Alright, my school has 3 foreign exchange students and I've met all of them. One is from South Korea (Hilim), on is from Switzerland (Cena), and the other is from Kazikstan (I definetly can't spell it) (Aika). All seem to be doing well, but Aika, who is in my math class, is constantly tormented by a particular boy in my class. He thinks he's being funny but she is really offended by somethings he says. He makes fun of her diligence in the class room and even went as far as to writing "Kazikstan is lame". He makes fun of her accent and so on. I'm friends with her and I try to stand up for her, because she doesn't understand he's trying to be funny, she feels really offended by the things he says. I would too if I was in another country and people were doing that to me.
Yes, she has an accent, but she is a wonderful girl. She is extremly intelligent (especially in the math/science area). I have heard a million times from people say about foreigners "Your in America, speak English." Well, let me make my point, I'm going to send you to Germany where you only know a little bit of German to get you by..... you're going to have a hard time. Most other countries would not be so RUDE to make comments like that. It's about respect. She is VERY brave to come to America, I know because I've gone to other cultures where I dont' know their language AT ALL. It's rough. She is far from home and deserves respect, she shouldn't be put down for having an accent for heaven's sake. I told the guy how about you go to HER country and try to speak HER language like she's doing for you. Suddenly he says, Oh no! I wasn't saying she was bad at English.. I'm just saying.." I don't think he even finished his sentance. So that's my rant, have respect for others who come to your countries. We need to welcome others and give America a positive image as much as possible.
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...that this guy in your class is displaying a common strain of Pig-headed Ignorance. You have every right to punch him in the liver and call him a slob. For even in partaking in this act of senseless violence you would still not sink to his level. It's stupid and utterly American of him to make fun of her especially since she is obviously a much more educated and ambitious human being than he is. I tip my hat to you for standing up for her and displaying to others that not only are you a citizen of America, you're a citizen of the World.
Thank you... I agree.. he's a jerk. In fact I TAUGHT her the word jerk just for him, LOL.
Wow. That was pretty mean of him. And yes, I see what you mean about it being difficult to get by in a country where you don't speak the language. I went to France and was completely confused. I can't imagine actually going to SCHOOL somewhere where I can't speak english.
I wonder if the guy making fun of her is doing it because of Borat? Does he know about that movie? Is that why he's trying to be funny? The character Borat is from Khazikstan.
Maggie
SOme people just never learned to be mature. I have people like that in my school but msot of them respect our foreign exchange students. Then again most of our FES are from either Germany or somewhere in that area. The ones last year were from Finland and Germany. I've been to Germany with no knowledge of the culture or the language, it's hard! I've been in a german school. American's don't really learn languages, or take two years and then stop. Most Germans know German, English and another language of their choice. I was in that school and they spoke almost better english than I did! My respect for them grew tenfold that day and has been such ever since for any culture. I say if they want to come here and learn that's more than most of us American's can claim. Sorry about the rambling speech.
The best way to a man's heart is really through his stomach, that way you don't have to deal with that pesky rib cage!
~Anomous