For The Student Inbound To District 5130

Things You Must Do
Keys To "Success As An Exchange Student"
General Rules and Guidelines
Things Not To Do

 

Things You Must Do

• The ticket you purchase to fly here must be an UNRESTRICTED round-trip fare, good for up to one year from date of flight here.
• Obtain insurance no later than 30 days after your arrival. Cost is approximately $320 US. Please be aware, this is emergency medical coverage ONLY. Your insurance from your home country WILL NOT work here in America.
• Deposit $300 US emergency fund with your Rotary Club. This will be returned to you when you leave for home the following spring.
• Make at least one presentation to your host Rotary Club about your country and why you are participating in the Youth Exchange Program.

Five great trips to look forward to:

1. Attend summer inbound orientation/raft trip. Usually last full weekend of August, Friday through Sunday. No cost to you.
2. Attend the fall trip to San Francisco. No cost to you.
3. Attend the winter ski trip to Mount Shasta. No cost to you, except for clothing and any ski lessons you wish to take, or equipment rentals.
4. Attend District 5130 Spring Orientation in April in Eureka.(no cost)
5. Attend District 5130 Conference in May. (no cost)
   
   

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Keys to "Success as an Exchange Student"

• FLEXIBILITY
  Always be ready to change and adapt yourself to a new situation.

   

  Taste new foods and eat what your new friends serve you. Food is part of the culture that you are coming here to experience. You will insult your hosts if you refuse to eat their food.

  Try new games and sports. You may not be skilled at them at first, but they too are part of the new culture you are to experience.

  Remember that men and women are respected as equals in American society.
   

• INQUISITIVENESS
  Ask about other people and places.
  
  People want to tell you about themselves and their country and you will need to learn.
  
  Do not compare America to your homeland. Be proud but remember "different" is the word to use.
  
   
• SALUTATIONS AND COURTESY
  Greet people every time you meet them.
  
  A "please" or "thank you" or "you are welcome" will go a long way to making friends. A Smile will take you a mile!
  
  Look directly at people. Talk slow and clear if you want to be understood.
  
  Your tone of voice is very important. Most American adults will not tolerate quick or sassy responses. Be careful!
  
   
• PATIENCE
  Your hosts will try to help you expand your world.
  
  Never demand a service or goods. Show appreciation for those that you are given.
  
  Remember, you need to learn your host country's language; they do not need to learn your language. It is our goal to perfect your English language skills. Most people are more than happy to help you accomplish this.
  
  Don't be afraid to ask a question twice, but always do it in a polite manner.
  
  Never be afraid to say that you do not understand. Allow your new family and friends to explain their actions and words.
  
  If you are uncertain, simply ask again. Do not hide your language limitations.
  
   
• HONESTY
  Your Host Family members will trust you with their home.
  
  If you need something ask, do not just take it.
  
  If you borrow clothes, CD's, or anything else, return them on time.
  
  Before making a long distance phone call, be sure to ask your Host
  Parent.
  
  Do not bring school friends to your Host home without asking your Host Parents.
  
   
• PARTICIPATION
  You are now part of a new family.
  
  You will have the benefits of family membership if you participate in family activities.
  
  Attend family events.
  
  Participate in family conversations.
  
  If you are comfortable with attending church, do so.
  
  You are expected to do the family chores that any typical American child would be expected to do. Such as the following:

-- Clean your room.
-- Help with dishes.
-- Wash your clothes.
-- Stack firewood.
-- Feed the cat, dog or other animals.
-- Help with meal preparation and cleanup.

Your home is not a "Boarding House". You are not a guest. No one will serve you nor wait on you. You are a member of the family with all the privileges and all the responsibilities. Always make yourself available and ask, "What can I do to help?"

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General Rules and Guidelines

• Never plan events or trips with other Rotarians or families without first discussing the plan with your Host Parents or the persons that will be your Host Parent at the time of the event.
• Independent travel is not permitted without written permission from your natural parents, your sponsoring District chairperson and your host District Chairperson.
• Remember the host family has invited you into their home. They are sharing part of their life and culture with you. Respect the fact that the only benefit they get is your companionship, your sharing of your culture and the knowledge that they are making the world smaller and better.
• Each household will have individual "Rules of the House". The following is a sample of what those rules might be. It is your responsibility to ask what the rules are and to periodically review the rules. Therefore, a written copy of the rules is very helpful for future reference.

  1. Get up in the morning with enough time to: Shower, pickup bathroom, make bed and tidy room, prepare your lunch, cleanup kitchen and get to school on time.
  
  2. You are expected to attend school and remain at school for normal school hours. Only if specific prior arrangements with your Host Parents have been made, may you take exception to this rule.
  
  3. You are expected to come directly home from school unless specific prior arrangements have been made with your Host Parents.
  
  4. You must be home by 10:30 PM Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights you must be home by no later than 1:00 AM.
  
  5. No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed, unless in the presence and with the consent of your Host Parents. Please remember that individuals under 21 aren't allowed to drink alcohol. No drugs, other than prescribed by a doctor, are to be used at any time.

  Keep in mind that it is OK to have alcohol when your

  host parents say it is OK. If it is traditional for them to have a glass of champagne at the New Year's celebration, they may offer you a glass as well. At such a time, enjoy in moderation!
  
  6. "Hitchhiking" is forbidden. Do not ride with persons that you do not know or with unsafe drivers or unsafe vehicles.
  
  7. Do not ride with other students without Host Parent permission.
  
  8. Do not operate any motorized vehicle.
  
  9. If you say you are going to a specific place you must go nowhere else. If plans change and you desire to go elsewhere you must make direct contact with your Host Parent for permission. Otherwise, return to the Host Parent home.
  
  10. Maintain a clean and orderly room.

-- Vacuum once per week.
-- Put dirty clothes in hamper daily.
-- Wash dirty clothes weekly.
-- Change bed sheets weekly.
-- No food or soda drinks in your room.

11. Participate in family activities and responsibilities.

-- Household chores.
-- Animal care and feeding.
-- Building furnace or fireplace fires.
-- Assist with meal preparation and cleanup.

 

12. When you first get here, call home to let your parents know you got here safely. We strongly discourage telephoning home for the first three months. It's been our experience that students get more home sick when communication home is constant during this period.

Thereafter, only call home once a month. This helps in building relationship with your host family.

Calls to your "home country" are limited, with special exceptions, to one per week. The phone bill can be extraordinary. Telephone calls are limited to 10 minutes. Payment for telephone calls are the caller's responsibility; therefore, your calls must be paid for by you on a monthly basis.



13. Do not discuss your Host Parent's family business with school friends or others.
 

14. Limit your computer time in your Host Home and do not seclude yourself in your room with the computer. Do not spend all your time emailing friends and family in your home country in your home language. This keeps you from learning the language and culture of your exchange host country.


 

• Always keep your eyes and ears open for an opportunity to be involved. To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your Host family can do for you but what can you do to be part of the family !"

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Things Not To Do

1. Don't escape to your room and pretend to do homework every time there is a family household project underway. You won't fool anyone but yourself.

2. Don't snack while dinner is being prepared or about to be prepared.

3. In the American family unit it is not acceptable for young persons to argue with their parents. If you feel your Host Parents are making unreasonable demands you should immediately contact your Club Counselor and discuss the problem.

4. Don't decline to attend family events or neighborhood events just because the participants are not your teenage peers.

5. Don't spend money freely and create jealousy with your host siblings.

6. Remember that you have much to learn from your new family. Listen as much as you talk.

7. Never compare your Host families. Not with your other Host Parents and not with your school friends. Gossip always comes home to haunt you.

8. If you are having a problem with your Host Parents: Try to discuss the problem with them. Discuss the problem with your Club Counselor. If neither of the above is helpful, discuss the problem with your Club President. If results are still unsatisfactory discuss with the District Chairperson.

9. Be very careful about writing home with your problems, if your parents contact your home District Chair it can cause problems for future exchanges.

10. You must remember that independent travel by an exchange student is forbidden by Rotary. Don't put your Club Counselor or Host Parents in the difficult position of having to tell you "NO".

11. Most European students want to get a drivers license while in America. Rotary forbids this, please do not put your Host Parents in the

difficult position of having to tell you "NO".

12. Telephone calls to your "home country" are limited, with special exceptions, to one per week. We strongly discourage telephoning home for the first 3 months. It's been our experience that students get more home sick when communication home is constant during this period. This will also help in building relationship with your host family.

. . . . .

Have a Great Year!!!

If you enjoy your experience in America you will be enjoyed.
. . . . .

 

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