An article published in the school paper about SSES's current ASSIST student, Olga Marciuc. Our First Moldovan: by Sarah Todd, Director of International Program, St. Stephen's Episcopal School This year Olga Marciuc from Balti, Moldova, is studying at St. Stephen's under the auspices of the ASSIST program, which offers scholarships to students from other countries to study and learn in the United States with the goal of creating a more peaceful world. Olga, 17, speaks four languages, including excellent English. She also speaks two Balto-Slavic languages, Russian and Ukrainian, and a romance language, Romanian. She began studying language in school when she was very young.
Her family in Balti includes a sister, 16, mom, a teacher, and her dad, a driver. Olga also has cousins who live in Florida, and when she heard their stories of life there, she decided to find a way to study in the United States. She competed in academic contests, and this year her scores won her acceptance into the ASSIST program.
"People at St. Stephen's are very surprised to hear I studied 17 subjects at home, since people here study only five or six at a time," she said. "But in Moldova, students only do physical education at school. People go to sports schools if they want to play sports." Olga finished her work at a fine arts school after the 9th grade in Balti. She loves painting and making decorative handicrafts.
Olga hopes to learn as much as she can during her time at SSES. She is studying world history this term and observes that it differs from the version of events that she learned at home. She hopes to make new friends here from around the world. At her old school, there were only Ukrainian, Russian, and Moldovan students, but no other international students.
If you have not had the chance to meet Olga, take the time to do that. She is friendly, fun, and probably the first Moldovan you have ever met. Moldova, a landlocked European country with 4.5 million people, is near the Black Sea between Romania and the Ukraine. A former Soviet Republic, Moldova won its independence on Aug. 27, 1991.
To learn about Moldova, go to The World Fact Book,
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/md.html
My host family is the best! It's really strange when you think about this - if not for ASSIST, I wouldn't have met these wonderful people and certainly would have missed a lot! New Mexico is also a great place to stay. It's so different from what I am used to - the landscapes, the climate, the architecture and the food. But, as you said at the Orientation - things are not necessarily better or worse, they are just different. I guess this quote will become my credo and I remember it every time I experience something new. This year I'm experiencing a different life and I'm learning new things every day. New, not only in the academic way, but because I'm learning a language, a culture and gaining the experience that will certainly be useful in the future.
Thank you very much!
Gabija
Greetings back from CH or Chatham Hall! I just love this school! For Thanksgiving I am going to be in Puerto Rico with one of my schoolmates. She invited me to spend the holidays with her family. Last Saturday a trip to Washington, DC was organized and I took part in it. I had a great timeI am glad that I am a Chatham Hall student.
Vera Wunsche, Germany, Chatham Hall
Last week we had the first round of our international student "language tables" at lunch where our international students served homemade treats from their countries and taught a few words and expressions from their countries. I am happy to report that Nikola's treat and her Czech language instruction were a big hit.
Patricia J. Kule, Languages Department Chair, Spanish Teacher, Fountain Valley School of Colorado, Colorado
