Exchange Students Wrap Up School Year

The academic year for exchange students has come to an end, and three more have returned home this week.

Sevara Khaldarova and Shirin Suyunbaikyzy are from Kyrgyzstan, and Olga Astafyeva is from Turkmenistan. Both countries were part of the former Soviet Union. Sevara and Olga lived and studied in Wills Point, while Shirin was hosted in Las Colinas.

"Kyrgyzstan is awesome," said Sevara of her hometown. "It has a rich natural beauty, with beautiful mountains."

Kyrgyzstan is a democracy, and both Sevara and Shirin came from Osh, a large modern city, but there were many things to get used to.

"Originally I was supposed to go to Oregon," said Sevara, "But at the last minute it changed, and I didn’t know anything about Texas. I got off the plane and it was so hot I couldn’t breathe. The air just hugged my face."

Shirin also had little knowledge of Texas.

"We know about places like Washington D.C. and New York or Los Angeles, but I have no idea about Texas. My father showed me a movie and I thought I was going to the desert with cowboys."

"Here there is more freedom in choosing what you will study, but our government chooses our classes," said Sevara, explaining some of the differences.

"But I have really enjoyed being in a small town. Everyone is so friendly, and everybody knows everybody else, so it was easy to make friends and fit in. I love my host family and Mrs. Dixon." Sevara was hosted by Tara and Bryan Bell.

Olga said there is not as much freedom in Turkmenistan, but some things are changing, and "it is becoming easier."

"Everything is different for me," Olga said. It was difficult at first, but I really liked the sports in school. We don’t have it, the basketball and track. These activities I think are really good. The best part about football, though, was the cheerleading."

"I’m sad to leave because I love this family, and it makes it really hard to leave," said Olga, who was hosted by the Westberry family as well as LaJuan and Bob Dixon.

The girls agreed that American football is hard to understand, and that Mexican food is good.

"I can’t understand American football," said Sevara, "But I will take a football and a baseball back to my cousin."

"I’m taking only the Oreos," said Shirin. Olga added that mashed potatoes and gravy was her favorite.

All three students are here as part of Future Leader Exchange (FLEX). FLEX is an American program that provides scholarships for students to come to America. The girls underwent a seven-month application process during which they were tested and interviewed. There were approximately 5,000 applicants from Kyrgyzstan, and only 50 students were accepted. Olga was one of 300 applicants from her city, and only eight were accepted.

All three girls felt it was important to thank not only the families and communities, but also the American government for the opportunity.

These girls were placed by the Pacific Intercultural Exchange, which is the exchange program Mrs. Dixon has worked with for several years.

A mission trip to Russia in 1994 has never really stopped for Dixon, a Wills Point resident. During that trip, Dixon met the grandmother of a little girl that had a hole in her heart. Knowing that Dixon was from America, the grandmother asked her to help.

Efforts to help the girl led to other efforts, including sending an 18-wheeler full of medical supplies donated by a local hospital that was closing.

Dixon hosted her first exchange student in 1999, and since has become an area representative, and most recently a regional coordinator.

"We need families that will open up their homes and share the love and good things that they have as Americans, with these kids," Dixon said. "This is such a blessing to work with these kids, and let them see what we have here, and to take that knowledge home with them."

Anyone interested in hosting students can contact Dixon at 866-783-6084, or 903-873-6009.