On
Nov. 18, we (foreign exchange students) spent all day in Oakhurst
Elementary School doing presentations about our countries. Everyone
did it four times.
Honestly, I wasn’t really prepared for that, but it went really
well. I’ve got some pictures of my home city and other beautiful
places of Russia from the internet, I brought Russian food and a
collage that I had already made in Yosemite High School English
class.
Every presentation was different for me. I just talked about whatever
was coming to my mind, mostly about the differences in schools.
I also was trying to break stereotypes such as “It must be cold
in Russia,” etc. It was a pleasant surprise that in every class
there were kids who could show Russia on the map. And in every class
I also wrote my name in English and in Russian letters which is
Luda and (unprintable letters). Kids loved Russian letters! On the
last presentation they even made me sing a Russian hymn that was
really neat. And every time I was showered with different questions,
smart and silly, funny and touching and just unexpected! The silly
ones were like, “Do they know how to dance in Russia? Do you have
any rules? Do you have any mechanical pencils?” and so on. I did
everything possible to show them that the people are pretty much
the same in our countries. I even brought a picture of my friends,
so that the kids saw that we don’t dress or look weird in any way.
They were so surprised of how good my English was that one boy asked,
“Do you speak Russian?” I also taught them some simple Russian words
such as “hi” or “thank you”. Although a lot of Russian teenagers
say “hi” to each other in English.
Some of the kids gave me little nice notes at the end. They were
hugging me and asking me if I would come again. I said, I would,
because I’m also in the Big Buddy program and I’m in OES every Friday.
I’m really glad that I got a chance to speak in front of such a
wonderful audience. I had fun! And I’m pretty sure that the children
did too. My presentation gave them at least the general clue about
Russia and, which is more important, they learned that we are all
the same: citizens of the planet Earth. We experience the same feelings.
And as for me, this presentation helped to realize, how much I love
my motherland, how I adore the place where I came from. I felt really
proud of my land.
In the future, if I get to do some more presentations, I wouldn’t
change a lot. I think that being yourself is the main key for success.
And it is also important to know what your audience is interested
in. So, I wouldn’t recommend talking to young kids about political
issues or the level of crime.
After going to elementary school, all the international students
of YHS are going to gather at our local coordinator’s house, who
is a friend and host mom for one of us, and spend the night there.
We just going to watch some movies and talk a lot. That is a great
idea of Stephanie Samuels. I adore her so much, we’re just so lucky
to have her as a LC. We also had lunch all together after the presentations,
which was really nice. I’m very glad that there are such awesome
people around me!
Being an exchange student is wonderful!
Lyudmila Kuleshova
On 18th of November we had international education program. All
exchange students from our school visited Oakhurst Elementary School.
We spent all day talking to kids about our countries.
I am from Ukraine and I introduced my country to first and second
graders. Kids were so excited. They could not stop asking questions.
I brought some marvelous maps of my country and my peninsula — Crimea!
They were with illustrations of our famous people — writers, artists,
poets!
I told them some historical facts and how my people feel to be independent.
As you know my country is young, only 12 years! I showed our national
money, traditional clothes, “obereg” and “rushnik.” We looked and
discussed pictures of my peninsula and I gave them some photos.
They were so excited but I think most of all they enjoyed our national
music. I showed them how we dance and kids were able to hear our
Ukrainian speech.
At the end I signed a lot of notes for kids and for their parents.
When I was leaving kids gave me hugs and told that they will miss
me. I see them some time at school because I participate in the
Big Buddy program in their school and they always stop and say ‘Hi’
to me and give me hugs.
I think such days are important for children. They can learn about
other cultures see different traditions. 1 think we should do more
days like that. These kids are our future generation and it is up
to them to build future of our world and I hope it will be peaceful
one.
Let’s bring peace to the world!
Love,
Alma Budayeva
Foreign
Exchange Students who did presentations: Alma Budayeva - Ukraine;
Lyudmila Kuleshova - Russia; Tae Hwi Kim - Korea; Yeon-woo Lee -
Korea; Lucy Arauz - Ecuador; and Sandra Kater - Germany
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