WASILLA — Nahid Hossain is from Bangladesh. Rihab Mouma was raised in Morocco. Both are attending Wasilla High School this year, thousands of miles from home for the first time in their lives.

Hossain and Mourna are exchange students, along with more than 700 Muslim exchange students from 25 countries participating in the Youth Exchange Study Program (YES), sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

YES students, like Hossain and Mourna, share their host families’ everyday lives, engage in school activities and volunteer in their communities. They learn about American society and values while helping educate others about the customs and cultures of their homelands. In July, Wasilla resident Velez Ranson was given a YES flyer by an acquaintance outlining the benefits of taking on a foreign exchange student. She was interested.

“My friend said, ‘You would be the right person for this,’” Ranson said. “So I went over it, contacted the director and went through the interview process. At first it was just one that they had me signed up to take, then they called me back and decided I could use two.”

Hossain and Mouma, both 17, arrived in Washington, D.C., in August, met each other and discussed at their overnight hotel room what Alaska would be like.

“We knew before we came that it was cold,” Mourna said. “We didn’t know it was part of the U.S. at first.”

Hossain was born and raised in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to a fairly well-to-do family and has three other sisters.

“I wanted a new experience, something new,” Hossain said. “I study a lot so I needed a break.”

Hossain has mastered the English language, having studied it since kindergarten and last year was approached to go abroad for her junior year of high school. It was an opportunity to bring the experience of Western culture to her Muslim heritage.

Hossain said she checked the weather in Alaska online and learned a little about Wasilla, which was going to be her home for the next year. She was nervous, but ready to go.

“When I left, my family and friends were all crying, and I wasn’t,” she said. “I was excited to leave for a little bit.”

Meanwhile, 5,800 miles from Hossain’s home town is the coastal city of Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. In August, Mourna said goodbye to her mother, father and younger brother, promising that when she returned she would tell them stories about American life. She never intended to travel to Alaska, but took her father’s suggestion and signed up for the YES Program at the last minute.

“My English teacher and father did all the paperwork,” Mourna said. “They called me in for the written exam and interview and before I knew it, I was on my way to Alaska. All I could ask was, ‘How cold is it?’”

In the past four months, Hossain and Mourna have made new friends at Wasilla High School. Hossain said there are many similarities and differences to her high school back in Bangladesh.

One noticeable difference is the way students here communicate with their instructors.

“It’s more formal at my school,” Hossain said. “We say ‘sir’ or ‘Tteacher’ when addressing the staff, where here they use names. The students at home don’t put their legs up on the seats or sleep in class either.”

Hossain said the pair initially referred to Mrs. Ranson as “host mother” until Ranson told them otherwise.

Both said meeting new friends at their school has not been difficult, even when it comes to boys, as both are forbidden to date in America.

“Some parents are OK with their kids dating Americans,” Hossain said. “But not mine.”

“My father would probably take me out and hang me if I did,” Mourna joked.

Hossain also thought it would be colder in Alaska than it has been. In December, temperatures in Dhaka reach 80 degrees.

“I thought there were penguins here,” she said.

“Those are farther south,” Mourna added.

Hossain said her relationship with Mourna is that of a sister, sharing interests, clothes, secrets, likes and dislikes with each other.

“We share everything,” Hossain said. “This is my first Christmas and I want to celebrate it like I’ve seen it done in the movies.”

This time of year, Hossain and Mourna, being of the Muslim faith, traditionally celebrate Eid ul-Adha, a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, under the order of Allah.

“Usually we sacrifice a goat,” Hossain said. “My father called to tell me they sacrificed a goat for the festival. It’s part of our tradition.”

As their first Christmas approaches, Hossain and Mourna said they do not dare ask for anything, being guests in a new country, but do have a mental wish list: Hossain would love an iPod, while Mourna said she could use a laptop.

“There is something under the tree with our names on it, so that must be what we are receiving,” Mourna said.

On Halloween, a holiday not celebrated in Morocco or Bangladesh, Hossain dressed up in masquerade while Mourna donned a cat costume.

“That was fun!” Mourna said. “I had asked five different people why Americans celebrate this holiday and no one could tell me.”

Both exchange students plan to return home in June and finish up their schooling and are expected to teach future YES Program candidates about their experiences.

“My teacher said to bring back some snow when I come home,” Hossain said. “I don’t think so.”

Hossain said next year she will attend law school and possibly travel to London, Mourna is unclear about which career path is right for her. They refer to each other as “international sisters” and have a trip to France planned down the road.

“I’m thinking maybe psychiatry is where I’ll end up,” Mourna said. “But perhaps I’ll be a translator. I don’t know yet, but I guess I should decide before it’s too late, right?”

Hossain said if she returns to America, she would love to check out the beaches of California, while Mourna prefers the hustle and bustle of the East Coast cities.

“Somewhere warm,” Mourna said.

Both students said they would like people to know they are just like other teenage girls and not to be confused with the radical Muslims that are portrayed in the media.

“We’re not at all like the Muslims from 9/11,” Mourna said. “They are hiding behind something else we don’t believe in. We have our faiths, traditions and are very much like all the other girls.”

AYUSA is a nonprofit organization that promotes global learning and leadership by creating opportunities for international high school students to experience life in America.

On Christmas Day, Mourna and Hossain will visit Ranson’s friends in Wasilla for dinner.

Velez Ranson couldn’t be happier.

“It’s been interesting and alive around my house,” Ranson said. “The house was just dead before they arrived. It will be sad when they leave, but what a learning experience for all of us.”

Interested families can learn more about hosting a YES student through AYUSA Global Youth Exchange by visiting AYUSA.org or calling 1-888-55-AYUSA.

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.