The following letter was written by 2003-2004 FLEX participant Maryana Burdeha from Ukraine after meeting Ms. Patricia Harrison, Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs for the U.S. Department of State. They met at the 2004 FLEX Civic Education Conference in Washington, DC.

March 8, 2004

Dear Mrs. Patricia Harrison;

I am so thankful to you for the opportunity to study in the USA. Every one of the FLEX students learns so much here. Before we come to your country, we are usual teenagers, dreaming about a better future, but we don’t know what to do for it. Living in America with a host family, we find different ways of life style, we share our cultures with Americans and find the most important values in human life.

At school, I am involved with the FFA Organization and visiting its National Convention, I found it is a big part of your history because it works for 75 years and improved the economy a lot. I am interested in the world economy and take business classes at school. I learn a lot being involved in the Business Professionals of American (BPA) and I take part in different competitions.

In the future, I want to work in international business relationships. I am sure the skills that I receive in the United States will help me when I to home. This year changed me a lot. I have become a strong person and a patriot of my country. Yes, I am proud to be Ukrainian and I believe in its happy future. Our country just needs to be developed. I did not know a lot how to do it, where to start, but participation in the Civic Education Week in Washington, DC, gave me many ideas. I learned leadership skills, such as teamwork, confidence, passion, respect, communication, courage, trust, organization, to be goal orientated, creative, free, do on compromise and have a positive attitude.

I am full of desire to go back home and develop Ukraine now. I believe I can do it. Also I am looking forward to communicate with the USA in the future. Visiting a committee meeting about foreign relationships in the US Senate on Thursday, I learned that major problems can’t be decided by military actions and that we need understanding between countries. During this year in the USA, I learned so much about this country, its history, and people and I won’t be able to read about it in any book. I respect you as a nation, who fought a lot and made a huge way to the freedom and democracy you have now. I am so glad that the Department of State decided to educate us, people from Europe and Asia about democracy and ways to reach it through FLEX and other programs.

Yours Sincerely;

Maryana Burdeha