newsletter-cathy-johnson-september-2010

Central Valley North Newsletter Sept. 2010
Dear Host Families & Students,
Thanks to our very dedicated group of Academic Coordinators and our wonderful Host
Families, we were able to place 64 exchange students in our territory this year. We hope that
you’ll reserve some time this month to meet CHI’s family for this year at the Welcome Party,
scheduled from 4-7pm on Sunday Sept 26 th . Please mark your calendar (more information
follows on the next page.)
As we begin the 2010/2011 CHI year with our Academic Year Program, I am reminded that
our world is growing smaller daily and this makes it even more important that we cultivate
international friendship and understanding, especially for our youth. I thought it appropriate
to share some words from our Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and Assistant Secretary of
State for Educational & Cultural Affairs, Ann Stock.. Sec. of State, Hillary Clinton, is
promoting student exchanges as a way of breaking down cultural stereotypes, and making
the world a safer place. Ms. Clinton says that exchange students, their hosting families and
participating schools are our public diplomats. It is these people who will broaden their world
experience, it is these people who will learn that we have to know our neighbors and it is
these people who will ultimately change our world for the better. This is public diplomacy at
its best!
At our website www.chinet.org you can view Secretary Clinton’s full speech. Please take a
few minutes to watch and listen to what she has to say, I am sure you will be as inspired as
we are.
On the heels of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s video message last week, Assistant
Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ann Stock, followed up with her own
message encouraging more Americans to “[open] their homes and hearts and personally
[engage] with people from all over the world”:
“Hosting not only makes a difference in the life of an exceptional student; it is also an
enriching experience for host families and communities. Host families and
communities have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and traditions, and
often establish friendships that last a lifetime. Some of the thousands of exceptional
young people who come to study in the United States each year are participating in
Department of State-sponsored exchanges.
“…Host families exemplify some of our country's greatest values -- tolerance,
generosity, civic engagement -- and the goodwill they exhibit helps to create a positive
view of the United States that lasts a lifetime and has a ripple effect through American
communities and the exchange students' communities abroad. Hosting is a wonderful
way to share Cultural ideas, Homestay celebrate International commonalities, – A Non-Profit bridge Educational differences, Exchange challenge Program
stereotypes, and experience a different culture.”

STUDENT GOALS FOR SEPT:
1. Limit phone calls, Skype, emails, Facebook,
Blogs to twice a month. Your focus needs to
be on the present & will help with
homesickness.
2. Speak to and say “hello’ to a different
classmate every day in every class until
you’ve spoken to each person twice.
3. Check out as many after school activities as
possible but at least 3 or 4. Attend each one
twice. & call your AC to let her know which
club you’ve decided to join.
STUDENTS:
Please be sure to send a check
for $100 for the Sacramento
trip no later than Sept. 18 th .
The itinerary for the weekend
follows.
VISITS BY NATURAL PARENTS: Visits from family members can be extremely disruptive to the
adjustment process. We ask that any visits occur at the conclusion of the program. Please also note that
we ask that visitors make reservations at a local hotel rather than staying with the host family.
Saturday & Sunday Oct. 16 & 17
Location: Vagabon Inn Executive (The hotel is off of I-5 in Old Town Sacramento. Exit J St, Left
on 5 th St. , Left on I St., Left on 3 rd St (hotel is on the left.)
Saturday, Oct. 16
9:00am- Host families are asked to bring your student to the hotel. We’ll be checking your student’s
bags in at the lobby and then proceeding to the Capitol to use one of their meeting rooms. PLEASE
TRY TO BE ON TIME. Backpacks will need to be left at the hotel.
10: 00am-10:30pm Introductions
10:30-12:30 Small group discussion (topic- Family Life)
12:30-1:00 Subway catered lunch on the Capitol grounds
1:30-2:30 Group A- tour of the State Capitol while group B visits the museum, theater & gift shop
2:30-3:30 Group B- tour of the State Capitol while Group A visits the museum, theater & gift shop
3:30 Meet in the Rotunda & depart for the hotel. Students will check into their assigned rooms.
4:30- We’ll leave for our surprise evening activity and have a tailgate party when we reach our
destination
.
Sunday, Oct. 17
8:00-9:00am Breakfast in the dining room (Please bring your belongings down and put them in storage
prior to breakfast.)
9:00 Leave for the State Capitol for group discussion (topic- School Life)
11:00 Leave for Old Sacramento & have lunch at Round Table Pizza.
1:00 Group A meets in front of the History Museum for a Sacramento Underground Tour followed by
free time.
1:30 Group B meets in front of the History Museum for a Sacramento Underground Tour followed by
free time.
2:00 Group C meets in front of the History Museum for a Sacramento Underground Tour followed by
free time.
4:00- Meet in front
Cultural
of Round
Homestay
Table
International
Pizza and return
– A Non-Profit
to the hotel
Educational Exchange Program
5:00pm – Please pick your student up at the Vagabond Inn hotel.