Students get warm welcome to United States

Morgan Sandberg is still adjusting to life as an older child. After all, Sandberg, a junior at William Chrisman High School, has spent her entire childhood looking up to her big sister.

Sandberg’s family is host this year to Lena Gorbacheva, a foreign exchange student from Russia. In their first week of attending school together, Morgan said she helped her new “sister” open her locker and find her classes.

“It’s very different, but it’s pretty fun,” Morgan said. “Lena’s younger than me, so it’s different looking up to someone and then having someone look up to you.”

Gorbacheva led the parade of the Kansas City-area AFS chapter international students Sunday night at Truman High School. With the Olympic theme “Bugler’s Dream” in the background, the students walked around the cafeteria with their respective countries’ flags while their American families clapped and took photographs.

“For those who’s first time this is hosting, it’s like a newborn child,” said Brenda Stoll, the Kansas City-area AFS chapter’s hosting coordinator and Independence resident. “They’ll be snapping pictures like crazy for firsts of everything.”

Brenda and her husband, Rod, hosted their first foreign exchange student in 2000. They encourage “anyone and everyone” to host an exchange student, saying that an living space is usually the most challenging requirement, not financial restraints.

“I always tell people if you have leftovers at a meal, you can afford to have a student,” Brenda said.

The Kansas City-area AFS chapter placed more than 70 students who represent 20 countries in American schools this academic year, with 17 students in Independence, seven in Blue Springs and two in Oak Grove. (Grain Valley is involved with a different placement program.) Opportunities still exist for hosting this year. Contact Brenda Stoll at 816-257-7943 or 816-804-3237 for more information.

“We find out that teenagers are teenagers – it doesn’t make any difference what part of the world they come from,” said Donald Coffman, chairman of the KC-area AFS chapter whose involvement with foreign exchange students spans more than 15 years. “If you would meet two of the kids as they walk down the street, you probably wouldn’t know the difference unless you hear their accent. I call these students that come in ‘young ambassadors.’ ”

In their first year hosting, Sandberg family members specifically requested a Russian student because their church’s youth minister, Maywood Baptist Church’s Dan Brown, has been a missionary in Russia and speaks fluent Russian.

“I want to learn more about the Russian culture,” Denise Sandberg said. “It’s an awesome opportunity for our family to grow acceptance. It makes my children appreciate the freedom they have here. We hope Lena enjoys learning as much about our culture as we have hers.”

Denise, who has never traveled outside of the United States, said she was surprised that Gorbacheva was limited to basic courses in Russian schools and didn’t get to take elective courses that many American high schools offer. So, Gorbacheva has signed up for Women’s Choir, Lifetime Fitness, Acting and Family Relations at William Chrisman.

“It’s been fun watching her choose and have the freedom with electives,” Denise said. “The freedom to expand on her interests has been fun.”

Another interesting aspect Denise has learned is that Gorbacheva’s form of transportation in Russia is strictly public, she said.

“She’s used to very tight spaces, and she always walks very fast, even if she doesn’t know where she’s going,” Denise said. “You keep up with the crowd or you fall and get trampled – that’s just how it is.”