Westside Elementary School students greeted dignitaries from the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan with enthusiasm on Monday morning.
The contingent of 10 professional educators were gifted with a giant “thank you” card that was covered with sparkles and designed by kindergarteners. They were also graced with a set of artistic notecards crafted by the entire student body. The curiosity of the pupils kept the three translators busy seeking answers to a flood of questions that covered a wide range of topics.
“The kids just loved it, they were so attentive and really pretty fascinated by our visitors,” said Principal Terry Vann.
Fifth-grader Ryan Clarke drew giggles from both his peers and the international entourage when he asked if children in Kyrgyzstan also liked “Pokemon,” a popular animated character in the United States. The delighted students were assured that Pokemon trading cards were also a favorite collector’s item among children who lived on the opposite side of the globe.
Conversely, Luke Tanner, also a fifth-grader, sparked serious discussion when he asked how the lives of Kyrgyzstan citizens had changed since the country became an independent entity after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
He and his classmates were then briefed on the many freedoms granted to the people of Kyrgyzstan since that event in 1991. These included the ability for the almost five million citizens to express dissenting opinions without fear of government reprisal, and establishment of a sovereign monetary system and military. However, the visitors also said that living under Communist rule had carried some benefits that many people were not aware of, including free education, medical assistance and summer camps for children.
The elementary students were also informed that Kyrgyzstan, like the Hood River Valley, has an economy that relies heavily on agriculture. In addition, they were told that ranching was a prominent occupation, particularly of sheep and goats that were suited to mountainous terrain and cold climates. The visitors said that 94 percent of the 77,415 square mile land mass is 9,000 feet or higher above sea level and some locations are subject to the arctic blasts from Siberian winds.
At the conclusion of the question and answer period, Lola Abakulova, a Krygyzstan vice-principal, complimented the Westside students and staff on their hospitality.
“We are very impressed with the emphases on education in this small town, it is at a high level like any larger city,” she said through an interpreter.
The Kyrgyzstan group consisted of directors and vice-directors from secondary education institutions within the city of Osh and outlying villages. These administrators were also seeking to learn more about the American education system since their own schools are currently suffering from a lack of qualified teachers — many of whom earn just $13 a month and often go for long stretches without pay. They were briefed on all aspects of the education system in the United States, including fundraising, parental involvements, the rights and responsibilities of students and teacher recruitment.
Following their tour of Westside, the officials met with students at Wy’east Middle School in Odell. Their busy day concluded with a potluck of American foods arranged by their host families and a brief stop at Hood River Valley High School on Tuesday before they left the Gorge to wrap up their three-week journey to the United States.
Their local visit was arranged by Hood River resident Nancy Moller, coordinator for the World Affairs Council of Oregon. The Community Connections program, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. State Department, is intended to foster a better understanding of lifestyles throughout the global community.
Hood River resident Jean Harmon hosted two of the visiting educators and said that, at the end of the day, both parties learned that “raising teenagers was the same no matter where you lived.” In addition to discussing the worries of parenthood, she said her two guests marveled at the ease of life in America and shared the economic challenges facing their small nation, including the fact that electricity is only available for several hours per day and travel is limited to many locations because of primitive roadways.
Commented