newsletter-dorothy-whitefield-winter-2010

CHI CHIT CHAT
February, 2010
CULTURAL HOMESTAY INTERNATIONAL
From Dorothy Desk...
Dear Friends,
A new year and a new decade! Already we’re half way through the school year. I’m sure most of you are feeling
that time is running out. For students, if you haven’t accomplished a goal like making an American friend or playing
on a sport team or joining a group, your last opportunities are here. For host families, if you wanted to show your
student something wonderful about life here or take them to a special place make plans now before it is too late.
There is never enough time to do it all though so just do what you can.
As we SPRING into this phase of hosting, the honeymoon is over. (except for the 5 new arrivals) More than ever,
communication is key! Please don’t assume that you each know what the other is thinking or that they already know
some information that is important. Chances are they don’t know it or have forgotten it. Since spring is a time of
rebirth, it is also a good time to review and update the Expectations Worksheet. You’d be surprised how helpful this
can be for all.
We have so much stuff going on in the second half, Hawaii, LA, Universal Studios, Disneyland, and Yosemite!
Wow! These trips are always lots of fun. It is a wonderful way for us to get to know your student even better. The
end of May and beginning of June will bring Farewell Parties. More info will be sent in April.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Peace, Dorothy
Important News
Three Upcoming AYP Trips
LA Tour is set for 2/19 - 2/20. You have the
option to include Disneyland on 2/18.
Your deposit is due by Feb. 6th.
$100 Deposit for Universal & LA Tour
Add’l $175 Deposit if you plan to include Disneyland
Hawaii Trip is planned for the beginning of
April. Deposits received - reservations being
made - more info to follow.
Dorothy’s 1st grandson - Kelly
Holidays:
• Feb. 14th - Valentine’s Day
.
Yosemite Trip is planned for 4/30, 5/1 & 5/2.
Cost will be approximately $175. Details will
follow.
• Feb. 15th - President’s Day
• March 14th - Daylight Savings
- Spring Ahead!
• March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day
• April 4th - Easter Sunday

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 2
Cultural Homestay International turns 30!
From Tom and Lilka Areton
November 1, 2009
Dear Friends,
Today marks a CHI milestone, the first day of our 30 th year!
As with every undertaking, CHI started with an idea. The idea was to form a better student exchange program,
to more effectively contribute to friendship and harmony among the young people of the world. The
concomitant goal was to show off the best of our country, the USA, to the future leaders of their respective
nations: our experiment in democracy, the ideals of volunteering, the willingness of host families to
share their hearts and homes with complete strangers, the businesses risking so much to employ or train
unknown students from foreign lands, as well as the endless spontaneity, inventiveness, and optimism
that is America. The third goal was to educate our own citizens about other countries, cultures and customs,
and to experience the commonality of the human experience that unifies all of us.
It is hard to believe today that our “first” students are almost 50. They have careers, families and children
in their 20’s. Many of the life decisions our students have made were profoundly affected by their homestay
experience in the United States. Just as we envisioned, the students Lilka and I hosted have become
“better,” more involved, citizens of their countries. Their jobs range from doctors, English teachers,
overseas travel directors to business leaders and commercial artists. It is a source of joy to visit them and
see CHI’s pictures, itineraries and even insurance cards hanging on the walls of their apartments and
houses as mementos of their life-changing journey.
It makes us truly proud of all of you to see CHI flying so high with endless activities of fun, education, and
self-discovery, involving thousands of Americans and our overseas participants. I think Lilka expressed it
best, when, after reading the latest issue of CHI Chatter, she wrote to the Directors:
I am looking at this little business we started so many years ago. Today I see such a vast organization for good
that I hardly have words. The part I like is that everyone is sort of running his/her own little business. Those who
do this open for themselves a huge opportunity for creativity and for positive action. There is no way anyone
could do this alone. It is done by hundreds of people who are given some guidelines and then released to be all
they can be. I am so utterly moved by all this and I truly believe that each person who follows his/her dream and
passion can bring so much goodness to the world. It doesn’t seem to take money. It doesn’t take authoritarianism.
It just takes opening to possibilities, believing in one another, realizing and releasing the genuine humanity we all
have within us. I am proud that Tom and I had the courage to start this organization. I am honored to be here
among all the participants who do all these incredible deeds. But most of all I am humbled by the beauty and the
inspirational generosity of CHI’s people. Thank you all, Lilka
The truth is that CHI outgrew both of us long ago; it has a life of its own. From two telephones on the
family room table in 1980 to this multi-faceted, global organization, dedicated to making our world a better
place. So on this day both Lilka and I salute all our tireless CHI staff, our courageous students, the
giving American host families, our work experience program employers, as well as the U.S. Department
of State and all our overseas partners, for making this wondrous organization possible.
Let’s make this, our 30 th year, the best, most productive and most innovative year in CHI’s history.
Happy Founders’ Day! ~ Tom and Lilka

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 3
Halloween Fun
Chiara from Italy with friends and host sisters
Danie from Vietnam
“Much of the
vitality in a
friendship lies
in the honoring
of differences,
not simply
in the
enjoyment of
similarities.” ~\
~ James Fredericks
Emeline from Belgium - Michal from Slovakia
Giorgia from Italy
Saori from Japan

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 4
San Francisco Trip - Nov. 2009
Our AYP San Francisco trip was a adventure for all. We shopped Union
Square and China Town, walked the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard
Street, rode the cable car, explored Fisherman’s Wharf and spent an evening
relaxing in the Jacuzzi. But most interesting was that the students
thought the highlight of the trip was the other people on the trip. Friends
were made, sights were seen and everyone was exhausted by the time
we made it home. Each and every student was a pleasure to have on the
trip and made us proud! A big thank you to our students and chaperones!
Daisy from Taiwan
“To the
world you
may be just
one
person,
but to one
person
you may be
the
world.”
~ Brandi Snyder
Michal - Slovakia and Arthur - Brazil
After walking the Golden Gate Bridge
Lee, Vu & Danie and Lisa
Zofia - Slovakia
Bataa - Mongolia
Martin - Belgium
Ching & Daisy from Taiwan
Andy, Isabella and Eddy from China

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 5
Student’s Thought on America from ‘Lee’ Ngoc Duong
September, October passed so fast, sooner or later November will be
too. We won't have much more time staying in America, even though it
is 7 more months, but i will go very fast and that is gonna make me
think a lot of think during the time I live here. Now is November and the
time of Holidays is almost here, there will be Thanksgiving on the later
week and soon Christmas will come. The 1st semester is almost coming
to an end. And the trip to San Francisco of CHI has already passed.
During the time there, I got a lot of interesting things to hear and say.
Every boys and girls fit in very fast and easy, not to mention they almost
become like best friends and I like that. Staying in the room with other people is
actually kind of cool and learn more, know more about them too. I've heard that they are
doing very well at school, but the bad thing I heard that they expect so much of America.
America is the " Leader of the World ", yes but even the " Leader of the World " is
not always perfect, so we cannot always expect things to be like how we want. For example,
on the trip I heard that one of the exchange students thought that the cheer leaders
always have to be like beautiful and spoiled, that is only in the MOVIE guys, you cannot
think that MOVIE is always true. Reality, the thing you see, the thing you heard that's
the truth. And one thing I don't like is how some of them think that American is actually
not THAT GOOD and it was very EASY to go to College and University. Well the truth is
not. Some people think American is STUPID just because they got lower grade than
them, is that something to prove that American are stupid ? No they're not, in fact look in
the past and the present. What have they done? What do they have that your country
don't? They may got lower grades but if they work hard and study more, I'm sure they
could be better than any of us. And the important thing to go to College or University is
about choosing the one that fits with you and help you with developing your future. But
going there is not easy as it look. The first thing is always about the Scholarship, without
it, you will have a lot of money trouble while studying! If u don't have a Scholarship and u
want to go to an University then you have to make sure that your family is gonna be rich
enough to let you in. One thing important : " DO NOT RELY ON BORROWING THE
MONEY OF THE BANK BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO GET IN MORE TROUBLE
WITH THAT ". I've known this thanks to my brother, who has studied in America before
and my research. But anyway, there's still SOME more time so you don't have to worry
much about that if you not intend to study in America but if you do then u don't have to
care about it FOR NOW. Well as an Exchange Student this year, i just want to say one
more thing to everyone : " TRY THE BEST YOU CAN AND BEHIND YOU, THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE A PERSON THAT SUPPORT YOU AND YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE :)
"

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 6
Christmas in SoCal
AC Laura Rex with Daisy from Taiwan
“It's nice to
be important,
but it's more
important to
be nice. “
Huyen - Daisy - Jannika
~ John Cassis
Chiara from Italy with Host Family & Friends
Daisy from Taiwan & Huyen from Vietnam

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 7
Students participate in Christmas Parades . . .
In LOMPOC
In SANTA MARIA

CHI CHIT CHAT
Page 8
Dorothy’s Doodles
What are represented by these BrainBats?
CLOUD
TH
one all all all all
all one one one
habirdnd = butwosh
Ans. Milk Shake
Ans. A bird in the hand is better than one in the bush
Ans. All for one and one for all
Ans. Thunder cloud
Ans. Are you ready
Can you see 2 words in these?
Not animated - an illusion
Man playing a horn
Or a woman
Count the black dots between the
squares - Can’t do it!
Coffee Anyone?
Can you find a man's face among
the beans? Some say that if you
find the man in 3 seconds or less,
the right half of your brain may be
more well developed than most.
The first 2 students to call Dorothy
with the answer wins
$5 Starbucks Giftcard!
877.737.0409
Win only once!

CHI CHIT CHAT
Dorothy Whitefield 877.737.0409
Newsletters
A great way to share your experiences
with other students, Host Families, Coordinators,
and friends is through this
Newsletter. They’re posted on our CHI website so
your natural family can also take a look and see what
you’re up to!
Please send your pictures and comment about your
activities for our April Newsletter. Please email them
to:
chikathie@chinet.org
THANKS
To View Newsletter
Online
Go to:
• www.chinet.org
• Programs in the US
• Academic Year
• Regions
• Dorothy Whitefield
Cultural Homestay International
A Non-Profit Educational Exchange Program
CHI MISSION STATEMENT
Cultural Homestay International (CHI) is a nonprofit
public benefit organization founded in 1980 to
promote international understanding, friendship
and goodwill through cultural homestay.
We believe that the best way to eliminate fear and
prejudice among nations is to experience directly
the cultures, languages and customs of the peoples
by living with them. The emphasis of AYP program
is on the education of the participating student, the
volunteer hosting family and the local community
through communication and interaction in the
home, the classroom and the neighborhood.
It is our hope that a more informed citizenry will
ultimately contribute to a more prosperous,
and peaceful world.
Birthdays
David Weiss - Jan. 4th
Isabelka Xiong - Feb. 2nd
Kien Nguyen - Feb. 6th
Alvaro Garcia Cano - Feb. 12th
Nelson Amaral - Feb. 18th
Xi Peng Li - Feb. 24th
Alina Thon - March 10th
Saori Kodama - March 18th
Gabriel Belizario - March 19th
Lee Duong - March 19th
Helene Edelberg - April 12th
Temulen Ganbat - April 22nd
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL!