The Chelsea Standard
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Our special guests
Foreign exchange program creates 'diverse environment'
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007
Dexter High School Principal William "Kit" Moran said that he was honored to have Nuttikan "Koy" Prasoppokakorn and Chen "Jackie" Shi present the high school with their country flags.
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"It's a pleasure having these kids here," he said. "It makes for a well-rounded, diverse environment."
The sentiment inspired him to put up 15 previous flags presented by former foreign exchange students in the main office hallway.
"I just thought that our school has been pretty lucky in welcoming students from all over the world," he said. "I'm proud that we catered to those students and feel that we need to let people know by putting up these 17 flags."
A student exchange program is a program in which a student, typically in secondary education, chooses to live in a foreign country to learn, among other things, language and culture.
The students live with a host family, who are usually unpaid volunteers and often have a child the same age who has also participated (or is going to participate) in a similar exchange program.
Student exchanges became popular after World War II, and have the aim of helping to increase the participants' understanding and tolerance of the other cultures, as well as improving their language skills and broadening their social horizons.
An exchange student typically stays in the host country for a relatively short period of time, in contrast to international students or those on study abroad programs.
Here is a look at Dexter High's special guests for this year:
KOY
Dexter High School foreign exchange student Nuttikan "Koy" Prasoppokakorn has experienced many firsts starting with her plane ride to the United States.
The 17-year-old Thailand native experienced the fall season, homecoming, Halloween, the cooler temperatures, Thanksgiving, snow and is ready for Christmas.
"I love the area and the school," she said sitting in the kitchen with her host parent Ann-Kristin Hillgren.
"Koy is a very nice girl and she gets along with people easily," said Hillgren who shares her Dexter Township home with her husband Ulf.
The Hillgrens and Koy immediately established an exceptional rapport with each other. Hillgren said that she and her husband immigrated to the U.S. from Sweden in 1997.
The experience came in quite handy when helping Koy adjust to her new American setting.
But Koy said that she isn't homesick.
She explained that she attended boarding school in Thailand and is used to being way from her family.
"The school here is very different," she said. "A bus picks me up for free and takes me to school."
Koy added that in addition to her six classes, she finds it odd that she has to change classrooms and that her classmates change as well.
"In my country, we have one classroom with the same students," she said. "The teachers would switch."
She finds the teachers and students at school "very nice and very helpful."
Hillgren nodded, adding that the teachers are receptive in providing Koy extra assistance outside the classroom.
"Because Koys' English isn't as strong, the teachers always make time to help her understand what she's reading," Hillgren said. "She doesn't have a problem approaching her teachers or classmates when she doesn't understand something."
Dexter High School Principal William "Kit" Moran said that he's very pleased that high school students are receptive to the foreign exchange students.
"I'm proud to say that the kids are pretty open and kind with the foreign exchange students," he said. "It's an honor to be able to provide them with a positive atmosphere as they learn about American culture and education."
But Koy's education extends beyond the classroom. She said that she's learned a lot simply by hanging out with her classmates.
Being able to watch a football game and getting dressed up to socialize and dance with friends at homecoming was wonderful, she said.
"It's a new experience doing all these things," Koy said. "We generally don't have things like that at school in Thailand. All the activities make school fun."
Hillgren said that Koy is sporty and she enjoys basketball, soccer and volleyball.
Koy said that she's looking forward to join the soccer team in the spring.
She said that she would consider studying abroad again.
"She's had a good time here so far," said Hillgren. "And we're enjoying her company."
Koy is set to switch host families later on this month.
Lori Sprague, of the Dexter Rotary Club, which sponsors Koy, said that the club prefers to have the exchange student switch families in order to get a well-rounded education in American domesticity.
Koy's education has extended beyond the Hillgren household and school. She traveled with the Hillgrens to places like Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Next on Koy's agenda is celebrating her birthday on New Year's Eve and the Chinese New Year, which is slated for Feb. 18 and taking part in Easter and prom.
JACKIE
With dreams of attending an Ivy League school, 16-year-old Chen "Jackie" Shi has his course carefully mapped out.
Staying with host parents Brad and Sarah Shugart of Dexter Township, China native Jackie traveled to Boston to visit Harvard University.
"He wanted to get a feel of Boston and the university," said Sarah Shugart. "He had a great time."
The Shugarts and Jackie also stopped in New York City to visit the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and other attractions that they felt was important for Jackie to see.
He said that his favorite place in New York was Times Square.
"This is my first time in America," he said.
But Jackie said that he really didn't travel to be in awe of his United States experience.
Living with the Shugarts and their rural surroundings has surprised him, he said.
Jackie said that he comes from a city with a population of seven million people and shares an apartment on top of a store with his parents.
"It's peaceful and quiet," he said.
Jackie also commented that he had to get used to living with the Shugarts'
An only child, Jackie said he's used to being on his own and isn't really homesick.
"I'm really excited to be here," he said. "I don't live at home. I go to a boarding school."
Regardless of his not missing home, Jackie communicates with his parents up to three times per week, said Brad Shugart.
Jackie said he enjoys Dexter High School along with his classmates and teachers.
He admits that the curriculum and amount of homework is quite the contrast in comparison to his rigorous school work and schedule in China.
"I have classes six days a week," he said. "It's very challenging. "
Socializing at school and at the Shugarts has improved Jackie's English, said Brad Shugart.
Jackie took the SATs last month, he said.
"He's pretty focused on his studies," Sarah Shugart said.
He said that he particularly enjoys his International Affairs class and just recently started learning how to play the guitar.
But Jackie knows how to enjoy himself as well.
He said that he dressed as a soldier for Halloween and ate turkey for the first time during the Thanksgiving festivities.
"He doesn't mind trying new things and is pretty open," said Sarah Shugart.
Jackie lent a hand to decorating for Christmas by picking out the tree and wrapping presents.
"Things are done differently here," he said. "But I'm enjoying it and trying different foods."
Jackie has kept an open mind regarding American cuisine.
"You have a lot of fast food restaurants," he said.
Though he hasn't sampled any fast food fare, he is fond of Sarah Shugart's home cooking.
Jackie's American experiences extend beyond Dexter, said Sharon Held, a volunteer coordinator for the American Field Service, which sponsors Jackie.
"We do activities with the students once a month," she explained.
Jackie and other exchange students took a trip to explore Detroit and Lansing.
"We also hosted a Halloween party and do community service to expose them to different aspects of the culture and broaden their experiences," Held said.
"They also get together with other exchange students and process what they've learned."
Staff Writer Sandi Kasha can be reached at 475-1371 or skasha@heritage.com.
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