July 12, 2004

LIVING WITH AMERICANS ALTERS MUSLIM STUDENTS' VIEWS OF U.S.
(Exchange program promotes cultural understanding, leadership)
By Sarah Nash and Todd Bullock
Washington File Staff Writers

Washington -- Indonesian student Dedi Setiadi admits his opinion of the United States has not always been positive.

"In the beginning, I was critical of the U.S. and its policies toward different countries," he said.

In an interview with the Washington File, Dedi said his views changed after a year of living with a Mexican-American family in the United States. "This country is very diverse. I didn't see prejudice," Dedi observed.

He appreciated learning about his host family's culture and sharing with them aspects of Indonesian culture. When he returns home, Dedi plans to help other Indonesian students learn about the United States.

Dedi came to the United States through the State Department's Partnerships for Learning, Youth Exchange and Study Program (P4L-YES), which brings secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to the United States for an academic year. The students attend an American high school and live in the home of an American family. The program is overseen by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

"These students will take a better understanding of American society back to their communities and correct misperceptions about the United States," Robert Persiko, chief of ECA's Youth Programs Division, said.

"It's different than anything I've seen on TV," Sarah, a Muslim student from Turkey, said of the program. "I thought everyone was for the war (in Iraq) and that they didn't like Muslims because of terrorism. I found people who didn't really care. I mean a lot of people didn't even ask what religion I was. They really wanted to know me as me."

Sarah spoke enthusiastically about her experiences living with a host family in North Carolina, and recounted how she and her friends shared common experiences of growing up, even though they lived in different countries.

"Americans respect others' beliefs," said Titis Andari, another student from Indonesia who stayed with a family in San Jose, California. "They saw me as a person and were interested in my faith as a Muslim. I was not only able to learn about American culture but also to share with my friends and host family about Islam."

She discussed the difference between the views of individual Americans and the policies of the U.S. government, saying: "Before I came, I believed all Americans loved war. But during my stay here, I saw how some Americans supported the war in Iraq, and some did not; and how American society allowed many differences of opinion."

Students in the P4L-YES program live with American host families from diverse backgrounds, attend school, and participate in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and inform Americans about their countries and cultures.

Dedi, Sarah and Titis were among the first group of students to participate in the P4L-YES project. The participants were scattered across more than 20 American states.

At the conclusion of their stay, the students were invited to Washington to meet with ECA officials and attend events at the U.S. Congress, the Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of American History and the Indonesian Embassy.

Patricia Harrison, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, has said the P4L-YES program is vital to expanding communication between the people of the United States and partner countries in the interest of promoting mutual understanding and respect.

Another student interviewed by the Washington File, Jaziel Lon of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, talked about his experience with a host family in the small town of Garden City, Kansas.

"Everyone wanted to learn about where I was from and (about) Malaysian culture," he said. "One of best things about America was its sense of equality to people with handicaps," he said, noting that he himself is partially blind. He said that he wanted to bring greater awareness to his community about people with disabilities.

The P4L-YES program is the first U.S. government-sponsored high school exchange program for students from Nigeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, West Bank/Gaza, Egypt, Kuwait, Malaysia, Syria, Yemen, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia. In the program's first year, a total of 160 students participated. The State Department plans to increase the number to 480 students next year and to include students from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Morocco, Oman, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the Arab community in Israel.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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