Exchange students say goodbye for now
Staff writer
Editor's note: Hillsboro Star-Journal decided to interview Hillsboro High School foreign exchange students as the school year draws to a close to hear their views on the community, its people, the school, and our nation.
Sasha Lytvynovia is from the Ukraine and lives with her host family Marvin and Elfrieda Funk.
Hannah Baumert is from Germany and lives with Tom and Glenda Stoppel and family.
Gazina Keuhl is from Germany and lives with Kenton and Nancy Kaufman and family.
The interview took place on the high school campus with the three girls speaking about their time spent in Hillsboro. Included in the story are pieces of those conversations.
When asked about their impression of Hillsboro, the three girls responded that Hillsboro was different from what they thought or imagined it would be.
Sasha: "I come from a big city in Ukraine with more than two million people. But, Hillsboro was so small
Sasha made her way to the United States and spent one month in the Seattle area before coming to Kansas.
Hannah came straight from Germany to Kansas in August where she and Sasha met at the Marion County Fair demolition derby.
Hannah: "I was glad to see her (Sasha) when our host families introduced us." I also came from a bigger city than Hillsboro — a city with a population of 10,000 in Germany.
"Kansas is a lot different. The town is so small and everybody seems to know everybody else. It wasn't that way in Germany."
Gazina also comes from a large city, one with a population of 1.8 million people. She has only been at HHS since January.
Gazina: "When I first came and found out that there was another person from Germany, I was a little angry — I wanted to be the only one. But I'm glad I got to know both of them."
All three girls agreed that the people in Hillsboro were very friendly and helpful to them. Since they come from larger cities, they had not experienced that friendliness as much in Germany and in the Ukraine.
"Everyone says 'hi' to you here even though you don't know them," the girls said.
Sasha: "As far as my view of America — that has changed. I thought everything was like it was in the movies — but it's not."
Hannah: "I thought it would be different because of the small population and maybe I wouldn't like it. But here in Kansas, I can see the sunsets and fields and more fields, where in Germany everything is so close together."
Hannah said she has learned to do new things such as tennis, archery, Taekwondo, and playing chess — things she didn't try in Germany.
Gazina: "I was just surprised how open and friendly people were here. It was so awesome."
As far as what kinds of "American" foods they like, the girls responded differently.
Sasha likes barbecue — cooking meat with charcoal which is not done very much where she lives.
Gazina said she likes the hamburgers and the homemade fries. Gazina says the Kaufmans' homemade fries are the best. There's "nothing like them."
Hannah said there are no particular foods she likes per se, but she loves the smoothies here in American and Starbucks coffee.
"We don't have smoothies where I come from yet," she said.
When asked about their schooling, the girls felt that the American school system is easier. They admitted at times they did have some difficulties understanding teachers — "because they talk so fast."
They explained that the English language they learned in their countries was the King's or British English which is different from what is spoken in America.
Sasha's favorite classes are art and English. Hannah's favorites are the same as Sasha's, but she added one more — computer.
According to Dustin Dalke, HHS art instructor, Hannah was the only HHS student to place in the MCAA League art show April 28 at Hillsboro. She received a silver medal and an honorable mention certificate for her works.
Gazina's favorite class is Jim Robb's government class and choir.
Even though they will graduate as part of the 2004 Hillsboro High School class, all three girls have more schooling to complete when they return to their countries.
Sasha has one more year and will have to take classes to catch up; then she plans to attend a university.
Hannah has two more years of schooling and also will have to take courses to make up for her time spent in the States. She will then attend a university but is not sure what she will study.
Gazina has three more years of schooling and is "seriously thinking" about going to Hesston College in Hesston. She plans to study nursing.
"I may not just stay in the United States for college, but maybe for the rest of my life," she said smiling.
When asked what had an impact on them the most while living in Hillsboro, each of them had a different response.
Hannah: "I'm glad I came to Hillsboro and I'm grateful for my host family."
Sasha: "I'm thankful for my friends and for my family for their support. Also, I know I now have a bigger family."
Gazina: "I'm grateful for my church community and my host family. I didn't go to church in Germany. My youth group has been so helpful to me. I had the best teachers and the best host family."
All three girls emphatically said "yes" when asked if they would return to Hillsboro. They plan to keep in touch with each other, as well as other students they've come to know in Hillsboro.
They encourage high school students to experience being a foreign exchange student to learn about and from other cultures.
