The Heights High AFS exchange students met with the Options Global Ambassadors (in black jackets, center) to discuss the Options upcoming trip to England. Student in photo, L-R: Vanessa Msagw, Tanzania, Nana Ali, Mail, Khaby Ba, Senegal, Darian Cruz, Nathan Jolly, Cherronn Hodges (Options Program), Francisco Rossi, Uruguay, Weena Chaibangpul, Thailand, Diego Fretes Pereora, Paraguay and Mohamed Gamaleldin, Egypt.
Feb. 4, 2016 -- Three students in the Options Alternative High School program (at the Delisle Center) have been preparing to spend a week at the Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton, England, Feb. 19-26. Darian Cruz, Cherronn Hodges and Nathan Jolly have been learning about the area where they will visit and also honing their leadership and communication skills.
One of the many activities on their schedule was a lunch meeting with the seven Heights High AFS foreign exchange students. The international students gave the Options students advice about what they might experience in another culture.
Dr. Brian Williams is the Options school leader and invited the students, and AFS volunteer Carla Bailey, to talk about what it is like to visit another country.
Highlights of the advice from the AFS students include:
- Respect the culture you are visiting. Do not think of their culture as better or worse, just different.
- Be open to trying new foods, doing new things and meeting new people.
- Be curious, ask questions, be interested.
- Be prepared for questions that you might feel are uninformed, but be kind and prepared to talk about your own culture.
- Stay off your phone - be fully with the people you are visiting and communicate with the folks at home later.
- Enjoy the experience!
Dr. Williams will travel with the students to Brixton, near London. Two years ago he met the Evelyn Grace principal and visited the school. From that meeting grew the idea for a cross cultural school visit.