Foreign Exchange Students
Have you ever considered venturing off to a foreign land? Maybe you want to become a foreign exchange student in Italy or France. This way you could see what it's like to live in a different household, with a different family, and better understand the way they do things. Wouldn't it be fun to get a dose of their culture, education, and overall way of life? I'm sure it would be a great culture shock, but maybe a pleasant one at the same time. The United States always welcomes foreign exchange students. This way they acquire a taste of our pop culture and ideologies. That can be quite refreshing if you've only experienced one side of the spectrum.
Do you know what it's like to deal with foreign exchange students? I can honestly say that I do. Back when I was in the 9th grade, my best friend had a foreign exchange student from Russia stay with him for a few weeks. This was a wonderful experience. Since I was always with my best friend, suddenly it was the three of us together. I got to learn all about Russian culture and way of life. One thing that surprised me was the rule that every man had to enter the service after high school. Not that it's a bad thing, but it just sounded rather strict in a way. You plain and simply did not get the choice.
This was a reminder of why I like America and our level of freedom. However, I must say that in general, the foreign student's life was quite similar to ours. He seemed to love and respect his country very much. He even told me that he prefers to live in Russia over anywhere in the world. For some odd reason I often assume that foreign exchange students will see America and want to move. This is just not the case. My teenage daughter also had an experience with a female foreign exchange student, who was from Slovakia.
She did enjoy many aspects of our American culture. Although most male foreign exchange students would not appreciate it, she became seriously enticed by American fashion and glamour. Is this really a surprise? By the time she was returning to Slovakia, she had bleached white teeth, and Hollister clothing galore. Anyway, if you are interested in aiding foreign exchange students or becoming one yourself, you may want to hop online for an up-close look at the programs available. It's time to get cultured. |
