Czech republic? afs students or any one with stories?

Question

anyone involved with afs or other study programs can you please share your stories/tips/schools you went through/ or anything you want

im going to be studying in prague as a junior in high school soon and was looking for anything (stories/websites/tips/sc... that may prepare me for my experience or let me get more info, so anything you got please help!

thanks!

Answer 1

Wow! You are getting ready for a great experience!

I've not done an exchange, but I've hosted 13 exchange students and lived abroad a couple of years myself. Here's what I can tell you based on that experience.

First, if you have not already filled out your application and letter, make sure that you do so as accurately as possible. That's what families use to choose their students and there is nothing worse than having a "different" kid show up!

When you find out who your host family is, contact them as often as possible! Get to know them as much as you can before you go! It will help! I'm already in touch with the boy we will be hosting next year on a regular basis! Exchange photos, letters, e-mail.

If you are sure you are going to the Czech Republic -- get Rosetta Stone and work on the language! The more you know when you get there the better!

When you arrive, try not to be a guest! The faster you are a member of the family the better! PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF. Your family has volunteered to host you, not be your maid! Volunteer to help if you are not assigned specific chores! You may have to insist.

Don't contact home too often (even once a week is too much at times)! The more you are contacting (that includes MSN, Skype!) home, the less you are in your exchange experience. Your language skills will suffer too.

Participate! Accept EVERY invitation you get (unless you feel it is legally or morally wrong). Even if you don't think you will like the activity -- you might be surprised -- the invitation is also an invitation for friendship.

One of my former "kids" has started an on-line community for present and former exchange students located at http://www.exchangestudentworld.com/

You can go up there for lots more hints and ideas and contact members of the community with questions!

Good luck and have a great time