Chapter 1

The Present

Today you will read a short story about participants in a student exchange program, but the events happened or will happen in different periods of time. And the main characters will be connected not only by this program, but also by blood ties.

I.

The first chapter began in the autumn of 2021, when Leila, a second-year student of the Kazakh-British Technical University, finally decided to try her luck and take part in a student exchange program. All autumn and winter she was occupied with submitting and preparing documents, as well as preparing for the embassy interview to obtain a visa. I think every participant of the program was a little nervous before this interview, as was Leila, but fortunately everything went smoothly, and she received her long-awaited visa in mid-spring. After that, a month later she was sitting in the passenger cabin of a spacious plane on the Almaty - New York flight...

II.

And finally the pilot announces «ladies and gentlemen! This is your Captain speaking. We have arrived at our destination. Welcome to New York City! ».

Very mixed feelings overwhelmed the fragile girl in the big noisy bright city. Unique delight intertwined with slight anxiety and anticipation from everything she saw.

Two days later she was already in a small coastal town on the border of Alabama, having settled in a small cozy house together with her roommates. Leila realized that she would spend these two and a half months in this town with these people. She got a job at the local family restaurant, where she worked as a waitress. (photo 1)

There were not many people, but there was no time to idle. I will not hide that the first weeks were not easy for our heroine at all; the language barrier and cultural shock had a strong impact. How good it was that by that time she had become very close with her new friends. Sophie clearly became a very close person with whom Leila stopped feeling lonely. They coped with all the difficulties together, collectively. And after a month it seemed that everything was going surprisingly smoothly and well. An excellent and understanding boss, an always supportive and loyal friend, very friendly and welcoming customers, and the ocean a couple of kilometers' walk away could not but please. Anyone would have felt like the main character of an American teen TV series.

III.

Finally, after long and hard working days, a well-deserved two-week vacation came before the start of classes. The girls had long been looking forward to this exciting trip across America. So many unseen places and so little time. Their grand plans included visiting the Walk of Fame, the Grand Canyon, Universal Park.

Leila's notes.

Note one.

Vacation. This is the first day of our break. Sophie and I rented a compact Kia Rio for two weeks. We set off for the Grand Canyon.

Our acquaintance with the Grand Canyon began at dawn from the Mather Point overlook. To be honest, I had never in my life watched the sun rise from behind the mountains. It was an incredible sight. (photo 2)

Note two.

We also visited Universal Park, namely the magical park of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I am overflowing with delight; finally one more childhood dream has come true. (photo 3, 4)

Note three.

We finally arrived in New York, our final destination.

Musicians, perhaps unemployed, perhaps not, hang out at every subway station, and as always the place is full of tourists, people with suitcases, noise, bustle.

We walked through Central Park; morning walks without tourists are very important to locals. And in the evening we went up to the Rockefeller Center, from which an amazing view of New York opens up. (photo 5)

With this I finish describing my days, because tomorrow I will already fly home)

Leila's adventures in the USA came to an end, I would have written with full confidence, if not for the events that happened the next day.

In the morning, after eating delicious Lucky Charms cereal, the girls went to the airport. Each of them missed their family and home madly, but nevertheless it was a little sad to leave; it felt like they had been here for a very long time and really felt at home. Approaching the check-in desk, Leila reached for her backpack, checked the first pocket, then the second, and then the suitcase. And then a cold sweat seized her — her passport was not in any of the bags. In a panic she returned to the hotel, but to no avail; her plane had long since departed, and she fell into despair. And then the hotel's landline rang; a female voice from the reception informed her that one of the hotel guests had found a passport of a certain girl from Kazakhstan. At that moment she felt the greatest relief of her life. One of the problems, to her happiness and surprise, had been solved. Now she had to solve the ticket problem; buying a new one was definitely not in her plans. So she decided to contact her coordinator, who got in touch with InterExchange and the Kazakh embassy. Leila was rebooked on the next flight in a couple of days.

IV.

Finally our heroine is home, surrounded by her family, discussing and sharing her emotions and impressions. This is where our short story should have ended, but no — next you will read the tale that will take place 25 years later, the story of Ali, Leila's son.

Chapter 2

The Future

I.

The year 2048. Leila's son, Ali, has grown up and is about to turn 20 years old.

He studies at KBTU in the (IT) faculty, just like his mother did in her student years.

Five years ago, in addition to the “work and travel” program, a new direction appeared called “study and travel in America”. Ali is a very determined and capable boy, just like his mother, so he chooses the second option and considers applying for a student exchange program. He is eager to see the USA with his own eyes and feel what it is like to be an American student.

His English level is top-notch, as is his academic performance, which will very positively affect his future. But things will not be as they were 25 years ago. From now on everything has changed, the selection for participation has changed. In addition to the aforementioned conditions that Ali meets, the following must also be met:

• achievement level in sports, middle to high rank;

• ability to survive in emergency situations, cool-headedness (tested with questions about non-standard situations)

Privileges for studying abroad have also changed; in addition to scholarships, the student receives:

• the possibility of free accommodation and meals;

• visa processing at the university's expense;

• the duration of study at the partner university is extended by one additional semester (in case of good results);

• inclusion in a sports team of choice (football, American football, basketball, baseball);

In case of a positive response from the university, the student is required to pay only the flight!

Also, recently many grants from sponsors have been allocated; this is done to improve our students' education and spread our culture and traditions abroad. Thanks to these additional conditions, a considerable number of applicants for the exchange program were filtered out, and there was confidence that the students who win the competition will improve their skills at the partner university in every respect.

So, what about Ali in the end?

Fortunately, he has the required sports rank: Candidate Master of Sports in swimming. He began practicing this sport at the age of 4 and since then has won many major national tournaments, received many honorary awards, and at 18 was called up to the national youth swimming team. Ali accepts the invitation with pride. In 2047 the Kazakhstan youth team went to the world championship among peers; Ali was supposed to compete, but a month before the championship the following happened...

Leila's son sustained a knee injury while swimming the breaststroke intensively; unfortunately, he severely damaged the ligaments — the coach immediately sent Ali home and most likely this will end the promising young man's career.

And yet at the last competition before the world championship he swam 50m freestyle in 23 seconds (23.14) — which allowed him to have the rank (KMS). Surgery was required, and they spoke of an operation that did not guarantee returning the young man to the swimming arena.

A conversation arises between the son and the mother about a temporary refusal of swimming. Ali answers sharply and negatively, because it had opened the door to an interesting, public life, but still Leila asks her son to leave it and focus on his studies, namely to consider the possibility of not just studying in his city, but flying abroad and opening even more opportunities for himself.

After a week of reflection, browsing many articles on the Internet and advice from his father, Ali agrees with his mother. "Of course it's not easy to let go, but you have to sacrifice something if you have a dream to see the USA with your own eyes," Ali said to his mother.

II.

The week for accepting applications to participate in the student exchange program arrives. The diligent family submitted all the necessary documents, after which Ali was invited for an interview. Before the interview many students are nervous, but not Ali. He was prepared and confident, not afraid of criticism or sideways glances. A few minutes after Ali arrived at one of the university branches he was invited into an office where the interview began. The young man spoke confidently, answered questions about non-standard situations and, firmly shaking the hand of the admissions committee, left hoping for the best outcome.

What happened next, you ask? A couple of days later the whole family sat at the laptop with their mailbox open, waiting for the letter with the answer. Everyone sat with wild anticipation, hungry eyes on the laptop screen craving only the letter. After some time the letter finally arrived in Ali's mailbox and holding their breath they opened it.... “Your application has been approved” — not believing their eyes, the parents hugged their son tightly with tears in their eyes, because this was the only reason to give up the sport to which he had devoted all his years. Ali, not believing his eyes, hugged his parents and said: "It worked, Mom, Dad, it worked, I am flying to fulfill my dream, thank you for believing in me, I love you very much."

III.

Autumn. Early September. The day of Ali's departure to the USA under the student exchange program arrives. All the suitcases are packed. His parents saw their son off with tears of pride and simultaneously sadness, as they would not see him for the entire academic semester.

He will spend this period of his life at Boston Technical University; the course of subjects will be similar to the Kazakh one by about 70%. (photo 6) He has highly developed communication skills, so his adaptation went quickly. And by the end of the week Ali already had his own group of friends consisting of 6 people, 4 guys and 2 girls. Of course, it is worth noting the campus itself, which more resembles a huge park with a very beautiful lake and picturesque views, so you feel the atmosphere of a true English suburb here. No wonder the student town is called a city within a city. It has everything you need for study and life. And what an advantage for those who like to sleep in a little longer — you can get to classes in about ten minutes on foot or by bicycle.

All universities in the USA have their own peculiar traditions. One of them our hero encountered — the night before exams, common to all students, during which the musical orchestra, playing, moves through all the campus libraries, interrupting the general vigil over the books. This launches complete mayhem, because students clap, shout, jump on desks. But this helps to relieve stress, ease nervous tension and stage fright before exams.

Another amusing custom is to throw notebooks out of the campus windows, accompanying the act with a loud shout, which also helps calm the nerves. Also, like a true American student, he joined a club — namely the swimmers' club.

IV.

This semester certainly did not let him get bored. He gained vast experience in independent living and could not help but be pleased by the diversity of cultures, nations and worldviews. Every day he learned something new from almost every person. And thanks to him, Americans learned about his culture.

The trip expanded all horizons and borders in his mind. It turns out that people can live like this, speak completely different languages, have absolutely different views on life. You are always involved in the life of the society in which you find yourself. I believe that if there is something good to take from the USA, then this is one of the first things that would be great to adopt. Another important conclusion is that you must be in the right information stream and use every opportunity. This world has everything for us; you just need to take what is yours, without hesitation. This is a unique chance to look at your true self and see your strengths and weaknesses, to become a slightly better version of yourself. I am sure Ali decided the same as his mother.