My mom and

Chatterbox: Down to Earth

My mom and

My mom and I were at the Farmer's Market today and we saw a really cool booth. It was run by this lady who works for this program that hosts exchange students and helps them find homes in CA for two weeks. We took a bunch of fliers and saw a girl and boy from China (not siblings) that would be really cool to have over for my brother and me. Though my dad isn't too interested in it, so we really want to try and make hiim like the idea better. Has anybuggy ever hosted/been an exchange student before? If so, please help me get ideas to persuade my dad more. Admins?

 

I've never hosted or been an exchange student or known anyone who has hosted, though I've read about exchange students in the newspaper. I would think the program could give you the names of some experienced host families who could answer your questions. Whether you have room in your house would be a big consideration, also how long the students would stay.

Admin

submitted by ZB ☮
(June 17, 2011 - 8:05 pm)

back to the Down to Earth

Sounds intresting. I have not ever been a foreign exchange student since I am homeschooled but it sounds like it could be a fun adventure. And a way to pursuade your dad is to write a pursuasive essay or create a "report" on it and put some work into this so that you're dad can see how much you want this. Good Luck!

 

Yes, get more information if you like, but do listen to your father, too. He may have good reasons or concerns that don't occur to you.

Admin

submitted by Christina M., age 11 , Sunny Los Angeles CA
(June 17, 2011 - 9:22 pm)

They would stay for 2 weeks, and the organization takes them to classes in the morning to noon, and from noon till afternoonish they do sight seeing and such, so really we would only see them for the free days that we get, and for night and morning. So it wouldn't be too much of a burden since we're doing it for the first time, but it would still be really fun.

 

And with the rooms, they're allowed to stay in the same room with you only if they're the SAME sex, or they could stay in another room.

submitted by ZB ☮
(June 17, 2011 - 9:28 pm)

@Christina: I could make a report, but there are different rules and such with different companies, so I could do that, but it might be very short.

 

@Admins: Yes, I should listen to my dad, but right now he's just saying that we shouldn't get too excited on something that is very unlikely to happen, so on and so forth, but it seems like he doesn't have that much critic on the actual thing. It could be that he was cranky because we told him about it when he just woke up from a nap and when he was reading the news. So, with a little time, he might agree to it.

 

Yes, and the fact that it's only two weeks should help you. Some exchange programs go for a whole school year. 

Admin

submitted by ZB ☮
(June 17, 2011 - 10:25 pm)

@Admins: Yeah, we actually talked to another lady today at the same Farmers Market (we don't exactly go to two Farmers Markets). But her program went from August till June, so it would be the whole school year. Of course, we wouldn't be doing that now, but mother dear says that we might do that once/if brother dear moves away for college. :D

That's a possiblity. Meanwhile, maybe you can try the two weeks first.

Admin

submitted by ZB ☮
(June 17, 2011 - 11:41 pm)

That sounds really cool!  We hosted an exchange student from China once, and it was really fun.  I got to learn a lot about the Chinese culture and language, and also our exchange student got to learn more about our language and culture.  It was really an amazing experience.  Just give your dad some time, I'd say, and come up with all the pros and cons of hosting an exchange student.  I agree with the Admin that having them only two weeks would be an advantage when convincing your dad.

 

By the way, would you be willing to say what Farmer's Market you go to?  :)

submitted by Leaf, age 14, on a tree!
(June 18, 2011 - 2:26 pm)

'Course, Leaf ;) This isn't neccesarily the town that I live in, but it's relatively close. So I'm not giving away any info on where I live, but it's in Moorpark, SoCal.

submitted by ZB ☮
(June 19, 2011 - 11:40 am)

I didn't even know Moorpark had a Farmer's Market!  We'll have to check it out sometime.  We go to one nearby, but I don't think my parents would be okay with me saying which one it is, since it's also my hometown. :)

submitted by Leaf, age 14, on a tree!
(June 19, 2011 - 3:36 pm)

Yeah, it's every Fri. It'd be TOTALLY AWESOME if we could meet up ;)

submitted by ZB ☮
(June 19, 2011 - 8:03 pm)

Definitely!  Do you have a NaNo account?

submitted by Leaf, age 14, on a tree!
(June 21, 2011 - 10:06 pm)