Jack and Patty Merinar are no longer empty nesters – at least for the time being. The parents of three Bridgeport High School graduates, the Merinars have opened their home to a Rotary exchange student, 18-year-old Aneta Sklenska of the Czech Republic.

 

“She’s been with us since the beginning of August and she’ll be here until December or January, when she will move on to her next host family,” Patty Merinar said.

 

The Rotary exchange program is set up so that the visiting student will live with at least two families and no more than four.

 

“That way, they get different experiences with regard to culture, traditions and ways of living,” Patty said.

 

Because Jack Merinar is a member of Rotary, the family has been active in the exchange program for several years.

 

“This is our fifth youth exchange student and we’ve also hosted three adult short-term exchanges through Rotary,” Patty said.

The Merinars’ home has been the temporary residence of students from Slovakia, Mexico, Germany, France and England.

 

“We just like kids,” Patty said, “and we thought it would be a good experience for our own kids to experience kids from other cultures.”

 

But even with the Merinar kids – 27-year-old Kate, 22-year-old Jake and 19-year-old Abe – pursuing their college/professional lives, it’s rewarding and interesting to host an exchange student, Patty said.

 

“I really enjoy it – having a kid around and the extra interaction,” she said.

 

As Aneta speaks fluent English, there has not been much of a language barrier. When she does have trouble grasping a word or meaning, she uses an app she has downloaded on her Smartphone. As of yet, she has not taught her host family much of the Czech language.

 

“We do know the word ‘ahoj’ (pronounced ahoy) which means hello and good-bye,” Patty said. “It’s a dual-purpose word.”

 

From what she understands, the Czech language is a difficult one to learn, but perhaps she and her husband will eventually learn more of Aneta’s native language. Aneta learned English at an early age.

“They teach English over there and it actually starts fairly early in the school. She actually currently attends a language school, which focuses on language. Some of the other specialty schools focus on other things, like sports. Her sister attends a sports school,” Patty said.

 

Aneta is attending BHS as a junior. 

 

“Unless they are going to graduate from here, I don’t think exchange students are ever in the senior class,” Patty said.

 

Because of block scheduling, Aneta is able to be in classes with students in various grades and that is a plus, her host parent said.

 

Her class load includes English, math and biology. Originally registered to take dance, Aneta decided to switch to world culture.

 

“She was a competitive dancer in the Czech Republic so I thought she would like to take dance here, but she decided she would get more out of world culture,” said Patty, impressed with Aneta’s work ethic.

 

She loves her classes and her teachers.

 

“She said she has the best teachers. She loves them all,” Patty said. “They must be doing a good job making her feel welcome and being patient with her as I’m sure there is a little bit of a language barrier.”

 

In addition to being a gifted dancer, Aneta is a very good flutist.

 

“She played for us one time and she is amazingly good,” Patty said. “I think she gives lessons.”

 

She’s not in the BHS Band, but she is participating in cross country and plans to also swim for the Indians. In her home country, such activities are not part of the school, but rather extracurricular clubs, Aneta has shared with the Merinars.

 

Club activities she has taken part in include international hiking – including a trip to Lithuania – and orienteering, a navigating activity for which a map, compass and coordinate points are used.

 

Interestingly enough, Aneta has never been to the ocean, but she has plans to take part in an east coast tour in March and a west coast trip in the summer of 2016. Both are Rotary programs, Patty said.

 

Patty said family dinners have been enlightening. Not only do they offer opportunity to talk about food, but a number of other topics too.

 

“I love dinners. We sit and talk afterwards and she’s that kind of kid who likes to talk – to get our opinions and we get to see her points of view too,” Patty said.

 

Aneta is open to trying new foods, but hasn't yet encountered anything too unusual. In fact, she said back home she eats a lot of hamburger and pasta. She talks a lot about her grandmother and what a good cook and pastry maker she is.

 

Aneta’s outgoing personality has helped her become acclimated with her new surrounds and new people, Patty said.

 

She’s been enthusiastic about trying everything from Patty’s qigong exercise class to the family’s church to the new experience of having pets.

 

“Her family does not have pets, but she is getting used to our dogs,” Patty said.

 

With frequent Skype sessions with her family in the Czech Republic, Aneta has a pretty full daily schedule.

 

The Merinars feel fortunate to have the pleasure of getting to know Aneta Sklenska, as well as their past experiences with foreign exchange students.

 

“It’s always fun and interesting not only hearing about their countries, but also their perceptions of the U.S., Patty said. “One of the things we have found is that there are a lot of misconceptions about the U.S. – and many are negative. This is a good way to be an ambassador not just for our state, but for our country – for these kids to be able to come to a community like Bridgeport where people are very welcoming. It’s a nice little small town for a kid to have an exchange experience.”

 

Aneta told Patty that she thinks it's very cool that in America, people fly the nation's flag at their homes.

 

"She said they don't do that in her country," Patty said. 

 

Kate Merinar is in Augusta, Ga., working at a psychiatric hospital and currently applying to a regency program to become a clinical nurse leader. Jacob is in Philadelphia and after a bout with cancer, is doing well. Abe is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi and after having mono during the summer has returned to running. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top is Aneta at a recent BHS Cross Country event, Patty and Jack Merinar with their son Abe, a former track and cross country standout at BHS, Aneta at Dolly Sods and the Merinar kids Abe, Kate and Jacob. 

 

Look for a Sunday afternoon feature about Maria Louisa Oosi - an Italian exchange student who is being hosted by the Abraham family.