VOL. XIII, NO. 1
SEPTEMBER 24, 1971

Maine W. Welcomes AFS Student Hamid
Each year a student from a foreign country, sponsored by the American Field Service (AFS), studies at Maine West. This year Maine West would like to welcome Hamid Rahim, foreign exchange student from Lashkar Gab, Afghanistan. Hamid is a senior, 17, and wants to meet people very badly. His family, in Afghanistan, consists of his father, who works for the government, his mother, four sisters, and four brothers.

Hamid arrived in Des Plaines on August 13 when he met his host family, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rivard. The Rivards live at 1340 Center Street in Des Plaines.

When asked the differences he found in the two countries Hamid said, "Teenagers are a lot more free to do what they want in the United States. In Afghanistan you stay with your parents until you are married. There is no dating with the opposite sex."

Hamid said he found no problem getting used to American food. "The food here is a lot the same as in Afghanistan only some things are cooked a little differently. For example, bread is real thin and flat in Afghanistan."
 At home, Hamid participates in soccer and volleyball games. These are the major sports at his school, also tennis and hockey.

Hamid hopes that American people will someday be able to visit his country like he is visiting the United States now. The people of Afghanistan speak a dialect of Persian called Dari or Pushtu. The nation's capital is Kabul. Hamid is looking forward to seeing all the snow Des Plaines gets during the winter. "In Lashkar Gah, there is no snow."

When asked why he was interested in applying for AFS, Hamid replied, "I wanted to come to the United States to meet people. I wanted to learn how the American people live, work, and study."

In Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, Hamid attends a school of 700. The students stay in one room while the teachers change classes. He finds it hard to believe Maine West is so large. He is very interested in math, physics, and the United States government. Upon returning to Afghanistan, Hamid would like to attend an engineering college.