One of the most enriching experiences you and your family can have is hosting an exchange student. By inviting a young person to share in your family life, you provide them with a chance to learn in-depth about life in your country and develop their independence and social skills. In return, you gain a new perspective on your own culture and a close, lasting friendship Several years ago my family hosted a high school student from Japan. It was a wonderful year for all of us, despite some unexpected twists and turns along the way - we ended up moving to another state shortly before she arrived, and then had a baby halfway through that year! As you can imagine we had to cope with many challenges, but what could have been a disastrous year was actually fun and brought us all closer together. The year seemed to end far too quickly, and we now keep in regular contact with this wonderful young woman. My preschool-aged daughters love their "big sister" and exchange letters, pictures and birthday gifts. She is truly a part of our family. So if you're interested in becoming a host family, allow me to give you some general advice that worked so well for us. Most importantly, communicate honestly and openly from the very beginning. It is hard enough for a teenager to adjust to being in a foreign country, without having to also guess at what is appropriate and normal for your family. If you kindly explain your expectations and house rules, from curfew to toilet seat protocol, you'll make it easier for your new friend to transition from being a guest to being a participating family member. Remember that your family has a unique culture; you can avoid misunderstandings by not taking even trivial home customs for granted at first. A sense of humor is also a valuable asset! I also recommend maintaining contact with the sponsoring exchange organization. If you have not heard from the agency representative or volunteer in awhile, feel free to call them to talk over how things are going. As we faced a stressful couple of weeks moving from a temporary apartment to a new home, and the impending arrival of a newborn, I thought it would be wise to give our student the chance to talk about her feelings privately with someone besides me. I invited our agency's regional volunteer to come over after school one day. This provided our student the opportunity to share anxieties or concerns that she may have been embarrassed to tell me about, and to get advice and support. Even if your family isn't going through such dramatic changes, let your exchange student know that she is welcome to call the agency representative if she wants to. Finally, if your new family member feels homesick, be sure to let him or her know that this is normal and understandable. Students may think that they will be hurting your feelings if they appear to be sad, or that you will think they don't like you. For many, this trip will represent their first significant stay away from their home and family. Assure them that you expect that they will sometimes miss their parents, friends and foods, and that you're willing to talk with them about it if they'd like. In short, treat your exchange student the way you hope that your child would be treated in a similar situation. Read and share with your student our articles about culture shock and making friends for tips on how to adjust to life away from home.
|
 |
H O M E | A R T I C L E S | E S L C O R N E R | L I N K S
©Copyright 1995-2006 Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc. |
F
E A T U R E A R T I C L E