Mail and Packages . Sometimes there ’ s nothing better than to get a card or package in the mail ! A letter of encouragement , or small treats from home remind a student they are loved and supported by you . Consider sending a small box of typical treats every so often or presents for the whole host family at certain holidays .
Communicating with Your Child ' s Host Family . YFU encourages you to email your child ’ s host family at the beginning of the exchange . You share a very special , if distant , bond with your child ’ s host family – they are now supporting your child through the exchange and will likely be part of your child ’ s life for many years to come . Along with introducing yourself to your child ’ s host family , it is very nice to express appreciation to the host family for welcoming and caring for your child . If the family doesn ’ t speak English , they will undoubtedly be able to find someone to translate your letter for them . If they do speak English , they may even enjoy corresponding with you throughout your child ’ s exchange experience . It is probably best if your letters and emails to the host family are written in simple English .
HELPING YOUR CHILD PROBLEM SOLVE
Because you are a trusted and caring person in your child ’ s life , s / he will most likely express frustrations to you first . Remember that your child is abroad precisely to learn how to maneuver through another system , so don ’ t panic when s / he panics . And don ’ t try to supply all the answers to every question . The best way for you to help your child problem solve is to guide him / her to the support network that is in place in the host country . Your child ’ s host family , local YFU Area Rep and National Office are best equipped to guide your child through a problem situation . You can be most helpful by encouraging your child and keeping your end of the correspondence cheerful and newsy .
YFU has also learned that more often than not , students quickly resolve problems on their own and forget to tell that trusted individual back home that everything worked out fine . Most likely , while you are at home worrying about the issues written about the day before , s / he has figured out how to resolve them and already moved on , adjusting to the new situation .
For some exchange students , adjusting to a new culture may be so severe that they refuse to participate in their new community . Be alert for signs that your child is excessively critical or spending too much time sending email or calling home , rather than experiencing the exchange . You may suggest these strategies to overcome homesickness and culture shock :
• Explore his / her new surroundings . Walk or bike around . Your child will feel more in control if s / he is familiar with his / her surroundings .
• Invite people to explore with them . Making friends is a big step to alleviating homesickness .
• Find a public space to sit in and write a journal . Staying alone in a bedroom can be isolating . Sitting at the kitchen table or on a park bench allows your child to observe his / her surroundings .
• Examine his / her expectations . Your child needs to laugh at his / her mistakes and continue learning !
• Seek new opportunities . It can be scary to take initiative while coping with a foreign language and culture . But the host family , neighbors and friends appreciate the mere act of trying . Looking for opportunities to meet people is an essential means of overcoming homesickness .
Of course , if the problem your child is facing seems to be more than the average adjustment pains , YFU wants and needs to know this information . First encourage your child to contact their YFU representative or YFU staff person in their host country . If you child still feels that the problem isn ' t being resolved , please contact your Regional Office ( 1.866.493.8872 ) without delay to share or receive specific information . The Regional Office may be helpful in bringing
“[ There ’ s ] nothing like the mail , the good old snail mail with its privacy . Nothing like the pleasure of waiting for the mailman , opening the envelope , taking out the pages my mother had folded , and reading the then two-weeks-old news ." -Isabel Allende
24 - Study Abroad Family Handbook
Mail and Packages. Sometimes there’s nothing better
than to get a card or package in the mail! A letter of
encouragement, or small treats from home remind a
student they are loved and supported by you. Consider
sending a small box of typical treats every so often or
presents for the whole host family at certain holidays.
Communicating with Your Child's Host Family. YFU
encourages you to email your child’s host family at the
beginning of the exchange. You share a very special, if
distant, bond with your child’s host family – they are now
supporting your child through the exchange and will likely
be part of your child’s life for many years to come. Along
with introducing yourself to your child’s host family, it is
very nice to express appreciation to the host family for
welcoming and caring for your child. If the family doesn’t
speak English, they will undoubtedly be able to find
someone to translate your letter for them. If they do speak
English, they may even enjoy corresponding with you
throughout your child’s exchange experience. It is probably
best if your letters and emails to the host family are written
in simple English.
YFU has also learned that more often than not, students
quickly resolve problems on their own and forget to tell that
trusted individual back home that everything worked out
fine. Most likely, while you are at home worrying about the
issues written about the day before, s/he has figured out
how to resolve them and already moved on, adjusting to the
new situation.
For some exchange students, adjusting to a new culture
may be so severe that they refuse to participate in their new
community. Be alert for signs that your child is excessively
critical or spending too much time sending email or calling
home, rather than experiencing the exchange. You may
suggest these strategies to overcome homesickness and
culture shock:
• Explore his/her new surroundings. Walk or bike around.
Your child will feel more in control if s/he is familiar with
his/her surroundings.
• Invite people to explore with them. Making friends is a
big step to alleviating homesickness.
• Find a public space to sit in and write a journal. Staying
alone in a bedroom can be isolating. Sitting at the
kitchen table or on a park bench allows your child to
observe his/her surroundings.
HELPING YOUR CHILD PROBLEM SOLVE
Because you are a trusted and caring person in your child’s
life, s/he will most likely express frustrations to you first.
Remember that your child is abroad precisely to learn how
to maneuver through another system, so don’t panic when
s/he panics. And don’t try to supply all the answers to every
question. The best way for you to help your child problem
solve is to guide him/her to the support network that is in
place in the host country. Your child’s host family, local YFU
Area Rep and National Office are best equipped to guide
your child through a problem situation. You can be most
helpful by encouraging your child and keeping your end of
the correspondence cheerful and newsy.
• Examine his/her expectations. Your child needs to laugh
at his/her mistakes and continue learning!
• Seek new opportunities. It can be scary to take initiative
while coping with a foreign language and culture.
But the host family, neighbors and friends appreciate
the mere act of trying. Looking for opportunities to
meet people is an essential means of overcoming
homesickness.
Of course, if the problem your child is facing seems to be
more than the average adjustment pains, YFU wants and
needs to know this information. First encourage your child
to contact their YFU representative or YFU staff person in
their host country. If you child still feels that the problem
isn't being resolved, please contact your Regional Office
(1.866.493.8872) without delay to share or receive specific
information. The Regional Office may be helpful in bringing
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