her US high school will give credit for the work completed while overseas . Students are responsible for discussing credit with their US school before traveling to the host country . At the end of the program period , it is the student ’ s responsibility to get any and all documentation that the US school requires from the overseas school . The host family , volunteer , or national office cannot be expected to get this information .
SMOKING
Policy : Sometimes students do not say on their application that they smoke because they fear it may be difficult to find a host family that will allow smoking . Or , they begin smoking after applying for the YFU program . Students who do smoke are encouraged to discuss this issue with the host family before smoking in the home . If a host family does not permit smoking in the home , it is up to the student to smoke only outside or to stop smoking while living with the family .
If a student has either quit smoking or has begun smoking since he or she applied to the YFU program , the student should contact the host country ’ s National Office or the US regional office and explain , so that the area representative can try to place the student appropriately .
STUDENT EXPENSES
Policy : Although the rate of inflation and the value of the dollar fluctuate daily , $ 150 per month is the suggested amount of money for students to take on program initially . However , this number is only an approximation ; students should carefully consider the economic situation of their host countries . For example , students going to Japan may not find this amount adequate . In addition , year and semester students should remember that some school expenses are not covered by the YFU program fee ; these will vary depending upon your country and school placement . Also , note that summer students tend to spend more than this amount .
Year and semester students should discuss with their families the best procedures to follow for having additional funds transferred to them during the year . This normally involves opening an account in a local bank . A student ’ s natural parents should find out which US banks have correspondent banks in the host country , and then the student can open an account there . Parents can then transfer additional funds to the student , via the corresponding bank , from anywhere in the United States . This is a fairly common procedure for year students in Europe and the transfer may take a week . Year students traveling to Latin America might find this a difficult and time-consuming method of obtaining additional funds .
We suggest that students either take all their money for the year with them in the form of traveler ’ s checks or have their natural parents send a cashier ’ s check as needed . If a student will need additional funds , he or she should contact his or her parents before running out . Standards of living and costs of living vary around the world . Sometimes there is a difference between the amount of money available to the student to spend in comparison to the amount the host family or host country friends have . Students should not borrow or lend money , even with their host families . If money is loaned , YFU encourages students to get a written receipt . Loans and debts can complicate a host family relationship unnecessarily . YFU is not responsible for student debts or loans .
STUDENT TRAVEL
Policy : YFU has a responsibility to :
• Assure student safety to the greatest extent possible
• Have knowledge of a student ’ s location
• Ensure that students participate in host family activities and school programs .
Any travel which might have an impact on any of these factors requires a special authorization form . Each National Office will have specific travel approval procedures , and has the final say in approving travel . Unauthorized travel may be cause for Early Return .
Before any trip or travel is planned and / or finalized by a student , he or she must get approval from the hosting country ’ s national office . Travel from the host family to another location without the knowledge or consent of the host family or the national office ( including running away ) may be cause for dismissal from the program .
TELEPHONE AND COMPUTER USE
Policy : YFU expects students to remember that telephone calls in host countries are usually very expensive — even if the call is local . International calls are extremely expensive .
Students should be considerate when using the host family ’ s telephone . Phone calls should not be long , and the student should not use the phone continually . The student should not give the host family ’ s phone number out indiscriminately . A few friends may have it , but the student should not abuse the family telephone .
International Calls : Students should make arrangements with their host families before making long-distance and international calls . The family has a right to know whom
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