Pakistan exchange student reflects on time in Mission Valley
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RONAN — When Saba Balouch first arrived in Montana, she was terrified.
She had never heard of Montana or Ronan. Balouch, an exchange student from a small town in Pakistan, wanted to live in a well-known state like California or New York, where there were big cities like the ones seen on television or in magazines. She was also nervous because she didn’t know how her new community would receive her because her religion, culture and background were different.
“I was very depressed and scared,” Balouch said.
When she arrived in the Mission Valley after flying into Missoula, she said she was immediately drawn to the landscape.
“I love the Mission Valley mountains,” she said. “I thought the Mission Valley was really breathtaking.”
Ten months later, at the foot of the Mission Mountains, Balouch has found a second home and gained experiences and friendships she says couldn’t be found anywhere but Montana. Balouch describes herself at the time she arrived as a quiet person.
“It was really hard for me to adjust,” Balouch said.
But with the help of her host family Amy and Daniel Miller and the community of Ronan, there is not a day that goes by that Balouch does not feel she belongs.
Balouch is a senior at Ronan High School and plans to graduate next month and then return home.
But before she leaves, she wanted to convey her gratitude, because though she has taught others about her religion and culture, she has learned a lot as well.
“This isn’t a year in a life, this is my whole life in a year,” she said.
During her time as a Ronan student, Balouch was a member of speech and drama and won the Divisional championship and was second at State. She performed a speech given by Benazir Bhutto, the Muslim world’s first female leader and women’s rights activist.
Balouch said she is often asked questions about whether or not women were denied education, forced into arranged marriages or are required to hijabs, a head cover traditionally worn by Muslim women, all the time.
“It happened in the past but now there is more motivation to educate women. But we still have to follow customs,” she said. “Humanity is the biggest religion in the world.”
Her parents, especially her father, were very supportive when she decided to become an exchange student. “They are really excited for me to come back,” she said.
“It’s been really fun and interesting having a teenage girl in the house,” said host mom Amy Miller. “Saba being here, I can’t explain it; we do more because she is here.”
The Millers have taken trips with Saba to show her around the state, added her to their cell phone plan and plan to throw her a graduation party next month.
Amy said Saba helps around the house and is a big sister to her son Kaden Miller, 8.
“Just about the time she starts to become a part of the family, she has to leave,” Miller said.
Next month, the Millers will welcome a bit of Balouch’s home.
Her friend, also from Pakistan and an exchange student in North Dakota, will come for a visit.
Balouch said she is one of 108 students from Pakistan living in the United States as exchange students. They are the largest group from her home country.
She said if there were one thing she wants to take home from the Mission Valley, it would be the concept of community service.
“In Pakistan, there is no concept of community service. We owe our country, and we owe our society,” she said.
She also takes a new world view strengthened in the Mission Valley.
“I was so shy when I first came here, and now I have developed confidence.”
