“As someone coming on exchange in another country, I prepared myself to expect anything,” said Masooma, a Global UGRAD-Pakistan [7] participant studying at Montclair State University [8] in New Jersey. Masooma echoed many of her peers preparing to meet their American friendship families. Others wondered about how best to represent their country to strangers or worried that they would be imposing on busy families.
For many participants, home stays with friendship families are their first real introduction to American culture. These fellows have the chance to intimately experience family life, food, dress, and activities with families from across the U.S. In some communities, participants also carry the responsibility of being the first Pakistani many community members have met. “I knew all my actions would be a general representation of people of my country,” said Durreshawar, at SUNY-Plattsburgh [9].
Exported American media created perceptions of Americans as busy, non-religious, rude or unconcerned with familial ties, participants said. But home stay experiences challenged these perceptions. Maryam, at Otero Junior College [10] in Colorado, described her friendship family as very family-oriented and appreciated their faith and dedication to their children. Other participants noted that the American value of individualism did not keep them from caring for their family members. Masooma agrees. “Generalizing family dynamics of a country based on what you see through the eyes of the media was clearly proven wrong here,” she said.
An important aspect of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program is experiencing American culture, including through activities with friendship families. Some activities were as simple as cooking and sharing meals and watching movies, while others were special events like birthday parties and family gatherings.
“Once my host mom took me to the hill point where she and her husband got married,” said Maira, at Eastern Washington University [11]. “At that time, I really felt like their daughter because it was one of the most special places in her life and she gave me such importance.”
The students challenged American perceptions of Pakistan, too. Paul and Earline Dixon, host family of Sonia at the University of Arkansas [12], said, “The biggest surprise for us is how devout Muslims are to prayer and how much being Muslim guides one's entire life. We find this is a wonderful thing.”
On the importance of educational exchanges, Colin and Hattie Hanson, Raza’s friendship family, said, “The world is a big and beautiful place and the more we are exposed to it, the better we will be as people. Plus, it puts some beliefs to rest and we can get the truth of different cultures, places, and issues. Local media isn't always the best source of our information.”
Sonia said, “My perception before about an American family was that they are very indifferent people who do not feel so close to others. I could not imagine that an American family could develop such an affinity for a Pakistani girl and that they would start loving me as their own daughter and I would also love them and feel as if I have found my 'American parents.’”
Her host mother, Earline, added, “We really had no preconceived expectations. However, my husband, Paul, and I were impacted immediately by Sonia's good will, intelligence and winning personality. People around the world want the same things and share very similar morals and ideals. Person-to-person, we can positively impact the world.”
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan [7] is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs [13] of the U.S. Department of State and is implemented by IREX.