The following commentary was written by an exchange student, as part of a personal essay project between Raven Radio and the Sitka chapter of AFS. Namrita is one of four students from a Muslim-majority country studying and living in Sitka this year. 

Hello, my name is Namrita Kumari and I am from Hyderabad, in a country called Pakistan. Today I am here to clear up some misconceptions about Pakistan.

I know how it feels when you are judged and called a terrorist even though you did nothing and are innocent. I know how it feels when people don’t want to be friends with you because they think you are from a terrorist country.

Downloadable audio.

Let’s start with an international media. If there’s a terrorist attack in Europe or in USA that becomes news highlight. But media doesn’t report on the real situation in South Asia or the Middle East. We Pakistanis suffer most of the time for being called “terrorists” and the funny thing is that we are also the ones who witness these blasts and attacks too.

There have been many blasts in Pakistan by terrorists. Many families have been scattered by these terrible incidents and lost their loved ones. It feels so bad when you hear people saying they have lost their brother, aunt, or someone else.

I remember one of the blasts took away children from their parents. It was in school and killed more than 140 students between 8 and 18 years of age. Children are tomorrow’s nation. Those who did this probably don’t have any feeling in them. The thing I am most afraid of in Pakistan is not that I live in an Islamic country or that I have Muslim friends, but those bomb blasts and attacks that can happen anytime. That scares me. No one knows when their next target is, and where.

When parents send their children to school in Pakistan, they pray for them to come home safely and alive. We don’t have freedom to live. We are afraid when any of our siblings goes out and comes home late. We are afraid when our father doesn’t pick up the phone. We are afraid to go to public places, like parks and shopping malls. Is this what you call a LIFE? If that is it, then YES we live this life. But, instead of supporting the suffering ones, the world blames Pakistanis and calls them terrorists?

Pakistan is a country situated in South Asia with a population of 200 million. It’s an Islamic country. That doesn’t make it a terrorist country. That’s common sense. No religion in the whole world teaches violence or hurting others.

Quran teaches brotherhood and peace among each other,  not violence. Every sacred book says to do right things. For me, those who don’t practice what’s written in their books are not part of that religion. ISIS is not Islam. Terrorism has no religion.

I’m not a Muslim. I am Hindu, but I have Muslim friends and I am proud of that. One of friends is Aamna. We are in same class, we eat lunch together, and play together. Her parents have never said, “Don’t be friends with the girl from another religion.” My parents have never said, “She is a Muslim, so don’t be friend with her.” Really, it doesn’t feels good when people judge you. What if there was a terrorist who killed many people and he reads the bible? Should I say that because he is a Christians, that all Christians would be terrorists too? Please don’t judge people.

If there’s a person who’s doing something wrong, I am not gonna ask him or her, “What’s your religion? Are you Muslim, Hindu, or Christian?” And I’m not going to think, “Oh, he or she belongs to this religion, so this means all people of that community are the same.” We all know that even brothers and sisters are not same. How can different people of any religion be the same?

Religions were made for identification, not for discrimination or violence. We all are humans and we all want peace. Pakistan Zindabad. Thank you for listening.

Namrita’s AFS Coordinator is Krisanne Rice.  With radio instruction from KCAW Reporter Emily Kwong.

Lina Hamed Abu Zubaida, the author, is from the Gaza Strip. She has been in Sitka for 10 months through the American Field Service YES Abroad Scholarship. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

The following commentary was written by an exchange student, as part of a personal essay project between Raven Radio and the Sitka chapter of AFS. Lina is one of four students from a Muslim-majority country studying and living in Sitka this year. 

Close your eyes. Imagine: you live your whole life in a small region with people just like you! They do the same things you do – eat the same food you eat, dress the way you dress, have the same religion, and the same traditions.

To get out of that small region and discover other places was my dream.

YES! Traveling!

Hi, my name is Lina. I am 17 years old and I live in the Gaza Strip, an occupied crowded beautiful region at the Eastern Coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is about 141 square miles, but to get out of that area and go to see the world is not easy.

Listen to Lina’s essay in her own words:

Downloadable audio.

You have to wait years and years for the Egyptian border to open, or you have to work really hard trying to get permission from three different governments: Hamas, the Jordanian government and our occupiers, the Israelis.

No one can imagine the feeling I had when my teacher told me and two of my best friends that we got accepted for a scholarship to travel with the YES Program! We were so happy that we hugged each other and we screamed, “Yes,  we made it!” We were all excited to go and see a totally different place, study abroad in different schools, make new friends, get out of our boring routines, and have a totally new life for 10 months!

But when the time was approaching for my departure to the US, my dad and uncles were nervous about me travelling all by myself – living in a different place with different rules and no one from my family to look out for me.  They were afraid for my well-being. They said that it is not our tradition to let girls travel alone to a foreign country!

I was so angry because I worked so hard to get it. I did not want to lose a chance – this opportunity – that very few people ever get. So, I stood up for myself and challenged every single person who opposed me, even if they were adults.  It was my future, not theirs! Reluctantly, my father gave in and permitted me to go.

Then, the night before my departure to the United States, I was told that Hamas denied my exit from Gaza. Again, I was so upset. But with help from the Swiss Embassy, AFS, and the YES Program, I finally was permitted to leave Gaza.  I remember thinking, “Wow! I did it.”

I remember when the other 17 members of the program and I arrived in Amman, by bus.  I was staying in the same hotel room with my two best friends.  We were all so happy that night. We sang, we danced, and celebrated our good fortune.

When we first got on the plane in Amman, we were so excited to experience flight for the first time. I felt like we were on top of the world.

However, when we said our goodbyes after a rushed orientation in Washington DC, I later found myself in the Seattle airport all alone.  I knew nobody, had nobody, and was on my way to Alaska. “Would I be too cold?  Could I do this? How would people there treat me? What would my host family be like? How would my first day of school be?” I thought, “Oh no!”

The road to adjusting to life in Alaska was a little bumpy at first.  However, it wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be.  The people were kind and patient.  I began to open my mind to the differences and began to look at my situation more like an opportunity again.  An opportunity to do some things I haven’t done since I was little kid, like riding a bike. Or an opportunity to try new things, like ice skating and skiing.

The freedom for girls to go out and be active is very different in the United States.  Back home swimming, bike riding, jogging, or going to the gym for girls is not socially encouraged.  It has been good to experience this freedom.

Electricity is also a luxury here, that is not an absolute in Gaza.  We can often be without electricity and Internet for large parts of the day, or even the whole day. Normally, we are allowed electricity for 8 hours, but it is very unpredictable.

In my home in Sitka, everything feels safe and secure. When my host family leaves the house, I revert to the scared feelings I have from living in one of the most dangerous places in the world. In Gaza, we constantly live with the fear of bombing and job instability.  We are plagued with terrible environmental conditions that impact our health.

All that said, I do dream of home. I believe Gaza is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Our people are resilient, kind, and hopeful for a free Palestine. I started off believing the grass would be so much greener on the other side. I love the freedom in America, but that love is balanced with my love for Gaza.  

I will return to Gaza a stronger, more tolerant, and more open-minded person. I will be able to share that strength and have impacts in my community that I wouldn’t have done otherwise.  I am proud of this incredible journey, and I would encourage any 16-year-old kid to spend a year as an exchange student.

I believe it is a big responsibility. You have to be brave enough to do it but I also believe you can get what you want if you truly believe in it. So, go for it. Discover yourself and build your future. Thank you. 

Lina’s AFS Coordinator is Krisanne Rice.  With radio instruction from KCAW Reporter Emily Kwong.

Ibrahim Nyiti, the author, is from Tanzania. He has been in Sitka for 10 months through the American Field Service YES Abroad Scholarship. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

The following commentary was written by an exchange student, as part of a personal essay project between Raven Radio and the Sitka chapter of AFS. Ibra is one of four students from a Muslim-majority country studying and living in Sitka this year. 

My name is Ibrahim Nyiti. I am an exchange student from Tanzania who is currently living in Sitka, Alaska. In my opinion, Africa’s stereotypes are the most negative around the world.

First off, Africa is often mistaken as if it’s one big country instead of a continent. Do not make a mistake between Africa and South Africa. Before you scream, “Hey, my country or people are nothing like that!,”  let me explain. Some countries treat African countries as if they are either lazy, evil, dumb, primitive or arrogant.

Nothing new there. These stereotypical impressions about other countries are universal, rather than tied to one specific country. But the most common thing I hear people say about Africa is, “ Africa is huge country.” Actually it’s made up of more than 50 countries.

Listen to Ibra’s essay in his own words:

Downloadable audio.

I am from Tanzania, which is located in East Africa. Tanzania has a population of about 45 million people. I was born in a small town outside the big city of Arusha. Where I grew up, we value our culture and traditional customs — from the way we dress during ceremonies to the music we play.

So why do people still think that Africa is one unified place? Where does this come from? It comes from what people are exposed to in their daily life. Go to Google and search “African people.” The results are unbelievable.

If Google is where you get your information, you might assume that African people walk around with animal skins around their necks. I’m not saying that Africa does not have these kinds of things, but that’s not all we have.

It’s not just Google either. It’s TV, news and anything the media wants you to believe. Our attention is always divided between poverty and HIV/AIDS. We have forgotten what Africa actually means.  

Now I’m from Africa. I’ve lived there for my whole life. When people hear that they assume the worst. They think I had a hard life and coming for an exchange year in  America was an escape for me. I find that ridiculous because I have a great life in Tanzania , with amazing friends and family. I spent my days doing what I love most: playing soccer and going to school and seeing all my friends. I enjoy being with my parents and my family and helping them with things.

I never starved. I never fought in any wars and I did not live like an animal. The government may not be perfect and our economy might be struggling. But despite all the small problem associated with our economy and our government, I consider Tanzania as home. And I consider Africa as home: a place where I can live with my family and children in the future and have good friends that support each other.

I won’t deny that we have problems but if we set aside the problems, what are we left with? We are left with loving people, people who actually care for each other, people who support each other.

I think of Africa as home. If only people could stop thinking of that one or two wrong things and look at the 100 plus things we have, the world could be a different place. If people treated each other as one, our future will be amazing.

Change can start with you and you can make everybody around you understand that we live in one world together, as a big giant family that have different cultures and different ways of showing it.

This is Ibrahim Nyiti and thank you for listening.

Ibra’s AFS Coordinator is Krisanne Rice.  With radio instruction from KCAW Reporter Emily Kwong.

Regina Kelen Toby, the author, is from Indonesia. She’s been in Sitka for 10 months through the American Field Service YES Abroad Scholarship and caught the travel bug from her #1 idol: the British band One Direction. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

The following commentary was written by an exchange student, as part of a personal essay project between Raven Radio and the Sitka chapter of AFS. Reginna is one of four students from a Muslim-majority country studying and living in Sitka this year. 

My name is Regina Kelen. I am an exchange student from Indonesia and currently living in Sitka, Alaska through the YES Program. Sitka is beautiful place and whoever hears this commentary definitely has to come and visit Sitka.

Through this commentary, I would like to tell you how five amazing men inspired me to make my dreams come true.

Listen to Reginna’s commentary, in her own words:

Downloadable audio.

They are One Direction, a British band. It started with five men. Their names are Harry, Liam, Niall, Louis, and Zayn.

My favorite members of One Direction is Harry. Yes, Harry. Do you want to know why? First, because he is handsome. Second because his voice is really beautiful.

I listen to One Direction’s music all day. I have memorized almost every song in their five albums. It sounds crazy right? I know this sounds ridiculous, but it’s all true. Their song makes me fall in love with them, over and over again.

Two years ago, I heard about this exchange program to the U.S. from my senior at school. I was a freshman at that time. My one and only motivation to join this exchange program was to meet my favorite idols.

Two years ago in March, One Direction decided to break up. Sadly, Zayn Malik decided to leave the band. It completely hurt. As one of their fanatic fans, I never thought that would happen. My days felt empty and boring.

That same month, I submitted my application to join AFS’s exchange program, specifically the YES program so I could travel to the U.S.

To be totally honest, One Direction really motivated me. They make me believe in dreaming because dreams don’t hurt you.  They motivate me through their songs. Their songs are sweet, like a sugar and AFS was my magnet to meet them.

May 2015. I took the first test to get in. I didn’t prepare at all. If couldn’t make it in the test, I planned to surrender that dream. To my surprise, I made it. I passed the test!

I know in the first test, I was just lucky and God helped me that time. However, it wouldn’t happen again. In the second and third test, I was competing against a lot of great and smart students. I really prepared and taught myself all the English tenses. Believe me it’s totally hard. Frustrating.

I didn’t think I would get it again. To my surprise again, I did! I made it. I passed. I strongly believe that God blessed my dream and my will. With every day I passed, I changed my mind. Meeting One Direction became my second goal. My first goal was now to explore the world through cultural exchange programs.

December 2015. My three friends and I went the capital city of Indonesia to take the national test. On the national level, I met a lot of wonderful and great people. I was actually really proud to myself at that point. I thought, “It’s totally fine if I can’t make it in the national level.” But to my great surprise again, I made it. It’s a greatest achievement in my life.

I passed the International Test, the health test, and got paired with an American family who wanted to host me.

I want to say a big thanks to God for everything. I want to say lovely big thanks to One Direction and my senior who motivated me. Biggest thanks for my parents in Indonesia, Bina Antarbudaya Indonesia, AFS USA and especially my American family: Tim Doggett, Julie Doggett, Angelina Doggett and Rumen Doggett. Big thanks also for all of AFS Volunteers around the world especially in Sitka, Alaska, Indonesia and New York.

Here I am, in the U.S. for 10 months, with a lot of missions and dreams. Some of them have already been accomplished.

The last dream that I really want to make happen is take a picture with my motivator – One Direction – In Los Angeles and explore Alaska more and more. Probably not right now, but I will come back for them. Wait for me!

One last thing, I fall in love with every little thing in this small island called Baranof Island. It’s such a pleasure to stay with this amazing host community.

Regina’s AFS Coordinator is Krisanne Rice.  With radio instruction from KCAW reporter Emily Kwong.