143  赴美的交换留学学生告别美国

Foreign Exchange Students Say Good-bye to US
Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
11 Jul 2001 08:49 UTC

Each year, thousands of foreign exchange students arrive in the United States to attend U.S. schools and live with American families. At the end of the year come 1)bittersweet 2)departures and 3)tearful 4)farewells.
Eighteen-year-old Chiara Valentini of Rome, Italy, says she experienced 5)culture shock when she first arrived in the United States. She expects to feel it a second time when she gets home to Italy. Ms. Valentini 6)reminisces about her year as an exchange student in Reno, Nevada, the new friends she made and the family she lived with. "I went to a wonderful family, who accepted me as a daughter and made this year 7)unforgettable for me," Chiara says. "The sad part was leaving all the friends I made and my [host] family, and the cultural shock that I'm going through as soon as I go back home. I know that it's going to be hard."
Ms. Valentini completed her fourth year of high school in the United States. She was one of 2,500 students, aged 15 through 18, who were placed in U.S. homes by American Field Service (AFS). That organization was formed to 8)recruit volunteer 9)ambulance drivers World War I, and it continued to send volunteers to serve in successive conflicts. In 1947, AFS initiated exchange programs for high school students, placing them with host families to experience local culture.
The organization now has student-exchange programs in more than 50 countries, including South Africa, the home of Vuyo Mjekula. The high-school student from Johannesburg says her year in California had its highs and lows, but most of her experiences were good ones.
The good part was meeting all these American people, and of course the [other] exchange students, and being welcomed into a family, and just becoming a part of this new culture and opening your mind," Vuyo says. "I really enjoyed it. The bad part was just adjusting. But that only lasted a little while, and overall, it was a great experience."
Laura Garay of Paraguay says her U.S. host family in Reno, Nevada, became a second family during her year in America. "You have your real family, but you come here and they [your host family] just became part of your life," Laura says. "You say 'mom, dad,' your brothers, your sisters. They are just like the same."
Mennat-alah El Dorry of Cairo had a similar experience during her year in Soledad, California. "The good part was my host family," Mennat-alah said. "They welcomed me with open arms. They took me as one of their own, they were just lovely. And the bad part was, I guess, leaving. There were good times and bad times."
The Egyptian student says she experienced culture shock, however. When she saw the open exchanges between male and female students in her California high school, she says, it was 10)unlike 11)behavior in Egypt, and it took some getting used to.
Jennifer Perry of Adelaide, Australia, says one thing about the United States surprised her during her year in 12)suburban Los Angeles. "It surprised me how much Americans love foreigners," Jennifer said. "In some countries, the people aren't as receptive to outsiders, but here in America, they hear your accent, and they're like [they say], 'that's so cool [that's great]. Where are you from?'"
There were hugs and tears all around as these students boarded buses and headed for the airport. Francesco Stenico, an exchange student from Italy, said he felt both sad and happy to leave his friends and 13)host family to return to friends and family at home. Chiara Valentini had the same feelings, but says she is making plans to return to California for summer 14)vacation next year.

(1) bittersweet[5bItEswi:t]adj.又苦又甜的, 苦乐参半的
(2) departure[dI5pB:tFE(r)]n.启程, 出发, 离开
(3) tearful[5tIEfJl]adj.含泪的
(4) farewell[feE5wel]n.辞别, 再见, 再会
(5) culture shock n. 文化冲击
(6) reminisce[remI5nIs]v.回忆
(7) unforgettable[QnfE5^etEb(E)l]adj.忘不了的, 令人难忘的
(8) recruit[rI5kru:t]n.新兵, 新会员vt.使恢复, 补充vi.征募新兵, 复原
(9) ambulance[5AmbjJlEns]n.战时流动医院, 救护车
(10) unlike[Qn5laIk]adj.不同的, 不相似的prep.不象...,和...不同
(11) behavior[bI5heIvjE(r)]n.举止, 行为
(12) suburban[sE5b:bEn]adj.郊外的, 偏远的
(13) host[hEJst]n.主机,主人,旅馆招待vt.当主人招待
(14) vacation[vE5keIF(E)n; (?@) veI-]n.假期, 休假v.<美>度假, 休假