Welcome

1. Orientation Program for Host Families and Club Youth Exchange Officers Welcome Thank you for coming

2. Orientation Program for Host Families and Club Youth Exchange Officers Congratulations! You’re Expecting a New Arrival

3. Orientation Agenda • What is Rotary and its purpose? • Who are Rotary exchange students? • Expectations – families, students, clubs • Arrival and settling in • Insurance, Finances, Travel, School • Student Protection Policy • Being the first, second, last host family School • Rotary involvement & Support system • Activities and calendar • End of the year • Exchange Student Cycle including homesickness

4. What is Rotary International? • World’s oldest and most international service organization • 1¼ million Rotarians, in 170+ countries • Celebrated 100th anniversary in 2005 • 32,000 clubs, in 520 districts • Rotary Motto: “Service Above Self” • “The Four Way Test” • Is it the TRUTH? • Is it FAIR to all concerned? • Will it build GOOD WILL and better friendships? • Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? • The Rotary Foundation • Ambassadorial Scholarships • Polio Plus • Group Study Exchange

5. What is Rotary District 7170? • In Central NY, Rotary is District 7170 • 8 counties • Tompkins, Cortland, Broome, Chenango, Tioga, Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie • Includes major cities of Binghamton, Oneonta, Cortland and Ithaca • 47 Rotary Clubs • Approximately 1,700 Rotarians • Size of Youth Exchange Program • 47 inbound exchange students (from 20 countries) • 47 outbound exchange students (to 20 countries) • 36 Clubs participate

6. Purpose of the RYE Program • Provide high school students an opportunity to spend a year studying in another country, learning the language, discovering the culture, developing skills and maturity • Bring the world into our local communities through friendship • Promote Rotary’s goal of world peace and understanding, one person, one exchange at a time

7. Purpose of the RYE Program • District-to-district program • 8,000 exchange students per year • Open to children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike • Operated completely by volunteer Rotarians as part of Rotary’s commitment to international and community service • Certified by Rotary International

8. Who are Exchange Students? • Outstanding young people • Age 15-18½ upon arrival • Carefully selected and well prepared • Most speak English well • Anxious and excited to: • Learn our language • Discover American culture • Represent their countries • Become part of your family

9. Expectations of Host Families • Provide a home away from home • Be parents: love, support, encouragement, understanding, discipline • Treat student like your own child • Clearly communicate your family expectations to student

10. Expectations of Host Families • Provide room and board • Help with challenges • Language • School • Culture shock • Homesickness • Provide an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to depend on

11. Expectations of Students • Adapt to host family • Learn our language and learn our culture • Perform well in school • Communicate • Represent country and Rotary • Participate in Rotary, school, and community activities • Return home within 2 weeks of end of school, or 1 week after USA Tour

12. Expectations of Students • Program Rules & Guidance • Driving, Drinking and Drugs • No Smoking • School attendance • Friends • Community Volunteering • Working • Visits from home • Phone calls, e-mails, Cell phones, Internet

13. Arrival and Settling In • Welcoming your student • Notify us of any flight changes • Check-in by YE Committee member • Assist with lost baggage reports • First Night Questions • Introduce them to family & friends • Encourage their involvement • Do not let them retreat to their room

14. Medical Insurance & Care • All Inbounds Insured • CISI/Bolduc policy unless waived • Sweden, Australia, Finland have own • CISI/Bolduc -#GLB 0009024420 • Medical per Accident/Illness - $500K • Repatriation - $10K • Medical Evacuation - $50K • Deductible - $100 One time

15. Medical Insurance & Care • In the event of illness/accident • Emergency medical release from Rotary Club • Stabilize first • Call Rotary Contact • Use Host Family doctors – check with club • Rotarian Physicians & Dentists • Notifying student’s family • Let Rotary do the contacting once details are known

16. Student Finances • Emergency Fund • $200.00 maintained by Host Club • True emergencies – medical, etc. • Student Bank Account • Credit/Debit Card • Telephone bills • Monthly Stipend from Rotary • Accountability

17. Host Family Finances • Support day to day routine expenses • Room and board • Laundry detergent, toothpaste, soap etc. • Regular family activities: movies, out to eat, family trips etc. • Extra-ordinary expenses • Clothing and postage are student responsibility • Telephone: Long distance costs are student responsibility • Family vacations: discuss expenses, establish cost share long before departure

18. Student Travel • Cultural & Educational Program • NOT Travel program • Written Approval from Parents Required • Students not allowed to make own travel plans – must be pre-approved by Country Contact and Club Chair person • Overnight travel, only with approved adult • Unauthorized Travel will result in student being returned home

19. School • Educational program - student visas • Visit school ASAP to set schedule • NO Driver Education • Encourage participation • Sports • Music, Drama, etc. • Interact • Help with Homework

20. Sibling Relationships • The Good • Set the example • Be a protector and a listener • Introduce to friends & activities • The Not-So-Good • Jealousy - extra attention • Withdraw from family during “homesickness” • Extra “friend” to consider

21. Student Protection Policy Our Role: • Create and maintain the safest possible environment for all participants • Safeguard welfare and prevent physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse of exchange students • Provide the means to address all concerns and indications of harassment or abuse

22. Student Protection Code • Do • Treat students with respect - be aware of your tone of voice & manner and their reactions • OK to touch and hug students in a way that is not intrusive/disturbing to them or observers • Control who they hang around with • Communicate with Rotary D7170 Student Protection Officer (Michele Hughes Tel: 607-756-4739) if there are any allegations or suspicions or if you have questions

23. Student Protection Code • DO NOT • Engage in rough physical games including horseplay • Use physical force in any way, especially as a form of punishment • Touch an exchange student in any way that could be interpreted as intrusive or sexual • Make sexually suggestive comments, even as a joke • Spend excessive time alone with a student, this may lead to misunderstanding

24. Student Protection Guidelines • What to do if your exchange student tells you of Harassment and/or Abuse • Listen attentively & let him/her know it was right to tell you • Assure him/her that they are not to blame • Remain calm and make sure student feels safe • Encourage student to share with you what happened and who was involved • Make detailed notes including date & time • Don’t promise to keep secrets & explain the necessity of informing Protection Officer

25. Student Protection Guidelines • Keep Communications Open • Assure student that you can jointly address his/her concerns/problem With all of us working together, we can keep our exchange students safe and make this a meaningful and happy exchange experience for all of us.

26. Being the 1st Host Family • First Host Family • Excitement – everything is new • Culture shock – major adaptations • Language struggles • School arrangements • Often the closest bonds • Set the standards for the year

27. Being the 2nd/Last Host Family • Second (or Third) Host Family • Transition issues • New family practices • Language and culture begin to “click” • Last Host Family • Comfortable with language and culture • Big events: prom, graduation, departure • Preparing for separation • Tearful goodbyes

28. Responsibilities of Rotary • Select qualified host families • Provide counselor & monthly allowance • Help with school arrangements • Be an advocate for student • Counselor/YEO “supervise” student • Communicate & Support host families & schools • Help with transportation for “special events”

29. Responsibilities of Rotary • Counselor contacts once/month (min.) • Club meetings once/month (min.) • Encourage involvement by members • Help with school issues during year • Arrange transition to new host family • Maintain student’s Emergency funds • Available 24/7/365 for support

30. Support System • Club & District Committee • List of contacts and Organizational Chart • Club Level • Counselor • Youth Exchange Officer • President • District Level • Country Contact • Chairperson • Student Protection Officer

31. Activities and Calendar Mandatory Events • Inbound Orientation, Sept. • Transportation by host Rotary Club • Arrive Thursday evening 5 to 7 pm • Pick up Saturday afternoon, 3:00 PM • Foundation Dinner, Oct / Nov – week night • Transportation by host Rotary Club • Inbound Orientation, Jan - April • Transportation by host Rotary Club • Arrive Thursday evening 5 to 7 pm • Pick up Saturday afternoon, 3:00 PM • District Conference, May / June • Transportation by Host Club • Arrive Friday evening 5 to 7 pm • Return Sunday afternoon, 4:00 PM

32. Activities and Calendar Optional Activities • New York City Trip Oct / Nov • Christmas Party, Dec • Albany Trip, April – 1 day • Good Bye Picnic, June • USA Trip, July 30 days

33. Activities and Calendar • Tour of USA - 30 days in late Jun-July • 9200 miles across USA & return • Chaperoned & stay in hotels • Pick-up & return in Syracuse • Est. cost $2,600.00 • Visit major National Parks & cities • Depart for Home – July 15 or Aug 10

34. The End of the Year • Leaving for home will be hard for the student and the Host Families • Reverse culture shock • “The more successful the exchange, the harder the leaving & re-entry” • Maintain contact • You WILL probably see them again

35. Other Topics • Dietary issues (religious or other) • Connecting with your student’s parents • Before arrival • During your hosting time period • After they leave • The Exchange Cycle – Stages of development

36. The Exchange Cycle • 2 4 6 8 • 1 3 5 7 • Application Anxiety • Selection/Arrival Fascination • Elation • Expectation • 3. Initial Culture Shock: 1-6 Months • Novelty wears off • Characteristics: • Sleeping Habits • Disorientation • Language difficulties • Fatigue (Mental/Physical) • Eating 4. Surface Adjustments After initial “down” Settle in: Language improves Navigate culture Friends Social Life

37. The Exchange Cycle • 2 4 6 8 • 1 3 5 7 5. Mental Isolation Frustration increases New sense of isolation Boredom Lack of motivation Unresolved problems Language problems 6. Integration/Acceptance Begin to examine society Accept surroundings/self

38. The Exchange Cycle • 2 4 6 8 • 1 3 5 7 9. Reverse Culture Shock Reintegration Contrast of old and new Family/friends Difficulty to accept change Not the center of attention Others not interested in experience details Reorientation Note: Upside comes after experiencing reverse culture shock and realizing to what extent they have become bicultural. 7. Return Anxiety Preparation for departure, Realize changes, Desire to stay Results: Confusion/Pain Breaking of bonds No promise of renewal in future 8. Arrival at home Eager to relate experiences Looking forward to renewing old relationships

39. Summary • We (Rotary) have assumed the legal and moral responsibility for someone else’s children • We are here to help you and the student have a meaningful and safe year to learn and live our American culture • We cannot help if we do not know

40. Questions ? ? ?