Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2009)
schools Meet This Year’s Vernonia Exchange Students The Vernonia community has had the pleasure of hosting numerous exchange students over the last few years. Last year there were thirteen, which was a lot. This year, a smaller group of six students are joining us for a year of cultural exchange. Vernonia’s Voice thought it was important to take some time to meet and get to know our temporary residents, and introduce them to the community at large. Petr, Anisa and Klara Anisa Mukhtorova is from a small village in Tajikistan. Anisa, who is 15 and is staying with Randy and Sharon Parrow, has an infectious smile and a playful and warm personality. Anisa has only learned to speak English in the last six months, but is picking it up very quickly. Anisa was transferred to Vernonia from Rainier a few weeks ago and is still settling into her new sur- roundings. She says she likes Vernonia very much. “People, teachers and students, everybody is so helpful and friendly. It very nice to be with people like this. I love it here!” Anisa is planning to get involved at her new school. “I like to participate in school activities,” she says. She is planning to play basketball this winter. When asked about differences between her country and here, Anisa noted the food. “I really like the food here,” she says with a giggle. “I like lasagna so much! With lots of cheese-- I like it so much!” Anisa has enjoyed seeing the northwest and en- joys shopping in Portland. She had a chance to visit Se- attle and go to the Space Needle. Anisa was surprised by how many cars each fam- ily has in America. “In my country, I walk most places,” she said. “Not everybody has cars but here every family has two or three. And even if it’s not a far distance, they still drive.” Anisa says she chose to become an exchange student, “... because I like to travel, to have new experi- ences, to learn new languages and to have lots of fun.” Klara Breil is 16 and from a city in Germany near Frankfort. She is being hosted by the Wallace fam- ily, and seems outgoing and mischievous with a good sense of humor. She speaks very good English. Klara has a favorite meal she says she orders whenever she and her family go out--”...fries, chicken and Sprite. So my host family already knows what I want-- so I don’t even have to order.” Klara has already taken the ultimate American vacation-- she’s been to Disneyland. “It was very fun, even though I was sick,” she said. She has also already had the ultimate Oregon vacation-- river rafting on the Deschutes River. Klara is also planning on playing basketball this winter. november 2009 11 Petr Jiranek, 18, is staying with the Ward fam- eleven years in ily and is here from Prague, the capital city in the Czech France, is planning Republic. Petr, who is somewhat reserved and a little to play here for VHS. serious, visited Vernonia last summer when he attended A serious knee injury the Larry Steele Basketball Camp, and was coincidental- just after her arrival ly picked to come back here for his year as an exchange kept her from play- student. ing volleyball. Petr says he likes the small size of Vernonia. “In Margo says Prague, you only know a few people in your neighbor- she wants to become hood-- here you get to know more people,” he says. a chef-- she has al- Petr noted that everything is more spread out in ready been accepted the United States, “...everything here is huge!” he says. into a famous cook- Petr ran on the Cross Country team this fall, will ing school in France play basketball this winter and plans to go out for track for next year-- and and field in the spring. hopes to own her Petr says he came to the United States as an ex- own restaurant in the change student especially to play basketball, and to meet United States. Margo new people, make new friends and experience a new cul- ture. Emma Kneubuhler is from Bisbane, Australia, so she speaks very good English! In fact, she’s already Liza-Marie Kleine is from a small German vil- losing her accent. Emma is 16 and is staying with the lage and is living with her exchange sister Amy and the Jon, Kinnell and Bridger Steward. She is very outgoing rest of the Rethwill family. Liza is 17 and very outgoing and seems to really and friendly and speaks excellent English. be enjoying her time Liza says she became an exchange student in in Vernonia so far. order to learn better English and experience different C o m i n g schools and people. from a big city, the Liza got to go rafting with some of the other ex- move to a small com- change students, Margo and Emma. “It was fun, but I munity hasn’t actual- was really scared.” She also has been to Seaside and ly been that difficult hopes she gets to go to for Emma. “It’s kind Seattle. But, “...I’m of different being in happy to stay here, do a small town, but I things with my fam- like it,” she says. ily and enjoy the rain Emma says in Oregon!” she says, the food is very dif- laughing. ferent here. “That Liza noted was something I Emma that people here are didn’t expect,” she more polite than in says. When asked if she had any favorite American Europe. “I really like foods, Emma replied excitedly, “I had a Twinkie for the that people here are first time. I had one here and then I had a deep fried one friendly and ask you at a fair. I was so excited!” how your day is.” Emma has had a chance to travel to southern Liza When asked if she has Oregon, went to see the Redwood forests of northern any favorite American California and ridden in a jet boat on the Rogue River. foods, Liza responded enthusiastically, “Peanut butter ice “That was really fun!” she says. She has also been to cream! It’s amazing-- the best thing I’ve ever tried! I Seaside. She has also been to the Portland Zoo and to love it!” OMSI. “I’ve been busy, really busy,” she says with a Liza is playing volleyball and enjoyed the “Pack laugh. Emma says she hopes to go to Seattle to see the the Gym Night” during Homecoming Week. “It was a Space Needle. great feeling with all the people there.” She was also Emma said she hopes to see some live music looking forward to the Homecoming Dance. “I think while here in the states. “I love music and a lot of my that’s really nice when everyone gets dressed up and favorite bands play in the US but not in Australia. So wears dresses and tuxedos,” she said. She said she in- that’s something I really want to do.” tends to either play softball or run track in the spring. Emma has helped do volleyball stats and says she’s looking forward to Halloween. “I got to carve a Margo Cormier is 18, and is being hosted by pumpkin for the first time last night!” she said excitedly. Adrienne East and Matt and Sue Blair. Margo is from a Emma plans to play softball in the spring-- “I small city in France and is confident and mature. played soccer and field hockey in Australia, but I can’t Margo has also had a chance to do something do them here.” very American-- she and her host family took a sum- Emma says she likes small town Vernonia. “You mer road trip through Washington, Idaho, and Montana. sort of know everybody and I like that,” she says. “It’s “That was pretty cool,” she said. She has also been to a lot different than living in Suburbia where you don’t southern Oregon, and the coast. know anyone.” Margo, who has been playing basketball for Midway Veterinary Clinic Small and Large Animals Open in Vernonia Wednesday & Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for Appointments (503) 429-1612 Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 805 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR