," here in manhattan. >> i like rysa teachers! >> you get to learn more about different things you don't know. >> i have many friends. we play together. i like here. it's very good. >> reporter: this year's class hailed from 29 different countries-- stretching across southeast asia, the middle east, russia, africa, and latin america. all of them come from families who have been granted asylum or refugee status in the us, some of them fleeing civil war, gang violence, and natural disasters in their home countries. the international rescue committee started rysa 17 years ago to prepare these students for the new york city public school system. during the six week program, they get a taste of american school life, taking not just english and math classes, but also dance, music, art, and physical education. rysa director kira o'brien says acclimating to a foreign school system is just one of many hurdles refugee children face. >> things like language, things as simple as which direction a light flip switch goes. these are things that