CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Marshalltown High School foreign exchange student Anamaria Phkaladze, left, pictured with host mother Bethany Currie, right, recently created and distributed 100 goodie bags for local children in foster care. Phkaladze hails from Rustavi, the fourth-largest city in the Republic of Georgia.

Marshalltown High School (MHS) foreign exchange student Anamaria Pkhaladze, who hails from Rustavi in the Republic of Georgia, didn’t know much about Iowa before moving here at the beginning of the school year — most people from her country, located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, have only seen places like New York City and Los Angeles through movies — but she said she quickly fell in love with the community after her arrival.

“I think people are really nice here. It’s a great environment,” she said. “In general, it’s pretty good being here, so I’m happy.”

Phkhaladze, a junior who is being hosted by Mike Marquess and Bethany Currie, had a desire to make an impact and show gratitude for the opportunity to spend a year in the U.S., and she found out through doing some research that Marshalltown is home to a high number of children living in foster care situations. As a result, she decided to assemble 100 goodie bags for those children and delivered them to a local foster care organization about two weeks ago.

Next year, she will head back to Georgia to finish high school before deciding whether she will pursue a postsecondary education in her home country or potentially return to the U.S. on a student visa. Phkaladze sees herself studying either business or social studies, and she’ll always be grateful for the time she’s been able to spend in Marshalltown.

“I really like that it’s pretty diverse. There’s so many interesting people here from different cultures, so I think it’s really important. That’s what makes Marshalltown unique,” she said.

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Contact Robert Maharry

at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.