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The ticket you purchase to fly here must be an UNRESTRICTED OPEN RETURN
round-trip ticket, good for up to one year from date of flight here.
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Obtain insurance no later than 30 days after your arrival. Cost is approximately
$360 US. This insurance policy includes medical, liability and accidental
death coverages. This is emergency medical coverage ONLY. Your insurance
from your home country WILL NOT work here in the United States.
Deposit $300 US emergency fund with your Rotary Club. This will be returned
to you when you leave for home the following spring.
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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
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1.Attend summer inbound orientation/raft trip. Usually last full weekend
of August, Friday through Sunday. No cost to you.
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2.Attend the fall trip to San Francisco. No cost to you.
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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.
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4.Attend District 5130 Spring Orientation in March in Ukiah.(no cost)
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5.Attend District 5130 Conference in May. (no cost)
Keys to success as an Exchange Student
Flexibility
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Always be ready to change and adapt yourself to a new situation.
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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.
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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.
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Remember that men and women are respected as equals in United States society.
INQUISITIVENESS
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You are an ambassador-ask about other people and places.
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People want to tell you about themselves and their country and you will need to learn.
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Do not compare the United States to your homeland. Be proud but remember different" is the word to use.
SALUTATIONS AND COURTESY
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Greet people every time you meet them.
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A "please" or "thank you" or "you
are welcome" will go a long way to making friends. A smile will take you a mile!
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Look directly at people. Talk slowly and clearly if you want to be understood.
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Your tone of voice is very important. Most U.S. adults will not tolerate quick or sassy responses. Be careful!
PATIENCE
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Your hosts will try to help you expand your world.
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Never demand a service or goods. Show appreciation for those that you are given.
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Remember, you need to learn your host country's language;
they do notneed 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.
HONESTY
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Your host family members will trust you with their home.
If you need something ask, do not just take it.
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Before making a long distance phone call, be sure to ask your host Parents.
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If you borrow clothes, CD's, or anything else, return them on time.
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Do not bring school friends to your Host home without asking your Host Parents.
NEW FAMILY
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You are now part of a new family.
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You will have the benefits of family membership if you participate in family activities.
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Attend family events.
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Participate in family conversations.
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If you are comfortable with attending church, do so.
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You are expected to do the family chores that any typical U.S. child would be expected to do. Such as the following:
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Do not discuss your Host Parent's family business with school friends or others.
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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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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.
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Independent travel is not permitted without written permission from your natural
parents, your sponsoring District chairperson and your host District Chairperson.
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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.
Rules of the House
The following is a sample of what those rules might be.
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Each household will have individual "Rules of the House". The following
is a sample of what those rules might be.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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You are expected to come directly home from school unless specific
prior arrangements have been made with your Host Parents.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Hitchhiking is forbidden. Do not ride with persons
that you do not know or with unsafe drivers or unsafe vehicles.
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Do not ride with other students without Host Parent permission.
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Do not operate any motorized vehicle.
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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
Maintain a clean and orderly room
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Put dirty clothes in hamper daily.
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Wash dirty clothes weekly.
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Change bed sheets weekly.
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No food or soda drinks in your room.
Calls and Computers
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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.d
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Thereafter, only call home once a month. This helps in building relationship with
your host family.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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Don't snack while dinner is being prepared or about to be prepared.
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In a U.S. 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.
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Don't decline to attend family events or neighborhood events just because
the participants are not your teenage peers.
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Don't spend money freely and create jealousy with your host siblings.
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Remember that you have much to learn from your new family. Listen as much as
you talk.
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Never compare your Host families. Not with your other Host Parents and
not with your school friends. Gossip always comes home to haunt you.
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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.
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Be very careful about writing home with your problems, if your parents contact
your home District Chair it can cause problems for future exchanges.
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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".
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Most European students want to get a drivers license while in the U.S.
Rotary forbids this, please do not put your Host Parents in the
difficult position of having to tell you "NO".
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Telephone calls to your home countryare 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.
If you enjoy your experience in the United States and you will be enjoyed!
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