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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 27, 2006 Radhouane Addala, 17, of Tunisia; Maisaa Arntisi, 17, of Palestine; Yulia Tyukova, 16, of Russia; and Ok San Tsoy, 15, of Kyrgyzstan are spending the school year in the Rogue Valley. A fifth exchange student, Rami, of Iraq, is not pictured here because of concerns for his safety. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Six Worlds One Mission High school students from far corners come to Rogue Valley with hopes of changing the world By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Rami wants people to know the Iraq he calls home is not a country of deserts and camels and war. It's a place where adults sit in gardens while children play soccer in the street and head to the market to buy M&Ms and Kit Kats and Snickers. "We have television, Adidas, Nike, all the same things," he said. "But there is no security," he acknowledges. "People don't feel safe." Indeed, the 15-year-old who will attend North Medford High School this year can't reveal his last name or hometown in the press under the rules of the U.S. State Department exchange program that brought him here. And back home, his family has told almost no one where he is, instead claiming that he has gone to live with his grandfather elsewhere in Iraq for a year. Advertisement Rami is one of three Middle Eastern students who will attend high school in the Rogue Valley this year through the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, a State Department effort started in October 2002 to increase understanding between the U.S. and the Islamic world. The others are Maisaa Arntisi, 17, a Palestinian Christian who is living in Talent and will attend Phoenix High School; and Radhouane Addala, 17, a Sunni Muslim from Tunisia who will also attend North Medford High School. Two other students are visiting under the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program, another State Department exchange started in 1992 to give high school students from the former Soviet Union a chance to experience life in a democratic society. They are Yulia Tyukova, 16, from Russia who is living in Selma and will attend Illinois Valley High School; and Ok San Tsoy, 15, from Kyrgyzstan, who will attend Eagle Point High School. "It's a wonderful learning experience," said Kari Owens, the Western Oregon regional director of Academic Year in the U.S.A., or AYUSA. AYUSA administers the programs for the government. "It's to help people not have such strict labels about one another." The students visiting the Rogue Valley are eager to explore the America they know largely from movies, TV and rap music. And they want to educate people about life and culture in countries most Americans only know from troubled images in the news. "I want to break my stereotypes of Americans and break their stereotypes about Russia," Yulia said. "It's not cold there." "And I don't live in the desert," Rami said. "Iraq has trees." Misconceptions about climate aren't the only concern for the students from the Middle East, though. "We were told we might be considered terrorists," Maisaa said. "The news always shows Arabs as terrorists," Radhouane said. "And in films where Americans and Jews are good scientists, the bad guy comes in speaking Arabic and kills them." He proudly touts Tunisia's computer technology and scientific research, as well as its peaceful transition from a French colony in 1956 to a modern country that offers freedom of religion and a range of rights for women — including voting, and works to rein in Islamic fundamentalism. Maisaa wants people to know that she lives "a normal life" in Ramallah, walking with friends in parks and neighborhoods and shopping for clothes. But she also plans to speak out about Israeli bombs dropping in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially children, in the wake of years of conflict and the recent boycott and blockade of the Hamas-led government. "I will share my thoughts and beliefs," she said. Maisaa and Radhouane fall into a discussion about how media shapes American perceptions about the Middle East, focusing on the recent clash in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel. "The news always talks about Hezbollah and what they do bad, but not what Israel does," Radhouane said. "Then people don't want to accept Hamas as the government of Palestine or admit Hezbollah can be part of the government of Lebanon." People can find a broader view, if they look, Maisaa said. "With the Internet you can communicate much better," she said, citing online citizen journalism projects that are beginning to spring up in Palestine and Israel. She said she will continue to get news from the Al Jazeera Web site to supplement American media. Maisaa tapped the Internet to learn about America, where she has relatives living in Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. She admires the U.S.'s beautiful wilderness and respect for the rule of law, but she thinks the country lacks the ancient traditions of her culture and community. Radhouane said most Tunisians have a positive view of America, despite news accounts that show the U.S. siding with Israel and films that portray a culture plagued by drugs, alcohol and guns. "My neighbors think everyone in America is rich and life is good there," he said. Many in the North African country would like to visit the U.S., Radhouane said, adding that he feels lucky to get to make the trip, although he was a little nervous at first. "It is like meeting a big opponent in a match," said Radhouane, who plays volleyball and soccer. "You wonder what will happen before, but then when you are on the pitch, it is all OK." Rami said that despite potential danger, his family, who has lived in England before returning to Iraq, encouraged him to visit America. "They wanted me to go," he said. Last year, his brother spent a year in Tennessee in the same exchange program. Rami said he wanted to learn more about U.S. language and culture after seeing movies — especially those with Cameron Diaz — and having positive experiences with American soldiers. He said Medford seems like the America he saw on TV, with broad streets, single-family homes and lots of cars. Ok San is also following in the footsteps of an older brother, who came to the U.S. in the FLEX program five years ago. "I wanted to have new experiences and see teens in high school and have conversations," she said. Those simple interactions could have the power to change the world, Radhouane said. "This experience will change my beliefs and values," he said. "I hope to change someone else a little bit. If I can change the opinion of one person, that would be good." Maisaa said her core values won't be changed, but she will bring new experiences back to her country. "We come here as ambassadors for our countries, but we come back as a person who has lived in the U.S. and seen life here," she said. "I think we can make a difference," Rami said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485 or at [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews