Shahlo Alikhonzoda of Tajikistan (bottom, left) recently attended her American first high school football game with classmates and friends (front, l-r) Kaylin Muggler and Kariann Elsbernd; (back) Kyra McIntyre, Sophie Leuck and Anna Torkelson.
Friends + family = fun in any language
By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com
Kevin and Kristy Meyer of Elgin have hosted a number of foreign exchange students since 2008 when the first one arrived from Germany.
For the last eight years, the Meyers have also hosted students from France, Italy, and Norway. If you haven’t noticed, they proudly display those countries’ flags on their deck across from the bridge near North Fayette Valley Middle School.
“We never had kids of our own and would always wonder what it would be like to have someone in the house,” Kristy recalled, “to get to enjoy the sports and the activity of day-to-day life. So, we decided we would host exchange students.”
The Meyers got to add another flag this year, but what makes this flag unique is its location. The couple's newest foreign exchange student, Shahlo Alikhonzoda, is from Tajikistan. It’s a nice change of pace from the European countries represented in the past.