Cheering for the Minnesota Twins

Sundus Ali, World Heritage Exchange Student (YES Yemen) living with the Nau Family in Prior Lake, Minnesota USA, experienced the game of baseball for the first time as well as the 'culture' of a baseball game!

"The baseball game was awesome! I just can't explain how much fun I had there. It's an amazing experience and the activities they do in there like showing people on the screen doing different things for example, dancing, singing, kissing, waving and asking them questions - that is my best part! I loved watching people smiling and having fun. Americans people are cute they are having fun, smiling, laughing and eating. They don't worry about things. They just live their life and enjoy it and that's cool. I am doing like them - I love their life."

Sundus Ali, World Heritage Exchange Student (YES Yemen)

When asked specifically about the actual baseball game, Sundus replied that she remembered cheering for the Minnesota Twins and they lost the game to the Yankees. Sundus said again it was something she would never forget!

Sundus is bubbling with excitement and appreciation for the opportunity that the YES program has given her. She says, "Thank you so much for welcoming me here in your sweet country America. Since I came here more than ten sweet people welcomed me and that is such a sweet cute thing from you guys. American people, it really helps us and makes us feel that we are not far from our home because you all care about us. Thanks to the ASSE/ WH organization for caring and asking about us."

Cheering for the Pittsburgh Pirates!

Leyla Khamidullina, ASSE Exchange Student (FLEX Russia) living in New Castle, Pennsylvania USA with the Shelok Family enjoyed her first visit to experience a baseball game.

Leyla, along with her host family and friends from the host family's church piled into a van to see the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Cincinnati Reds soon after Leyla's arrival.

Leyla said she had read the rules of baseball before the game so she could understand most of the moments of the game. She noticed that the colors of the Pirates were black and yellow and that most of the people in the stadium wore yellow.

Ice-cream balls tasted "fantastic" to Leyla. Later in the game, Leyla went upstairs to try out some more snacks. On her way, she hurt her toe, which she noted with excitement, was her first 'injury' in America. She said she wasn't significantly hurt and she enjoyed trying to explain to employees what had happened. She said her host-dad became a translator from her not very good English to 'normal' language... To add to the excitement the 'Pirates' were winning when it happened. As soon as they got back to their seats Leyla said "3 guys from the 'Reds' ran to 'home'.

Reflecting on the experience, Leyla said, "It was really good game and good practice of English for me! And by the way, on the way in the van, some tried to pronounce my last name (Khamidullina), it was pretty fun."

Leyla Khamidullina, ASSE Exchange Student (FLEX Russia)