Sveta Esina and Sang-Hyug Moon left their homelands behind whenthey came to the United States. This weekend, the two area collegestudents will have those worlds at their feet.
Esina, 23, a native of Russia, and Moon, 28, from Korea, werereunited with their native countrymen when teams from both nationsarrived to compete in this weekend's Northern Quest 2002 World Cupof Wrestling at the Spokane Arena.
The pair have been serving internships with Star USA, the localsports marketing firm that is promoting the event.
The internships afforded them the opportunity to host and serveas translators for the Russian and Korean delegations.
'I can't wait. I think it's going to be the funnest event,' saidEsina, 23, graphic communications major at Eastern WashingtonUniversity. 'It will be very exciting for me to see someone from mycountry who is somewhat famous.'
Moon will graduate from Whitworth College in May with a master'sdegree in international management, part of his long-range plan tobecome a sports marketer and agent.
When he learned that part of his internship duties with Star USAwould be to host the Korean team, he thought, 'Wow, this is a niceopportunity.'
The interns' paths crossed at Star USA, but both took dissimilarroutes to arrive there.
Esina was born in Kazan, Russia, and spent 14 years living inKyrgyzstan, near China, where her father was stationed with theNavy.
She spent another year in Saudi Arabia, which she said helpedprepare her for the ultimate move to the United States seven yearsago.
Her parents had divorced, she said, and her mother met anAmerican on vacation.
'Somehow they caught each other's eye and there you have it,'Esina said.
They emigrated to Whidbey Island, where her mother today runs aGreek restaurant.
'My first inclination was I didn't want to stay here,' saidEsina. 'I had to start over and knew no English.'
She has since learned to fluently speak the language and plans tobecome a U.S. citizen. After attending Skagit Valley College, Esinaenrolled at Eastern to pursue her aptitude for art through computer-generated graphics.
Moon, from Inch'on in South Korea, played soccer on a nationalyouth team growing up.
'I was pretty good in elementary school, then injured my eye andcouldn't play without glasses or contact lenses,' he said. 'I justquit.'
He did play for fun at Sejong University, where his coachintroduced him to sports marketing.
His education has led him to Japan, then to Toronto, where helearned English, and Whitworth. He has applied to the master's insports administration program at Ohio University. He would like tobecome an agent for Korean athletes looking to play internationally.
Star USA, the local sports marketing firm owned by Toby Stewardand Barb Beddor, has used college interns in its promotionalendeavors before. The backgrounds of Esina and Moon provide aninternational dimension.
'We looked at it as more of an experience,' said Beddor. 'What agreat opportunity for people who have a relationship with thesecountries to experience something like this.'
Esina designed the promotional poster and brochure and thesouvenir program that will be sold at this weekend's event.
'She had supervision, but is the creative force,' said Beddor.'She's just a dynamo, eager to jump in and get it done.'
Moon, has performed a variety of organizational tasks, includingproviding locker room signs with the name of each athlete and hiscountry's logo. He also put together ticket packages and hasoverseen team air travel itineraries.
'When we interviewed him, it was obvious we had gotten ourselvesa sports fan here,' said Beddor. 'He talked about how he ultimatelywanted to gain experience to be involved in World Cup soccer thissummer in Korea. We thought this would be a perfect addition to hisresume.'
For Esina and Moon it is both a chance to further their careers,while helping Star USA put on the World Cup of Wrestling and anopportunity to mingle with a culture left behind.
'It's a life-changing experience and they will have had a hand init,' said Beddor. 'I can't know what this truly means for Moon andSveta, but I'd bet money on them both being aglow.'
