ABINGDON, Va. (WCYB) — Exchange students from Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and South Korea all go to school at Abingdon High School.
And even though they are all from different parts of the world, they are continuing to grow here together.
Meet Lizzie Stampfer from Germany, Zhamila Omorova from Kyrgyzstan, Valentyn Boichuk from Ukraine and Yuloh Um from South Korea. They are here in our region, for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I was interested in coming for a cultural exchange, it's a really great opportunity to meet other people, to be in another part of the world, to see how life is going here, what people value here, it's all different from Ukraine, said Valentyn Boichuk.
An eye opening experience.
Everyone is so tall and I'm so short, said Yuloh Um.
In their time here, the students are volunteering and participating in extracurriculars.
In Korea, there’s no choir, and musical thing in school, but here there’s a musical thing, a choir thing, I do choir, now I'm in district choir 2 and I'm in high school musical, said Um.
Sharing their unique cultures with others in the region.
I've personally really loved to share with my culture because it's a big opportunity to show the world about your country, that is not really well known, said Zhamila Omorova.
And experiencing a different way of life.
It’s been a very fantastic experience here so I've really enjoyed the time here. I think my favorite class here is Spanish or government, said Lizzie Stampfer.
Social studies teacher at Abingdon High, Jordan Blackson has hosted 14 exchange students in the past 10 years.
This year, he is hosting Lizzie and Zhamila.
You give them an opportunity to make a dream come true for them, but at the same time, it's just a real gift for your own family, for our own children, they really feel like they have siblings all over the world, said Blackson.
This program creating connections and opening minds.
It’s just a real opportunity to be able to invest in something. It truly feels like you're changing the world, said Blackson.
The students told News Five's Natalea Hillen it has been a privilege to be here learning a new culture and they are all so grateful for their host families welcoming them with open arms.