All NewsSnapshotsDiCandeloro ’15 Learns Persian Language, Culture through Summer Program Olivia DrakeAugust 24, 20113minIncoming frosh John DiCandeloro, pictured at top, right, is currently studying the Persian language Farsi in Dushanbe, Tajikistan through the State Department's National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). NSLI-Y provides merit-based scholarships to U.S. high school students and recent graduates interested in learning less-commonly studied foreign languages. DiCandeloro is pictured with his peers and Ken Gross, the U.S. Ambassador to to the Republic of Tajikistan. The Ambassador spoke about the United States' political and economic relationship with Tajikistan and opportunities to work with the State Department in the future. DiCandeloro and his peers participated in a national cuisine cooking class. Here, volunteers made "manta" (dumplings) by filling flattened dough-squares with a mixture of meat/onion or potato/onions. The students are living with local families and studying their language. They're also learning the culture, touring cities, meeting dignitaries and volunteering in the city. At Wesleyan, DiCandeloro plans to study international relations. Class of 2015study abroad Related Articles All NewsCampus News & Events March 27, 2024 Mike Mavredakis Hugo L. Black Lecturers Establish What’s at Stake When Free Expression on Campus is Imperiled All NewsArts & HumanitiesStudents March 25, 2024 Andrew Chatfield Art Comes to Life through Student Partnership with the Center for the Arts All NewsAlumni March 25, 2024 Steve Scarpa True ‘Blue’: James Kaplan ’73 Documents a Key Collaboration in Jazz History