Compass How to Share Your Teenager's Experience | Page 2

COMPASS PARENT ISSUE: HOW TO CompassEXPERIENCESHARE YOUR TEENAGER’S COMPASS Compass Sometimes, both natural families and their exchange student teenagers are frustrated by the feeling that there is no meaningful way to share the overseas living experience. The family of a YFU student to Germany wrote, “We become worried when we do not get letters. Our daughter does not write or call very often. We don’t know what she is doing....” An American exchange student to Australia reported, “My parents don’t understand that I am busy and there is really nothing much to say. I don’t know what to write to them that means anything…” YFU believes that families should share in the excitement, difficulties, rewards and expanded horizons that their children experience on the exchange program. This can happen if lines of communication remain open, the family understands the student’s adjustment process, and the student receives supportive messages from home. Here are some ideas to help you with the transition both for the student and the family. LEARNING ABOUT THE HOST COUNTRY Now that your teenager is living in another country, YFU hopes that your entire family will develop a deeper interest in the world, and especially become more knowledgeable about your teenager’s host country. This will give you a more informed frame of reference when writing letters, and a better background to understand the letters you receive. Below are some ideas for learning about the host country. Your family may have been able to share your teenager’s preparation for the exchange experience. The Compass newsletter, “Learning About Your Host Country Before You Go” gives students suggestions for locating information and resources. If you did not read this pamphlet before, you may find it useful now. School projects. Encourage brothers and sisters to do school projects on their sibling’s host country, and 2 share what they learn with their brother or sister on the exchange. Maps. You may want to get a detailed map of the country where your teenager is living. A map that shows all the small towns and roads, like a good driving map, will help you locate exactly where your son or daughter lives and the places he or she visits. If such a map is not available locally, your library may have the name of a map company which will take an order, or you could ask your son or daughter to send you a map of the area. Newspapers. Your whole family could collect newspaper articles about the host country to better understand your country’s relationship with the host country. You might want to forward particularly interesting articles to your teenager. Many students develop an interest in the economic and political Compass: Cross-Cultural Resources for Exchange Students