International exchange in the Mat-Su Valley

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Valley is a unique place. There’s also a big world out there and programs like the AFS Intercultural Programs, a nonprofit international youth exchange organization, which circulates a spectrum of different cultures through the Valley each year.

“Other than traveling to another country, hosting a student is the next best way to learn about another culture, and it really opens your eyes to the world around you,” AFS Alaska Team Development Specialist Sara Huff stated via email.

Susan Baker recently started hosting AFS students again. She said that she saw an article in a local Juneau newspaper 10 years ago and decided to give it a try.

“We moved around a lot and this is our chance to do it again,” Baker said.

Baker’s family moved to the Valley three years ago. During that time she volunteered with AFS. She said that her time volunteering encouraged her to try it again.

“I loved meeting them and hearing about their cultures so I said ‘let’s host,’” Baker said.

Baker is hosting Elena Esink, a high school student from the Netherlands. Ensink has been in the Valley since August. Baker said that there’s been a mutual and fun exchange of cultures.

“We’ve been really enjoying it,” Baker said.

There are currently two AFS students in the Valley, both attending Colony High School, according to Huff. She said the other student is from Thailand. She said AFS is currently hosting 30 students across the state. Locations include Anchorage, Chugiak, Palmer, Fairbanks, Sitka, Kenai, Soldotna and Juneau. Over the last several years, AFS hosted an average of two to four international students annually, according to Huff.

“We would love to grow that number, though,” Huff said.

Huff said joining a foreign exchange program is a life-changing experience for students and it creates meaningful relationships while building “global competency.”

She said that the international students also have the chance to learn about other international students’ cultures on top of their American experience.

“Many of our hosted students, when they first find out they are coming to Alaska, are a little nervous because of the things they have heard about Alaska, mainly that Alaska is a frozen wilderness,” Huff said. “Of course, by the time they leave Alaska at the end of their year, they love it.”

Huff said that Alaska offers a unique experience that students might not get in any other state, having access to vast outdoor adventures around every corner. Baker said that Ensink has accumulated her own Alaskan milestones, doing things she’s never done before.

“Skiing, snowboarding, riding snow machines, camping, ice fishing, mountain climbing, boating. It’s so exciting to share all of the things so many of us love about Alaska,” Huff said.

Ensink brought some of her local treats to Alaska and shared them with Baker’s family. She said that Ensink made a few different meals for them, making things like traditional Dutch pancakes and boerenkool, a traditional winter dish with sausage, potatoes and kale.

“That’s another good part of it, they get to share their food,” Baker said.

Baker has two children who’ve graduated and two still in high school. AFS student ages range from 15 to 18. She said that anybody can host an AFS student if they are inclined.

“They can single parents, same sex parents, older, anybody,” Baker said.

Baker said that Ensink has been enjoying her time in the Valley. She said that schools here are different in notable ways and Ensink loves the fact there’s school sport teams and school spirit.

“They don’t have school sports at home so they love that aspect of high school,” Baker said.

She said that AFS students are encouraged to participate in many extra-curricular activities, and they enjoy meeting people as active members in the community.

“They are members of school and community sports teams, dance clubs, choir groups, and other community organizations,” Huff said.

Baker said that she’s visited France and Ireland. She said that AFS helps her family learn about different cultures while sharing their own, which has taught everyone about themselves along the way.

“They make an impact everywhere they go. Host parents gain a new child; host children gain new siblings. We also have host parents who have never had children of their own, and they love the opportunity to make connections with these students,” Huff said.

Baker said that she hopes to go to the Netherlands to visit Ensink one day.

“I think it shows the differences and how alike we are. It’s good for the kids too. She basically has another sister now,” Baker said. “She didn’t have siblings and now she has four.”

Contact Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at Jacob.mann@frontiersman.com.