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CNN Live Today
Student Exchange Programs Opening Teens' Eyes to Other Countries
Aired March 26, 2002 - 14:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The Cold War is over, we know that. But preconceived notions remain between Americans and Russians. Student exchange programs are now helping teenagers open their eyes to life in other countries. Our Moscow bureau chief, Jill Dougherty, now, explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A late- night arrival in Moscow. Twelve exchange students from a Massachusetts prep school are about to meet their host families and confront their ideas about Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was told it was very cold, the food wasn't good. I was told that I should be very, very careful in the streets.
DOUGHERTY: Welcome to the new Russia, where for these Americans, one of the most surprising things is how they feel so much at home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Different museums, excursions. Moscow, bowling center. They'll love it.
DOUGHERTY: The music is the same. But at this pizza party, the Russian kids dance. The Americans hang out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're just like us. Just like...
DOUGHERTY (on camera): Like what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, they don't think about what people is thinking. I mean, they think alike. They're themselves, I like this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I whole family is awesome. The parents don't speak much English, and I don't speak amazing amounts of Russian. But there is just something there where we, like, get along.
DOUGHERTY (voice-over): This exchange between Buckingham Brown & Nichols school and Moscow's English language school number 1232 began in 1989. Since then, more than 100 students from each country have spent two weeks seeing how other teenagers live and study, and answering a ton of questions. I'd never been to America, so I asked, what about life, about housing there, cities, everything. About the things they like, the music they listen to.
DOUGHERTY (on camera): Even in the course of just two weeks, these American and Russian students often find their views of each other and their countries turned upside down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's much more exciting than the U.S.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not that cold. The food is fine. And I've had a really -- overall, a really good experience here.
DOUGHERTY (voice-over): Thirty-three years ago, Alexandria Vershbow, a graduate of the prep school, came to Russia on another exchange program. He's now the U.S. ambassador to Russia.
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW, U.S AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA: We have to change attitudes, get rid of old stereotypes. And I think it's exchanges like this, more than anything else, that help do that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's your favorite food?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you like Britney Spears?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are all one generation. And we are -- our generation will be building the future together.
DOUGHERTY: Building a future, one friend at a time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please get on the bus, OK? We're going to miss our flight.
DOUGHERTY: Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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