Those far-away places with strange-sounding names have a way of becoming a special place in the heart. For the increasing numbers of participants in foreign study and cultural exchange programs, the world is brought down to a personal level.
Before the responsibilities of marriage, job, mortgage and family place limitations on life, young people are taking advantage of the many exchange opportunities available, in an effort to broaden horizons in an ever-shrinking world.
”The numbers of people taking advantage of the opportunities overall have been increasing fairly steadily,” said Brad Lauman, the Midwest director of Youth For Understanding (YFU), Glen Ellyn. ”I attribute it to the greater number and variety of exchange programs available, and to new and different countries opening up.”
Overseas exchanges vary. Programs range from several weeks to semester and full-year opportunities, with elementary, high school and college-age students participating.
Some programs offer fully paid scholarships, while others expect the cost to be borne entirely by the participant. Countries vary in the amount of credit a student will receive for the year abroad. U.S. schools are usually likely to give students full credit for the time away. Thus, their graduation plans are not affected.
American Field Service (AFS) dates back to 1914, making it the oldest of the organizations. AFS began with a group of American expatriates in France who volunteered to drive ambulances during World War I. After World War II, the group expanded to heal the wounds of that conflict, bringing students from overseas to live with U.S. families.
YFU also dates back to the post-war era, when a group of German students were hosted by Americans. Since then, the concept has flourished, and other newer, smaller agencies have also begun to thrive.
The idea behind all exchange programs is similar: to bring people of different cultures together to cement friendships, dispel stereotypes and understand each other`s country and way of life.
”We all realize that the goals are not for today,” said AFS area director Marty Woodbury of Villa Park. ”These are results we will see in the future.”
Pam and Richard Clark of West Chicago this year are hosting Claudia Pozas of Chile through the YFU program. ”This has really expanded our knowledge of the world and opened our eyes,” Pam said. ”We found that most of our preconceived ideas were wrong, but so were Claudia`s about us.”
Pozas explained, ”South America is not like they show on TV. We`re not all poor and hungry. We have the same opportunities as here-we have TV, we have cars, we have phones.”
However, Pozas admitted surprise at discovering that her notions about Americans were incorrect.
”I thought Americans were unorganized and not religious. I thought school here was a nasty place where you eat a lot of junk food,” Pozas said. Both students and host families are carefully screened. Host families range from those with children the same age as the guest student to empty-nesters.
According to Lauman of YFU, often the only commonalities shared by those involved in exchange programs are open-mindedness and a willingness to learn about another culture.
Some exchange destinations are more in demand than others, said Woodbury of AFS.
”The most popular destinations for U.S. kids,” she said, ”are the countries where the languages have been taught in our schools, such as France, Spain and Germany. Less popular are countries that kids haven`t thought much about, like Brazil, Thailand and Malaysia. The kids who end up going where they wouldn`t necessarily have chosen to go, however, are often the ones who have the most incredible experiences.”
Woodbury noted the example of Betsy Prescott, a former Glenbard West student who had chosen to spend her year abroad in Europe but instead ended up in Thailand when a European spot wasn`t available. Initially less than pleased, Prescott found an interest in Asian culture ignited by such once-in- a-lifetime experiences as a hiking trip in the Himalayas, train travel throughout Thailand and helping in the host family`s hotel. Prescott is now majoring in Far Eastern studies and Thai at Northern Illinois University in De Kalb.
Looking forward to immersing herself in a year of perfecting her Italian, Alison Latimer of St. Charles will be going to Italy this fall with American Scandinavian Student Exchange, which since its inception has expanded from Scandinavian exchanges to include countries worldwide.
Latimer, a junior at St. Charles High School, looks forward to studying art as well. ”Then my plans are to go into the Peace Corps for two years prior to going to college,” she added.
Said Alison`s mother, Mary, ”She`s the third of my children to do this. There`s always misgivings on the part of a parent, but the rewards are tremendous.”
Students who study abroad have the unique opportunity to view the differences in educational systems.
”In Norway,” said exchange student Marius Bratrein, who is attending Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, ”we always address the teachers by first name, and it`s much more informal. Here, the schools have more rules. In regard to the rules and formality, I prefer the Norwegian system. But in regard to choosing courses, and the sports offered, I prefer the American system.”
Soon to be enjoying a recently awarded full Rotary International Scholarship, Julie Koenigsburger of Elmhurst, now a student at the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana, will be working toward a master`s degree in public policy and administration in England.
Koenigsburger`s scholarship includes full tuition, books, room and board, and travel expenses.
She will leave this fall for the University of Southampton, where she will study for nine months.
”In exchange for the scholarship,” she said, ”I will serve as an ambassador of goodwill, representing the United States and Rotary. As you can imagine,” she said, ”I`m very excited. This is my first trip abroad.”
The experience of a year abroad hastens the maturation process, said Kari Carter of Lombard. Carter, now a student at the University of Illinois, spent the 1985-86 school year in Norway on a Rotary Youth Exchange program.
”I really grew up,” she said. ”Everything your parents did for you, you learn to do on your own.”
Julia Hill from Scotland, who is attending West Chicago High School through YFU, has discovered a greater sense of adaptability.
”I`ve learned that I can fit into other cultures. I`ve learned a lot just by being open minded, and I`ve matured a lot. You learn to accept other belief systems,” Hill said.
The representatives of the exchange programs find their work satisfying.
Woodbury`s position with AFS is voluntary, but she said, ”I have received riches beyond any paycheck I could ever get from AFS. This is a way for me to have a window on the world and still stay home.”
Lauman, who participated in YFU as a youth, said the experience gave him an international mindset.
”I went with YFU to Venezuela, and I also spent a year in Spain on a Rotary scholarship. Now, through my work, I feel I am giving something back.” The year abroad sows the seeds for intercontinental friendships that last a lifetime. But along with the friendships come the inevitable separations.
Said Woodbury, ”It`s something every parent accepts when they have a child, that some day that child will leave you. With an exchange student who becomes so much a part of the family, you accept that the period of residency is just a lot shorter.”
The good news is that the goodbyes are not forever, and that the continuing international relationships are serving to enhance intercultural understanding.
Said Hill, ”You learn that people are so much the same-it`s just that we have different backgrounds. But we`re all human beings, and by learning to understand each other, we can learn to get along with each other.”
