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CHI CHIT CHAT<br />
JUNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Published For Our Wonderful Host Families, Coordinators, Students and Schools<br />
From Dorothy’s Desk...<br />
Dear Students and Host Families,<br />
There is not a more appropriate time to use the expression “Time Flies” than right now. It<br />
seems like only yesterday when the students were arriving at all the airports up and down the state.<br />
The day they would be returning home seemed so far away. The road from there to here has at the<br />
very least been interesting. For many host families and students there have been potholes and uphill<br />
climbs, for others the road has been much smoother. Everyone, however, occasionally hits a dip.<br />
Saying good bye is definitely bittersweet. Most students will say that they want to see their natural<br />
family but hate to leave their life they’ve made here. Many host families are ready for their lives to<br />
return back to normal but dread saying good bye. From experience I can tell you that the relationship<br />
does not have to end with good bye. Our hope is that this is just the beginning of a lifelong friendship<br />
and that you will visit your student in their homeland and they will return with their children in years to<br />
come.<br />
Going home for many of you students means going through a reverse culture shock. As in<br />
coming here, the severity of this varies. You will see your old life through new eyes. Your friends and<br />
family will not have changed yet you have gone through a metamorphosis. Be patient with yourself<br />
and your family and friends. Try not to bore them too much with all your stories. Spread them out<br />
over time so they will not get tired of hearing them. Get as much rest as possible (yeah right). Most of<br />
all, stay in touch. Send email, postcards, and yes, maybe a letter or two letting your family and friends<br />
know how you are. Thank you to all the students who have made “the best year of” their lives here.<br />
Host families may find that the things that drove you crazy while your student was here for<br />
some reason now seem almost endearing. Distance makes the heart grow fonder but it also gives all<br />
of us the gift of perspective. It is hard to have perspective when you’re in the middle of any experience<br />
and that is particularly true for hosting. Once your student is home you will see the experience<br />
as a whole not just in the moment you are living it. You have done a phenomenal thing. Not all teens<br />
are good at expressing thanks. Sometimes they don’t realize how much they have to be thankful for<br />
but we know and I want to say THANK YOU! I hope to see you all again soon.<br />
Peace,<br />
Dorothy<br />
Lifelong Personal Growth<br />
Chances are, your time abroad will have been one of self-discovery and<br />
self-refinement, but you might not really notice it until you are home. You<br />
may be painfully aware of certain weaknesses, but more often than not,<br />
you will see positive traits. The key will be to build on that new confidence<br />
and patience to make them permanent characteristics. It is more difficult<br />
than it sounds because the “sameness” of home could tempt you to forget<br />
lessons learned and revert back to your ‘old’ self. Use your international<br />
experiences as a catalyst for lifelong personal growth.
CHI CHIT CHAT<br />
Page 2<br />
Calling all Host Families and Students<br />
We place all of our<br />
students through word<br />
of mouth. This is the<br />
best way to<br />
guarantee that we<br />
get the best host<br />
families.<br />
This is the time of year when we are looking for families to host a<br />
student for the next school year. It is not an easy task but we take<br />
it seriously and work hard to achieve our goal which is that no student<br />
remains unplaced. Students, remember when you were waiting to<br />
hear about who your family would be? They were possibly found<br />
through a referral from another student. Host families, remember<br />
when you received that call asking if you would consider hosting a<br />
student for the school year? Most likely someone referred you to the<br />
person who called you or you already knew the person who called.<br />
That’s how we find host families. CHI doesn't advertise in newspapers<br />
or magazines nor does it have a national TV ad as some organizations<br />
do. We place all of our students through word of mouth. This is the<br />
best way to guarantee that we get the best host families. Most of you<br />
are a friend or relative of someone who has hosted. Now we want to<br />
ask you to do the same thing. There are over 100 students on our website<br />
who are waiting for a home. Please pass the word. As the new administrator<br />
for some of you, I promise that all the host families will be<br />
100% supported. You can call me at any time at 1-877-737-0409.<br />
I have complete applications on each student.<br />
You can also view the unplaced students at our website:<br />
http://www.ayp.chinet.org/User/LogIn.aspx<br />
Username: guest0107 Password: guest0107<br />
Thanks for all you do!<br />
Santa Barbara - SLO<br />
County Farewell Party
CHI CHIT CHAT<br />
Page 3<br />
Important Information<br />
PACK & DO IT EARLY!<br />
This may sound silly but it’s strongly suggested! You need to pack at least 1 week before<br />
you’re leaving and then keep what you need on top of your suit case for the remainder of<br />
your time here. you may think there is nothing to packing up, but you are sooooo wrong!<br />
By packing at least a week ahead of time you will be able to weigh your bags, as surprises<br />
at the airport can be costly. If needed, you can also arrange for additional luggage. You<br />
will also save yourself valuable time & aggravation. Make sure to check with your airlines<br />
as to their baggage allowance, because the terms & conditions change often this time of<br />
year. We’ve already had luggage issues with some of our students . Most of you can<br />
check 2 bags along with a carry on and one backpack or purse. Additional bags cost<br />
more. Suitcases that weigh more than 50 lbs can cost $100. So please check with your<br />
airline before you get to the airport!<br />
Also call to confirm your departure the night before in case of any changes. You will be<br />
glad to be ready ahead of time to be able to spend more important time with family &<br />
friends at the last minute instead of packing…<br />
TRIP WINNERS!<br />
• Michelle and Aaron Lynam hosting Denisa from Slovakia<br />
• Jon and Margie Goldstein hosting Danie from Vietnam<br />
• Sharon and Cynthia LeRoy hosting Gabriel from Brazil<br />
• Doug and Sandy Grover hosting Jerome from Belgium<br />
• Jeff and Virginia Hayward hosting Jannika from Germany<br />
Congratulations, they each won, one round trip ticket worth up to $750!<br />
ALSO… MAKE SURE ALL GRADE CONVALIDATION ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE & PAID FOR A.S.A.P!<br />
THIS IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT PLEASE CALL YOUR AC OR DOROTHY IF YOU NEED HELP
CHI CHIT CHAT<br />
Page 4<br />
PROM <strong>2010</strong><br />
Danie - Vietnam<br />
Nelson - Brazil<br />
& Chiara - Italy<br />
Roman - Slovakia<br />
& Isabella - China<br />
Gabor - Slovakia<br />
with Date<br />
Julie - Belgium<br />
& Arnaud - Belgium<br />
Zofia - Slovakia<br />
& Alina - Germany
CHI CHIT CHAT<br />
Page 5<br />
PROM <strong>2010</strong><br />
Jannika - Germany<br />
Michaela - Slovakia<br />
& Date<br />
Werner - Belgium<br />
& Date<br />
Saori - Japan<br />
Elena - Italy<br />
Helene - Belgium &<br />
Marina - Brazil<br />
Marina - Brazil & Date<br />
Gabriel - Brazil & Date
CHI CHIT CHAT<br />
Page 6<br />
PROM<br />
<strong>2010</strong><br />
Ata - Turkey<br />
& Date<br />
Michal - Slovakia<br />
Bataa - Mongolia<br />
CONGRATULATIONS TO EMELINE FROM BELGIUM!<br />
CROWNED PROM QUEEN AT KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL
CHI CHIT CHAT Page 7<br />
Dorothy’s Doodles<br />
What word, when written in capital letters,<br />
is the same forwards, backwards and upside down?<br />
Is this woman old...or young?<br />
What two words do you see below?<br />
A little knowledge that acts is worth<br />
infinitely more than much knowledge<br />
that is idle.<br />
…..Kahil Gibran<br />
I have two U.S. coins that add up<br />
to fifty-five cents. One is not a<br />
nickel. What coins are they?<br />
Ans: A nickel and a half dollar. Only one is<br />
not a nickel.<br />
Did you know…..<br />
• Japan - Watermelons can cost up to $100<br />
• Belgium - motorway system is the only<br />
man-made structure that is visible from the<br />
moon.<br />
• China invented Ice cream around 2000BC<br />
when the Chinese packed a soft milk and<br />
rice mixture in the snow.<br />
• Germany - Germans answer the phone<br />
with their surname instead of “Hello.<br />
• Italy - The average Italian consumes half a<br />
pound of bread a day<br />
• Mongolia - In the Gobi Desert many dinosaur<br />
fossils still lie exposed. Tourists<br />
pick them up as souvenirs.<br />
• Spain - The tooth fairy is not recognized in<br />
Spain. Instead, they have a tooth mouse<br />
named Ratoncito Perez!<br />
• Colombia is the only South American<br />
country that has coast on both oceans, Pacific<br />
and Atlantic.<br />
• Turkey - Turks introduced coffee to<br />
Europe<br />
Ans: NOON
CHI CHIT CHAT Page 8<br />
Dorothy Whitefield<br />
Phone: 877-737-0409<br />
Fax: 805-737-4498<br />
E-mail: chi<strong>dorothy</strong>@chinet.org<br />
CHI MISSION STATEMENT<br />
Cultural Homestay International (CHI) is a non-profit public<br />
benefit organization founded in 1980 to promote international understanding,<br />
friendship and goodwill through cultural homestay.<br />
We believe that the best way to eliminate fear and prejudice among<br />
nations is to experience directly the cultures, languages and customs<br />
of the peoples by living with them. The emphasis of AYP program is<br />
on the education of the participating student, the volunteer hosting<br />
family and the local community through communication and interaction<br />
in the home, the classroom and the neighborhood.<br />
It is our hope that a more informed citizenry will ultimately<br />
contribute to a more prosperous, and peaceful world.<br />
Cultural Homestay International<br />
A Non-Profit Educational Exchange Program<br />
Things to Remember<br />
• If you have not yet booked<br />
your flight, DO IT NOW!!<br />
• If you need a domestic ticket,<br />
BUY IT NOW!<br />
• If your grades need Convalidated,<br />
TAKE CARE OF THIS<br />
NOW!<br />
☺<br />
To View Newsletter<br />
Online<br />
Go to:<br />
• www.chinet.org<br />
• Programs in the US<br />
• Academic Year<br />
• Regions<br />
• Dorothy Whitefield<br />
ENJOY !
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