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Show V August 31, 2000 7 X. t k !, U A Hill couple recently brought home their ! lS fit NSH IV ft i 1 ?v 4 4 - "X X,, Xff first child... An f 2 tr iHa JUUa from Ecuador 1 v I by Gary Boyle Hilltop Times staff Matilda and Staff Sgt. Sam Harris wel- comed their first child recently. She was a petite girl, just 18 years old from Ecuador, named Aley Jandra. The Har- ris and Jandra are about to begin a journey of discovery for one year. Jandra is an exchange student living on Hill AFB. Jandra arrived Aug. 12 and loves it here so far, but Utah is very different from home. Everything is bigger here, Jandra said. or Super TarA store such as a Big get is equal in size to her hometown square. Things we take for granted, little things, are a luxury to her, Matilda said. Language presents the most obvious challenge, and Jandra has doubled this by living on a military base where jargon and acronyms are the norm. Language is usually the biggest problem, Pat Cannell said, who coordinates student exchanges for World Experience, K-Ma- rt Matilda and Staff Sgt. Sam Harris with Aley Jandra ing an average of 10 months. It is very archaic, Cannell said. It has good kid though, very helpful. In Ecuador, Jandras mother makes $365 been in effect since the 1950s. Families a month, but her parents paid for an agent do this out of love. Next to having my own to find her a host family, bought her a plane children this has been the most rewardticket and gave her some spending money ing experience of my life. Cannell recently went to Europe for her so she could take part in this unique daughters wedding, afterwards she travf exchange. Most kids are frugal and arc concerned eled to 20 countries to visit the homes of about their parents back home, who may children she and her family had sponhave made a considerable sacrifice to sored over the last 26 years. You end up being life long friends with let their child have this experience, Canthe whole family, Cannell said. I wish nell said. Cost for the program can range between I could have bottled up all of that love and air. $3,300 to $8,000, depending on where the then released it all at once into the no s of this There would be no more fighting, hate, student comes from. cost remains in the home country with just peace, love, and happiness. After a senior year at Northridge High the remainder going to the host country. Students arrive with insurance and spend- School, J andra will return to Ecuador and at a university. ing money. Insurance covers almost all continue her education will a be this I think good experience medical expenses with the remainder said. Sam all of for us, nominal a taken care of by Sam and Matilda are such sweet kids Host families receive no monetary comCannell said. They are pensation; instead they receive a $50 per and so is Aley, month tax write off, with the student stay all about to have a lot of fun. all get in trouble, Matilda said. She is a the organization that Jandra came to Utah through. But the families work through it These kids are just like teenagers everywhere. So far in her few weeks in the states J has gone to a car show, bowling and a picnic just about everything that an exchange student needs to do to be introduced to America. Jandra turned 18 on Aug. 17 and Matilda noticed it was the first time J andra seemed homesick. I like going to the park with the children, Jandra said. Matilda watches children as a Family Child Care provider. The Harris decided they wanted to host a student when they saw an article in the Hilltop Times, but werent sure if they could do it. We called people we knew and then got permission from base housing and police, Matilda said. Being on a military base makes everything even more different for Jandra. We had to explain to her that everything is military. If she gets in trouble we an-d- ra Two-third- co-pa- y. r en in buddy program by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Youth Center kids are teaming up with an even younger generation to improve reading ability while learning leadership and nurturing skills. The Big Buddy, Little Buddy program is a new curriculum the Youth Center started this summer. Carol Eubanks is one of the programs adult supervisors. She brings children ages from the Youth Center to the Child Care Center to read stories, play games and do artwork for at least half an hour a few times a week. They really enjoy interacting with the younger kids, said Eubanks, who added the program has helped both groups of children improve reading skills and creativity while learning to interact effectively with different peer groups. Eubanks said it also promotes leadership and teaching skills in older children as theyre developing abilities to help them form and organize their own clubs. There are 10 older children whore paired 8-1- 2 Sue Burwith 25-3- four-- and the from ton is coordinating the program 0 five-year-old- s. Child Care Center. My kids just love it when the big kids come over, she said. So far theyve really enjoyed having them read the books to them. We also enjoy the activities and learning from them. Theyve just had a good time with it and seem to be really receptive and interacting and watching the older kids to learn from them. Burton said if s also helped both groups develop nurturing skills and learn to be a positive role models. The older kids have been right in there helping them do what ever they need to do. Theyve been very patient with them, said Burton. And its showing our kids that even as you get older, theres still nurturing going on. Leaders are considering including more children in the program and incorporating the Child Care Centers d Big Buddy Kai Paturzo described the program as fun and cool. He likes to play water games with younger children and help them learn to swing. Kais only sibling is an older sister, so the program gives him an opportunity to be a big brother for a few hours. See Excellence, page 7 three-year-old- s. Nine-year-ol- |