Not exactly moving but...
With Rotary - we were supposed to stick to the 4 D's.. or non-D's
No drinking
No driving
No dating
No drugs
Lets just say - within my first week in my first host family, my host-mum had given me at least 3 bottles of beer!
My exchange year in Finland involved a lot of fun, travel, friends... and lots of learning Finnish culture - not language.
I enjoyed it so much that I have made several trips back to Finland.
I barely spent much time with other exchange students - I made Finnish friends which I still have to this day.
I dont know about AFS but I would have thought that the exchange year was more about 'what you put in'.....
No drinking
No driving
No dating
No drugs
Lets just say - within my first week in my first host family, my host-mum had given me at least 3 bottles of beer!
My exchange year in Finland involved a lot of fun, travel, friends... and lots of learning Finnish culture - not language.
I enjoyed it so much that I have made several trips back to Finland.
I barely spent much time with other exchange students - I made Finnish friends which I still have to this day.
I dont know about AFS but I would have thought that the exchange year was more about 'what you put in'.....
*_* PILVII *_*
Re: afs
How come you are an expert on AFS then?LuisFer wrote:that is why I did mine with another organisation.
BTW. Strictly speaking drinking is illegal here until you turn 18, so it's just normal that these organisations have the non-drinking rule, as most of the exchangers are under 18 while on the exchange.
Re: afs
True. That doesn't quite fit in with the Finnish culture though. I don't know of any exchange student who was here my year that didn't drink. Host families encouraged it (at least, allowed it).. and we had some exchange students who were 16 that year.zam wrote: BTW. Strictly speaking drinking is illegal here until you turn 18, so it's just normal that these organisations have the non-drinking rule, as most of the exchangers are under 18 while on the exchange.
I don't think it matters which organisation you choose.... the exchange year can only be as good as what you put in. I don't really know of any exchange student who is encouraged to only hang around with other exchange students - it kinda defeats the purpose of the exchange! hXc, you will have a ball!
*_* PILVII *_*
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interleukin
- Posts: 2361
- Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:46 pm
- Location: Stockholm
It is also a question of insurance and of credibility. I went with ASSE, but their rules were much the same. If they send an underage person (at least in Iceland you are not legally adult until you are 18) away to a place where their legal guardians cant keep an eye on them, of course they have to have all these rules. It doesnt matter if you drink before coming to the new country and continue drinking while there, they have to have those rules.
ASSE also had a rule that you could not drive a car/motorcycle. Just an insurance thing.
Also, if a company like ASSE or AFS did not have these kinds of rules, what responsible parent would let them "take care" of their child for a year?
But then most families will have a more liberal opinion of things (I stayed in France, in the middle of Bourgogne, so you can just guess if I drank red wine during my year there....).
And I also have to second zams comment, how come you know all of this info about AFS when you went with another organisation?
ASSE also had a rule that you could not drive a car/motorcycle. Just an insurance thing.
Also, if a company like ASSE or AFS did not have these kinds of rules, what responsible parent would let them "take care" of their child for a year?
But then most families will have a more liberal opinion of things (I stayed in France, in the middle of Bourgogne, so you can just guess if I drank red wine during my year there....).
And I also have to second zams comment, how come you know all of this info about AFS when you went with another organisation?
AFS
Well, I was going to go on exchange with AFS, and did the whole selection process, which involves (at least in some countries):
* English exam
* Group meetings (to do all these team dynamics which are meant to prepare you for culture shock and all that, you draw pretty pictures for everybody else to identify, etc etc etc)
* Pop culture exam, for f's sake!!
* Current affairs test (!!)
* Short exchange (where two applicant's stay with each other's family for a weekend and the families then grade the student on a number of things)
* Camp (more team dynamics, only this time you can share a bedroom with other applicants).
This is all of course, in addition to the application fees (!!!), exchange costs, tickets, insurance, etc. Go with any other organisation and you are bound to at least not have to pay the *application fee*, yet the selection process will still be good. Let's remember afs takes pride in its running by volunteers. all a bit of bs, if you ask me...
But anyway, you guys are right. Exchange year is what you make of it, so provided you end up going to live with a good family, you will def. have a blast. Just don't be afraid to stand your ground with the afs people if they ever get to you. I'll be happy to provide any help I can, I'm quite familiar with the entire process and some organisations; And trust me, Exchange to FInland from New Zealand will be awesome!! I moved here from Australia, but I'm originally from Colombia, and this place is unreal; it has sooooo much to offer.
CHeers!
F
* English exam
* Group meetings (to do all these team dynamics which are meant to prepare you for culture shock and all that, you draw pretty pictures for everybody else to identify, etc etc etc)
* Pop culture exam, for f's sake!!
* Current affairs test (!!)
* Short exchange (where two applicant's stay with each other's family for a weekend and the families then grade the student on a number of things)
* Camp (more team dynamics, only this time you can share a bedroom with other applicants).
This is all of course, in addition to the application fees (!!!), exchange costs, tickets, insurance, etc. Go with any other organisation and you are bound to at least not have to pay the *application fee*, yet the selection process will still be good. Let's remember afs takes pride in its running by volunteers. all a bit of bs, if you ask me...
But anyway, you guys are right. Exchange year is what you make of it, so provided you end up going to live with a good family, you will def. have a blast. Just don't be afraid to stand your ground with the afs people if they ever get to you. I'll be happy to provide any help I can, I'm quite familiar with the entire process and some organisations; And trust me, Exchange to FInland from New Zealand will be awesome!! I moved here from Australia, but I'm originally from Colombia, and this place is unreal; it has sooooo much to offer.
CHeers!
F
..bring pics of hobbit mates and dragon pets
..and just for the thrill of its say ' yes I have been to all the places in the Lord of the Rings, but thats not as amazing as where I live'
..actually, why not wear a long white robe and carry a glowing staff...that would be well cool....way better than a NZ flag sewn into the Tika backpack...
..and just for the thrill of its say ' yes I have been to all the places in the Lord of the Rings, but thats not as amazing as where I live'
..actually, why not wear a long white robe and carry a glowing staff...that would be well cool....way better than a NZ flag sewn into the Tika backpack...