Exchange student from Thailand finds Bay Village perfect for school, family
Published: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 2:11 PM
The Mullee family gathers in the living room of their Bay Village home. From left to right are Tom Mullee, Hannah Mullee, Situnan “Cookie†Kumsit and Toni Mullee.Cookie and Hannah act like sisters.
They live in the same house, share an interest in tennis, attend Bay High School together and have a special ability to communicate.
However, the two aren’t biological sisters. “Cookie,“ 16, whose real name is Situnan Kumsit, is visiting Bay Village as an exchange student from Thailand.
Bay Village is about 8,600 miles from Cookie’s hometown of Nakhon Ratchasima.
However, Hannah and her parents, Tom and Toni Mullee, are helping Cookie adjust to life in the United States and learn more about the culture.
In the process, the Mullees are learning more about life in Thailand, they say. The two high school girls hit it off right away.
Cookie is a welcome addition to the family, helping fill the role of Hannah’s older sister, who is attending college away from home.
“Sarah’s gone, so I like having a sister again,” Hannah said during an interview at the family’s home.
In turn, Cookie said Hannah is helping her adjust to life in Bay Village.
When Cookie first came to the United States, it was difficult for Hannah to understand her, Cookie said.
“But now, she is the one who understands me the most.”
“I am like her translator,” Hannah said, prompting both girls to laugh.
Cookie enjoys life in Bay Village because the people are friendly, the city is clean, and it’s a safe area to live, she said.
In addition, it’s easy to get around by walking or bicycling in Bay Village, she said.
Cookie’s hometown in Thailand has a population of more than 142,000, and her family relies on a car to get to most places. The educational systems also are different.
“When I go to Bay High, it is so different because it is coeducational,” she said. “It is different when you see a boy in school.”
Cookie commended the teachers at Bay High School for encouraging students to participate and ask questions.
“In Thailand, a lot of students are very shy to ask a question,” she said.
Studying in a different language presents a challenge, especially in classes like psychology that use specialized vocabulary, Cookie said.
However, she said making friends has been easy because Bay High School students are friendly and accepting.
Cookie and Hannah say they have a special bond because Hannah recently attended school in New Zealand as part of an exchange program.
“Hannah used to be an exchange student, so she understands me and what I feel sometimes,” Cookie said. “But I fit in with this family. I don’t miss my Thai family at all,” she said, smiling and laughing.
Cookie, who hopes to pursue a career in international relations and diplomacy, hopes her experience in Bay Village helps her along that path.
Hannah’s mother, Toni, said she thinks the family will benefit from hosting an exchange student.
“I think it makes us appreciate other cultures and broadens our view of the world,” she said. “We realize the world goes beyond the borders of Bay Village and beyond the borders of Cleveland and the United States. It’s great to be able to host someone like this and learn a lot.”
Tom Mullee agreed. “Being exposed to a different culture and experiencing a person from another country has been great,” Tom said. “Her customs and her traditions have really enhanced our daily life. It’s been a lot of fun.”
During vacations and after the school year concludes, Cookie hopes to visit other areas, including New York; Washington, D.C.; Niagara Falls and Chicago, where her aunt lives.
See more Bay village news at cleveland.com/bay-village.
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