.  They are not my host family, they are my FAMILY.  I have been in 12 states and its because of my wonderful family.  I really can not imagine myself saying “Good Bye” to my family and to my friends and other people who are close to me when i leave.  It is gonna be hard to say, but they will be always in my heart and in my mind, no matter what!

By Sino Usmonov, TN (2010-11 FLEX)

Expectations and Reality

Time flies fast!  It seems I came to live with my family just yesterday, but it is already time to go. I used to think that the hardest time is when you arrive, you don’t know your host family, and you are afraid what they will think about you, will they accept you? But in reality, it is easiest part. It is harder when you know that they are not your host family any more, now they are Your Family you know what they think about you, and you are a part of another family now. People you didn’t know just several months ago became so close to you, you think that you love you natural family and there is no room to love someone else, but soon you realize how wrong you were.  You love your new family no less that you natural family and it is so hard to think about that soon, very soon, you will leave you family.

When I think about it my heart breaks, I cannot imagine my day without saying “Good Morning” to my mom, seeing a smile on the face of my dad when I do something wrong. But inside I know that even if I will be very far they always will be with me.  And I hope that all the students and families feel the same.
I love you Dunckles! =)

Thanks P.I.E. for giving me a chance to meet my new family and friends!
By Maftuna from Greene, NY  (2010-11 FLEX Student)

Embracing the life of a foreign exchange student

It’s really interesting what you predict you might get out of living in a different country.  Before your arrival, you feel as if every day would be a new experience unlike the first one in every aspect and that you would rock your life. And then, once you arrive, the change is overwhelming, literally. It takes a while for things to seem normal.  For me, the first night in Tonasket, Washington, was interesting because I was trying to figure out what life would be like from now on. I felt blessed to have a host family like the Newtons because they really made it easy for me to accept them as my American family =) My first daytime brought a renewed spirit to experience my first American day ( I arrived in the night, after my flight in Spokane). Unsurprisingly, many friends of Michaela, Liberty and the Newtons came to visit. One particular family friend that impacted me was Jamie. I vividly remember sitting on Emily’s lap while Jamie was entertaining everyone with her seemingly effortless humour, she then glanced at me, took in everyone’s response to my presence and then remarked, “It looks like Ramshah was born in the Newton family!”, and after that, she continued to make everyone laugh. I do not know if she knows this, but those words never left my mind, even for a second because they brought great relief to me since I realized that I was in the right family. Right now, which is 6 months later, a lot has been said and done between everyone I met and developed a place for in my heart for in America ( Tonasket, to be particular), and I really do feel like I was born in the Newton family and it feels like all the friends I made have been with me forever, so let alone the culture shock and jet lag, America has affected me in ways I never could have imagined!

By Syeda A, 2010-11 YES student from Pakistan

Home Country Presentation (Tajikistan)

Maftuna S. from Tajikistan presented her Home Country Presentation during International Education Week 2010.

Home Country Presentation

Khursheda Y. from Tajikistan dressed in her traditional dress holding her home country flag with her classmates after presenting her Home Country Presentation during International Education Week 2010.

Home Country Presentation (Russia)

Danila S. from Russia making his Home Country Presentation to a Girl Scout Troop in Tennessee during International Education Week 2010.

Future Business Leaders Conference

I was able to participate in the Capital Region Future Business Leaders Of America Fall Leadership Conference. This conference is to develop individual leadership skills and furthers the educational objectives of Future Business Leaders of America. It was an honor to attend

Sincerely- Ulviyye L. from Azerbaijan living in Tumwater, WA  (2010-11 FLEX Participant)

Georgia HS Exchange Program

My dream always was studying in the US and when I first heard that I was going to America, I can’t even say how exciting it was.
Now it’s almost 5 months that I’m here,in the state of Louisiana, Lafayette and I’m proud that I’m a PIE student.  I have amazing host family and I’m enjoying every minute with them.  They are helping me a lot and doing everything to make me happy. I have wonderful school and teachers and doing my best to be a successful student at school. I want to thank PIE,FLEX and GHSEP that you gave me such opportunity to share our way of life with Americans, participate in many activities,be member of many clubs and do voluntary work which really helps me to be independent and more sociable, be active. Helping people, making a lots of friends it’s very important and more then enough for me. It’s a big step in my life and a great experience which I will never forget.

Thank you very much
and wish you all the best,

Tamari K. from republic of Georgia

Preparing sandwich for the GOLF team

Hi, my name is Sino and I’m from Tajikistan.  I’m in Rockwood, Tennessee!so here is my photo doing Community Service, preparing sandwiches for the GOLF team!

Thank you,
Sino U from Tajikistan

2009-10 FLEX Participant

Host State: TN

Team Building

A group of 2009-10 Exchange students gather in Oklahoma for a team building activity.

Teaching About Senegal & Africa

October 29, this day change my life.  Me, my host father Winston, and other exchange students from Thailand, Gemany, Norway and China, we went to the radio station. We were speaking on the radio and when we went out. All the people were interested in the exchange program and was asking so many questions about our country and culture. As a matter of fact, only one of them knew where is Senegal. Now, i’m sure that most of them know lot of things about Senegal and Africa.  I’m so happy at this moment and i hope it will continue like that with lot of experiences until the end of my stay in United States.

Sincerely,

Mouhamed D. from Senegal

2009-10 YES Participant

Host State:  Alabama

Celebrating Halloween

Hey !  This is a picture of my friends from PIE and me.  Thank you PIE for giving us the opportunity to know new different people from allover the world !

Submitted By Islam H. from Tunisia

2009-10 YES Participant
Host State: Minnesota

Presenting at the Elementary School

I want to tell you about October 15th, which was the day i spent with kids at elementary school with two Brazilian student! On this day, me and two other exchange students did a little presentation about our country.  It was really good we taught them about out country, like how our school is different and our holidays, stuff like that!  In the, end i asked simple questions about what i told them, they answered really good,and i gave them a present which i brought from my county! It was really good experience for kids!

Best,

Sino (2009-10 FLEX) from Tajikistan

Host State: TN

Post Arrival Orientation

Dear PIE,

August 4th, 2010- This day changed my life! After a tiring 18 hour flight from Pakistan, all of us were amazed to see such a beautiful America. Everything seemed wonderful and everyone was excited.

After we reached the American University for the Post-Arrival Orientation, the real fun began! I met students from different countries and made a lot of international friends. Everything was so exciting and fun! I got to know about different cultures and values, shared Pakistani culture and could not believe how everyone was so interested in learning about my country.

Everyone was eager to tell about their country too. The last day was the best day of my life. Students from each country showed their cultural dances, handicrafts, songs and other specialties. I would never ever forget that day.

Americans are so friendly, kind and helpful. The three days at the American university changed a part of me. I became a lot confident and proud of myself.

YES is really a life changing opportunity (i can feel it now)! I am so lucky to be a part of it. I thank the American government for giving me a chance to come to the USA and exchange my experiences, culture and traditions in such an awesome way.

Regards- Shahzeb Y. from Pakistan (YES 2010-11)

Thank You P.I.E.

Dear PIE staff members,

I don’t know how to begin this letter, as there are too many things to say. I want to thank PIE for everything. It played one of the biggest roles for my comfort and welfare while being in the USA.

I had an amazing one year in the USA, which I think was a lifetime opportunity for me. i learnt so many things: to be tolerant, understand and realize the most important aspects of American people such as volunteerism. I had a great opportunity to be a succesful student of American High School and participate in different kind of activities which teaches you lot of things. I am very happy that all my volunteerism work has been appreciated and I received an appreciation letter from president Obama and the white house. it really means a lot for every exchange student. Also thank you for providing bonus checks which are very helpful for FLEX exchange students, especially in last month.

My views have become wider. This year helped me realize what kind of person I am and what i want to be in my life. I am leaving in less than two weeks and I can’t leave without saying thanks to my host family, my coordinators and PIE staff members for being so willing to make my year amazing.

Best wishes, Anna Abesadze (2009-10) from the Republic of Georgia