International student Darya Hushtyn enjoyed every minute documenting her exchange semester at Delta State through the Global UGRAD program.There are people who aim to capture life’s moments as they happen. These people often seek memories that last a lifetime. And many times, these people cherish things that are taken for granted by others. Delta State’s international student, Darya Hushtyn of Belarus, is one of these people.
“If you came to my country, you would understand me,” said Hushtyn, who is known by her Belarusian nickname, Dasha.
The 21-year-old said she came to Delta State for the fall semester through the government funded Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia (Global UGRAD).
Back home, the Belarusian majors in modern foreign languages.
“When I was choosing a major back at home, I was thinking it would be better for me to learn languages,” she said. “It was the right point because then I didn’t realize I would be able to come to America with the English language and study journalism here.”
Hushtyn said her country doesn’t allow the same freedoms as the United States. In Belarus, the choice of academic majors was very limited.
“I always wanted to be the kind of journalist to record videos and write stories about something, about someone.”
Her aspirations came true this semester while serving as the online editor for The Delta Statement. The role provided her several opportunities to write pieces for the paper.
Around campus, however, she may be best known for photography.
“I’m very excited to take pictures of everything that surrounds me and everyone,” she said.
She often took photos in Belarus, but said there was nothing interesting there.
“I tried to find something interesting in ordinary things — something special in things that people didn’t notice,” she said. “Here I have lots of things that are quite interesting for me that will be interesting for people back at home to see. So I have a double mission — I’m doing it for me and I’m doing it for them.”
Hushtyn can be found around campus with her mini-camera in hand taking “selfies” of herself and with friends.
“People here know me as the ‘selfie girl,’ the girl who takes selfies with everyone and everywhere,” she joked. “I think that it’s the only way to freeze the moment. It’s one of the ways to notice the beauty in everything that surrounds you, because when you are in a rush, you don’t pay attention.”
Hushtyn admitted she’s trying to capture photos of her entire Delta State experience to bring her warmth when she returns to Belarus at the conclusion of the semester. She is also filming a movie about her stay abroad for the same purpose.
“I’m just recording everything that surrounds me,” she said. “It doesn’t have any plot. It’s about America and Delta State through my eyes.”
There was one Delta State event Hushtyn is particularly glad she got to see — a Statesmen football game.
“American football is one of the most American things in the world,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be so much fun,” she said. “People of all ages come to this game and it really unites.”
Hushtyn had long dreamed of taking pictures with American football players, and the dream became a reality at a home game this season.
The Belarusian also explained that her small country in Eastern Europe doesn’t bring her the same happiness that she feels here.
“I feel like I was accidentally born on the wrong continent because I was a stranger there, because people are self-contained,” Hushtyn said. “They don’t try to understand me, and they show it.
“Here I can be myself, and people like it. It’s really great when you can be comfortable.”
As she reflected on her experience at Delta State, now coming to its end, Hushtyn said her only regret is that she must leave.
Global UGRAD provides one semester and academic year scholarships to outstanding non-degree undergraduates featuring full-time study combined with community service, internships and cultural enrichment. Learn more about the program at http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/global-undergraduate-exchange-program-global-ugrad.
“I will really miss this place,” she said. “This is the best time of my life.”
