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Exchange students enjoying time at Johnsonburg High School |
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
 Noman Atwari (left) and Morteza Khodadi are exchange students at Johnsonburg High School this year. Khodadi wrote his name in the Afghanistan language of Pushto. Anwari wrote Pushto and “What goes around, comes around.”
By Greg Reedy
Johnsonburg High School has welcomed Afghanistan exchange students Noman Anwari and Morteza Khodadi this year and both sides couldn’t be happier.
Khodadi is currently staying with Dave and Zonie Griffin of Wilcox and host brother Logan. Anwari is living with Ray and Patty Field of Johnsonburg.
The process of coming here started this past summer when these two were in a transitional camp called Kashka Suu in Kyrgyzstan for about six weeks. This camp was used to help better adjust these children to a high school setting. Johnsonburg teacher Mary Lisa Gustafson was also over there to help prepare and teach nearly 40 children. Gustafson said she had a tremendous experience being able to teach and hopes that she can do it again.
Khodadi first went to Erie at Villa Maria High School with a temporary family. He then came to Johnsonburg where he has loved his home life.
“I came to Johnsonburg where I got a really good family,” Khodadi said. “Coming to a small town with a public high school from a private school, it was a lot different. Somehow, I got adjusted to the situation and I think I’m doing pretty good here.”
Anwari said learning about the culture and adapting to basic aspects of life in the United States was hard at first.
“When I came to the United States, I didn’t know if I had a permanent family at first,” Anwari said. “I found out, but it was still really hard for me to adjust with the different environments here. It is totally different with the male and female role, culture, food and everything. After three months, I am doing good, I am adjusted.”
Khodadi said he has had an easy time making friends and he feels much more free in being able to build relationships. Both Anwari and Khodadi noted that during schooling in Afghanistan, boys and girls went to different schools, so being in a school situation with girls was something new for the both of them.
“There’s no kind of misunderstood limitations between a boy and a girl, a man and a a woman,” Khodadi said. “In Afghanistan, it is limited. People misunderstand from the relationship between a boy and a girl. Although, it’s not always right and correct, it’s still better than Afghanistan. I really like it.”
Khodadi said being able to talk to women without fear of being put in an awkward and troublesome spot is refreshing.
“I was in a place where I used to hug girls while learning about computers and I was not completely free with them,” Khodadi said. “It put us in a bad position, especially for that girl. We couldn’t interact or chat. I couldn’t say the things that I want. Here, you’re completely free to say the things that I want.”
Khodadi said the number of girls that go to school depend on where that particular girl lives. Anwari said with 34 provinces in Afghanistan, he estimated that about 70 percent of women are uneducated with many women trained to be homemakers.
Anwari said he enjoys the friendly nature that he has experienced in the United States so far.
“I like that Americans, they are more friendly,” Anwari said.
Anwari was a member of the Johnsonburg soccer team this season and said he enjoyed it.
“The coach (Lance Rezmerski) was introducing the names of the boys,” Anwari said. “Donnie and Alex. That was kind of interesting to me. The names are different so I had a hard time remembering.”
Anwari missed the first month of the season because of a fasting month. The first match he played was at Kane.
“I really enjoyed playing soccer and making friends,” Anwari said. “It was great entertainment. Our coach is a kind guy. I missed a month and I came back and was allowed to play.”
Anwari said he this was the first time he had played soccer at a competitive level before. He noted he has played a lot of cricket.
Both students have adjusted well to school and enjoy their time at Johnsonburg. Khodadi said he still has some trouble with some of the terms used in books with the English language.
“Those words are completely different to me,” Khodadi said. “They can cause problems for me.”
While terms of the English language may still sometimes elude Khodadi, he said his speaking of the English Language has improved greatly.
“When I talk to other people on the phone they say how much my English has improved,” Khodadi said.
Khodadi said he has learned quite a bit about computers and computer science, which is his favorite subject. He’s also learned a lot about American history while enjoying the atmosphere of a typical school day at Johnsonburg.
“I’ve learned a lot about the way teachers interact with students,” Khodadi said. “If I become a teacher in the future, I’ll teach them in a way where they can understand it.”
Anwari said from high school he has learned the difference between schooling in the United States and Afghanistan.
“For me, it’s been a really big experience,” Anwari said. “When we go back to Afghanistan, we can make a difference.”
Anwari listed some of the differences between high school in the two countries.
“We go for four hours a day,” Anwari said. “We have no electives and much more religious studies. The grading system is different, where you are first, second and so.”
Socially, Khodadi and Anwari are both fitting into the American lifestyle. Khodadi likes to spend time on the Internet talking to friends and also listens to a blend of American and Persian music. He also said he really enjoys watching TV and said one of his favorite shows was “Dancing with the Stars.” Both students say they are interested in traveling.
Anwari said he would love to go to New York City and all of the United States. Anwari is also interested in joining the track team in the spring. He also enjoys doing homework and watching TV. He said he’s been to Harrisburg and twice to Erie with his host family.
In the future, Khodadi said he is interested in going to college for computer science and business in the United States and he is hopeful that he will come back. Anwari said he is now interested in becoming a doctor since there are not many surgeons in Afghanistan to help people in medical need. He hopes to also come back to the United States.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 November 2007 )
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