NEWSLETTERNOVEMBER2008

HOSTING/SENDING NEWS

Winter tends to be a rather quiet time for hosting, but the quest for families is really never-ending. We often haveneed of interim homes for vacation or counseling situations and we hope to place two or three semester students arrivingthis winter. School spots are limited for these mid-year arrivals, but if you know of a family who may want a shorter hosting experience, please pass their names on and we will be happy to begin the process with them. We will checkwith the school to determine the availability of a school slot and work with the family to either host now or in the Fall.In addition, we may have need of replacement or second semester families for some of our participants. As always,please ‘speak AFS’ and promote the mission of AFS—peace person by person, family by family. This is a good time toacquaint yourselves with the hosting process because it is not so frantic. Please be in touch, if you would like to beginlearning the hosting ropes. We currently have two families reviewing students arriving in January. This would be a goodopportunity to accompany an experienced volunteer on a hosting interview and assist with the placement process. Givea call! (503) 452-1868.

Sally Ann, Interim Hosting Coordinator

THE CHAIR REPORT—Bonnie Richardson-Kott

Calling all volunteers! Would you or do you know someone who would like tobecome actively involved with AFS? Would you like to start an AFS chapter?It’s easy. All you need is a chairperson and a treasurer and lots of enthusiasmfor intercultural exchange. Our “area team” consists of several chapters whocommit to hosting and supporting a certain number of students each year. Thechapters and area team also help recruit, interview and support students whowould like to study abroad. As we head into 2009, AFS is going to be focusingmore on developing local chapters and relying upon volunteers in each chapter to carry out the functions of the exchange experience. But in order to makethe chapter-based focus a success, we need dedicated volunteers. Ipersonally think that locally developed chapters is the way to go. Bernice S.has been heading up the Southeast Portland chapter/cluster for many yearsand she and her volunteers have been very successful at managing their smallgroup of students. In particular, we are looking to set up chapters in

Southwest Portland

and

Beaverton

. We’d really appreciate any volunteer leads you’d be willing to share with us. AFS, as a nonprofit organization, isunique in that it doesn’t require money or fundraising from our volunteers as ameasure of success; it just takes dedication, time and a commitment to makingthe intercultural exchange experience the best it can be for our young leadersof tomorrow. Email us at

sawells@teleport.com

Bonnie Richardson-Kott, Columbia Pacific Area Team Chair

Bonnie and Valentina

NEW SENDING COORDINATOR—Emily Leis

Greetings AFSers! My name is Emily, and I’m the new Sending Coordinator for the Columbia Pacific Area Team. Alongwith arranging student interviews with volunteers, I also help prepare students for their AFS exchange. Having livedoverseas, I know the mixture of worry and excitement that students face before heading abroad as well as the manyfaces of culture shock. So feel free to come to me with any concerns about the adventure that lies ahead or even just toswap stories. Hope to hear from you!

Emily Leis, Sending Coordinator

COLUMBIA PACIFIC NEWS

VISIT OUR WEB SITE, WWW.AFSCP.COM!

Don’t forget that we have a great resource for both host parents and exchange students at our web site,www.afscp.com. You’ll find current and past newsletters there as well as pictures from AFS events. Visit the sitenow to see the first picture ever taken of you and your host family at Arrival Orientation. The online calendar is agreat source of information. There’s a quick list of all of the mandatory orientations. Remember, AFS Columbia-Pacific’s website is www.afscp.com.

James Spears, Area Team Webmaster

AFS Global Leaders Scholarship

New Liaison Coordinator—James Spears

Liaison Corner

Greetings liaisons. I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the calm before the holiday storm. This is aspecial time of the year for us to share with friends, family, and our AFS'ers as well. Already a month haspassed since Camp Adams, and we're well into our support year. If you haven't yet filed your student ANDfamily reports for both September AND October, please get with your chapter president or with me for anyhelp you might need. We really should be checking on our students and their families on a monthly basis toassess their progress with the adjustment process and to identify any school issues. After three months in-country and in-family, some of the deeper cultural learning is beginning for both the participants and their hostfamilies. They all benefit from the fresh perspective of a caring Liaison. And AFS must have those monthlyreports of contact on file in order to meet State Department requirements.This time of year brings the joy of sharing traditions of the holiday seasons with our exchange students andexchange teachers: caroling, baking, family gatherings, theater, concerts, religious observances, holiday lights, home decorations,holiday cards, etc. As the Liaison, you are another link to American culture for your student and often can provide some additionalperspective to add to his or her understanding of life in the U.S.A. Please make the most of it (for your benefit, too!)On an administrative note, we have added a Liaison Page to the Area Team's web site (www.afscp.com

). From the main page, followthe link for current volunteers, then select "Liaison Page". If you're having trouble accessing AFS Online for your monthly reporting,you'll find contact details for the folks who can help you with your log-in information. Or you can do your monthly reporting directly atthe Area Team's web site if you're having trouble with AFS Online. You'll also find a Liaison Toolkit, which might come in handy whenyou have questions or need help with a support issue. Hopefully you'll find the page to be useful. If you have any suggestions for additional content or links that other Liaisons might find useful, please pass them along to me.Happy Holidays!

James Spears, Area Team Liaison Coordinator, tjspears@gmail.com

Elizabeth Pederson Receives AFS Global Leaders Scholarship to Study Abroad

New York, NY – Elizabeth Pederson, a Dalles Wahtonka High School student from The Dalles, OR, has been awarded an AFS GlobalLeaders scholarship. AFS Intercultural Programs/USA has been a leader in international high school student exchange for more than60 years.Elizabeth will receive a $3,000 scholarship to study with AFS in Costa Rica, where she will gain firsthand knowledge of what it is liketo live as a member of a family, school, and community in another culture.Each year, AFS awards more than $1.5 million in scholarships and financial aid to help make it possible for students to study abroad.AFS also makes it possible for all kinds of families in the United States to have international experiences by hosting outstandingstudents and teachers from abroad. For information about AFS scholarships, financial aid, study abroad programs, or how you canhost an AFS student from another country or volunteer in your community, call 1-800-AFS-INFO or visit

www.afs.org/usa.

Rymmel Lovell, Columbia Gorge Chapter

YOUR AFS WORLD

My name is Raima. I came to America from oneof the youngest countries in Central Asia. It isKyrgyzstan. My country is situated on the North-west side of China.Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991,August 31. The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek. Mycountry was one of the members of the Unit Sovietuntil 1991. Kyrgyzstan is 17 years old, despite itsage my nation is one of the oldest nations.The first origins about my country were found inChina 2000 years ago. During its history Kyrgyzstansubmitted to Mongol authority. The power of Chingizhan had spread in AllCentral Asian countries. And now, appearance of Kyrgyz similar with theappearances of Mongols, especially lines of face.There is enigmatic version that in the beginning of our history Kyrgyzlived on the territory of Russia, more exactly on Yenisei’s( river in Russia)space. The appearance of Kyrgyz of that time was absolutely different incomparing with present‘s. They had red hair and blue eyes.Historians of Kyrgyzstan often have an argument meaning of word“Kyrgyz”. One of the version is “Kyrgyz” means “red valley”, the secondversion is “ 40 tribes” and the basic version of scientists is “40 girls”. Untilpresent time academics argue about it, but the most of the agree with thelast version.Every year Kyrgyz people celebrate country’s Birthday. We haveparades, shows and concerts, fireworks initiation into Independent Day of nation.Another popular holiday in Kyrgyzstan isNoorus. Noorus is New Year by Muslim calendar.We celebrate it March 21. People visit each other,then on the main square of the town people leaddifferent kinds of cultural events like dances,songs and theater performances. All of theseactivities became part of our tradition.There are many things representing tradition of Kyrgyzstan. For instance, kalpak is main hat for men , komuz is national music instrument andKyrgyz-ui ( yurt) is a native dwelling of Kyrgyz. Bythe ancient custom a mother-in-law always puts ona white kerchief to the new bride and gives thegold earrings to her or the mother of a new baby can not carry out thebaby during 40 days.The next incomparable wealthy of Kyrgyzstan is nature. The immensespaces of fields, the snow tops of mountains with the majestic arhars( wild sheep) or snow leopards, the purl of the streams fading in a blueand limpid Issyk-Kul make up the beauty of Kyrgyzstan.Kyrgyzstan is country of mountains. The confluence of the mountainsare like chain of separate hills create the favorable conditions for theclimate, nature and life of people.The sparse kinds of medicine grasses, plants and flowers you can findin the mountains.My departure to America changed my life completely. Rate of lifebecame more quickly. The days are busy. Every single day I want to trysomething new for me.During 2 months in America I already knew more minutely about thecustoms of Americans. I was on the Baby shower . It was very interestingfor me. This tradition was known me in Kyrgyzstan, when only girls or women gather together and wish each other happiness, give presents for the future Mum and thank God for the baby.A camp was a great experiment for me. Outdoor school became thefirst camp in my life. In Kyrgyzstan I have never been in any camps, ThereI was a counselor and I had 5 girls. Work with 6

grades is so funny. Theyare so smart. I liked to play and joke with them.Before I have came , I could not swim. Although I am 16, I was afraidthe water a little bit, but now when I registered to the swimming class, Ican swim even under the water.I think, my year in America unfortunately will finish very fast. I try totake pleasure of every single moment and show myself in differentspheres which about I have not ever thought. For example, swimmingclass or bowling. The same time I am representing my country. I sharewith people about Kyrgyzstan. I tell them about customs, traditions,holidays and history of Kyrgyzstan.So, I would like to spend one of my greatest year as possible havingmany good impressions about America as representing my country.

Raima, Kyrgyzstan

Spotlight on Kyrgyzstan—Raima, Kyrgyzstan

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Ala-Too square in Bishkek

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Kyrgyzstan White House

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Kalpak—National hat for men

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Kyrgyz-ui (yurt)

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Komuz—National music instrument