Saturday, July 14, 2012
How do I get started in a Foreign Exchange Student Program?
How do I get started in a Foreign Exchange Student Program?
I am a Freshman in Highschool, and I want the go with a Foreign Exchange Student Program to Spain or a spanish speaking country. I have taken 3 years of Spanish. I also volunteer at a hospital 4 hours a week (which they might like.) I have good grades also. The problem, is that I don't know how to start or how I will come up with that money. Anything will help me even if it's not in a Spanish country. Thanks!
Other - Education - 2 Answers
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1 :
Check out the Committee For Safety of Foreign Exchange Students first. Also, be aware that no fingerprint-based criminal checks of host families are conducted so you don't know the background of the adults in the house. You lose a year of high school but if you wait until college you will receive college credit and it looks good to employers that you studied abroad in college. It costs $3000 to $15000 plus $200 per month that your family has to send you every month as part of the contract.
2 :
Check out Youth For Understanding. Not only do they have an excellent program (I went to Japan in 2005), they have more scholarships than just about any other organization! Just go to their website, fill out the application, and you'll hear back from them in not too long. Your grades and language ablitity will help you out TREMENDOUSLY. And.. don't be scared by people who tell you that "exchange programs are dangerous". The statistics say it is very unlikely, and I know hundreds of former students who had no problems at all. YFU will even move you if something happens. Heck, I got moved because the mother got sick!
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
What is the best city in Spain to study in a medical school for a summer month?
What is the best city in Spain to study in a medical school for a summer month?
I am taking part in a student exchange programe for undergraduate medical students.I chose Spain and I would like to know what is the best city (except Barcelona) to live in for a month. I m thinking about Seville but many other cities are beautiful as well. (Granada,Madrid,Salamanca,Valencia,Malaga,Zaragoza,Valladolid,Bilbao,Oviedo). These ones have medical schools. Your opinions are most valuable to me...
Studying Abroad - 1 Answers
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1 :
It depends if you are looking for academic recognition, a good student city or something else like a beach/good weather/good nights out etc. If you want a decent academic university then your best best is Madrid (the Universidad Compultense is one of the most highly regarded in Europe). Valencia (Universitat de Valencia) also has good international standing. If you want a good student city then you could try Granada (massive student population) or somewhere similar like Salamanca or Seville. These cities are much smaller than somewhere like Barcelona or Madrid, but have a load of students which can make studying there a great experience. If you want beaches/good weather you could try Valencia, Cadiz (it has a med school in the centre of the city) or Malaga. If you want somewhere with a relaxed atmosphere and many typically Spanish customs (and great weather) then anywhere in Andalusia is a good bet. If you want to find out more about each city as a student destination you can have a look at http://www.vivaerasmus.com (Erasmus is the european university exchange program)
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I am taking part in a student exchange programe for undergraduate medical students.I chose Spain and I would like to know what is the best city (except Barcelona) to live in for a month. I m thinking about Seville but many other cities are beautiful as well. (Granada,Madrid,Salamanca,Valencia,Malaga,Zaragoza,Valladolid,Bilbao,Oviedo). These ones have medical schools. Your opinions are most valuable to me...
Studying Abroad - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
It depends if you are looking for academic recognition, a good student city or something else like a beach/good weather/good nights out etc. If you want a decent academic university then your best best is Madrid (the Universidad Compultense is one of the most highly regarded in Europe). Valencia (Universitat de Valencia) also has good international standing. If you want a good student city then you could try Granada (massive student population) or somewhere similar like Salamanca or Seville. These cities are much smaller than somewhere like Barcelona or Madrid, but have a load of students which can make studying there a great experience. If you want beaches/good weather you could try Valencia, Cadiz (it has a med school in the centre of the city) or Malaga. If you want somewhere with a relaxed atmosphere and many typically Spanish customs (and great weather) then anywhere in Andalusia is a good bet. If you want to find out more about each city as a student destination you can have a look at http://www.vivaerasmus.com (Erasmus is the european university exchange program)
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Sunday, July 1, 2012
Foreign Exchange Student- What would be some good American experiences?
Foreign Exchange Student- What would be some good American experiences?
This fall my cousin will be in an exchange program and will travel to Spain. My aunt has agreed to participate also and receive a student from Spain while my cousin is abroad. She wants to plan some good, American activities for the student to enjoy, something that they wouldn't be able to do in Spain, but isn't sure of what to plan. She's asked us, and, frankly, we can't think of many good ideas either. Do you have any suggestions?
Parenting - 4 Answers
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1 :
Baseball, Hot dogs, Apple Pie. Lots of tourists like to go to indoor malls, amusement parks, and shooting ranges.
2 :
I don't know what they do in Spain, but I would make sure they participate in school activities such as football games, homecoming dances etc. If possible I would take them to a professional sports event (football, baseball, hockey) what ever is popular in your area. Amusement parks are also good. The best thing really is to have them participate in activities that you regularly participate in with your kids so they see what an American family is really like. And try to make sure they get involved in some extra curricular activities at school
3 :
A rodeo A state or county fair theater productions Holiday celebrations like 4th of July camping at a state park visit any national monuments you can - a trip to Washington would be super! If not then the state government is a good visiting site. Any natural phenomenon such as Grand Canyon, Redwood forests etc Ride a paddle boat down the Mississippi go to Mardi Gra snorkeling in Florida or anyplace warm concert Any sporting event is good.
4 :
Ask the student what he/she wants to do. I've been involved in a couple of exchange programs, and what I found was that what the teens liked most was hanging out with other teens. They wanted to experience life the way American teens do. We also assumed that our students would want to see all the tourist attractions, and of course they did. But when we asked them what they most wanted to do, they'd mention little things that we would never have thought of, such as going fishing (not common in some parts of the world), and going to McDonald's to eat french fries.
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
what kind of free time do students in spain have? What type of extras are available?
what kind of free time do students in spain have? What type of extras are available?
i need to know some thing about average schools in spain. (high schools, middle schools) I need to know what kind of free time the students have (recess, lunch, etc...) and what kind of extra activities are available.(sports, music, drama, clubs, etc....) i also need to know the same about schools in france. help please!? :] please dont answer with racist answers! :D
Other - Education - 1 Answers
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1 :
In their spare time most students go bull-fighting.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
How much money should I take to Spain with me?
How much money should I take to Spain with me?
I'm going to go on a student tour to Spain for 20 days and would like to know how much money I should take with me. Breakfast, dinner and transportation are included in the price of the trip. So how much should I bring for souvenirs, lunch and taxis to get around the cities? Also, what form of money should the money be in? Travelers checks, cash? Would I be able to use an ATM card from an American bank in Spain? Thanks for putting up with the long question. Oh, and I'm also not a big spender, so I probably won't be buying THAT much stuff. But I do need to get around.
Other - Destinations - 2 Answers
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1 :
$1,500 - 2,000 should be enough. If you use your debit card it has to have the Visa/Mastercard logo. You can use an ATM to withdraw money. Your back will charge you a surcharge at about 6%. Remember you are using Euros and the dollar is worth nothing right now. When you withdraw your money make sure you write it down and calculate. Or check your balance online. I used my debit card at the malls and grocery stores and only took out money when I needed it. If you are going to use Taxis and buy things at random places have cash. If you need more just go to the ATM but take our more because you will be charged that 6%. Many locations will not take travelers checks and my school told us not to use them. It is hard to tell you how much to take and what to do. You have to use good judgement. If you do take your debit.. Make sure you make a copy of it and give it to your parents just incase you lose it. Don't forget to tell your bank or CC that you are going out of the country or they will stop your account. Oh yeah make sure you know how much money you can take out in a day. Good luck...i lived in Spain for 3 months and lived on $3,500
2 :
well... generally in europe you can easyly get around with $1000-$1500!!! that should cover everything!!! food if you don't like hotel food... shopping ect!!!
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
Should I go to Spain on a trip or as an exchange student?
Should I go to Spain on a trip or as an exchange student?
I want to go to Spain as an exchange student, but now my spanish class if offering a trip to spain this april. I can't decide which to go on. The exchange program would be six months in a school in spain during the first semester of my senior year (of high school). I really want to go, it's a once in a lifetime experience. But at the same time I don't know if I want to miss the first half of my senior year. The exchange program would be about 7500 dollars and the trip with my class would be about 3000. Suggestions? Cause I have absolutely no idea right now.
Studying Abroad - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
That really depends on your reasons for wanting to go to Spain. Being an exchange student will give you a more "authentic" experience, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the language and culture of Spain. If you go with your class, you'll spend less time in Spain and have fewer opportunities to meet other people, but you would get more of a guided and touristy experience, which could be a lot of fun. Going with your school or missing half of your senior year aren't your only options, though -- you could also go to Spain on a gap year or on a summer program. If you don't want to wait until after you graduate, AYUSA Study Abroad offers a summer program in Barcelona that is 4 weeks long and you'd live with a host family and a trimester program that would bring you home in time for the winter holidays. They also have some scholarships and fundraising ideas on their website. I would encourage you to really think about why you want to go to Spain, and weigh the pros and cons of each of your options. This decision shouldn't be about the price of the programs, but their value. Good luck!
2 :
Hi! I am a Youth For Understanding (YFU) alumni. Are you currently a junior? YFU offers exchanges during the summer so no school is missed. They also have scholarships that can help cover some of the costs. You would live with a host family for 6 weeks and get to experience life as a native. You just probably need a year of Spanish and a 3.0 GPA. The top scholarship is for a summer trip, the bottom is for a fall semester. The third is for semester, year, or summer. Without a scholarship, the cost is pretty steep. For a semester it would be about $11,695, and a year would be $11,795, and a summer would be$7,595-$9,595. http://yfuusa.org/scholarships/founders-scholarship-28.php http://yfuusa.org/scholarships/presidential-scholarship-29.php http://yfuusa.org/scholarships/temple-krick-41.php Being a exchange student is a once in a life-time experience. Take advantage of it while you can. YFU also offers a GAP year for Spain. Which is a year off from school in Spain. I don't really, know any details but sending an email wouldn't hurt. Hope this helps!
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Friday, June 1, 2012
I'm a foreign exchange student and I hate it. I'm at Spain and I just dont like any of it. The food is terri?
I'm a foreign exchange student and I hate it. I'm at Spain and I just dont like any of it. The food is terri?
The family I am staying with gets mad at me if you don't say bye and give a hug school and I usually have to run to school. They yell at me when I ask for help and I want to go home. But my moms stressed cause the family I stay with blames it on me. I want to go home but not by getting in trouble or stressing my parents. What can I do? It kills me everyday to be here.
Studying Abroad - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
From the tone of your question, I have to wonder why you ever decided to spend a year abroad - I assume this is at the High School level? Did you think it would look good on your college application? You might try contacting the program office that set up the exchange, to see if it is possible to find another family (I suspect the one you are staying with now would not mind seeing you leave). Learning to adapt to the customs of the community where you are living is a part of the exchange process, but if you cannot make the effort to adjust, it might be better for you and the program to terminate you, and send you home.
2 :
My advice for you in the future is to do research before making a decision like this. It is obvious you do not understand Spanish Culture and way of life. If you do not like Spanish food then yes it would not be to your liking. I happen to Love the food myself. Im sure you can get out of the program with your parents help. My questioned is whom funded this program. Are there any rules about completing the program? When i say rules, will your parents be required to pay money back to the Organization because you did not complete the program. Good luck to you..
3 :
How old are you? I agree, try staying with another family. Haven't you made any good friends? How about asking them to stay with their family? This could be a good solution.. If u want my opinion, try to make the most of your experience, Spain is an amazing country, give it a second chance, find things you like, you'll find plenty! Good luck really, I know how the pressure feels..
4 :
Easy, fly back to the UK. It's only a 110 min. flight and you could find one for less than 50 GBP with Easyjet or Ryanair. In no time you would be eating "delicious" Cottage Pie and Sausages with mashed potato and gravy. I must tell you, this is the first time I hear someone doesn't like Spanish food.
5 :
It's normal to experience culture shock when you go to a new country. Everything is different. The culture is different (they hug goodbye), the food is different (and you may not like it). But your job is to try to adapt. You need to give the place a chance. If they hug, you hug. If they eat, you eat. And you talk to other English (or American or whatever) students there, or if there are none, then online, and you burn off steam - to them, you talk about the food and etc. But you don't complain to the family you're staying with. All that makes you seem is ungrateful and boorish. You need to try to live within the culture around you. You may not like it, but you need to at least try. So make sure you leave time to say bye and hug them. That's step one. And shut up about the food, except when you're talking to foreigners. At least *try*, because right now, you're not *really* trying. So try for a while, and give the place some time, and see how you feel. But do ask your parents to send you a care package, full of snacks you miss from your home country and other home items. This can really help. And perhaps, if you cook, offer to prepare an American (or English or whatever) meal for the family, or just make one American dish for the next meal. This is your attempt to share your culture with them, as they are trying to share theirs with you.
6 :
Taking advantage it and learn to eat, you are in Spain
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The family I am staying with gets mad at me if you don't say bye and give a hug school and I usually have to run to school. They yell at me when I ask for help and I want to go home. But my moms stressed cause the family I stay with blames it on me. I want to go home but not by getting in trouble or stressing my parents. What can I do? It kills me everyday to be here.
Studying Abroad - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
From the tone of your question, I have to wonder why you ever decided to spend a year abroad - I assume this is at the High School level? Did you think it would look good on your college application? You might try contacting the program office that set up the exchange, to see if it is possible to find another family (I suspect the one you are staying with now would not mind seeing you leave). Learning to adapt to the customs of the community where you are living is a part of the exchange process, but if you cannot make the effort to adjust, it might be better for you and the program to terminate you, and send you home.
2 :
My advice for you in the future is to do research before making a decision like this. It is obvious you do not understand Spanish Culture and way of life. If you do not like Spanish food then yes it would not be to your liking. I happen to Love the food myself. Im sure you can get out of the program with your parents help. My questioned is whom funded this program. Are there any rules about completing the program? When i say rules, will your parents be required to pay money back to the Organization because you did not complete the program. Good luck to you..
3 :
How old are you? I agree, try staying with another family. Haven't you made any good friends? How about asking them to stay with their family? This could be a good solution.. If u want my opinion, try to make the most of your experience, Spain is an amazing country, give it a second chance, find things you like, you'll find plenty! Good luck really, I know how the pressure feels..
4 :
Easy, fly back to the UK. It's only a 110 min. flight and you could find one for less than 50 GBP with Easyjet or Ryanair. In no time you would be eating "delicious" Cottage Pie and Sausages with mashed potato and gravy. I must tell you, this is the first time I hear someone doesn't like Spanish food.
5 :
It's normal to experience culture shock when you go to a new country. Everything is different. The culture is different (they hug goodbye), the food is different (and you may not like it). But your job is to try to adapt. You need to give the place a chance. If they hug, you hug. If they eat, you eat. And you talk to other English (or American or whatever) students there, or if there are none, then online, and you burn off steam - to them, you talk about the food and etc. But you don't complain to the family you're staying with. All that makes you seem is ungrateful and boorish. You need to try to live within the culture around you. You may not like it, but you need to at least try. So make sure you leave time to say bye and hug them. That's step one. And shut up about the food, except when you're talking to foreigners. At least *try*, because right now, you're not *really* trying. So try for a while, and give the place some time, and see how you feel. But do ask your parents to send you a care package, full of snacks you miss from your home country and other home items. This can really help. And perhaps, if you cook, offer to prepare an American (or English or whatever) meal for the family, or just make one American dish for the next meal. This is your attempt to share your culture with them, as they are trying to share theirs with you.
6 :
Taking advantage it and learn to eat, you are in Spain
Read more other entries :
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