I recently sat down for an interview with exchange student Karina Mamatova, who is studying at FCHS this year, to learn about what she thinks about being a student in America.

• Where are you  from?

Karr-Balta, Kyrgyzstan

• How did you end up coming to Fluvanna?

It wasn’t my choice. We have this program in my country  and they have tours for us. We have to do exams for English and stuff. Then they choose certain people who qualify for that and then we just wait for someone from America, there’s a special site for exchange students and American host family’s choose them. I was just at home waiting and then I found out I would be here at Fluvanna, Virginia.

• What are three things that surprised you about America?

Umm, a lot of people don’t walk. Like, all the time they’re driving. I’m not used to that. I’m used to walking in my country. And air conditioners are everywhere. They’re everywhere, even in the school. The third thing, I think everything is big. Like the stores and also when you go to a restaurant and you order something and there is a big plate. It’s a lot. I never eat so much.

• What is your favorite thing about America?

I think everything. The whole country.

• Do you have a least favorite thing?

Fast food. A lot of fast food.

• What is your favorite American food?

Mac and cheese

• What do you do in your free time?

Homework and sometimes hanging out with friends.

• What other languages do you speak?

I speak Russian, then our national language Kyrgyz, and I learned French here, and English.

• What do you miss the most about your home country?

Food. I miss my mom’s food. I tried to cook my food here; some of it I can, some I can’t .

• How is school different in your home country? Is it easier or harder?

I think it’s easier, because you can choose your subjects, [in Kyrgyzstan] you don’t choose, everything is required. There are lots here, I got to choose fun subjects. And we study six days a week, not five.

• What extracurricular things do you do in Kyrgyzstan?

Here you have more possibilities like doing sports and in my country it’s not so popular. Most of it I was really into English. I love languages so I’m taking languages in my country.

• What are your plans for the future?

[When I get back] I’m going to get my diploma. Then I’m going to go to University.

• What are you going to study at University?

I was thinking about being a translator. I already have experience in English so it’s going to be a plus when I go to University.