My article which follows was published in a recent issue of the
Zajednicar. If you would like more information about hosting exchange
students from, or sending exchange students to, Croatia, please visit
our web page: http:\croatianstudents.cjb.net. Many thanks to CROWN
for making all of this possible.
Croatian Exchange Student Opens the Door for Others
This past holiday season was special for my family and me, and not
just for the obvious reasons. Sure, we enjoyed our usual traditions,
but we also had the privilege of hosting a Croatian student in our
home on his first visit to the United States. We decided to do this
knowing that it would be a great opportunity for our children to
develop a stronger connection to their grandparent’s homeland, but
little realizing how much fun we would have seeing our world through
our guest’s eyes.
It all started with a simple request sent out via the CROWN newsletter
(www.croatianworld.net) from Dr. Matko Marusic, professor at the Zagreb
School of Medicine and editor of the prestigious Croatian Medical
Journal (www.cmj.hr). Dr. Marusic was looking for a Croatian-American
family to host a 17-year-old neighbor of his, Tomislav Soldo, for
several weeks during the Christmas holiday season. We learned that
Tomislav was a typical teen who enjoyed music, basketball and computers
and that, importantly for us, he spoke English well.
In the days after we agreed to host Tomislav, we busily exchanged
emails to learn more about him and his family and to work out the
details of his trip. When we met him at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, we
found that he’d had a good trip but was understandably quite tired.
Once he recovered from his jet lag, we enjoyed many experiences
together including things that we might not have done without a
visitor to entertain. We spent a day in Chicago sightseeing and
ice-skating, went to Mass on Christmas day, went bowling (Tomislav
learned fast) and often played basketball at our church gym. He met
my wife’s entire family, our boy’s friends (who all liked him very
much, especially the girls), the president of our local Croatian Club
in Joliet, Dane Sikic, and even one of the Chicago Bulls.
This last event came about as a pleasant surprise. Knowing that
Tomislav was a tremendous basketball fan, we thought he might enjoy
attending an NBA basketball game. Checking the Chicago Bulls roster,
we learned that they had a 7′ 1″ Croatian player, Dalibor Bagaric, on
their team. On a whim, we contacted the Bulls, told them about our
visiting student, and asked whether it might be possible to meet
Dalibor. We knew this was a long shot, and were therefore genuinely
surprised when they agreed. Dalibor was very gracious, allowing
Tomislav to shoot a basket with him while the team warmed up before a
game and giving us his personal seats when he found out that ours were
not nearly as good.
Tomislav’s own words are perhaps more eloquent than anything else I
could say:
“A couple of days before Christmas 2001 I embarked across the Atlantic
for the first time in my life. It was exhausting, but one does not go
overseas every day. This would be my first Christmas without my
family. At O’Hare airport a nice man with red cap waited for me – Joe
Misurac, with his son Jason, 19. While driving to their home in
Plainfield, Illinois, I admired the nice houses on both sides of the
highway.
“I spent three weeks with the Misurac family, who did all they could
to make up for my longing for my family in Zagreb. My stay in the USA
offered opportunities of which I could barely dream: sightseeing in
Chicago (the skyscrapers fascinated me the most), attending an NBA
game, and meeting Dalibor Bagaric, who plays for the Chicago Bulls.
“I loved the open and friendly attitude of the Plainfield and Joliet
inhabitants, who accepted me as though I was born there. A few days
before my return, I spent a day with Matt Misurac, 17, visiting his
high school. I liked this experience the most, because this was a
relaxing and interesting school day and I was able to meet many nice
people my own age. Pity I did this so late in my stay that I was
unable to visit the school again.
“I liked the USA a lot, but also realized how difficult it must have
been for those who, under political or economic pressure, had to leave
their country between the Drava River and blue Adriatic Sea. Mr. Dane
Sikic confirmed these feelings as being his experience also. As a
sincere and devoted Croat, he had to leave Croatia under communist
pressure and look for happiness elsewhere. The story of Joe’s father,
Mr. Joseph Misurac, Sr., is rather similar. However, this enabled me
to spend three beautiful weeks in the USA, for which I am truly
grateful.
“I thank my hosts with all my heart, hoping that we will see each
other again. There is so much more to do and I hope that my experience
will prompt many more visits of young Croatian students to American
families of Croatian origin. To Croats in the USA I send my love and
affection, wish them lots of luck, and hope that they will come to
visit our beautiful country as soon as possible. God bless America
and Croatia.”
If this story were to end right here, we’d all agree that Tomislav’s
visit was a complete success. However, Dr. Marusic is hopeful that
this visit may one day take on added significance as the first step
towards providing the same opportunity for many others. He envisions
not only other North Americans opening their homes to Croatian
students for similar visits, but Croatian families hosting North
American students as well. Students would be responsible for their
own airfare, and host families would provide lodging, food,
sightseeing and care. The fulfillment of this vision lies not in
awaiting the establishment of a large organization, but in each of us
doing what we can to further this process.
As a first step, we have established a simple web site:
http:\croatianstudents.cjb.net. If you are interested in hosting a
Croatian student in your home or sending a student to Croatia, let us
know. If you’d like to assist with this project or have ideas that
may be helpful, please contact us. You can also reach us via email at
[email protected]. By working together we can impact the
lives of our students along with those in Croatia, and strengthen the
bonds of kinship between our countries.