news-record.com

For Australian student Jono Sklavos-Creevey, visiting the United States for the first time was a learning experience and an eye-opener, not to mention an adjustment to his taste buds.

“The sweet tea here is really intense, and I really enjoyed trying Stamey’s barbecue,” Jono said with a laugh.
Jono said he made friends he will keep for the rest of his life.

“I had stereotypes of the culture, expecting what I see on TV, but now I look forward to sharing how America really is,” he said.

Jono is one of 12 high school students and three faculty members taking part in an international exchange with Greensboro Day School.

The students, who attend the Brisbane Grammar School in Brisbane, Australia, and the Modern School in New Delhi, India, arrived in Greensboro Sept. 14 and 15 and stayed through Saturday.

Greensboro Day students first made connections with these schools last fall when they attended the Community Development and Student Leadership Conference at the Modern School in New Delhi.
“We got to meet students from 14 other schools, and we discovered these two schools have several things in common with our school,” said Don Lahey, Greensboro Day’s international programs coordinator. All three countries have a diverse population, all are private schools, and all three were British colonies.
“Plus, we face many of the same challenges, like global warming, the need for water and similar economic situations,” Lahey said. “Because we’re interconnected globally, it’s important we work with these kids so they can face these challenges together.”

The students who visited Greensboro were hosted in homes by Greensboro Day students and their families, attended classes with their American counterparts and took part in special activities, such as attending the Wake Forest/Elon football game and visiting Duke University. They also visited Elon Law School, the Greensboro Historical Museum, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and VF Corporation.
The students made a presentation to the Greensboro Day upper and middle schools at a special assembly Sept. 18 that was videotaped for the lower school to use in social studies classes.

Greensboro Day sophomore Molly Hurd and her family served as a host family to Devika Middal, a junior from India. Molly gave the visiting girls a taste of an American sleepover, complete with an introduction to Chick-fil-A.

“It was so much fun,” Molly said. “It’s so nice to know that, although they live so far away, we like the same things and have the same concerns.”

Devika agreed and said she especially enjoyed a weekend out with Molly’s whole family.
“It’s given me confidence, having to make friends,” Devika said. “I’ve learned you can find people like you everywhere.”

Greensboro Day junior Anna Dorsett participated in her school’s trip to New Delhi last November and enjoyed having international students visit her school and community this time.

“I loved hanging out with them and getting to know their music tastes,” she said. “You think people who look different from you are different, but when it comes down to it, we’re all just teenagers.”

Greensboro Day students will return to New Delhi this November to attend the conference there again, and Lahey said the schools are developing programs where they can work together on projects online.
Lahey said he believes the students are all gaining valuable learning experiences that will benefit them for a lifetime.

“They’re gaining an under­standing of other people’s cultures and perspectives, and they’ve come to understand we have a few common goals and challenges,” he said. “The more the students interact, the less likely we are to offend one another.”

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer. brown@news-record.com.