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| Foreign world, familiar friendships |
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| Written by Maddy Houk | Patterson Irrigator | |
| Wednesday, 21 May 2008 | |
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From big city to small town, an exchange program brings cultures together At a glance WHAT: Families are needed to host teenage exchange students for the next school year. INFO: Michele Bays, 892-5301; or www.AFS.org. When Eing Srisakdi arrived in Patterson in August 2007, it took her a while to get used to living in the country. Eing, who hails from Udonthani, Thailand — a city of 1 million people — is living with Ken and Michele Bays and their family through the AFS student exchange program. The 17-year-old got used to the small-town living over the past nine months. “I have to live in the middle of the orchard — no shopping mall, no cinema,” Eing said. “I adjusted to it. Now, I love it.” Eing’s older sister, Airy, 19, was an exchange student in St. Louis two years ago. “She told me everything, so she inspired me,” Eing said.  HAVING FUN: Eing Srisakdi gathers nectarines on the Bays family ranch in rural Patterson. Eing, who hails from Thailand, has lived with the Bays family since August 2007 as part of the AFS student exchange program. Courtesy Photo Eing, a junior, joined the school swim team and FFA chapter. A few weeks ago, she attended the FFA state conference in Fresno. “It was very neat,” Eing said. “We saw a lot of people dressed in blue and gold.” Eing also learned about farming first hand on the Bays' ranch in rural Patterson. “I got to see how they harvested tomatoes and beans and how they dry nectarines,” Eing said. During the year, she has visited Disneyland, Hollywood, San Diego and Death Valley with her host family of Ken, Michele, Daniel, Marie, Christine and Theresa Bays. “They are wonderful,” Eing said. “I get along well with all my sisters.” Theresa, one of her host sisters, said it has been fun having Eing at the house. Theresa has learned how to say “hello” — sawaddeeka — and “thank you” — khobkun ka — in Thai. “She fits right in,” Theresa said. “She’s blended well.” Eing said she has cooked noodles pad Thai, a traditional Thai dish, for her host family. She also tried to make a special soup, but she could not find one of the important ingredients at the local grocery store. She’s also cooked American dishes with her host sisters, like macaroni and cheese. Eing finds school much easier in Patterson than in her native country; she got As in all her classes. She has one more year of high school when she returns home. After that, she plans to attend a university to study medicine. “I want to be a doctor and work with children,” Eing said. She said the environment here is better than in her hometown, because Patterson is so much smaller. “Everybody is friendly, and you know everybody,” Eing said. “You don’t have to get into the traffic jam.”  HAVING FUN: Eing Srisakdi poses for the camera during a visit to Death Valley with members of her host family. Courtesy Photo The Bays family also hosted an AFS student from Norway, Ole Kildebo, during the 1991-92 school year. “It’s been really wonderful to learn about another part of the world,” Bays said. “I firmly believe there would be less war in this world if people opened their homes and hearts to students from unfamiliar countries. “Once you know somebody and have a face and a person that you know in another country, it’s more difficult to make hate-filled statements regarding other counties, and vice-versa. It’s good for the kids who come here and learn about America. I think they take that back to other countries.” Eing says she is especially grateful for everything her host family, teachers and friends in Patterson have done for her this year. “Without them, I cannot accomplish my year here,” Eing said. “I love them all.” More local families will have a chance to reach out to students from around the world, as the local AFS chapter is looking for families to host students for the coming school year. To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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