Tips/Suggestions for student exchange trip to Bavaria.
Asked by
jonsblond (
44203
)
January 22nd, 2009
from iPhone
My son has a year and a half to plan for his trip to Bavaria. He will be staying with his host family for two weeks, then spend a week with his fellow classmates (20 students) visiting Munich, Austria and Switzerland. I’m curious to know if any of you have done a student exchange, or live in or have viisited any of these areas? Should he take a gift for his host family? Most of his meals are paid for, except for lunch during the week long trip with his classmates. How much spending money would you suggest? How soon should we start the passport process? Finally, any tips for the worried mom sending her son overseas for the first time?
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3 Answers
Start the passport now. It takes 6 weeks to to process, and I had to apply in person the first time at the post office. I think all first timers have to go in person to apply. Has your son contacted his his host family and asked about costs and so on? Make sure he asks them about prices at tourist spots vs. local shops for souvenirs. Big difference. They would know best.
A gift is always welcome, and it should be something uniquely American (and non-edible) that the whole family can appreciate. A nice letter thanking the host family for their hospitality via air mail would be an extremely nice and memorable gesture when he returns home. Also, don’t stuff his suitcase; he’ll need room for what he’ll bring back.
You’re lucky there’s email and cell phones now. Not that you’re going to check up on him minute by minute, but at least if he needs to contact you, it is possible to call you. See if your son’s mobile phone company has a deal for using the phone in foreign countries temporarily. I know it’s possible with some carriers to set the mobile to international usage at the customer’s request.
While I wasn’t an exchange student, I’ve visited other countries and stayed with a family or two and these are some of the things I’ve done. That’s all I can think of of the moment. I wouldn’t worry too much, if it’s all supervised by adults.
He’s very lucky to have such a life changing experience to look forward to!
Anytime you’re dealing with government bureaucracy, I suggest giving yourself as much lead time as possible. Apply for the passport now. (Currently, the passport office reports application processing is about 3 weeks.)
Get the passport now. You never know how long it will take, they last for plenty of time, save yourself the last minute headache.
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