December 22, 2004
Educational exchange
Seven Muslim high school students spend year in GT region
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Seven area Muslim high school students are learning about America and Americans by immersing themselves in the culture for a year.
Along the way, the natives of countries including Lebanon, Israel, Pakistan, Syria and Morocco are helping educate others about their countries, customs and traditions.
These teenagers are learning to deal with snow, navigate the endless choices of food or activities and make new friends. They are also speaking, writing and learning in their second (or third) language and fitting in as Muslims in a predominately Christian country - providing lessons that could last a life time.
Such as the warm welcome and quick acceptance from others.
"Sometimes my friends, my classmates, say, 'Oh, you're from the Middle East," said Mohamad Hamdan, 16, a native of Al Karaoun, Lebanon, of the casual acceptance of his Central High School classmates. "The people in Traverse City are just astonishing, especially the teenagers."
Other times the learning is more mundane, such as looking at the night sky while living in the country for the first time.
"I asked them how come you have more stars here," recalled Rawan, (nicknamed Nuna) Sobuh, 17, who hails from Haifa, Israel. "It's a lot different because the country is not the city; I had to get used to the crickets, they are a different kind of noise that I am used to."
Sobuh, who is a senior at Glen Lake High School, is staying with Bob and Eleanor Miller from August until June, the length of the exchange program. Since she was a little girl, she has dreamed of visiting the United States and the outgoing, self-possessed teen who bubbles with enthusiasm.
She is also determined to share information about the Middle East and her Palestinian heritage.
"The teenagers that I've met, it seems they don't have a lot of information about the Middle East," she noted. "Like many didn't even know there were Arabs living in Israel."
The Muslim students are part of the ASSE International Student Exchange program and the Youth Exchange and Study program. The latter program is a two-year-old scholarship that aims to build bridges between America and the Islamic culture. The United States State Department started the scholarship program after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to foster cross-cultural understanding.
ASSE coordinator Olave Russell of Traverse City has been placing exchange students in the area for 16 years. A few years ago, she completed special training that allowed her to bring the Muslim students in the Youth Exchange and Study program to the area. She is thrilled at the opportunities for the students, their host families and the community.
Bob Miller noted that hosting Sobuh has broadened his family's horizons immeasurable. He said the family learned of the program from the Mideast Just Peace organization in Traverse City. After talking with Russell they were excited about having a student stay with them and building bridges with other cultures.
"It has far exceeded our expectations and the time is going very fast," Miller said.
The schools that these Muslim students attend will receive information about the Muslim culture for their libraries. In addition, the students often share information about their country, culture and faith with their classmates.
"It helped me a lot to make presentations about my home country," noted Hamdan, a senior at Central who has struggled occasionally with homesickness.
For Sobuh, one of the most exciting aspects of her time in the United States was meeting other teenagers of the Muslim faith.
"It was fascinating to meet students from Lebanon, Syria, I haven't met any before," she said.
For more information on the ASSE International Student Exchange program, the Youth Exchange and Study program or hosting a Muslim exchange student, contact Russell at 947-2974.