Exchange student bridges communication gap
Staff writer
When Ivan Sivak first arrived in Kansas at the beginning of the 2003-04 school year he felt a little lost.
"It was a shock," said the 17-year-old foreign exchange student from Slovakia. "I didn't understand a lot of English."
Although Ivan had taken English in school it was English as spoken in England, not English as spoken in the United States.
"It's not the same," he said. "You use different words."
Residing at the Marion home of Barb and Perry Steiner, the family and Ivan found those first few weeks to be challenging.
"We'd ask him something and he'd come up with some strange answer," Barb said laughing. "We knew we weren't communicating."
But in the nearly nine months since Ivan has been in Kansas, his command of the "Americanized" English language has improved immensely.
Ivan is visiting the United States as part of the International Cultural Exchange Student Program.
"Donna Dyer at the doctor's office asked me if we'd be interested in being a host family," Barb explained. "After we agreed we learned the boys would be here within a couple of weeks."
Besides Ivan, the Steiners also played host to another exchange student this year, a boy from Ecuador. However, he had to leave the intercultural program early.
Ivan is from Slovakia, a small, central post-communist European country which has a population of 5.4 million inhabitants.
A young independent country founded in 1993, Slovakia was part of the Austria-Hungary empire until 1918 before becoming part of Czechoslovakia between 1918 to 1939 and from 1945 to 1992.
He lives in the city of Bratislava, a multi-cultural, multi-national town comprised of a mixture of Slovak, Czech, Austrian, German, and Hungarian traditions and impacts, according to information provided on the Internet.
"My country (land-wise) is much smaller than here," Ivan said. "My city (Bratislava) has a population of half a million," Ivan said.
Climate-wise Ivan said there's not a lot of difference between Kansas and Bratislava, Slovakia, even though his country has mountainous areas.
"The weather is similar. It's colder there in the winter and we get more snow. But it's hotter here," he said, sitting on the Steiners' back deck on a muggy May afternoon.
In a city as huge as Bratislava, many young people get around by taking the bus, train, or taxi.
"I have to be 18 to drive in my country," Ivan said.
Although he had no real comment about American food, Ivan said he enjoyed pizza, and visiting his friends at Gambino's.
In terms of education, Ivan said Marion High School is "really small" compared to his school in Bratislava and the courses in the United States is much easier.
"I have better grades here," he said with a big smile.
While at MHS, Ivan said his favorite teachers have been Don Molleker and Grant Thierolf.
"I like the way Mr. Thierolf teaches and Mr. Molleker is funny," Ivan said.
Ivan will return to Slovakia in June where he will spend his summer months in school.
"I have to take tests for four classes," he said. "They're pretty hard."
Although he was classified as a senior in Marion and listed as a member of the graduating class of 2004, Ivan will have two more years of school to complete once he returns home.
"We go to school until we're 19," he said.
Interestingly enough, Ivan wasn't the only member of his family living in Kansas this year. His 19-year-old sister has been living in Spearville, near Dodge City, also participating in the intercultural exchange program.
"I've seen her three times this year," he said.
Initially, Ivan was not thrilled to be coming to the United States.
"My parents sent me here. They told me I was going to the USA for one year. I learned one month ahead of time," he said.
"But now, I'm glad they sent me," Ivan said with a smile.
During his time here, he's made a number of new friends including a special girlfriend.
"I can't tell her name," he said grinning. "She told me she'd beat me up."
Ivan said his mother is a manager for a company while his father is involved in the high tech business.
Ivan's parents are planning a 16-day trip to the United States to visit Ivan and his sister before they return to Slovakia in June, Barb said.
Although he will be returning home in a few weeks, Ivan said he hoped to return to Kansas someday.
"Oh yes, I'd like to come back at least one more time. See the Steiners and my friends," he said. "Maybe I'll attend college here when I get out of school."
As for the Steiners, they've decided to host yet another high school exchange student next year.
"We're getting a girl from Belgium," Barb said.
