Organization: CSAV UTIA
X-Acknowledge-To: <BUDD@CSPGAS11>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.mideur-l
Date:         Tue, 12 Jan 1993 10:13:34 EDT
From:         Richard Budd <BUDD@CSPGAS11.BITNET>
Subject:      15 Year Old Wants to Attend School in America

The English teacher at Kiralyhelmec, Slovakia asked me to talk with one of his
students about the possibility to travel to America.  The boy had planned to
apply for the "Youth for Understanding" exchange program, but found that the
organization requires accepted applicants to remit US$5,000, which obviously
would be an expensive proposition in Slovakia.

I spoke with him several times during the three weeks I spent in Kiralyhelmec
and believe he would do well in America.  He knows he must get out with the
people and struggle with communication as he becomes more proficient in the
English language.  He composed this short biography of himself on my laptop
during one of our meetings.  It appears below as he wrote it.

-----------------------------------Start Message-----------------------------

BIOGRAPHY:     Sandor (Alexander) Czehmester

My name is Czehmester Sandor.  I am 15 years old and I study at
the gymnasium in Kral'ovsky Chlmec, Slovakia.  I was born 31.
March 1977 in Kral'ovsky Chlmec.  I have a sister, whose name is
Emoke.  She is one year older than me.  She studies at the same
school as I do.

My father's name is also Sandor.  He was born 2. May 1940.  He
works at the municipal government office of our town.  My
mother's name is Ilona.  She was born 8. November 1951.  She
works at the furniture factory in our town.  She is handicapped
because her right leg is narrower than her other leg, since her
4th birthday.  She can work only in the office; not on the
factory floor.

My mother brought two application forms for Youth for
Understanding, which I can fill out.  If I am lucky and am
chosen, possibly I can study in the USA.  But in this case, it
would be too expensive because it costs about US$5,000 to
participate.  My mother and father make only Kcs100,000 crowns
per year (Note from RB, that is $4,000).  That is why it is not
affordable for my family to send me.

I would like to study at a university, where the courses are
taught in English.  One university of this kind was founded three
years ago in Prague.  If I go to this school from our gymnasium,
I will not receive credit from our school.  That is why I would
like to study at an American high school.  If my first
opportunity does not come true, I am looking for a family who can
give me accommodation for one year to study at any American high
school. If somebody who can help me reads this note, please let
me know what are my chances and what can I do to achieve this.

My nationality is Hungarian.  I live in Slovakia so I am a member
of a minority.  I have been studying English for three years, but
I still have difficulty speaking well because there are few
English speakers in my town.  That is why I want to improve my
English speaking ability by immersing myself in the English
language at an American school so I can attend the English
language school in Prague.

---------------------------------End Message----------------------------------

I should add that his hobbies are swimming and tennis, though he has had little
opportunity to do either because of the lack of facilities in his hometown.

If anyone on the forum would want to host him for at least the next summer, if
not for the upcoming school year or knows of anyone who would want to do so,
please contact me at either budd@cspgas11 or klub@maristb.  Both are on BITNET.

His parents have assured me they have money for airfare and will provide him
with some spending money.  My parents and I hosted another Hungarian boy from
Slovakia under the same circumstances last summer and it was a pleasant
experience for everybody.  He is now looking into the possibility of studying
in America and hopes to make a decision in June.

                                               Richard Budd
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU