Exchange student experiences culture shock
Yavuz (pronounced Yavoos) Akat is an exchange student at Centre High School. His host parents are Phil and Jamie Peterson of Burdick.
Coming from Istanbul, Turkey, a city of more than 11 million people, Yavuz experienced quite a shock when he ended up living in the tiny town of Burdick.
The surprise was almost as great for the Petersons who, because of last-minute placement problems, unexpectedly received Yavuz into their home. Arrangements had been made for Yavuz to go to Topeka, but the host family had canceled at the last minute, leaving him high and dry.
The Petersons had talked in the past about hosting an exchange student, so when this opportunity presented itself, they accepted. They have one daughter, Adrianne, who is in college.
Yavuz' stay in Kansas is the second time he has been in the United States. Several years ago, he spent four months living with friends of his father in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
His father is a businessman who owns two companies which sell chemicals to various industries. His father was born in a Turkish village, so Yavuz has had the opportunity to visit relatives at the village from time to time. "I wouldn't want to live there," he said.
Yavuz is experienced in making new friends. He said he has attended 10 different schools during his lifetime. Change was difficult for a while, but now he is used to it and adapts easily. His parents are divorced.
Yavuz is classified as a junior and turned 17 in December. He is taking carpentry, something he was not familiar with in Turkey. He likes swimming and soccer, and isn't participating in sports at Centre.
Yavuz is very much a big-city boy. He doesn't enjoy living in a rural setting and attending a small school. He is used to being among thousands of students. He complained that he would like to be able to go out and get his own lunch at noon.
He is considering returning to the States next year but would like to go to Los Angeles. He wants to become an international businessman like his father.
His hosts said they've learned interesting things about Turkey, such as the fact that it isn't all desert and mountains.
Istanbul is located along the coast, so vegetation is lush and green. Islam is the dominant religion. Earthquakes are common, even within the city of Istanbul. Yavuz said well-built buildings can withstand the tremors.
Yavuz is hopeful that someday Phil and Jamie can visit him in Istanbul to see it for themselves. They said they are not ready to accept the invitation.
Although the Petersons and their guest have a running feud — he tells them he would not want to live in the country, and they tell him they would not want to live in the city — they have become good friends.
"We've learned to understand each other," Phil said with a laugh.
