Former Polk County High School AFS exchange student Pen Rat of Thailand is shown here with her former host mother, Ruth Greenway of Green Creek, on a recent visit to Polk County. Pen Rob (married name) graduated from Polk County High School in 1995 after spending her senior year here. Pen Rob is currently a dentist in Thailand and is training to be an orthodontist. She is married and has two sons, ages 5 and 2½. She spent a few weeks in the United States, visiting Los Angeles, Calif., Washington, D.C., and Polk County. She planned to visit the high school and also to attend a book signing by Nicholas Sparks in Greenville, S.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 12. (photo by Leah Justice)