Advice for Exchange Students? (714 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.25 on 20 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by ripple (View user info) at 2006-06-16 20:29:36 EDT
A couple of months ago, I found out that a certain exchange program actually accepted me. I was thrilled. I still am, actually. Anyways, a few days ago, the information on the host family came throught. It's a fairly different dynamic from what I'm used to, and also different from what I expected. Here's what I know:
They live in the province (not the city) of Salamanca
The mother is a secretary, the father a vegetables dealer
They have a three-year-old daughter
At these few random tidbits of information, I suddenly became nervous. I started to wonder what the hell I was thinking, leaving my home, friends, and my family (which, by the way, is gloriously lacking any small children). I realized that this would be more of an adjustment than I anticipated.
And so, I ask the ever-wise (what?) Überpopulation: Do you have any advice for me?? Have any of you ever gone on an exchange program? What's the best way to mask my American-ness? And anything else you can think of. Thank you!
User Reviews
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2006-11-04 22:30:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-19 17:16:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I'd be careful, remember what happened to Bart Simpson.
Submitted by stryke (user info) at 2006-06-18 22:56:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
only advice i can give you is to make sure you know majority of local customs. we had an exchance student from turkey who thought that americans were aloud to get into the pants of 12 yr olds and he had to be deported
Submitted by GDR (user info) at 2006-06-17 13:07:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeeehawwwwwwwwwww
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2006-06-17 01:10:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
oh so YOU'RE the one who did that typical overly-self-conscious camwhore saying 'im not 10 i just looked like it', resulting in the (probably intentionally sought-after) effect of several guys pointing out that you actually looked quite good. boo for that.
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2006-06-17 00:58:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
if they offer you food, eat it. period.
be friendly, that's really all you need to do. people love to laugh and talk all over the world, doesn't matter where you are.
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2006-06-17 00:57:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
salamanca, spain? dude, it won't be THAT different. just get ready to eat a *lot* of pork.
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2006-06-17 00:33:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I moved to Japan by myself (no host family) a few months ago. Spanish looks easy enough to learn (any European language does) if you give it a good crack. Language is the thing that you're going to need to at least show you are making an effort if you want to be accepted. Just as you Americans expect Mexicans to learn English, the Spaniards will expect you to learn Spanish.
Be careful of disease; i was sick for the first 2 months of my trip. Don't ever look for other people who speak English. Knowing that you're fucked if you can't speak Spanish is going to be the greatest motivator to get you learning the language and assymilating into the culture.
Also; copy the locals. Whatever stupid customs they do, whatever funny nuances they say, copy them and blend in. When in Rome...
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2006-06-17 00:00:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Doodles (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:59:55 (#)
Ranking: 2
Haven't you met caul yet jeanneee?
---------------
No. I never made it to Montreal.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2006-06-16 23:49:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I did a 6 month exchange through AFS intercultural back in high school, 10 years ago.
It was one of the best things I've ever done.
Do not try to hide your "Americaness" it is impossible and no matter what the way you walk, the way you talk, all of your body language will mark you as an outsider. The chicks will like it, too. You look, sound, and smell different. Let the sex commence.
If you find yourself stumbling on the language block, you can probably find something like HBO or another movie/television channel that plays movies in english with spanish/italian/whatever subtitles, and use that to help you immerse a little better. Send your host family some stuff so that they can get to know a few things about you outside of the profile your program gave them. It will be sadly lacking, I assure you.
Keep in mind that these people study english as a second language in many of their schools, and this will be your favorite class because you are both on a common ground of feeling awkward and fucking things up.
Good luck. You'll never do anything quite as much fun.
Submitted by Doodles (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:59:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:25:32 (#)
Ranking: 0
I did a study abroad program in the summer of 1998 in Quebec City. I highly recommend it. Everything is cheap, and the French Canadians are a relaxed, friendly and fun-loving people. Plus, you have no choice but to learn how to get by in French, because nobody speaks English there.
Don't bother trying to hide the fact that you're American. They'll know.
---
Haven't you met caul yet jeanneee?
Submitted by Yams (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:55:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
shit man just scream 'hollah hollah jihad' and 'praise allah' for every fucking thing that happens or some shit i dunno. maybe you should slim down that fat ass of yours, chunky, everybody knows americans are fat and nobody else is fat. paint yourself black, it helps too. yo dog why you trying to mask the americanism? you got something against a brotha? i don't get it, you people get all pissy when somebody insults the country but then you don't want people in another country to know its where you're from? man kids these days i tell you what, i just don't get you
Submitted by ssspunkstaa (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:31:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Open up a Starbucks and live like a king...........
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:25:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I did a study abroad program in the summer of 1998 in Quebec City. I highly recommend it. Everything is cheap, and the French Canadians are a relaxed, friendly and fun-loving people. Plus, you have no choice but to learn how to get by in French, because nobody speaks English there.
Don't bother trying to hide the fact that you're American. They'll know.
Submitted by Happily_Agnostic (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:16:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
More info? You going to be attending a school over there? Working in a fish factory?? Working in the local sex industry???
Submitted by Sockster (user info) at 2006-06-16 22:04:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Take the money and run!
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-06-16 21:31:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No raping the young but legal boys, though their asses are fine and supple.
Submitted by nephilim (user info) at 2006-06-16 21:18:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Don't inquire about the "special" deal on gourds.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-06-16 20:58:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have excellent advice for you: Always say please and thank you, don't fart in public,
and always remember, THERE IS NO SUCH WORD AS ANYWAYS!!!!!!!! Yhe word is 'anyway'.
:-D :) :0
Submitted by Doodles (user info) at 2006-06-16 20:41:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Because I have the attention span of a 5-year-old, I didn't read hte post and just looked at the picture.
Don't drink the water.