THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411070221
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER RIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
WHEN ISRAEL and Jordan signed a historic peace agreement last week, 16 Israeli exchange students visiting Norfolk watched developments in their homeland through the eyes of American television.
``This treaty is very important to our people and is something they have worked long and hard for,'' said Daniella Cohen, a 17-year-old delegate from Haifa, Israel. ``To me, it means a whole new outlook for my country and a chance at peace for Israelis and the people of Jordan. It's a new chance at life.''
Daniella and the other students are part of the U.S.-Israel High School Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program. They landed in New York on Oct. 16 and arrived in Norfolk on Oct. 19.
The program is intended to better relations between the United States and Israel and to help students see the differences and similarities between the two nations.
``Before I came to America, I thought it was all going to be like that show `Beverly Hills 90210' - you know, everybody driving around in the expensive cars and wearing the most expensive clothes,'' Daniella said. ``But going to New York and then coming here (Norfolk), I realized things are a lot alike in our two countries, not just all that TV-land stuff.
While the Israeli students were in Norfolk, they gave speeches and presentations to high school social studies classes about life in Israel, their government and their schools.
In some of the discussions, the Israeli students were joined by five local counterparts who will be going to Israel for about three weeks as part of the exchange program.
``I enjoyed listening to the Israeli students talk about their home lives and what it is like to live in Israel,'' said Ravyn Patterson, a Maury High School student exchange delegate. ``Things are not as different between the two countries as people like to think. . . . Well, they do go to school six days a week!''
But the visit wasn't all work. The Israeli delegates also were treated to some American entertainment during their stay. Among the activities were a trip to Nauticus and a farewell party at the Jewish Community Center of Tidewater.
The Israeli students left Norfolk for Denver on Oct. 28. They will return to Israel with 64 American delegates, including the five Norfolk students, Nov. 10.
Angela Riedel, a junior at Lake Taylor High School and a member of the exchange group, is excited about the trip.
``I had to undergo some pretty serious interviews to achieve this honor, and I can't wait to go to Israel,'' she said. ``It is going to be a great learning experience for me, and it will also enable me to teach others about America, to destroy some of the stereotypes other countries may have about us.''
To be eligible for selection as a delegate to Israel, students must maintain at least a C average and demonstrate that their grades would not suffer by missing three weeks of school.
Interested students filled out applications and turned them in to their social studies teachers along with teacher recommendations. Students were then screened and interviewed, and the top applicants were selected.
The five Norfolk students who will be traveling to Israel are:
Vaughan Elizabeth Bell, Granby High School
Angela Marie Riedel, Lake Taylor High School
Ravyn B. Patterson, Maury High School
Thomas Richard Smigiel Jr., Norview High School
Amie Weisberg, Maury High School ILLUSTRATION: Photos
GARY C. KNAPP/Staff
Visiting students from Israel sing a song to their host families
during a going-away party at the Jewish Community Center in
Norfolk.
Jennifer Riddle is a junior at Lake Taylor High
Graphic
EXCHANGE FACTS
The U.S.-Israel High School Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program
started in 1978.
Since then, nearly 800 Americans and almost 1,400 Israelis have
visited each others' countries as young ambassadors. The program is
sponsored by the Partners for Global Education (a committee of the
America-Israel Friendship League), Council of the Great City
Schools, President's International Youth Exchange Initiative, and
Israel Public Council for Exchange of Youth and Young Adults.
by CNB