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Orientation for Inbound Exchange Students Rotary District 6670. September 10, 2006. Introduction . Welcome to District 6670 Our goal for you - “The Year of a Lifetime” We are excited you are with us !!! Rotarian introductions (name, club). Our District Youth Exchange Organization .
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Orientation for Inbound Exchange StudentsRotary District 6670 September 10, 2006
Introduction • Welcome to District 6670 • Our goal for you - “The Year of a Lifetime” • We are excited you are with us !!! • Rotarian introductions (name, club)
What You Will Learn Today • New friends • Rotary expectations • Helpful ideas for you • Calendar of activities
New Friends • Introductions • Exchange students (12) • 6 young men; 6 young ladies • 11 countries • Please tell us your • Name • Country • Host club and high school • Favorite hobbies
CHALLENGES FOR THE ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT Your Community Host Families School Exchange Student / Counselor Host Rotary Club Friends in High School Host Rotary District
Items Your Rotary Counselor Must Now Have • Paid for return airline ticket • Emergency fund ($350) • Passport and Visa
Your Rotary Insurance • All students must buy the Ohio-Erie health insurance policy • Cost is $235 and must be paid today • Insurance cards do NOT have your name on them but you need it if you go to the doctor • Do not throw the cards away
Break! • To inspect passports, visas and airline tickets • Collect $235 for health insurance • Pass out health insurance cards • Pass out student ID cards
Challenges • Adapting to rules of your host family • Doing well in school • Homesickness / making close friends • Speaking English • Following the rules of Rotary • Getting involved in Rotary club and community
Host Family Expectations • Be a member of the family • Share responsibilities of the home • Be considerate, ask permission • Understand their position -- sometimes they will have to say “no” to requests
Sample Family Rules • No smoking • Be on time • Curfew • They need to know your friends • Keep up with homework from school • No telephone after certain hour See list of questions to ask each new host family at yeoresources.org.
Expectations at School • Have clear understanding of school credits while you are here • Say thank you to school teachers • School requires you to attend classes regularly and be a good student • Sometimes Rotary will take you out of school; you are expected to make up work
Making Close Friends • A major challenge to YE students • Be careful to choose the right set of friends • Join clubs; actively participate • Interact (in many of the schools) • Sports • Theater • Band, orchestra
Speaking English • Often students speak own language • Considered quite rude • Forces others away from you • This is major problem • Ask questions when you need help
4 D’s + 1: Revisited • No • Drinking • Driving • Drugs • Dating • and finally … No Dumb Things
4 D’s + 1 - Revisited • What do we mean by: • No Drinking • No “Peer” drinking • Acceptable in a family context • Cultural norms • No Driving • No vehicles, snowmobiles, boats, jet skis • Riding lawnmowers are okay
4 D’s + 1 - Revisited • What do we mean by: • No Drugs • No non-prescription – illegal drugs • No drugs that don’t belong to you • not talking about borrowing an aspirin • No Dating • No exclusive relationships • WHY? • Encourage group dating or going out to events with different people of both genders
4 D’s + 1 - Revisited • What do we mean by: • No Dumb Things • Ask yourself the following 2 Questions: • If my mother was here, what would she say? • Is what I am about to do, something I might be sent home for?
Other Rotary Expectations • Follow rules signed in application • Make every effort to adapt to family • Seek Rotary help (counselor, others) • Remember -- RYE not a travel program. Permission will NOT be given for independent travel! • Be prepared to give slide show presentation to Rotary club during year
Getting Involved in Community • Rotarians will ask for your involvement in Rotary and community • Rotary meetings • Orientations for American students • Programs to Rotary clubs • Programs to schools and clubs • Be prepared to say “yes” and be proud to be ambassador for your country and for Rotary
Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth Rotary International is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants in Rotary activities. It is the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses, partners, and other volunteers to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of and to prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children and young people with whom they come into contact.
Where to Go for Help • Some problems will occur • You must ask for help, in this order • Host family • Club counselor • Inbound chairman • Youth exchange officer
Protecting Yourself • Living in a foreign country where you are unfamiliar with the culture and language can expose you to a number of risks • Learning how to anticipate and avoid risks is the preferred action • What will you do if you find yourself in a situation in which you feel uncomfortable? How will you handle it?
Protecting Yourself • Although rarely an issue, sexual abuse and sexual harassment are two topics that need to be addressed. • Basic Definitions: • Sexual Abuse– Forcing or encouraging someone, regardless of age or gender, to engage in implicit or explicit sexual acts alone or with another person. • Examples: • Indecent exposure • Exposing a student to sexual or pornographic material
Protecting Yourself Watch BSA scenario on sexual abuse
Protecting Yourself Watch BSA Scenario on Sexual Abuse
Protecting Yourself • Basic Definitions: • Sexual Harassment– Not as severe as abuse. Usually verbal or written in nature, but can be physical. Often used by sexual predators to desensitize or “groom” their victims for abuse. • Examples: • Sexual advances • Sexual jokes, reference to sexual conduct • Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or drawings • Sexual leering or inappropriate physical contact (such as brushing or touching)
Protecting Yourself Watch BSA scenario on harassment
Protecting Yourself • “Teahouse of the August Moon” – 1952 • “In Okinawa, bathing in public bath with naked lady, is quite proper. • Picture of naked lady in private home, is quite improper. • In America, statue of naked lady in park wins a prize, • But real naked lady in park wins a penalty. • Conclusion? • Pornography is a question of geography”
Protecting Yourself • Rotary has an obligation to report all incidents of sexual abuse to the proper authorities • Each of you has an obligation to report incidents to Rotary, especially if it involves another Exchange Student
Student Protection • District 6670 has two non-Rotarian Counselors • Dr. Lazaro Pages, M.D. • Home phone: 937-427-1809 • Office phone: 937-352-2750 • Mrs. Vickie Williamson • Home phone: 937-372-8889 • Cell phone: 937-271-3525
District Activities • Hamilton Overnight Oct. 20-21, 2006 • TBA Nov. 2006 • DG Christmas Party Dec. 17, 2006 • Fairborn Basketball Overnight Jan. 13-14, 2006 • Washington CH weekend Feb. 22-25, 2006 • Eastern Adventure Trip Feb. 24-Mar. 4, 2006 • TBA March 4-12, 2006 • District Conference April 27-29, 2006 • Cincinnati Rotary event May 2006 • Western Adventure Trip June 13-27, 2006
Eastern Adventure • A Journey Through the Great Eastern American Cities • Sign up as soon as possible • First to register will go; last will not. Space is limited • http://www.mcmurraytravel.com • $380 deposit required, total cost $760
Western Adventure • Fly to Phoenix, Arizona • Motor coach tour of the Western U.S. • Yellowstone Park, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon • San Francisco, Reno, Lake Tahoe • Whitewater rafting, hiking • Sign up as soon as possible • First to register will go; last will not. Space is limited • http://www.mcmurraytravel.com • $900 deposit required, total cost $1,800
Scenes from previous Western Adventure trips Alcatraz Island Whitewater rafting Las Vegas, Nevada Grand Teton
Summary • We have a great year planned • You will have the opportunities • To learn our culture • To make friends from all over the world • Much of the success of your year will depend on you • We are more than eager to help
One Last Request • Your Name, Address &Telephone # must be kept current in US SEVIS database • Please inform Eric Marcus when you move families and provide the needed information including host family e-mail
Youth Exchange Chairs • District Chair: Eric Marcus • (H) 937-427-4010 (C) 937-602-0367 • eric.marcus@mindspring.com • Inbound Chair: vacant • Outbound Chair: Mac Hickman • (H) 513-831-0707 (C) 847-651-3941 • mac@cinci.rr.com • STEP Chairs: Michael Kinner • (H) 513-732-3025 (W) 513-831-7500 • mkinner@lovins-ins.com Monte Zinn (or Julie, his secretary) • (W) 937-629-9275 • zinnauto@iapdatacom.net