Living in a country with unique cultures, languages, and traditions can be scary for most people. Despite this, FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange Program) students from all around the globe stay in various states for a year.

One of these students is Natali Bairamidi, a senior from Georgia. Georgia is a country just south of Russia with a population of just under 12 million people, and it took Bairamidi over 20 hours of flying and traveling to get to the United States.

Being over 6,000 miles away from the comforts of home can be difficult for almost anyone to do, but Bairamidi has not felt homesick.

“[My family] loves me, I love them. I know we will still be in touch,” Bairamidi states. “I don’t feel the distance, because every time I text them it feels like I’m over at a neighbor’s house.”

The process of becoming a foreign exchange student and being accepted into the program is difficult. Over 35,000 students apply for the FLEX program every year, but only a select few get the chance to visit the US.

“On my first try, I didn’t get in. You have to write three essays in 45 minutes, and there are so many questions about yourself,” Bairamidi states. “There are listening tests and texts [where] you have to answer questions, and there is also a language test. There are so many steps to it.”

Even with her acceptance into the program, Bairamidi was almost denied due to another factor; she couldn’t find a host family. After a long and strenuous search, a family with prior hosting experience picked up a call from a WorldLink Coordinator.

“The organization was struggling to find a host family and asked if we would be willing to host for a short time until a permanent host family was found,” Dan Manderschied, Bairamidi’s host parent, states. “Otherwise, they would have to deny [Natali] the opportunity to participate in the program due to not having a host family. We agreed to host her on a short-term basis.”

The Manderschieds discussed potentially hosting Bairamidi for the school year, and after a vote, Bairamidi could stay with the Manderschieds. After the arrangements were finalized to allow Bairamidi into the United States, Bairamidi felt nervous about meeting her host family for the first time. 

“I was scared of meeting one of my [host] siblings because I haven’t met them and thought that they’re going to hate me. But every time I’m having conversations with them, I just feel like I belong here.” Bairamidi states.

Once settled into her new home, Bairamidi started attending Ankeny High for her senior year. Being in a new environment offered Bairamidi new perspectives and apparent differences between the United States and Georgia’s education systems.

“We don’t go to classes like you do here; the teachers go to different classrooms. We are in the same classroom with the same people. We have the same classmates and we can choose subjects that we want to study,” Bairamidi states.

During her time as a student at Ankeny, Bairamidi has been a part of the Yearbook Committee, where she specializes in photography. Bairamidi has been into photography since she was 12 and has been in professional photography for two and a half years. During her stay in the United States, Bairamidi has taken photos of Dyersville and the Field of Dreams, Iowa’s farms and agricultural fields, and school events such as homecoming and football games. 

“So many people tell me that I find things beautiful that are not beautiful in real life, but I make it beautiful with my pictures,” Bairamidi states. “I’ve worked with many photographers in my country, and I have done many different kinds of styles.”

Bairamidi has also taught students about Georgian history and culture by using social media platforms, word of mouth, and has presented in front of classrooms. 

“I learned a lot about Georgia and her culture and what it’s like to live there.” Junior Victory Uwakolam states. “I learned about the Georgian revolution, the forests, the support they have for Ukraine, and their traditions.”

Although she has taught students and staff about her culture and learned a lot while at school, Bairamidi has also learned important life lessons from her trip.

“I learned in the USA how much family means to you. All the dinners are eaten together, [they] always are helping each other, [and] they somehow always manage time for each other,” Bairamidi states. “I appreciate that because in my country it’s different, especially with my family. I learned what family should look like and all of the values to it. Being here makes me feel like I am heard, seen, and understood.”