On Dec. 1 and 2, IRIS’ twenty YES students got together for the first time since arriving in Iowa for a mid-school year orientation and a community service activity.

Over the weekend, students stayed with temporary host families around Ames, Iowa and the surrounding area and joined together each day to talk about their past 4 months in Iowa. Led by Christelle Enega, Brittany Haga and Sara Schoneberg, the students shared their own personal experiences of living the America lifestyle.

Some of the topics covered were school and home-life, friends, family and religion. The students were not only brave enough to share the obstacles they have come across during their life-changing time in Iowa, but also their joys as they embrace the differences that come with living in another country.

Diyah and Saida making their tie blankets

On Saturday Dec. 1, the group headed to the Volunteer Center of Story County to serve as “blanketeers” for Project Linus. Each student was able to create a tie blanket to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children in need throughout Story County.

After an afternoon full of gift-giving, the group enjoyed pizza (a favorite of many) and an Iowa State University hockey game.

Through the activities, shared meals and orientation topics, the twenty high school students from 9 countries worked together, shared ideas, encouraged each other and took plenty of pictures to document their highly anticipated and successful weekend in Ames.

Source: www.iriscenter.wordpress.com