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
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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