Nina Stanišić from Nikšić wanted to get to know new cultures, she wanted to see how life flows on the other side of the ocean, and at the age of sixteen she went to stay in the USA for a year. She recently returned, and what you notice very quickly is that she seems more mature in conversation than most of her peers.
When asked by "Vijesti" how she came to go to America, Nina says:
"At school, I learned about the a-smyle program sponsored by the State Department." In order to go to America as part of that program, three rounds of selection are passed.
"About 16 students go from Montenegro every year through this program. The entire stay is paid for, and the students also receive pocket money."
She remembers the moment when she found out that she passed the entire selection and says that she was almost jumping for joy, and then she thought: "How am I going to spend a year there alone?".
However, it turned out that there were no particular reasons for fear. The family that was assigned to her, as well as her friends from school, immediately accepted her and were of great help to her.
“I had a homestay in the state of New Jersey. I went to their public school. At first I was afraid of how they would accept me, but everyone was very kind to me. Most wanted to meet me. They were interested in where I was from. They wanted me to teach them our language," says Nina.
When asked if any of the people she met there knew where Montenegro was, Nina replied that the only one who knew was the history teacher at her school.
When it comes to the difference between our education and education in America, she says that school was not difficult for her there. She had eight subjects, four of which were compulsory.
"Mathematics, English, physical education and history are compulsory". The school day lasts from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon.
"Every day I had all the subjects and always the same schedule. We have two breaks during the day. One is for lunch, and the other is when we go to the library to do homework."
He points out that a lot of attention is paid to sports and that after school they usually go to some kind of training. "I coached volleyball, and later softball, something like baseball for women."
There are many volunteer clubs. "I was also involved there. I was in the cancer club and the homeless club. "Volunteering here is still not as developed as there," she says.
When asked to remember a particularly beautiful event, Nina says that the cruise to the Bahamas will remain in her memory for a long time.
"It was a gift from the family I was staying with for Christmas. I have never been on a cruise before. It was completely unreal to me that I was swimming in the sea during Christmas," she says.
Asked to name the bad sides of being in America, Nina says that there were times when she missed her family and friends.
“They live much faster than we do. Perhaps the biggest problem for me was getting used to their pace. School, training, volunteer clubs, homework. Sometimes I just missed a break from such a pace," she says.
As she says, she would definitely recommend this or a similar experience to all young people. "I would do the same again."
In New York, a restaurant with our food
Of the cities she managed to visit during her stay in America, she particularly liked New York. "New York was about a 40-minute drive from home. We went there every other weekend. I am delighted with that city. Everything is kind of big, huge". In New York, she came across a restaurant with our food, "Tavern". "New York seems like the perfect place for young people to live," Nina points out.
Bonus video:
