Ali Sharifzade’s journey as a foreign exchange student at Redwood, adjusting to a new culture and sharing his unique perspective a long the way.
By: Ariana Lopez Salguero
Ali Sharifzade comes from a place where mountains meet these sea, where ancient history lives alongside modern life, Azerbaijan.
11th grade in his home town. ВЫЖИВШИЕ – 11ch
“SURVIVORS – 11th grade” Photo
courtesy Sharifzade
His home country, between Europe and Asia, is known as the “Land of Fire.” In the capital city of Baku, skyscrapers rise besides ancient old-stone walls. Sharifzade grew up surrounded by this mix of old and new. Now, as a foreign exchange student at Redwood High school, he brings with him the warmth, culture, and stories of a country most people have never seen.
Sharifzade lived in the capital of Azerbaijan, for six years. He says, “My family went their for better opportunities. But I never feel homesick because Visalia reminds me of my hometown. It’s nice, it has a lot of people.”
Sharifzade attended Baku City Secondary School No.248 where students graduate in their 11th year.
A typical day for Sharifzade is, “Going to school, preparing for exams, and going home.” On other days he says he goes out with friends and has fun.
His influence to become a foreign exchange students all began with his sister. Sharifzade says, “At first my sister was an exchange student in Idaho eight years ago. She told me how cool it was to make American friends and be in the community.”
Heydar Aliyev International Airport,
in Baku, Azerbaijan
Photo Courtesy Sharifzade
Sharifzade says “I’ve been dreaming of coming here to California because you have everything here, you have San Francisco, LA, Hollywood. Big cities.”
Many foreign exchange students comes the United states for the experience, meeting new people, learning new things and overall just enjoying their time away from home.
Missing the popular dishes of meat and rice back in his country of Azerbaijan, Sharifzade says, “I’ve tried Mexican food here, I Liked it but you know, you’re not used to American foods a lot.”
Comparing the schools from the United States to Azerbaijan, he says, “The school in Visalia has a lot of people, we don’t have school buses, today I took my first ride on the school bus.”
In Azerbaijan many building go up instead of across like many places in California as they try and create more space. Sharifzade says, “I go to Vista and its like far but in my hometown I just stay in one building, as it is an indoor school. Taller buildings are seen than laying out all the building like Visalia schools.”
“I came through an organization called World Link so they are trying to make people like exchange students travel to the U.S so we can talk about our exchange experience after we come back to our home country,” Sharifzade said. “For people that can’t come here can still experience the U.S thought our stories and can also hear stories from me, and my cultures.”
Sharifzade is living with the host family here in Visalia, he will be staying here for 10 months until he has to return back to his home country of Azerbaijan.
Ariana Lopez
Ariana Lopez Salguero, '27, a sports editor and writer, is passionate about diving deep into meaningful stories as a way to spark awareness among the Redwood community whether its covering serious issues or spotlighting individual voices, its about telling stories that matter.
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, feauture, foreign exchange, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, rhs, visalia ca
