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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 3, 2014 13:44:26 GMT
Have you ever been an exchange student?
I was, sort of.
I traveled to Europe with People To People when I was 14 yrs old, and we had host families that we would stay with for a couple nights in a row.
I remember that my host family was very polite, very proper. It was a family in England.
We only were with the host family at night after a long day of travel, and right in the very early hours of the morning, right before leaving to travel for the day with the group.
I remember that their shower was tiny. I was a husky girl and afraid that I might get stuck. LOL. Not funny then, but funny enough now.
And I remember that the mom packed me a lunch for the day, and it was a tomato sandwich on two pieces of buttered bread. But it wasn't butter smeared thinly on the bread, but a slab of butter on each piece of bread.
Anywho, anyone else have experiences to share?
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,059 
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Post by mimima on Jul 3, 2014 20:33:38 GMT
I always wanted to be one, but was not. How fun for you.
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Deleted
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Sept 19, 2024 21:38:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 20:40:57 GMT
Yes. It was lots of fun and very stressful at times but for the most part I had a great time!
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Post by Sam on Jul 3, 2014 20:49:05 GMT
I did an exchange trip when I was about 15 - went to Germany and, to be honest, it was hell  From the moment I realised I was staying with the most dysfunctional family I had met (not in a beer-swilling-wife-battering way, but just very strange). I slept on what could best be described as the slimmest camping mattress you've ever had the misfortune to encounter and, despite the snow outside, Exchange-Mom opened the windows every night - honestly, I felt like Oliver Twist. I got told off for flushing the toilet in the night, my exchange girl decided she needed alone time so threw me out of the house and when I was there she would only listen to a Phil Collins tape on loop and play table tennis. I won't even bother listing the rest of it! That was a LONG 14 days!! |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 3, 2014 21:10:30 GMT
I went to France on an exchange between my junior and senior years of high school. The total trip was just over two months, but I only lived with my host family for a little over 3 weeks. The group of us all traveled together all over France and in/out of several other countries the rest of the time.
Staying with my host family was eye-opening. You get to know a country in a whole new way like vs just being a tourist. I think they learned a lot, too. They peppered me with as many questions as I did them!
The following summer their daughter came to the United States and stayed with my family for two weeks.
It is such a formative experience for a young person. I tried to get one or more of my boys interested, but none have been. The youngest is only 12, so maybe I can still convince him!
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Post by compeateropeator on Jul 3, 2014 21:24:38 GMT
I was an exchange student to Sweden for a year. As others have said, I had magical times and I had difficult times...much like life.  If I had it to do over again I might change some of my actions, but I would choose to be an exchange student again. |
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Deleted
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Sept 19, 2024 21:38:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 22:04:23 GMT
I had a host father hit on me. Yeah that was fun. But I have a special Mama there who I love and can't wait to see her again. I miss her terribly she and Papa were so good to me.
The rest I can take or leave. The Buddhist priest's family was wonderful too though. I had a good time there but wish I had been a lot more mature and could have learned more. I think it could have been a life altering experience.
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Post by LauraTen on Jul 3, 2014 22:09:35 GMT
My sister was an high school exchange student in Bolivia.
Morman missionaries got a hold of her.
It was not a good experience.
I would never let my kids be exchange students.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 3, 2014 22:12:36 GMT
My sister was an high school exchange student in Bolivia. Morman missionaries got a hold of her. It was not a good experience. I would never let my kids be exchange students. whoa...... What happened to her? |
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Post by 4evercrafty on Jul 3, 2014 22:28:36 GMT
I was an exchange student with a woman from Ohio, I was 16 and had a great time.
I lived in College Corner, Oh. And loved it, the town was simply beautiful and so quiet (I live in a big city in México), everybody knew each other, it was so funny, my birthday was on the newspaper. We traveled to some places nearby and I made lots of friends. I would suggest that if you do it, you make very clear the rules in your home so there are no misunderstandings, there can be about things you as a host and the exchange student are suppoused to pay. Also try to teach him/her things about the place, traditions, holidays etc. And also please keep in mind that other cultures might act different towards people or situations. This lady had a huge problem because she said I walked "to close to her" no idea what she meant by that and also because once I kissed on the cheek one of his nephews, this wasn´t a one on one situation it was at my birthday party and tons of people around, still she made a big fuss about it.
Anyway if I think of anything else, I´ll let you know
Hope you decide to do it and be open to new things to learn about your student and to teach.
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From the moment I realised I was staying with the most dysfunctional family I had met (not in a beer-swilling-wife-battering way, but just very strange). I slept on what could best be described as the slimmest camping mattress you've ever had the misfortune to encounter and, despite the snow outside, Exchange-Mom opened the windows every night - honestly, I felt like Oliver Twist. I got told off for flushing the toilet in the night, my exchange girl decided she needed alone time so threw me out of the house and when I was there she would only listen to a Phil Collins tape on loop and play table tennis. 
If I had it to do over again I might change some of my actions, but I would choose to be an exchange student again. 
