Here are some frequently asked questions
we have received. Please read these first and if they
cannot answer your questions, please feel free to contact
us during our office hours for more information.
Why
is it worth going on exchange?
Exchange program gives a student
a perfect chance to discover a new country and understand
its culture. This allows winning many new perspectives,
and erases national and cultural walls. Time spent abroad,
in another culture, helps to understand each other and
solve arising problems. This time allows to become as
a part of a different daily life. YFU programs are based
on that - it is only possible to get to know and understand
another country when you live and feel like at home there.
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What
can I expect from the exchange program?
By
no means you should expect the time abroad to solve
all your problems in the natural country, family or
school. You should not treat this program as a long
vacation living in the best family in the best place
of the world. If you are ready for new challenges, new
experiences and friends, this time could be the best
for you. Your time abroad will teach you appreciation
of new values, will help you become more mature and
independent, will allow to experience the inexperienced.
This is a perfect chance for any youngster!
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Who
are Exchange Students?
The exchange student is between
15 and 18 years old and comes from one of 50 countries
around the world. Exchange students have English
language proficiency and have received good grades from
their schools back home. Many students are awarded scholarships
sponsored by governments, foundations and private corporations.
Every student participates in
a careful selection process and receives orientation and
support, the exchange student will undergo a thorough
preparation before traveling to the oversea country. Students
can count on the ongoing support of their local volunteer
representative.
Exchange students are members
of the family and share responsibility for the daily chores
of typical teenagers. Student will bring his or her own
spending money and will be covered by comprehensive health
insurance arranged by the exchange organization.
First and foremost, an international
exchange is an educational experience. The school life
of the exchange student is nearly as important as family
life. Students attend high school and, whenever possible,
study national government, history, and social studies
as part of their academic course work.
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Why
is the age of would-be exchange students limited?
The
age is limited for a couple of reasons. First of all,
a student must be a High School student. Moreover, 15-18
year-olds are young and flexible enough to adapt to different
surroundings. And finally, they already are mature enough
to get the best from their exchange, and use their knowledge
further in life.
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Can
I choose the city I will live in?
No. We at YFU believe that
this a cultural, family-oriented experience and we prioritize
family profile over location. We feel it is more important
to have a compatible family rather than a family in a
specific location. That great family waiting for you might
not be in the town you would like to visit!
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Will
my wishes and requests be taken into consideration?
Unfortunately,
not all of your wishes and requests can be met. We cannot
promise that you would be placed in a perfect family or
community. On the other hand, hosting YFU organization
is doing its best for incoming students. It is doing everything
to help them to bring the best experiences back home.
All of us, YFU partners, are assuring that best surroundings
will be chosen and all the best is done for every student.
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Am
I left alone with no support in the host country?
No,
you definitely are not left alone. YFU organizations not
only place you in a host family, but also assign one or
two area representatives (personal advisors), who will
help you in your daily life and problem solving. At the
same time your national YFU organization will be corresponding
with you once in a while and will answer all questions
that may arise.
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Do
I have to know the language of my host country?
Many
YFU organizations do not require their inbound students
to have knowledge of the language. However, some countries,
such as Germany or other German (or English) speaking
countries need you to have sufficient knowledge of their
language. Foreign language courses or intensive foreign
language courses are being offered in many countries.
One way or another, YFU exchange students adapt quickly
and get to know the language naturally in no time while
being surrounded by it at all times.
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When
will I find out who my host family is?
You will receive the name,
address, and brief description of your host family, as
soon as your host country informs us. This may happen
several months, or in a few cases, a few weeks or days
before departure. It is important to keep in mind that
as hard as we work on placements, sometimes it takes a
little longer to find the host family that is right for
you.
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How
are the host families selected?
All volunteer host families are
carefully screened and matched to your profile as described
on the application documents you submit to YFU hosting
country. Volunteers in the hosting country will visit
their home and make sure that the conditions in which
you will be living are appropriate. If they are accepted
as host family, they will attend an orientation before
you arrive.
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Who
can host?
All kinds of families can
host YFU students: couples with teenage children, young
children, grown or no children at all, or single parents
with at least one child living at home. The family opens
their home and hearts to student and provide room, board,
love, guidance, and the experience of what everyday life
is like in your home country. It is easy and fun!
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Why
is a family motivated to welcome a foreign student into
its home?
There
isn't and cannot be the only answer to this question.
Financial motives are useless in this case, as host families
do not get any financial support neither from YFU nor
anybody else. The family knows that YFU is not Au Pair,
and they do not get a free "worker" accepting
the student. On the other hand, a student becomes a part
of the family - so he or she is required to help with
household chores - as any other child in the family. So,
why are families willing to open their doors for foreigners?
They might be willing to learn, to gain experience, or
to simply share their love with one more person...
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How
are hosting families and YFU students matched up?
The first step is for family
to complete an application and be interviewed by a YFU
volunteer. Two references (not relatives) are required
and YFU will ask the approval to contact both referees.
Then, YFU volunteer will help the family chooses student,
taking into consideration a number of factors to help
make the best possible match. Variables include the family's
values, the kind of activities involved in (sports, arts,
intellectual pursuits, etc) religious preferences, whether
the family would prefer a student who is quiet or outgoing,
what area of the world the family would prefer student
to be from, and so forth. Hosting does require a period
of adjustment for all family members and for student in
the beginning. Common interests and values make that adjustment
easier.
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Why
be a host Family?
There are many reasons why
hosting is a wonderful experience for the whole family.
You'll learn about another culture and language without
leaving home. You'll start a life-long relationship with
your new "son" or "daughter", and
when your student returns home, you'll have a whole other
family in another country. Members of your family will
feel closer through sharing your daily lives with a YFU
student. If you have children, they'll gain a broader
perspective on the world, learning more about geography,
communication and international cultures. If your children
are young they'll probably love having a big brother or
sister from another country. Most of all, you will all
have a lot of fun!
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What
is expected of a host family?
YFU families come from all nationalities, occupations and
religious backgrounds and live in cities, towns and rural
areas. What makes each exchange experience unique is that
no family is like any other. When the family volunteers
to host an exchange student, they agree to:
- Welcome new son or daughter
as a member of the family.
- Help student adapt to the
family and to their life and culture.
- Provide a safe and loving
home environment including a bed, a place to study and three
meals a day.
- Attend YFU orientation events,
read the preparation materials, and maintain regular contact
with YFU volunteer.
- Understand YFU policies
and encourage student to adhere to those policies.
- Familiarise student with
community and its resources. |
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What
if I don’t get along with my host family?
Our matching system takes
into account several variables to make sure placements
run smoothly. However, sometimes families and student
just don’t “click”. We have experienced
volunteers who will be able to provide counseling and
help to work out these differences. If the problem cannot
be solved, you will be placed in a new host family.
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Can
I change host families if needed?
All
the arising problems have to be talked over with the host
family. If both sides try to talk about their problems
openly, it is very often seen that difficulties have only
arose because of cultural differences, and change of families
is not necessary. The area representative or the advisor
can help in problem solving as well. However, sometimes
relationship between the family and the student is going
in a totally unexpected way, and problems cannot be solved
so easily. If so, it is possible and sometimes even advisable
to change host families.
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Will
there be somebody at the airport?
Absolutely. Both at your
departing and arrival airport you will have a YFU volunteer
ready to assist you. Even if your flight requires overnight
accommodation, one of our Travel Support volunteers will
be there to help you.
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How
much pocket money should I have for a month?
The
amount of pocket money depends on the student, his natural
family, his host family and the level of living in the
host country. However, 125 - 150 USD should be enough.
If the student, for example, is willing to take a lot
of pictures or to attend many parties, he will need more
than that. This is the question to be discussed with the
host family (they should know how much is enough in their
own country). Sometimes it is possible to add some pocket
money with small jobs in the neighborhood - such as babysitting,
housekeeping or maintenance.
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How
do I get ready for this exchange program?
Of
course, it is always great for the student to learn about
the host country and its culture before departure. You,
as an exchange student, should be ready for the challenges
waiting for you. This is one of the reasons why your national
YFU organization plans a pre-departure seminar for all
outbound students. It is more than advisable to participate
in this seminar, because former YFU students, YFU volunteers,
share their experiences with you, and you are able to
get answers to all of your questions. Many YFU organizations
offer students an arrival orientation, where natives there
inform you about life in the country.
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