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High School Year
Youth
For Understanding International Exchange
High School Year Program Exchange
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YFU
The.Netherlands |
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One of the many destinations you
can choose from is the Netherlands, otherwise known as
Holland. You might think of cheese, tulips and windmills
as soon as you hear the name of this little country, but
we have much more to offer. During your exchange program
in the Netherlands you will stay with a Dutch host family.
They will help you adjust to your new Dutch way of life
and will help you to learn the Dutch language.
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Dutch
families are usually quite close and enjoy each other's
company. You will be expected to participate in family
outings, join on birthdays and other celebrations. Every
family member has quite a full schedule during the week,
which makes the weekends the time to do things together.
They visit family, mostly grandparents, watch a movie
or go for a walk in the forest or on the beach.
However
packed their schedules might be, families always gather
over meals, especially dinner. The dinner table is often
the gathering place at other times as well. In the afternoon
many families gather around the table for a cup of coffee.
Your host parents will want to know all about your school,
your friends and activities. Most Dutch families have
an open relationship, which means that anything can be
discussed, from test scores to dating problems. Also you
will be expected to do some chores around the house. Make
sure you ask your host family what they expect of you;
usually this will be doing the dishes, cleaning your own
room, setting the table and occasionally preparing food.
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Dutch
children are required by law to attend school from age
5 to 16. After finishing primary school at the age of
12, a choice must be made between the different levels
of secondary school. There is VMBO, a four-year course
of study that prepares for secondary vocational training;
HAVO, a five-year course that prepares students for higher
vocational training, and VWO, pre-university training
that takes six years.
As
a YFU student you are most likely to go to either a HAVO-
or VWO school. You will be expected to work hard, as a
lot of the work has to be done individually. Most Dutch
teenagers take their schoolwork pretty seriously, as some
of the work they have to do in the earlier years already
makes up part of their marks for graduation. As an exchange
student you should put a real effort into your schoolwork
as well. We do not expect you to get the best grades in
your class, but if you do not put in an effort your class
will quickly label you as lazy and it might be hard to
make friends at school.
You
will not find many extracurricular activities, though
most schools have some possibilities like drama groups
or talent shows. To participate in sports or other activities,
you will have to join community clubs. This is a great
opportunity for you to meet new people with the same interest
as you.
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