Family breaks down borders

On his first day at Moanalua High School, Boubacar Dabo wore a tunic and matching pants, the national dress of his native Mali, while his older "brother," Lev "Leo" Vasilenko of Russia, just tried to blend in.

"I had traditional clothes on, so everybody was looking at me and commenting, asking me a lot of questions about Africa," said Boubacar, a lively 15-year-old who speaks three languages and uses his hands as well for emphasis. "Since the first day, I had already made more than 20 friends."

The teenagers are part of two State Department programs that invite outstanding students from countries where U.S. ties have historically been weak to live for a year in the United States. Youth Exchange and Study was formed after 9/11 and brings in kids from countries with significant Muslim populations. Future Leaders Exchange is for the former Soviet states.

The goal is to build international understanding at the grassroots by introducing young leaders to the American way of life and helping Americans learn about unfamiliar cultures. The International Hospitality Center is seeking host families in Hawaii for the coming school year for the next batch of students, chosen through merit-based competitions.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Victor Orellana; his wife, LaSonya, a registered nurse; and their daughter Victoria, 17, welcomed Boubacar and Leo in August into their Aliamanu home, where the pair quickly filled in for Victoria’s brothers, now grown and out of the house.

"Leo is the tall, silent type and Boubacar, he’s the shorter, outgoing one," LaSonya said with a giggle. "They are very different. It’s funny because they remind me so much of two of my sons."

Leo, a math whiz who loves playing the piano, said his classmates didn’t realize he was an exchange student at first. He had braced for questions about Russia’s relations with Ukraine, but that didn’t come up. Instead he and his new friends broke down stereotypes stemming from depictions on TV and the Internet.

"They would ask me, have I ever used a gun, do I drink a lot because I’m Russian," said Leo, 17, who comes from the leafy city of Stavropol in southwestern Russia, where the climate is mild. "I told them Russia is not scary and cold," he said. In turn, he learned that "America is not only shootings and Mafia."

Boubacar has filled his new friends in on life in his hometown of Bamako, Mali’s capital, a sprawling city of 1.7 million on the Niger River.

"When I was playing soccer, one of my teammates asked me if I see lions and giraffes around my neighborhood," Boubacar said. "I told him that my city is pretty much the same as here.

"The only time I’ve seen a giraffe," he added, "was in the zoo."

The Orellana family plays uproarious games of charades, with cultural quirks fueling the hilarity, and bonds over treats such as pumpkin pie and homemade cheesecake. The kids dance together to Victoria’s Xbox "Just Dance" game, moving in synch, trying to best each other.

They went to junior prom as a group. Leo took his girlfriend and Boubacar, who is just a sophomore, got invited even before he had a chance to ask someone, while Victoria went with a friend.

"Boubacar can dance really well," said LaSonya, whose wit and warmth helped the boys feel at home right away. "He was the star attraction at prom."

Music is a big part of the fabric of life back home in Mali, where diverse ethnic groups have their own styles, Boubacar said, and people gather with drums and xylophones to dance inside the circle.

Each of the boys quickly learned a lesson on their first trip to the beach. Fair-skinned Leo brushed off advice that he put on sunscreen. He ended up bright red, lying in bed with arms outstretched, saying "Mom, I can’t move, can I stay home from school?"

Boubacar showed a similar bit of bravado after his host father asked if he was a strong swimmer.

"I was acting all fancy," he recalled with a broad grin. "All of those guys could swim, and I was like, OK, I can do that, too. I went and jumped in and raced to get to Dad, but at one point, I just couldn’t do it anymore because I was tired. Then I tried to stand up, but my feet couldn’t reach the ground."

Fortunately, an beachgoer and his host father pulled the coughing teenager to shore. Boubacar, whose country is landlocked, admitted later that he’d never taken swimming lessons.

"I would just swim in the pool," he said. "The sea is a different thing. The sea will pull you in."

Victor Orellana earned his new son’s respect in other ways as well.

"You wouldn’t want to play basketball or cards with my host dad because he’s winning all the time," warned Boubacar, who also speaks French and Bambara.

For the Orellanas’ Christmas card, the family dressed in traditional Mali clothing that Boubacar had brought as gifts. Victoria says she loves to travel and hopes one day to have a chance to visit her brothers’ home countries.

Host families for the State Department students can live anywhere in the state. They can be single adults, couples, empty nesters, or families with children of any age who are open-minded and interested in a cross-cultural experience. The Orellanas recommend it.

"Open up your heart and home," LaSonya said. "You don’t get paid for it, but you get so much in return. They have become like our children."

Her advice to the boys? "When you guys become famous, don’t forget your American mom."