Numploy's current sponsors are Jerry and Mary Jo Beeler and she was eager to share how fortunate she feels to be guests of the Beeler family. "I am really enjoying my new home. The Beeler's are wonderful to me, very kind and giving and I feel right at home! They are very nice people and they have been very good to me."
Kalona is a change from Numploy's home in Thailand. Thailand is the world's 50thÊ largest country, with a population of 64 million people. It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Cambodia and Laos and to the west by Burma and the Andaman Sea. 75% of the population is Tai, 14% Chinese and 3% Malay. The rest of the population consists of hill tribes which include Mons and Khmers. Keeping in mind the large population, the small rural area of Kalona must have been a bit of a culture shock for Numploy when she viewed the vast fields of corn.
When asked what drew her to the foreign exchange program, Numploy stated, "I wanted to learn a lot of new things that are different to my country....different culture...different language....and meet different people. I think language is important because around the world, there are so many different languages."
In Numploy's home school, just as M-P requires students to take a second language, students are required to learn the English language. She also shared that many other languages including German, French and Spanish are available as classes thus offering a wide variety within the curriculum and cultures from which to learn.
Sharing that her favorite class thus far is Anatomy, Numploy stated, "I really think it's neat how the body is put together. I enjoy learning all about it and how our bodies work."
As we spoke Numploy had been busy working on Anatomy homework and was identifying the bones in the body, a task she said she found to be very interesting. Stating, "You have to learn about your bones and your body and how it works. It is very interesting to me." Numploy shared that her teacher, Mrs. Jones, has been especially helpful in understanding the class. Her appreciation for her teacher was evident in her comments regarding the aid she receives in Jones' classroom.
Admitting that sometimes courses are difficult in that she translates from English to Tai to better understand the class and then back again to English for homework, Numploy still is excited about her stay in Kalona and her time at M-PHS stating, "I have already made a lot of friends. It makes me feel good that people are so friendly here!"
Numploy also jumped right into the extra curriculars at M-PHS as well, singing alto in the choir. She shared that she was enjoying the different music and choir very much. Singing in choir is special to Numploy as she stated, "In Thailand we don't have choir, so this is the first time in a choir for me. I'm very excited to be able to sing in the choir." Discussing future events, Numploy also shared that she is looking forward to Madrigal and everything that goes with it. It will be another "new experience" as she explained it and one she is eagerly anticipating.
Where we Iowan's are tan due to the time spent in the sun on farms and in our own backyards, Numploy shared that the natural tan skin here in Iowa is actually something that is avoided in Thailand, where women find pale skin to be preferable to that of tan. The porcelain skin tones on women in her country are very important according to Numploy. "In my country we like pale skin and try not to be out in the sun so that we tan. We like the pale skin very much."
A self proclaimed "adaptive" young woman, Numploy is settling down into the routine quite easily and from all indications is enjoying it very much. Welcome to Kalona and Mid-Prairie High School Numploy. I wish you good luck and days filled with new friends and new experiences to take home with you. But something tells me that you are well on your way to making your experience a memorable one indeed.
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