Exchange students reflect on similarities, differences between home countries and U.S.

Teenagers are the same anywhere you go.

"We go to movies, go out to eat," said Sasha Aladova, 17, of Kazakhstan.

"The difference is - there is no difference. Teenagers do the same stuff everywhere," said Natalie Oliynyk, 17, of the Ukraine.

Aladova and Oliynyk are in Yuma through the end of the school year as part of The Future Leaders Exchange Program, which brings students from former Soviet countries to the United States to study. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Aladova, who is attending Kofa High School, said the reasons she wanted to be in the program are to see how people live in another part of the world, learn their values and get to know another culture.

"Another reason is to meet new people and actually to know something new about myself and my country, and of course, about America," Aladova said.

Oliynyk, who is attending Yuma High School, has similar reasons.

"In Europe, America is a great country," she said. "Everybody wants to go and see how Americans live."

Oliynyk said she was seeking new experiences, meeting new people, gaining a better understanding of the English language and learning the American culture.

Many people in Europe think of America as a few cities on the East Coast, and don't consider the diversity of the country, such as Indian reservations, she said.

"There is a lot of different people, not just one side," Oliynyk said.

"Another reason was to bring (awareness) of my country to America," Aladova said. "Very few people know about my country in that part of the world."

Aladova said she's been able to teach people where Kazakhstan is, what it looks like, and what it's like to live there.

While the girls stay with different host families and attend different high schools, they occasionally get together to hang out or watch a movie, though they both have hectic schedules.

Oliynyk has been involved with DECA, Student Council, choir, powder puff football and dance.

Aladova has participated in the swim team, powder puff football, softball, drama, the German club and the History Culture club. She's also gone on trips with the Spanish club, though she's not a member.

Since she's been here, Aladova has visited Los Angeles, Hollywood, Disneyland, San Diego and Hawaii, as well as various places in Arizona.

Oliynyk has visited Oregon, San Diego, New Mexico, Tucson and Phoenix.

One of the major differences they've noticed between America and their home countries is the food.

"There is a lot of junk food here," Oliynyk said.

Virginia Daly, who hosts Aladova with her husband, Tom, said it is not uncommon for exchange students, especially girls, to gain 15 to 20 pounds when they come to the United States.

Oliynyk said the way of life is also different.

"My country is more outside," she said. "We spend more time outside, at parks - here it's usually at somebody's house."

Oliynyk said here she also spends more time with her host family than she spends with her family in the Ukraine.

"One of the biggest differences I noticed is the church - it's really different," Aladova said. "Here it's a place where people meet - it's more social here. Over there, it's more personal."

Oliynyk said in her country, people go to church to talk to God, while in America, they go to church to talk to other people.

Where education is concerned, the entire system is different, the girls agreed.

Aladova attends private school in Kazakhstan. Taking 10 classes a day, she usually gets out of school by 5 p.m. and attends on Saturdays, not as a punishment but because classes are held six days a week. Even the public education system is much harder there, she said.

Oliynyk said sports aren't as big a part of school in the Ukraine as they are here. There are sports classes, but if you want to play competitively, you go to a sports club outside of school or attend a special sports school.

Both Aladova and Oliynyk were surprised at how many girls attend high school while pregnant.

"You hardly ever see a pregnant girl at school in our countries," Aladova said.

"Usually if they are pregnant, they're getting married," Oliynyk added.

In their countries, the two said, the student-teacher relationship is more formal.

"Here, you (can) talk to your teacher like she's your friend," Oliynyk said.

Aladova's native tongue is Russian, and Kazakh is her country's official language. Oliynyk's first language is Ukrainian. They both were required to learn multiple languages at school, and both grew up learning English.

Through FLEX Program stipulations, Aladova and Oliynyk will not be permitted to return to the United States for two years after their exchanges end.

Aladova said when she returns to Kazakhstan, she will miss her host family and new friends most of all.

Oliynyk said she will also miss her host family, and the relaxed American way of life.

Aladova said will also miss Mexican food, and the strawberry and cream drink and caramel frappuccinos from the coffee shop at Barnes & Noble. Oliynyk said she will miss the Coffee Bean.

They will take new perspectives home with them.

"All (these) experiences have been kind of an accomplishment," Aladova said. "It's definitely the greatest thing that's ever happened to me ... it's helped me a lot to get more mature and be responsible for my decisions and my actions."

"America helped to make my life choice, what I want to be," Oliynyk said. "It helped me to understand people and the world."

"It made me more open-minded," Aladova added.

"Yes, not so conservative," Oliynyk agreed.

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Tammy Krikorian can be reached at tkrikorian@yumasun.com or 539-6847.