Impressions of U.S. favorable to duo

Debbie Archer and Matthew McColgan, both 16 and from Northern Ireland, are hooked on the fast food at Friendly's.

They also say that friendly Americans who have welcomed them with open arms surprised them when they arrived in the U.S. nine weeks ago.

Both readily agree that they have quickly settled down to life in America like "we've lived here for a long time" -- and that surprises them, too.

Exchange students

For the second year in a row, Doane Stuart School in Albany has welcomed two Irish exchange students, one Catholic and one Protestant, from Northern Ireland.

The program is a partnership with Lagan College in Belfast, one of nearly 40 integrated schools in that country. (Although Lagan is known as a college, its curriculum is similar to U.S. high schools.)

"Lagan is actually that nation's earliest successfully merged Catholic-Protestant school," said Doane Stuart headmaster Richard Enemark. "Their mission is to give students of different faiths the opportunity to be educated together in the hope of learning respect and acceptance of others. It is fitting that we share this partnership, because Doane Stuart is the only successfully merged integrated school in the U.S. We are hoping that these students will return home a little wiser and deeply affected by their time spent in an environment that is rich with respect for people of all faiths and traditions."

Lucky duo

Debbie, a Protestant, and Matthew, a Catholic, were chosen from 20 students at Lagan who applied for a year in America. Debbie is from Bangor in County Down. Matthew comes from Belfast, and lives near the border of Amtrim and Down counties.

Before they came to America, they did not know each other. There are about 1,500 students at Lagan and 300 at Doane Stuart.

"I thought being in school here for a year would give me good experience," Debbie told The Evangelist. "I was concerned a bit about being away from my family for a whole year, and I do miss them already. I hope to become a teacher, so this gives me the opportunity to see and be part of a different type of education."

Hiatus

The duo's year here is a hiatus from their schoolwork. When they return home, they will resume their studies where they left off. "That was one of my serious considerations" about applying for the exchange, Matthew said, but he chose to come because he thought the experience would be good for him.

"We always hear about America and Americans back home," he said. "Unfortunately, we do not often hear good things. I wanted to see for myself what living here is all about. I was very surprised at how friendly everyone is."

Host families

Debbie and Matthew are living with families who have students at Doane Stuart.

"My host family is perfect for me," Debbie said. "At home, I have a younger brother, so we live a fairly quiet life. Here, my host family is a single mom and her daughter. I love it. I feel right at home."

Matthew is the third of five children, so "life is noisy at home. Here, my host family has four kids. I seem to have fit right in. They have all really treated me like one of the family."

"When we got here, we felt as if we were the only friends we had," Debbie noted. "But that has all changed now. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming."

Violence

Although both students are aware of the violence that has occurred in their country, neither has seen much.

"We are always aware of what can happen, though," Matthew noted. "If you live there, you always know when you have walked into a Protestant or a Catholic section. You know what to look for and what may happen. It has been a part of our lives since we can remember. We are careful; we have to be. Something as simple as wearing the 'wrong' soccer shirt [in support of an opposing team] can get you beat up, if you happen to venture into the wrong area."

Debbie added: "Our generation really hasn't been subjected to the violence that those before us have been."

(The exchange student program at Doane Stuart was the dream of Seamus Hodgkinson, who lived through "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland in 1969. He has been a math and science teacher at Doane Stuart Middle School for 27 years. For information, call 465-5222 or visit www.doanestuart.org.)

(11/11/04)