Published: April 24, 2008 12:36 am            

Dream come true

I have never dreamed of flying over the Atlantic Ocean by myself and not being able to share my excitement with my parents. Still, I did it and I cannot tell you how much I'm enjoying every minute of my stay in the United States.

My name is Ecaterina, and I'm a FLEX exchange student from Moldova. When my mom called me and told me to sit because the news was going to make me fall down, I knew what it was about: I'd passed the contest in order to make a Future Leader Exchange Student. It was unbelievable! That same day so many questions hit my mind; what would it be like for me? What state would I go to? Who would be my host family and how in the world would I act on the plane, since I was so afraid of flying?

This was and still is an opportunity that is beyond my imagination. Since there were 1,300 participants in the contest and only around 40 could be chosen, I was assuming I wouldn't get the scholarship. Yet, everybody else did believe in me, especially my mom, who kept asking me every morning for five months: "What if you will go to America?" There was fear to do it, but i knew God had a plan for me, so I was ready for this, ready to leave my home country for a whole year.

Moldova is a small country, situated in the southeast of Central Europe, between Romania and the Ukraine. If you think that it used to be part of the USSR, you're right. A lot of Americans ask me if Moldova is a communist country or not. Well, it's not, but it is. Moldova is considered to be democratic since 1991, when it declared its independence, but our president is communist and these are opposite things. The majority of Moldovans know at least two languages, while a lot of high school students know no less than three; Romanian (the native language), Russian (due to the annexation of Moldova by the USSR) and English.

When I first saw the American land on the 24th of August, I was very surprised because of not seeing people on the streets. People walk a lot in my home country, and we use public transportation. You wouldn't believe it! In the entire high school that I go to in Moldova, there are only five seniors who have cars!

Another surprise was that students here can choose their classes. Students in my country do not get this chance because all the classes are mandatory, and there are 11 and 12 of them a semester. There are no photography or theater classes, and my school does not have a band. What amazes my classmates here is that the Moldovan schools still use blackboards and chalk. This is something I would like my country to improve in, but more important that that is the fact that there is no school administration like there is here. Teachers are basically the only ones who do that job.

What an American would never see in Moldova is so many fast food restaurants, as well as peanut butter, ranch dressing, chocolate chip cookies or cupcakes.

What I like about America is that if people don't agree with their political, economical or social leaders, they speak up, a feature that Moldovans lack. Since I got to MHS, I love the fact that teachers and administration want students to get involved in all types of activities and help them. There are so many clubs and teams that I would love to be part of, if I just had more time. By getting the opportunity to choose my classes at MHS, including the electives, I discovered the artistic part of me.

It sounds crazy at first, but I like the MHS uniform. Why? Try to wear, as students do in country, tuxedos and black skirts every day to school. After a week, you'll know what I mean.

Among the multitude of things I love about the South is the importance of religion. The word of God is carried starting from Christian music and continuing with youth groups, which the Orthodox Church does not have.

It seems to me that I came just yesterday, but there are already seven months behind me. I learn new things every day and participate in so many activities, which aren't still enough for me, because I love being busy. Thanks to my host family, who are Aundra and Angela Stephenson (my host father is currently deployed in Iraq and my host mother works at Newell Paper), and thanks to my friends. I'm always busy.

I'm thankful to my wonderful area representative Elena Clark for placing me in Meridian. I realize how much I've learned, how many things I've experienced and how much I've changed and improved myself due to this opportunity. It's a challenge. It's not only about changing your surroundings, it's about surviving morally, showing the best of you and your country and last, but not least, having fun! For me, it's an honor to be an exchange student, and there is no better place that I could have gone to than Meridian, Mississippi. I discovered so many things that I enjoy so much now, such as pottery, photography, country and Christian music, food, and there is more there are things that I'll carry in my heart for the rest of my life such as the love and the knowledge that I've gained here in the United States.

This experience totally changed the path that I want to choose in my life, which is to combine faith, politics, journalism, ecology and fundraising for the helpless people in the rural areas of the poor countries all over the world, as well as art, into one profession.

If you ever get such an opportunity, use it and do not be afraid of living thousands of miles away from your "momma" God knows what is better for you. Go for it, because this is an opportunity of a lifetime!

If you are interested in being or hosting an exchange student, contact my host mother, who is the area representative of the placement organization ASSE, at (662)574-7796.

        

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