DISTRICT 3350
Thailand
YOUTH EXCHANGE
A HOST FAMILY GUIDE TO ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Acting as host parents and family for an overseas student can be a
tremendously rewarding experience for you and your family. You play
a very important role in assisting with the success of the Rotary Youth
Exchange Program. The most important requirement when hosting a
student is that you establish good communication and understanding.
Contents
This document covers the Responsibilities of Host Parents, how to make
theexchange work DAY by DAY, the ROLE of the COUNSELLOR, how the student
should be made to feel a part of the family by including undertaking
household chores. It covers how the student may suffer from HOMESICKNESS,
their need for privacy and a disciplined environment. The student comes on
the exchange undertaking certain obligations relating to attendance at
school, travel, drinking, driving, drugs and romantic attachments.
Other subjects such as religion,finances and the value adding by Host
Parents are also covered
As host parents for a student you have important obligations.
To treat the student as one of your family, care for their well-being and to
offer guidance when it is needed.
To provide room and board for the student and include them in all of the
family activities.
To supervise and monitor the school and leisure activities of the student so
as to try to ensure that any problems are recognised, minimised or solved.
To explain to the student what is required of them while hosted in your
home. The student should conform to your supervision. It is desirable the
student has a room of their own, or alternatively, share with someone of the
same sex. If you are a host family without a Rotary member you will need
to maintain good communication with the Hosting Rotary Club. This is best
done through the Club Counsellor. Ifyou have any persisting problems
with, or questions about, the student or the hosting then you should first
approach the Club Counsellor.
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The Host Rotary Club should have appointed a Counsellor to act as a
Guardian to the student for their year in Australia. The student is
expected to go to the Counsellor for guidance on any problems that
arise which cannot be resolved within the Host Family. The Counsellor
is also availableto help you, the Host Family, with any problems that you
encounter in hosting the student. Do not hesitate to consult with the
Student's Counsellor if problems of any kind arise.As soon as the club has
appointed the Counsellor and the host families have been organised the
Counsellor should then have arranged a get-together of thehost families.
At the same meeting the ground rules for the coming exchange should
have been discussed so that all the host families and the Counsellor treat
the student the same. If you do not know who is Counsellor ask the Club
President.
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You and your family should NOT treat the student as a Special or Honoured
Guest. Rather they should truly be treated as ONE OF THE FAMILY. You should
include the Student in family plans whenever possible and the student should
take part in doing the family chores. Decide what the student is to call you,
eg. Mum &Dad or Mr &Mrs. The student has a list of questions that should
be discussed at the beginning of their stay.
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The student should make their own bed and keep their room tidy. It is
important that they are allowed to assist with the normal household chores.
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Every student experiences some degree of homesickness. If the student
spends a lot of time alone this could be a danger signal that all is not well.
It is natural that the student will spend some time alone in their room. At
times this allows them to cope with homesickness and to write their diary,
reports and letters or to just relax. Being involved in the community and
school helps to stop homesickness. Encourage the student to be involved.
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The student is entitled to have some privacy.
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Be understanding and flexible with the student. The student is expected
to adapt to your supervision and discipline. If there is any sign of
reluctance or unwillingness to do so you should bring this to the
attention of the Counsellor.
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TELEPHONE CALLS
As soon as the student moves in with you ensure that they are told the
rules about use of the telephone, and payment for calls.
IMPORTANT STUDENT OBLIGATIONS
Most students are very flexible. If the student does not wish to attend
church with you they should not be forced to do so. If they wish to
follow their own religion you should make every effort to assist them.
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CHANGE OF HOST FAMILIES
The Counsellor should keep you advised about the hosting arrangements
and ensure that you know in advance when each change of home is to
take place. It is a help if the current host family meets with the next family
to discuss the student's habits, likes, dislikes or anything else that may help
the exchange.
The Host Rotary Club provides the Student with a monthly allowance, The
student will have some funds of their own. The student will also have an
emergency fund. You are not required to provide the student with spending
money or to finance clothing, travel or any other expenses. As you are
treating the student as part of your family there will probably be times when
you pay for the student.
MONEY PROBLEMS
You may need to advise and help the student with their budget. They may
need advice on the purchasing of clothes and other general requirements.
You should discourage the student from borrowing money or purchasing
on your accounts.
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The requirement of the student's visa is that they attend a high school on a
regular basis. The Counsellor should arrange for the school uniform and
any other requisites that may be needed. You are required to supervise
the day to day attendance of the student and to encourage them to participate
in all school activities both academic and extra curricular. You should always
provide the student with a note for the principal or teacher to excuse them if
they need to miss school for any reason. It is very important that the school is
kept fully informed regarding the student's activities.
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You are not under any obligation to take the student on vacation or trips but if
you are able to do so then both the student and you will gain something from it.
If you are unable to take the student away during the school vacations the
Counsellor should be advised so that there may be the opportunity for other
arrangements to be made. The members of the Rotary Club are encouraged
to invite the student along whenever they are planning a weekend away or
any other short trip to places or events that may be of interest to the student.
These arrangements or invitations should be made by discussing them with
you, and the Counsellor.In the Exchange Guidelines given to the student
there are the requirements that need to be followed for travel, they are as
follows:
The student must have the written approval of their parent(s) or guardian(s)
AND the verbal approval of the Chairman of District 3350 Youth Exchange
Committee for any overseas and interstate travel during their exchange year
prior to the journey being undertaken. All other travel must be approved
by the Host Parent(s). Overnight or extended travel will also require the
approval of the Host Club. The school should be advised if the student is to
absent.
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You must ensure that the student does not drive any motorised vehicle,
whether the vehicle is registered or not and on private land or not.
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The student if under the age of 18 years must not drink alcoholic beverages
in a public place or on licensed premises.If a problem arises or is suspected
you should speak to the student and advise the Counsellor. If the student is
used to drinking alcohol and you wish to allow them to partake in your home
then this is permissible but it must be in moderation and under your
supervision.
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The student must not possess, use, cultivate or manufacture any illegal drugs
orprohibited or restricted substances. If you suspect any breach of these
terms you should immediately report this to the Counsellor.
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If you suspect that the student is promiscuous you should discuss the matter
with the student. If the behaviour persists you should bring the matter to the
attention of the Counsellor.
ROMANCE
Students should avoid any romantic attachments. If you consider that a
relationship is developing you should discuss the matter with the student
and advise the Counsellor so that other action may be taken.
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CONCLUSION
All of the above requirements, rules and guidelines have been given to the
student in writing and have been discussed with the student a number of
times so you have the support and assistance of the District Youth
Exchange Committee.
"I applied to the Rotary Youth Exchange Program..In August 1986 I left
Canada with three pieces of baggage. At seventeen I was a passionate
initiate in a country which became more real and more beautiful the
longer I stayed. My true education began there and, in many ways I
consider (Thailand) the country of my birth."
- Karen Connelly, Rotary Exchange Student, 1986
Touch the Dragon - A Thai Journal
Touch the Dragon was published in Canada, May 1993, and is currently
into its fifth printing. It is recipient of the prestigious 1993 Governor-
General's Award for Non-Fiction. In January 1994 it reached No 1 on
Canada's Best Sellers Non-Fiction list. It will shortly be serialised by
Readers Digest and made into a television series.
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