Photo By Sgt. Wesley Landrum | Local Kuwaiti students enjoy ice cream at the main dining facility. The students...... read more read more
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By Maj. Michael R. Berry
Area Support Group-Kuwait Public Affairs
The students participate in an afternoon English language program, called ACCESS, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by AMIDEAST, an American non-profit organization based in Kuwait. ACCESS has expanded its classroom program to include English language day-camp experiences held on weekends.
This past weekend brought the Kuwaiti students to Camp Arifjan to learn first-hand some of what U.S. service members are experiencing in their country.
"The visit is important because it gives the students an opportunity to meet Americans and forge their own opinions of what Americans are like," said U.S. Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs John F. Berry.
The students were interested in learning about American military culture and how service members live while serving in the Middle East. The service members they saw and spoke with serve as U.S. ambassadors to them and form a lasting first impression.
They spent several hours at Camp Arifjan, speaking only English. They ate lunch in the main dining facility, visited the veterinary clinic, learned about military training, and finished the day at a Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center.
It was a tossup between whether the military training or the chocolate ice cream at lunch was the biggest hit of the day.
The students come from many different schools and backgrounds, but for most of them this is a rare chance to interact with Americans.
The Area Support Group – Kuwait is committed to participating in more events such as this. They play an important role in developing cultural understanding between both the students and the service members who meet them.
"Opportunities like this visit will definitely happen again," said 1st Lt. Erika Couturier, ASG-KU officer in charge of coordinating the event.
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2008 02:57 |
| Story ID: | 19722 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 323 |
| Downloads: | 265 |
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