CNYCORP Exchange Student Services


The Hosting Experience
International student exchange is the purest form of international diplomacy. Pacific Intercultural Exchange believes that only through knowledge can fear of the unknown be eliminated and true cooperative unity be achieved. Hosting an exchange student with us is the best way to enrich your life, seeing your world through a new set of eyes while forming a bond with someone from another country. We look for open-minded and thoughtful people of all backgrounds. You need only be willing to share your home and traditions, speak English, and provide an international student with the daily meals, room, and caring environment. Exchange students arrive either in August/September. They are ages 16-18 years old, have their own spending money and carry medical insurance. We arrange for the exchange student to attend your local high school so they can be a part of your community and family.
	What values and customs can I share as an American?
	Americans have a lot to share with the world. We are a diverse nation, both culturally and geographically. We value tolerance, equality, social justice, and democracy. Americans believe that people can control their own destiny by making choices and decisions. We are independent thinkers and we also help others. Volunteerism, freedom of speech and of the press, as well as entrepreneurship are among some of the values you can share with international teens. You can also share your community’s history, your own family routines, including traditions, food and holidays celebrations! Hosting an exchange student means opening your home (and your heart) to a teen from another country while he attends your local public high school.

	Is there an application fee?
	There are no application fees. You can inquire and agree to host a student free of charge.
	What are my responsibilities as a host parent?
	Hosts provide the caring environment, room, and daily meals. We do not ask our host families to become legal guardians for the international students, this responsibility rests with us. All participants have medical insurance and students provide their own spending money for expenses incurred outside of the host family’s home (i.e. clothes, school supplies, and entertainment).
	When do students arrive and how long do they stay?
	Students arrive in the United States in August or September. Students generally stay with a host for 10 months, but you can request to be an arrival or temporary family for a shorter term.
I don’t have any children at home, nor am I married. Can I still host?
There is no such thing as a typical host family. Students are interested in a wide variety of hosting situations. Some students who come from large families would like to experience being the only child in a family, some always wanted to have siblings. American households are very diverse and host parents with Pacific Intercultural Exchange may be married, single, retired, with children, or no children at all.
Since my spouse and I both work, we wouldn’t have a lot of time to entertain the student. Will this be a problem?
In most of our two-parent families, both parents work. We are not looking for families to entertain or consider the exchange student a tourist. We look for families who will share their typical American lifestyle, ideas and care with someone from another culture. As the student attends a local high school, he/she will quickly develop a circle of friends and school activities to keep entertained.
How well will my student speak English?
We require students to demonstrate a level of fluency that will allow them to function in an American high school shortly after arrival in the USA. The English level of your student will depend upon a number of factors, including the length of time the language has been studied, the environment in which the student received the instruction, or the student’s home country. All students are administered an English language proficiency test and have proper references before entering the program.
Are families paid for hosting?
The U.S. Department of State concluded as a matter of policy that host families should not be paid for hosting exchange students. However, families who host are entitled to a $50.00 per month charitable contribution deduction they may claim on their itemized tax returns. We will send the appropriate supporting documentation to each family at the end of the tax year. The student will ONLY need food and board. They will have their own spending money.
Can young children benefit from the hosting experience?
Many of the students accepted into the program indicate an interest in being placed in families with children. The facility for learning a language is never greater in children than when they are young and their interest, curiosity and acceptance of people different from themselves is strongest at a young age.
Does the student need his or her own room?
Some program participants are prepared to share a bedroom with a child of the same gender, age 10 or older. The exchange student must be provided with his/her own bed, but we have found that a student who shares a room often makes the transition from visitor to family member more quickly.
	Can we host more than one student?
	U.S. Department of State Regulations preclude a family from hosting more than one exchange student at a time, unless a compelling reason is presented. In cases where an exception is made, a maximum of two exchange students may be hosted, but the participants must be from different countries and speak different native languages.
	What happens if my family and the student don’t get along?
	Each family and student is assigned an Area Representative who will work with them during the program. This person is prepared to assist you with issues that might arise during the course of the exchange. In the event of a serious concern or irreconcilable differences, we will remove the exchange student from your home. We kindly ask that you permit us at least two weeks to relocate the student.
How can I get more information about hosting?
You can contact the CNY Representative, Dan May at Telephone: 315-668-5278 Email: glasglow@hotmail.com
Do you have any information I can download for later viewing?
Our Parent Organization PDF Host Family Flyer PDF Host Family Information Flyer PDF Letter From Dan HTML Host School Acceptance Form DOC
Is there a deadline to apply?
The deadline for 2011 is June 25th however we would like to begin as early as possible so that we are sure to have enough time to enroll the student in your local high school.
Tel: 668-5278 Email: glasglow@hotmail.com Contact Dan Copyright 2011 CNYCORP All Rights Reserved Dan May is a contracted representative of Laurasia Institute for the central New York region.