Exchanging cultures
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/brog/News/60306/
BENTONVILLE — A new partnership at Northwest Arkansas Community College will bring students from around the world to the college this fall.
The community college is now working to find families for the students to live with during their time at NWACC.
The partnership is with Youth for Understanding USA, an international program that provides foreign exchange students for community colleges and high schools. There are 15 community colleges in the program, said Kurt Cecil, NWACC’s program coordinator.
Six students will come to the college from throughout the world. One student already has a host family.
The following international students will attend NWACC:
• Lin Zi, from China, plans to study fine arts, history and English. Lin, or “ Liz, ” enjoys painting, reading, badminton and computers.
• Jelle Hummelen, from the Netherlands, plans on studying law while in the U. S. with hopes of attending law school in his home country. He likes in-line skating and is interested in Apple computers, electronic gadgets and music.
• Sophia Westergren, from Sweden, plans on studying photography, journalism and graphic design at NWACC before returning to Sweden to complete her studies. Her interests include music, movies, photography and literature. She already has a host family.
• Kirill Lokhanin, a Russian student who was an exchange student in the U. S. for one year in high school, will study business management and is interested in drama and acting. He hopes to also take drama classes and possibly take part in a theatrical production at NWACC.
• Lee Young-joo, from Korea, will study hospitality management. She likes bicycling, swimming, Web-surfing, snowboarding and making videos. She is a member of the International Model United Nations and has studied the Russian language for 10 months in Russia.
• Kim Ho-Kyung, from Korea, wants to study business management and economics.
He likes to play the guitar, sing, read novels, and play soccer and games on the Internet. He hopes to play soccer and sing in a musical group or choir while studying in the U. S.
The remaining five students still need a host family, Cecil said. A host family should be willing to take in a student and to learn about that student’s culture. The students must have a room of their own and transportation to school and have meals provided. The students will have their own spending money and medical insurance.
Host families will receive $ 175 a month to help with expenses. The money will come in a lump sum at the end of each semester. Cecil said families are also needed for short-term placements in case something happens at the last minute and students are unable to stay with host families originally chosen for them.
For more information, contact Cecil at 986-4019 or at kcecil @ nwacc. edu.