Melodie Phelps, News Editor
CNHI
9-8-10 — It was like a family reunion last month, when former foreign
exchange student Kerati Kijmanawat came back to Wayne County to visit
the Cooper family. This marked the first time that the Coopers and
Kerati had seen each other since he left here 16 years ago and it was
a very special time for them all.
"It's kind of a miracle how people can get together after all this
time has passed," said Kerati as he reflected on his trip to Wayne
County, which was part of an extended vacation in the United States.
"I just wanted to tell the Coopers that I appreciate them very much.
That's why I tried to find them after we lost contact for 16 years."
After all, it was his time in the United States as a teenager that
Kerati credits for the success he has achieved in his life. He is now
a partner in a prestigious Transport Infrastructure Consulting
company in Bangkok.
"I advise the Ministry of Transport in Thailand how to plan for the
development of a new subway, airport and other mega projects," he
explained. "I can say that I love my life now and I owe part of it to
my experience in the United States."
Kerati is a native of Nakhonsawan, a small provincial town in
Thailand. In 1994, he came to Wayne County as a foreign exchange
student and stayed with Ben and Judy Cooper. The Coopers' son LeeRon
was a sixth grader at the time.
"My trip to the U.S. was the first time that I rode an airplane and
visited a foreign country," recalled Kerati. "Everything was so new
and exciting for me. I remember being scared because I spoke very
little English."
"Judy and Ben took me into their home and provided good care for
me," he continued. "I learned how to adapt to American culture and
also learned about the similarities and the differences between
Thailand and the U.S."
Kerati was a junior and attended Wayne County High School. After
several months in Wayne County, he moved to Maryland where he
finished high school.
"Since then, I have much more self-confidence," said Kerati. "I
believe I can do everything that I set my mind to. So I went back to
Thailand and I studied hard in undergraduate school."
He received a scholarship to study for a master's and a doctoral
degree in Japan. He graduated with honors from the University of
Tokyo with a civil engineering degree.
Judy Cooper said that it had been many years since her family had
heard from Kerati. He recently contacted LeeRon on the computer and
let him know that he would be traveling in the United States.
"It was wonderful...We were so happy," said Judy, as she talked
about the reunion. "The first thing he said when he saw me was ‘Hi,
mom.'"
On August 17, Ben Cooper and Karati visited Wayne County High
School. The former student had the opportunity to walk along the
halls where he began a journey that changed his life forever.
"He said he felt like he had come back home," said Judy.