Last Wednesday, December 7, Foreign Exchange Student Eman Swidan, came to speak to members of SSU at the media center during AAA. Swidan traveled from Palestine to spend the year here in Minnesota.
“In the past, we have gotten a list of all the foreign exchange students early on in the year, and if have any in my class, I ask if they would like to present [to SSU],” said SSU Advisor Tracy Hulley.
Palestine is a region of lands between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that the Palestinians call their home. Palestine covers areas of lands in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. (from http://www.kaycircle.com/Where-is-Palestine-located-Palestine-location-map)
“Ever since I came to the US and talked to people and [I] told them [that] I am from Palestine, people think Pakistan,” says Swidan. “I just want people to know where Palestine is.”
Last year, Eman’s sister was an exchange student in Alaska. However, their trips overlapped, so before her sister went back to Palestine, Eman had already left for Minnesota. Eman’s sister was the one who ultimately influenced her to pursue coming to the United States to go to school.
“My sister said that it was a great experience,” said Swidan. “Me and three of my friends applied for this and now we are in the USA.”
At the presentation, due to a problem with the projector, the PowerPoint presentation Swidan prepared could not be shown.
“She covered pretty much everything [that was] on the PowerPoint,” said Hulley. “But you know how visuals are so awesome, and I feel like having her come in again so that the kids can see it again with the visuals.”
Hulley also plans on having more exchange students come in and speak in the future.
“I am going to try and get every foreign exchange student to present to SSU at some point this school year,” said Hulley. “I was an exchange student once, and I know how important it is to have people recognize you and say hello, and make you feel less of an outsider.”
Story By Quinn Parks and Jon Thielen
Photos By Jon Thielen
