On April 16, 2011, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program alumna Elizaveta Verkhovskikh gave a presentation on “Discovering America” at the American center in Chelyabinsk. She told participants of the meeting about her participation in the FLEX program and about its great possibilities for young people. About 30 people attended the event, including two other alumni.
She said that the FLEX Program brings Russian high school students to the United States to live with American host families, attend high school and experience community life for an academic year. The program is fully funded by the U.S. government and is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
She took part in this program in 2009 – 2010 and learned about the United States firsthand by taking part in school study, family life, and extracurricular activities in her local communities. She also shared her own culture with her family, school, and communities.
Verkhovskikh was asked a lot of questions. The gathered people asked her about some difficulties which she had in the beginning of her stay in the United States, about the attitude of American people towards her, about her host family and so on. She was happy to answer all the questions and show the pictures which she took in the United States. The participants of the event could not only get an idea about FLEX program but also see the United States with new sight, through Verkhovskikh’s eyes.