Kristyna Cermakova
White Mountain School, Czech Republic
Kristyna was elected as a member of the School’s National Honor Society. This honor comes from her hard work and success in academics, leadership, community service, and character. Congratulations, Kristyna!
(Posted May 2010)
Hannah Jenderek
Brentwood School, Germany
Hannah’s sends her “thank you” for everything ASSIST has done for her and for the “amazing opportunity” for her to discover the world, another culture, and herself. Brentwood (as did her host family) welcomed Hannah with open arms. She is proud to be a member of the ASSIST family and thanks ASSIST for helping her realize her biggest dreams and hopes.
(Posted May 2010)
Shan Jiang
Episcopal School of Dallas, China
It seems like only yesterday, Shan writes, that she came to America. It has been a wonderful and amazing year for her at ESD. She discovered American literature and Hemingway’s Farewell to Arms, she taught Sunday School, became a member of the National Honor Society, worked with underprivileged children in Dallas, had a part in a Shakespeare play, and watched a football game for the first time. She considers herself so fortunate to have had two of “the most loving and caring host families.” She will miss them, her two great siblings, and her four new parents. She goes on to say, “I'll miss my friends. I'll miss the familiar hallway. I'll miss the most enjoyable dances. I'll miss the library. I'll miss the smile of my advisor. I'll miss the lunch table where the funny moments and conversation occurred. I'll miss each one of my friends who have been with me throughout the year … I am so appreciative of the opportunities offered me. This year has truly been a blessing.
(Posted May 2010)
James Manning
Williston Northampton, Australia
James has shared his school chapel talk. Click here to read.
(Posted May 2010)
Martina Mihulkova
Phillips Exeter Academy, Czech Republic
The Theater and Dance Department at Exeter presented "The Fantasticks" featuring the 2010 Senior Acting Ensemble. Martina had a lead role.
(Posted May 2010)
Egle Vasiliauskaite
St. Luke’s School, Lithuania
Sometimes Egle can’t believe everything she has experienced this year – the people she met, the places visited, all that she has learned. She wrote: “It seems that just yesterday I was waiting with my friends for a flight to Boston! Now I am already preparing for the end of the school year. Who could believe time is going to pass by so fast? But perhaps I didn't feel the flow of time, because the last seven months were full of challenges, new experiences, adventures and boundless joy. This year gave me more than I could have ever wished. My achievements gave me confidence, and stimulated me to go forward … As sad as it is to leave everything I have discovered here, I am happy to come back to my homeland and to see my family and friends.” She thanks ASSIST and her school in Lithuania for giving her the opportunity for a “truly life-changing experience.”
(Posted May 2010)
Chen Wang
St. Albans Schools, China
“Some time ago, my grandfather peacefully passed away in his house. He had been fighting cancer for years. And when he was young, about 25 years old, he fought something else somewhere else --- he was a veteran from Korean War. He got into real battle, then fortunately and unfortunately got shot in the arm, and came back home. When I was watching the movie We Were Soldiers, I envisioned my grandfather on the battlefield, holding a gun, and ready to pull the trigger to protect what his country believed. While on the other side, some American young men, who left the ones they loved, were ready to devote their life into what they honored. Despite of their different nationalities, they were all upright people, honorable citizens and brave soldiers.
One day in our history class, I accidentally discovered my friend Bryan Moynihan's grandfather was a Korean War veteran too. So now the descendent of both sides meet again, but in classroom, not on battlefield. As I thought about this story, I wanted to express my appreciation to ASSIST. It is your effort and work that make and will continue to keep this world a peaceful and better place. After this year, although I still dream about making money and sailing around the world, I will always remind myself that I should do something to help mutual understanding and peace. There are ton of people who know your job is the most important in the world.”
(Posted May 2010)
Tracy Wang
Waterford School, China
Tracy has shared her school chapel talk. Click here to read.
(Posted May 2010)
Zimo Yan
Episcopal Academy, China
Zimo has enjoyed life at Episcopal Academy and with her host family. She finds much more freedom in school than in China and the teachers give her individual attention. She made many friends during her year which gave her “a different view about relationships between people of different cultures.” Her year has changed her life. Zimo thanks “ASSIST for giving me the chance.”
(Posted May 2010)
Marta Bayarte
Santa Fe Prep, Spain
Marta reports: "After only 4 months I consider Santa Fe and its people one of the most fascinating cities I've ever been to. It has been extremely easy to make friends at Santa Fe Prep as people are open and amazingly friendly, without exception. My classes are challenging, there is a lot to do and we are having finals next week, just before our Christmas break. After months of hard work, we are all looking forward to a break. Fortunately, it has been easy to combine work with lots of fun! But the months are certainly flying so there is no time to waste! I love my family, my school, my coaches and my friends. Basically, this is the greatest experience of my life and I can't wait for the rest of it. It’s definitely going to continue to be amazing.” In her note, Marta also mentioned meeting the Prince and Princess of Spain and playing basketball.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Lee Beck
Culver Academies, Germany
Directly from Lee, the following: “Time is flying by and I just love being at Culver! It sometimes makes me really sad although I miss home, too. This year, with all its’ highs and lows, has certainly been the greatest and best time of my life and I know that I will never forget most of the people I met here. We have such special relationships here because we are everything at the same time – friends, brothers, sisters, moms and dads. I would go very far to get the chance to come back even though I know it’s not possible.”
(Posted Mar 2010)
Hayden Burch
Trinity Preparatory School, Australia
Hayden reports that it was an experience to celebrate both his birthday and Christmas in a different country. He reports his semester exams went well and sports are still high on his agenda. A highlight of his winter vacation was seeing the Magics play in Orlando and going to the beach and on New Year’s Eve setting off fireworks. Hayden reports having two wonderful host families. His second family, the McIntosh’s, have a Welsh Corgi named Violet. Violet is “one of the strangest dogs I’ve ever met.” In his second semester he is taking Economics, Math, World History, Anatomy, English and Conditioning. The Lacrosse season is about to start and Hayden wrote that he expects “to be flattened a couple of times by some very huge kids.” His sister will be visiting this spring and there are trips with his host family upcoming to Washington, North Carolina and Mexico. So as he writes, “I’ve still got some very fun months ahead.”
(Posted Mar 2010)
Marie Dokovova
Salem Academy, Bulgaria
Marie reports a successful first semester and feeling as if she has another ‘home country.’ She writes that she knows “how to survive here - how to look for help, talk to the people and understand what they are saying. I made some good friends and many good acquaintances.” During the fall she had a three-week internship in the office of the Mayor of Winston-Salem and learned a lot about how American communities are organized. She says she’s “picked up some really good ideas to take back to Bulgaria.” She knows she has changed during her year in the US and knows things have changed at home as well. She will miss being surrounded by her friends and teachers this year.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Shan Jiang
Episcopal School of Dallas, China
Shan writes: “I can't believe it's been four months since I got here. Everything that was once unfamiliar now is just natural. Words can't express how thankful and happy I am to be here, to get the best education I can ever get and to have to the most amazing and sweetest friends and families.” She thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be a school delegate to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Denver where she met students from all over the U.S. and talked about diversity issues in society, in schools, in the world. Along the way the delegates helped each other find their own identities. It was “an inspiring and wonderful journey.” She sends a “big thank you” to ASSIST.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Christoph Koch
Christ School, Germany
Christoph reports that everything is “awesome” at Christ School. He reports “barely feeling homesick” especially because Skype is such an easy way to communicate and be a part of his family at home (even seeing them unwrap Christmas presents). His parents will visit him in the spring and he hopes to have his friends at Christ School come to Germany at the end of the school year. He ends his message with: “This opportunity from ASSIST has taught me so many things and I'm so grateful for it.”
(Posted Mar 2010)
Lucia Krcmeryova
St. Andrews Sewanee, Slovakia
Lucia entered a tournament and came back to St. Andrews Sewanee (SAS) as a State Champion in Tennessee’s Girls Invitational Wrestling Tournament Champion with only two previous matches under her belt. Her coach was enormously proud of her accomplishment. He noted that “SAS girl wrestlers can move Mountains!” Congratulations, Lucia.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Yifan Liu
Washington International School, China
Yifan wrote just before the Christmas holidays and after exams (in which she did well). Her big news was that her high school dance and chorus team in China came to the U.S. in February and performed at WIS. She writes that she is “happy to be the bridge between my two high schools as I love both of them very much! I hope this will be a great opportunity to build the friendship between my two schools.” She was in a musical this fall and in March will be the stage manager in Romeo and Juliet. She is playing basketball, raising money for Haiti, will participate in the Model United Nations Conference, and compete in a math contest. She feels “really at home in the Us.” She has offered to write to new ASSIST students should they have questions. I would love to help ASSIST in anyway “Tell me if there is anything else I can do! :)”
(Posted Mar 2010)
Julia Reszel
St Timothy’s School, Germany
Julia is busy with a ski trip to Pennsylvania, school work, and cooking a German meal for her classmates. During Winter term, Julia will be studying the Theory of Knowledge. Several speakers will come to campus and the class will then go to NYC, Washington DC and Philadelphia to visit museums, attend an opera, and visit sights. She writes that four ASSIST students will be coming to her school next year and that she is “really proud and glad to hear this and I am sure they all are going to have just as much fun and the good experience I have had.” She hopes to return to the U.S. sometime and hopes that her friends from St. Timothy’s will visit her.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Adel Ruza
Wayland Academy, Hungary
Adel reports working hard at Wayland Academy. She organized a ballroom dance class at the school and enjoyed the experience enormously. She is busy rehearsing for the spring musical and has enjoyed being part of the acapella and regular choir.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Martina Tampir
Hebron Academy, Austria
English is coming easily for Martina. In fact she can’t remember words in German. She reports that “it is great here (Maine)” and that she has enjoyed trips to NYC, Baltimore, Providence, Boston, and other places in Maine. She says, “It's even hard for me to speak German because I always mix English words into it, or I just can´t remember the words in German. I hope that changes when I go back!” She tried out and made the snowboarding team and loves the way Americans are “crazy about sports.” Fast food still remains a mystery and a temptation for her. She ends her note by saying: “thank you and ASSIST once again for this great opportunity, this amazing experience, and this other new part of my life. THANK YOU!!”
(Posted Mar 2010)
Bach-Huy Tran
St. Andrew’s School, Germany
St. Andrew’s School is thoroughly enjoying having Bach-Huy as part of the school community. He is proving to be a remarkable student, is working hard and is achieving top grades in his first semester. In addition, he is having success with his swimming and having fun with his peers.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Egle Vasiliauskaite
St. Luke’s School, Lithuania
Every Thursday St. Luke’s School has a meditation program where a student or adult in the community talks for 20 minutes about something important to them. Egle spoke a few weeks ago about Lithuania.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Chen Wang
St. Alban’s School, China
Chen writes: “Thank you for your effort in running this amazing program. ASSIST has given me a great chance to expend my view of the world and taught me a lot about life. I hope this great opportunity for mutual understanding will go on and on between these profound American independent schools and we foreign students.” He will be helping to greet an exchange student from Palestine this term. One of the most important things he has learned during this year is “the importance of giving help.” He received help from different people and he would wants to do likewise for others.
(Posted Mar 2010)
Hayden Burch
Trinity Preparatory School, Australia
“I am having a totally awesome time.” Hayden is organizing ‘Australia Day’ at Trinity School (FL) to raise money for the RSPCA to save kangaroos and koalas that were burnt during the Black Saturday fires. He is selling everything from ANZAC biscuits to vegemite sandwiches. He’s even trying to get Outback Steakhouse to be a sponsor. His favorite class at school is Leadership and Service, which includes live video chats with people from Ghana, China, and Liberia. His host family is great. Burch reports that he is “very, very lucky to be with such a great family.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Fangyue Bao
Maret School, China
Fangyue (Diana) was chosen to visit the Chinese Embassy. She is enjoying her experience at the Maret School and all the experiences she is having including a tour of the Washington along with other ASSIST students. The picture to the right features Diana (farthest to the right) and Kathy Kemper, third from right, an enthusiastic ASSIST supporter at the Embassy in November.
(Posted Dec 2009)
Kristyna Cermakova
The White Mountain School, Czech Republic
“…After less than two months in my new school (White Mountain School, NH), I feel almost like at home … Fall in this region is the prettiest that I have ever seen and the nature …reminds me of home. The people are really great and always ready to help me out with anything. Such a good community …thanks to that, I don’t feel homesick. My classes are interesting … I find it interesting to compare the educational system to my school … the students are into their classes and they like to study together …We have a lot of options for sports … this semester I have done kayaking and rock climbing. I love it! Already we’ve had a couple of field trips … last week I went hiking on the Appalachian Trail … We had a lot of fun even if the weather wasn’t perfect … Thank you very much for the great opportunity that you gave me and your big support.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Julia Ecker
The Taft School, Germany
“My life at Taft is awesome … at first I was a bit lost but now I am great and it is getting better every day. I already found a lot of friends, school is going well, and the sports are awesome (field hockey) … I spent two days in NYC … the city is a great place … I am having a great time in the U.S.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Daniela Filip
Bishop’s School, Moldova
“Being able to walk on the sea shore every day after school is amazing! The village where Bishop’s School is situated is beautiful. My host family is just great. They've been open, friendly and caring from day one. It's quite a new experience to have two brothers, and even though they like to pick on me sometimes it only makes me feel more like part of the family. I was surprised by the fact that my host family has such a strong bond with most of their relatives. We meet up with their brothers, sisters, uncles and grandparents at least once every two weeks and all of them treat me as a family member and always try to include me in their conversations so that I don't feel left out even when they talk about past events I don't know of. I really wish to thank ASSIST properly for this dream that came true, but I'm afraid that words aren't enough to express my gratitude.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Zsofia Hidas
Head-Royce School, Hungary
Zsofia is adjusting, as she says, “to a whole new world” at Head-Royce School (CA). “Everything is so different here … the cars, the streets, the houses and mainly the people who always surprise me with things that are new and unknown to me.” She has taken up rowing and was recently featured on the front page of the school newspaper, The Hawk’s Eye.
(Posted Dec 2009)
Nicu Istrate
Lancaster-Country Day School, Moldova
I am having the most exciting time in USA. Unfortunately, the time is flying very fast, but I am enjoying very moment of my adventure. The school (Lancaster Country Day School) is amazing, the teachers are awesome, and my family is wonderful. I've made a lot of friends, and every one of them is interested in learning about my country. I have 2 days of school until the first trimester ends. I am excited that soon I will have my first Thanksgiving. We will have a lot of guests at home and that sounds very interesting, because I will be able to meet new people. Two weeks ago we finished the soccer season at school. I was disappointed because we lost our last 2 games, but we had a great season, because we won 4th place in the district. I have a lot of funny pictures during the games and I also had an exciting time with my team and my coach. They are great!” “Next Sunday I am leaving my actual family. For the second trimester I will live with a new family. I had the chance to meet them. My actual family and my future one had a dinner after one of my soccer games. They seem very nice. I am a little scared, because it is hard to change all that you created during this time and to start from the beginning, but I am ready for this, and I think I will be fine. And again, THANK YOU for everything.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Shan Jiang
Episcopal School of Dallas, China
Within days of his arrival at the Episcopal School of Dallas (TX), Shan met President Bush at a Sunday morning church service. The former President knew and liked China and knew its leaders well. “When I told my host father about my morning,” Shan wrote, “he said that America is a wonderful country, a place where even the President wants to speak to you.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Miriam Mahmoud
Washington International School, Germany
“After the orientation, I expected October to be a quite bad month because you told us that we might be very homesick because …I am glad to say that this doesn't apply to me at all. I've made great friends and Washington International School (DC) school is more fun than it ever was before because it is challenging … I missed that challenge back in Germany. Also, there are so many things … the homecoming games were a lot of fun though it was really cold (something in the low 40s) and it rained all day … I played soccer … This week is spirit week which is a completely new but an incredibly fun experience … My host family is doing a lot of fun things with me. Last week, we went to the USA-Costa Rica soccer game …Next week we'll go to a haunted forest which I'm really excited about because Halloween is everywhere …I'm going to be a ghost … I'll spend New Year in California with my uncle and go skiing in February and a week later to Boston …Thank you again a million times for making this possible for me, I'm having the best time EVER”!
(Posted Dec 2009)
Adel Ruza
Wayland Academy, Hungary
“The place I've been attempting to describe in my blog for two months now, but I couldn't really find the word for it. Sometimes I still wonder if it's a fairytale, and I am afraid to wake up one day and the whole magic would be gone. And I know it will be, at the end of the year, but even the greatest things must end someday so that they can give place to new wonders to come …Wayland Academy (WI) is an amazing school. So although I was scared at first, I was determined to come and I decided not to have any expectations, and live the moment of the arrival as a surprise …All my fears proved to be false when I arrived here in Beaver Dam. My host family …is so amazing!!!!! They are by far the most perfect host family I could ever dream of! …
The whole Wayland community is like a big family …Everyone is just so friendly I can't even describe! Anytime I need extra help, there are at least five people who "compete" to help me …What Mr. Stanley told us at the orientation about the private school teacher-student relationship completely makes sense now. Wayland is also famous for the welcoming community and the caring faculty. I am really happy I was placed here! …I am part of the Choir and the Acapella group; I play volleyball. I am in English 4 Honors class … I get about 100% on my tests. I also write articles for the school paper every week ….
Although Beaver Dam is in the middle of nowhere, I already found opportunities to explore the US a little bit. For the Thanksgiving break, I was invited by a half-Hungarian girl to her home in Cincinnati, Ohio … I take part in almost all weekend activities …Life in the dorm is also wonderful by the way; all the girls hold together and we really are like a family. One of the weird things we experienced … is that how much Americans love their cars. The American kids were shocked when they heard we were going to walk to a store … about a 15- minute walk from school …
All in all, please take my "thank you" as if I used a word that has the same meaning but reflects it 100 times stronger. I feel like my English is not developed enough to express how grateful I am for this amazing opportunity … I feel like everyone should get the chance to have such a life-changing opportunity in their life, and I promise that once this year is over, I will be on the go to bring the vision of ASSIST alive in my community and share it with everyone I can. I really want to act in order to bring better understanding to our world …?”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Gaby Sabancevaite
Hockaday School, Lithuania
“It’s Halloween. I am on the Halloween decoration committee for our lounge. We’ve decided to create a funeral home to make everything really creepy. I am looking towards Thanksgiving too as Ruta (another ASSIST Scholar) is coming from San Diego to spend that Holiday with me and my host family. I will show her a bit of Dallas and then we will head to my host family's ranch where we will learn to ride horses ;). My host family is just amazing; they are wonderful. I am planning to prepare a Lithuanian dinner for them as soon as I have time. I truly feel like at home when I am with them … Hockaday (TX) is a very challenging school and I barely have enough time to do everything. Still, I have switched to AP US History instead of US History as I want a more intense history class … I have joined crew for the fall season but it takes two hours daily so I probably won't take sport during winter season and I will join the musical crew whilst exercising independently ;) I am planning to take crew in the spring though … and volunteer in Hockaday's day care centre as I have a free period … playing with the teachers’ kids helps me miss my brother less. I keep debating and so far the results are pretty satisfying, having in mind that I am a foreigner :) In December, Hockaday will have International Week and I will be chair of food committee (because I love it).”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Iliya Stoev
Christ School, Bulgaria
“At Christ School (NC) we are beginning our second quarter and everything is great so far … after a bit more than two months in the USA, I think about how many unbelievable things have happened to me … Firstly, the ASSIST orientation is something I cannot stop thinking about … It was an amazing experience … Secondly, I had a fantastic first quarter with a 95% average.” Iliya was selected to the all-state soccer team for North Carolina. He reports that he and three others won a chess tournament, even receiving a trophy. He thanks ASSIST for “supporting me all the time.”
(Posted Dec 2009)
Chen Wang
St. Albans School, China
“I am looking forward to Thanksgiving not only so that I can express my appreciation to all the people, but also it means a long holiday is coming … my host family will be spending Christmas and Spring Break in Long Boat, Florida, for it is much warmer than chilling DC. Recently the thing that excites me most at St. Albans (DC) is that there will be a whole new China Club at St. Albans. My host brother, Jack Gaybrick, and the NCS Chinese are the founders. And I am going to ‘help’ in the newly born club … I am quite excited about that! Last Friday, during the introduction of the club, people were asked to name awesome things in China … They said: the Olympics, dumplings, Yao Mind, and Chen Wang!!! I think this is the feeling that I am the ambassador of my own country … just as mentioned in the ASSIST orientation … and that feels great!”
(Posted Dec 2009)
