Generation Next

By Tilcara Webb

Learning a new language changed one student’s life and brought her overseas to America. Pakistani student Tayyaba Rehman, 16, is living in Santa Fe and studying as an exchange student at Santa Fe Preparatory School.

Rehman smiled as she told the story about how she was one of 108 students chosen from a pool of 4270 applicants to receive a scholarship to study abroad in the United States. She continued to smile as she shared stories of both countries. “Two countries, they can come together and share different cultures,” she said.

Rehman started learning English in middle school. She later joined a group of girls who studied English as a part of a scholarship class.

Outside of school, Rehman tutored students in English and other subjects, and often assited her aunt, a teacher. When she was in eighth grade, she taught 16 students ranging from kindergartners to seventh-graders. In the future, Rehman wants to become an educator and an English teacher and open an orphanage and a school.

When Rehman learned about the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program, she decided to apply to study in the U.S. The YES program is funded by the U.S. State Department and provides scholarships to students in Muslim countries to study in the U.S. for an academic year.

The scholarship application process proved difficult, but Rehman was eventually one of six girls from her all-girls school chosen for the program. The girls joined another 180 Pakistani students on their way to the U.S. Before leaving Pakistan, Rehman said she viewed Americans as friendly people who often used the Internet and laptops. She was told teenagers had lots of parties, and that high school was very difficult.

Rehman arrived in Washington, D.C., in August, where she participated in an orientation focused on American culture and people. From the capital, she came to live in Santa Fe with her host family, Santa Fe Prep computer science teacher James Taylor, his wife, Pam Homer, and their dog, Sasha.

Her host family took her hiking in the mountains, which she cites among her favorite places in New Mexico. They’ve also gone snowshoeing, and Rehman is excited about their upcoming trip to the Grand Canyon in the spring.

“My host parents are just awesome!” Rehman said.

Along with spending time with her host family, Rehman is involved in community and school activities. She has also made many friends. Rehman has volunteered a combined 300 hours in Prep’s library, the Santa Fe Children’s Museum and works with children at church. She said staying busy keeps her from being homesick and that she volunteers to help others and to have the community experiences.

“[Tayyaba] never misses an opportunity,” said Stephanie Schlanger, Santa Fe Prep’s librarian and Rehman’s adviser. “[She’s] determined to get every ounce out of this experience.”

Rehman said she hopes to return to the states for college and to get to know more cities in this country.

Many Americans may have misconceptions about the Middle East and Pakistan. Likewise, people in Pakistan may have misconceptions about the United States. By studying abroad in the U.S., Rehman said she has been able to learn about American culture and also address certain misconceptions about her country.

Schlanger spoke of how Rehman kindly clarifies misconceptions and promotes mutual understanding. “She’s a really wonderful ambassador to her country and she’s been able to correct a lot of misconceptions we have about her country.”

Rehman noticed that some Americans assumed that Pakistan is riddled with terrorists and weapons. She noted that having a gun is illegal in Pakistan, while in America, gun ownership is widespread.

“We cannot have guns, it is not legal,” Rehman said. “But every American people have guns. They have guns, but we don’t.”

Rehman also spoke about the hijab, the veil that many Muslim women wear. Rehman explained that she does not believe that the hijab oppresses women; she said it connotes the highest respect. She said that Muslim women are treated like queens — no one is allowed to touch them except for their husbands.

Rehman will stay in Santa Fe until June 13. Her stay is facilitated by the Program of Academic Exchange program. PAX is a federally sponsored program for foreign exchange students whose mission is to promote peace, understanding and friendships among different cultures around the world. To learn more, or to host an exchange student, visit www.pax.org.

Tilcara Webb is a freshman at the New Mexico School for the Arts. Contact her at [email protected].