VOL. XVI, NO. 14
JUNE 6, 1975
AFS Student Shares Memories
By TOR JOHNSON
For about 10 years now the senior class at Maine West has had an AFS program or the American Field Service student who has graduated with the seniors of that particular year. Within these years this student has expressed his gratitude to the students and the teachers at the school.
I am not going to make an exception in that respect, but as those before me I have truly enjoyed the stay in this country. Since I have come here in the beginning of August last year I have met a lot of students and have gotten to know them more or less through school activities and sports.
I think sports have really provided the best opportunity for me to meet American students and have found, like I suspected, that they are just like students from all over the world. A problem for any AFS student is, of course, the fact that it takes a while before his surroundings are ready to accept him as an equal.
For about 10 years now the senior class at Maine West has had an AFS program or the American Field Service student who has graduated with the seniors of that particular year. Within these years this student has expressed his gratitude to the students and the teachers at the school.
I am not going to make an exception in that respect, but as those before me I have truly enjoyed the stay in this country. Since I have come here in the beginning of August last year I have met a lot of students and have gotten to know them more or less through school activities and sports.
I think sports have really provided the best opportunity for me to meet American students and have found, like I suspected, that they are just like students from all over the world. A problem for any AFS student is, of course, the fact that it takes a while before his surroundings are ready to accept him as an equal.
All the students that I have been in touch with at Maine West have been friendly, most of the time, understanding, and very often curious about my background and what it is like outside of the United States. This is one of the questions which I have had considerable enjoyment in discussing with the students.
When I talk about giving some people think that an AFS student is just in the United States to see what the country is like. This does happen to be an extremely important part of the program; but what is just as important is the fact that we, also, are supposed to give American high school students a chance to see people from other parts of the world.
As a final note of thanks I hope you will all get a chance to see and to understand other parts of the world and other cultures, as you can only get the experience by doing it yourself.
When I talk about giving some people think that an AFS student is just in the United States to see what the country is like. This does happen to be an extremely important part of the program; but what is just as important is the fact that we, also, are supposed to give American high school students a chance to see people from other parts of the world.
As a final note of thanks I hope you will all get a chance to see and to understand other parts of the world and other cultures, as you can only get the experience by doing it yourself.