Time at Central has lasting impact for former exchange student

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

According to those who can remember, Central has been involved in student exchange programs since the 1990s, and has generally had one and two per year, which equals anywhere between 30 and 100 in that span. 

One of those students was Zhibek Kamalbek, who attended Central during the 2013-2014 academic year. It was a moment of fate, leaving an impression that has stuck with her for the past decade, and perhaps changed the course of her life.

It’s a life that started in a small village in Kyrgyzstan called Padek, which, according to Zhibek is so small and remote you can’t even locate it on Google maps. That’s where she was born, but before coming to Elkader, she lived in Kerben, a small town in the Jalal-Abad Region of Kyrgyzstan.

There population was about 10,000 people back then, a number that has since climbed to over 18,000. It was, by all accounts, a close knit-community, but one of limited resources, fueling Zhibek’s curiosity about the world beyond those borders. It was that curiosity, as well as an English teacher, that led her to participate in the exchange program. However, it wasn’t going to be easy; there were plenty of obstacles along the journey.

A surprising one was Zhibek’s mother, who initially refused to consent to Zhibek’s participation in the FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) program. After some convincing from Zhibek’s English teacher, Zhibek was allowed to take the four-hour bus trip to Jalal-Abad to participate in a three-round contest that spanned from September to November, in order to become eligible to study in the United States.

The first round required her to take a short quiz on English knowledge with 15 simple questions, but the second round was more complex. Zhibek had to pass a comprehensive English as a second language test that included listening, writing and reading sections. It was during round two that she wrote her first English essay. 

After passing both rounds, Zhibek waited two months before receiving confirmation that she was in the final round. This included an application, more essays and an interview with situational questions that Zhibek said was “mostly evaluating leadership and communication skills to see if we would make the most of the exchange program.” 

Out of over 4,000 applicants who competed in the first round, only 65 became finalists—and one of them was Zhibek.

“The reason I was so eager to participate in the contest was my strong desire to experience a different culture and improve my English skills. I knew that studying in the USA would not only help me grow academically but also give me a broader perspective on the world,” Zhibek said.

While a friend of hers was headed to Pennsylvania, Zhibek was bound for Iowa, after being selected by Amanda Keppler in a process that has finalists submit profiles and essays which are then shared with host families who select exchange students who will best fit their lifestyle. Zhibek’s selection came down to the fact she was from a large family with six sisters and valued spending time together.

“Although I didn’t choose Iowa or Elkader, I was excited and curious about experiencing life in a small American town,” Zhibek said.

Arriving in Elkader on Aug. 9, 2013, Zhibek immediately noticed some differences. Elkader is smaller than her hometown of Kerben, and it had a “cozier, charming atmosphere,” reminding her of the American movies she grew up watching. It was a town with unique architecture, quaint buildings and well-kept streets, which stood in “stark contrast” to Kerben and its utilitarian style. There was also a different pace to life in Elkader, with a “calmer and more laid-back” approach, as opposed to Kerben, which was a busier, faster moving environment. 

A similarity was how tight-knit the communities are, sharing an element of “small-town warmth,” where Zhibek said people look out for and take care of each other.

“My first impression was that Elkader was a picturesque and inviting place that felt like a second home almost immediately. I loved walking around the city with a hot chocolate in my hands,” Zhibek said.

This was a chance for Zhibek to grow, so she approached the experience with an open mind, ready to immerse herself in the local culture, make connections, broaden her perspectives, “grow both personally and academically” and, of course, improve her English. 

Zhibek quickly bonded with her host family, then attended her first week of school at Central, where she was introduced to a world she didn’t think possible.

“I still vividly remember my first week at Central and how impressed I was by the school’s innovation, especially considering it was in a smaller town,” she said.

One thing that stood out was receiving an iPad after registering for classes, since being exposed to technology in the classroom was a new experience. She’d never had iPads or MacBooks incorporated into lessons, or been allowed to take notes or make presentations on them. As Zhibek retold the story, it likely sparked her love for technology and innovation.

Among Zhibek’s favorite classes was American English with Mr. Bormann, science with Ms. Gritzner, art with Mrs. Meyer and history with Mr. Bergan. These teachers “left a lasting impression,” she said. It’s an impression that goes both ways, with Bergan recalling Zhibek as a “curious learner.”

“While she was in class, she was always engaged, doing her best to understand the history, not just memorize it. This stuck out to me because it was a U.S. history class, so for her to be from another country and to be that engaged was something I will always remember,” Bergan said.

Although Zhibek was nervous about it at first, she also signed up for sports, something she had never done in Kerben. In the fall, she participated in cross country with coach Mark Bauder, who remembered Zhibek as someone who was “willing to try everything we were doing on a daily basis and was a very positive influence on our team.”

One challenge Zhibek faced during that school year was the language barrier, but she remembered students and teachers were understanding, patient and supportive. This helped her achieve good grades and gain the confidence to do other activities, like joining the basketball cheerleading squad and golf team, as well as participate in choir, drama club and the speech society.

“Overall, my time at Central was an incredible learning experience, both academically and personally,” she reflected.

It’s also where, by Zhibek’s own admission, she learned valuable life lessons that continue to shape her life. 

One lesson was the importance of caring for the environment. Zhibek remembered how Central students “organized themselves into clubs to promote composting and other eco-friendly practices.” It was an inspiring moment, as was the introduction to the power of technology, that motivated her when she returned to Kyrgyzstan. Zhibek vowed to be active and brave and make a difference by pursuing positive change, things that were either instilled by her time in Elkader or activated by the experience.

When she returned to Kyrgyzstan, Zhibek took what she learned at Central and in Elkader, like taking initiative, embracing technology and giving back, and worked on several social projects that were “aimed at making a difference in my community.”

“One project focused on helping high school students explore their future professions, providing them with the guidance and support they needed to make informed decisions. Another project that I’m particularly proud of is TechMothers, where we taught women in rural areas basic computer skills, empowering them to find jobs and improve their lives,” Zhibek explained.

Time at Central, and the education and experiences she had, as Zhibek related the story, not only broadened her world view, but allowed her to secure a full scholarship to one of the best universities in Kyrgyzstan. She used the resiliency, independence and maturity she learned from the exchange year to “tackle future challenges with confidence.” 

That “spark” from Central, as well as the “foundational skills to adapt and embrace new technologies,” eventually led her to the San Francisco Bay area, where she currently works as a frontend developer at TikTok Inc.

As comic book character Colossus said, “Over a lifetime, there are only four or five moments that really matter,” and in Zhibek’s life, which has taken her from Kyrgyzstan to San Francisco, it was a stop in Elkader 10 years ago where one of those moments happened. That’s the power of people, a community and breaking down the barriers that divide us.

As for Zhibek, when she looks back on her time spent in Elkader, she wouldn’t change a thing.

“If anything, I might have pushed myself to be more outgoing and make even more friends from the start. I was a bit shy during the first few months, especially since my English wasn’t as strong, but as I grew more comfortable, I began making so many wonderful connections. If I had the chance to relive the experience, I would do it all over again without hesitation. It was truly an unforgettable journey,” she said.