Stay Safe While Enjoying Yourself in Foreign Exchange Student Program

Going for parties during your duration of stay in foreign exchange student program can be fun especially when you’re not grounded by anyone but at the same time all kind of traps could be revealed throughout the night making you vulnerable to all kinds of danger, so here are a few tips to stay safe in certain situations especially for girls.

First is about being followed. Joining foreign exchange student program doesn’t get you escaped from danger. Always remember that you are now abroad in a foreign country. If you are dropped off a few metres away from your house and you sense that someone is trailing you, switch sides by crossing to the other side of the road with traffic coming towards you. If that person still follows and gets closer, flag down a car and ask for help immediately. You can also make some noise if you have a whistle with you, blow it and head to a brighter area with lights and more individuals. Avoid taking shortcuts or back alleys when you are walking alone or find a friend or someone to walk with you to be on the safe side.

Second is when you are at a party, if you are hanging out with our friends at a party, always watch out for each other. Never leave them unattended, not even for a minute. If you have to leave your table for any reason, get a new one or ask your friends to keep an eye on each other drinks to make sure nobody slips any drugs or substances into them. Do not ever accept drinks from people or strangers you do not know. If possible, create a code word with your host parents or friends so if you are ever in trouble just call and say the word.

Finally would be to learn some self defence. Be it whether during your foreign exchange student program or before. If someone is attacking you, try your best to strike the person at one of the most vulnerable area. If someone grabs you from behind, turn around, reach up and try to gouge him in his eye with your thumb or fingers, briefly blinding him. Hit him quickly in the groin area with your knee and run. If he grabs you from the side, turn to face him and punch him hard in the throat with your fist, which will cause choking. As he stumbles backwards, run! Use any available object you can reach. Throw sand into his eyes or hit him with a stick or any other available object. When there is a chance to escape, run!

Your safety is your own responsibilities

So basically we can have fun at parties all the time but always remember to be responsible of your own safety! You only have yourself to depend on when it comes to personal safety so if you do care for yourself, be cautious and alert of your well being wherever you are. Make your experience in the foreign exchange student program a memorable one!

Tips for Foreign Exchange Student Program

 
Spending a semester without a significant other (family) can be quite a thrill when you join the foreign exchange student program. Try these knockout tips to love and spend time with your new family this semester.

First of all, try to prepare a special breakfast instead of your usual cornflakes. The first meal sets the tone of the day so an exceptional day calls for an exceptional meal. Now that you’re by yourself abroad, always pampers yourself before others. Some might meet a host mum who is a brilliant cook whom you can learn some cooking skills from. Offering help might just draw your relationship with your host family closer. Do something for the first time during the duration of stay in the foreign exchange student program. Learning Latin dancing, go carting or bake your own cookies, anything as long as you have never done before or improve a skill you already have is always a healthy way to improve yourself and build your self confidence. You can also surprise your parents when you get back home!

Try to organising a short trip with your host family to get to know them better. You wouldn’t want to be in an awkward moment when you say/ do something wrong. You can also attend a party if you are invited to one. With or without a date, no one said you cannot participate without one. The international network of friends that you make there might just be your most valuable friendship that you make during the duration of stay in the foreign exchange student program. Fourthly, relax all out. Spending half of your day being in your room is not going to help you in any way. The faster you adapt yourself to the new environment, the faster you get to experience all kind of new things/ experience that one can wish for! It is normal to be home sick for the first few days that you arrive in the new city, but don’t let that bring you down. Go out to mingle with your new circle of friends. Before you know it, its time for you to pack your bags and head home!

Take this opportunity to learn a new language. Speak as much as you can in their mother tongue. This can definitely help you to master the language. Don’t be shy, I’m sure your host family don’t expect you to be completely fluent in such a short period of time. After all, there’s nothing to lose on your side.

Foreign exchange student program is an opportunity of a lifetime

Finally, don’t forget to capture all those memories! Take as many pictures as you can while you’re there so that you would never forget the experience and friends that you make during the foreign exchange student program. You can also share the experience you had during this foreign exchange student program with your local friends/ college when you get back. Good things are better when shared.

Foreign Exchange Student Program Fairs

 
Foreign exchange student program fairs are very helpful, but navigating through them can be a really stressful task. Check out these helpful tips to get the most out of these fair here without losing your sanity that is of course.

First we have prep time. Find out what you are passionate about, If you have no clue, try taking a quiz or listing down your likes and dislikes about a certain state of your chosen country as a rough guide. Next, you can try talking to people who are experienced with foreign exchange student program and do some research on your chosen city such as the environment, the climate, any useful information which might be useful. The internet has everything basically, so make good use of it. However, bear in mind that not all information from the internet is genuinely true.

Then, list out some job options as well as company you could go to. You can also get on to the fair’s website if they have one and check out the itinerary. Foreign exchange student program fairs also have various talks that could give you more insight to the job/ work of your choice. Next is an important step, photocopy your transcripts from your school or college and any other necessary documents needed along with you. Make a list of questions and information that you do not understand or would like to find out more about.

Second will be the day of the foreign exchange student program fair. It is always helpful if you could bring a friend along. It would be better if you have a friend who has experienced foreign exchange student program himself. Also, dress comfortably. It is going to be a lot of walking. When you are at the booth, do not be afraid to ask. The counsellors are there to answer your questions so shoot! If you are really interested in a particular company, take down their contact. This way, if you need more information later, you can contact the right person directly which would be of big help. Do not stop at every booth or collect every brochure handed out. You don’t want to be carrying a heavy load or end up confused.

Get the most out of foreign exchange student program fairs

The aftermath will be the final process. Go through the brochures and information that you collected and read them through and if they do not attract you, throw them out. Discuss your narrowed down options with your parents. They will be paying for you anyway and they may have experience and information to help you decide. They may not be from your generation, but they certainly know what is best for you. Finally, don’t forget to enjoy yourself during the foreign exchange student program!

Information for Foreign Exchange Student Program

 
Foreign Student Exchange Program is a program for high school students as well as college students. However, there are few things that we need to know about foreign exchange student program. Commonly, there are two types of exchange student program, the national exchange program and the international exchange program. The difference between the two is the place of exchange. National exchange program is a student exchange program which provides students to enrol in a high school / university in different state rather than country. This program is introduced to enable students who are interested to experience different education system and local cultures to be closer to their family.

For foreign exchange student program, which is also known as international exchange program, they are divided into short term exchange and long term exchange. The duration for students of short term exchange program is between one week to three months while the long term exchange allows student to stay up to one full year. This will also allows student to enrich their knowledge on the different culture and education system.

The application process for foreign exchange student program is very easy depending on which country the student reside in. Most of the countries will require a visa interview before departing to the chosen country. A visa interview usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Participant will be required to prepare detailed documentation from your home country such as school report cards, disciplinary grade, family background, financial background, testimonial / letter from lecturers / teachers and others. It will be an advantage if participant is able to speak the language of the country, or at least fluent English. Participant will only be allowed to participate in foreign exchange program once they passed the visa interview.

Regardless of which student exchange program that you choose to participate (foreign or national), you will be staying with a host family. A host family is a volunteered family who allow students who participated in foreign exchange student program to stay with them during their foreign exchange student program. They will be in charge of your accommodation (a room), meals and to provide your a warm and welcoming family environment for the student. If for any reason that a student is unable to stay with the host family, student can always inform the program coordinator for a change. Students are allowed to stay with several host family to expand their experience and knowledge during their duration of stay.

Get the best deal of foreign student exchange program here

Cost of participating in a foreign student exchange program has always been an issue to many. This is because the cost of school / tuition fee (to be paid to host college / school) , phone bills, spending expenses, text books, transportation and other expenses are usually self- funded (not provided by host family). However, total cost of the exchange program vary depending on the duration and location of the country. Financial aid are often available for high school / college students depending on the college / high school.

Introduction to Foreign Exchange Student Program

 
A foreign exchange student program offers student a chance to study abroad for a specific duration. For example, if you choose a foreign exchange student program between Malaysia and United States, you will most probably get to study in the United States for a semester which is about 5 months. During the duration of stay, you will be assign to stay with a host family. Unfortunately, you cannot choose which the host family to stay with as it will be unfair to other students.

Once you join a foreign exchange student program, you will be required to choose the state of the country where you will be living. With the mentioned example above, you are required to choose which state you would like to stay in the United States. List of states available will be given to you by your program advisor / coordinator. However, bear in mind that some state will not be available because it depends on the availability of host family in a specific state and associated schools where students will be studying. As at the year of 2012, most of the states in the United States of America accepts student from foreign exchange student program.

Foreign Exchange Student Program For Everyone

Besides the United States, many other countries are offering foreign exchange student program such as New Zealand, Australia, German, Spain, France, China and a lot more. Foreign exchange student program has been very popular since World War II because it creates an opportunity for students from different countries to gather and learn from one another. Not known by many, foreign exchange student program has always been a project of many country to promote world peace.

After all the procedures of visa application, briefing on policy of the foreign exchange student program, arrangement of flight tickets, you are partially set. After arriving at your chosen destination, you will be meeting your host family for the first time. This is where you will have start adapting to a whole new environment in the duration of your stay abroad through the foreign student exchange program. Most of the time, your host family will bring you around the house and introduce you to the other family members depending on the size of your host family.

The main objective of foreign student exchange program is for you to understand the culture of another country academically. You will attend school like all teenager of about your age. This is where you will build an international friendship. You might struggle in the first few days in school because of the different culture and syllabus but things will eventually become easier as time goes by with the help of your new circle of friends. In Malaysia, we have a few organisations who offers foreign exchange student program such as the AFS organisation, Speedwing and others.