Written by World Link FLEX Program '24 alum, Ikram Hasanli (Azerbaijan/CA)
I organized a festive cultural event celebrating the magic of Christmas with a special American twist on December 12th (2024) in the high school that I graduated from – ADA School, Baku, Azerbaijan. This was my first cultural event since I came back home and I am super glad to have shared a part of America through my eyes with my school community.
High school students were involved in my event (10-11th graders). For the event, I prepared a cultural presentation where I talked about how I spent Christmas in America, which was (and still is) a memory that seemed like a dream. I also prepared 70 cookies (a recipe I learned in America) with my family for the event. Simeon Michelson – a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at ADA University, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, who co-organized the event with me – and I prepared some classical American games for high schoolers to play. “Pin the tail on the cow” seemed the most fun to the students. Students also loved the game where they drew a Christmas tree…. on their head!
Students loved to hear about California, where I was hosted, and learned about its capital city; my host city, Visalia; and indeed, big cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. I wore my Christmas hoodie from America to the event and also played the playlist of songs that I heard during Christmas in America throughout the event! We also had them make Christmas cards with wishes that they kept as a memory from the event!
While talking about Christmas, I explained how important it is to give, something I learned in America during Christmas. That all of us should give more and make others happy, no matter if it is Christmas or hot Baku summer.
I was super inspired by my local coordinator, Amanda Stannard to make this event happen. She always was an inspiration for me to keep making cultural presentations in America. My regional coordinator, Holly Nichols, whose energy always inspired me to talk about Azerbaijan to Americans, and now talk about Americans to the people of Azerbaijan! I cannot forget to mention our “Masha” Angela, Margie, Michelle, and others who inspired me to always find ways to contribute to society.
I did not realize how much this event would impact the Azerbaijani students. The smiles on their faces and their enjoyment made me proud. They loved the cookies, the games, and the overall organization of the event. Even now, as I pass the corridors of my school (it is located by my university, ADA University) students keep reminding me about the event and its magic! I am so glad that my high school physics teacher, my FLEX “advisor” Dr. Hasan Huseynli also joined us. He helped hugely in organizing the event, as he shared how important being an exchange student is – from our examples.
Thank you, World Link, for making the Christmas magic happen in me so now I pass it on to my home, Azerbaijan!
