 International Fellowship, Inc.
Monthly Newsletter
August 2008
Want to Host A Foreign Exchange Student in the US?
Currently there are students available for the August 2008 Semester/Academic Year Programs from Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Japan, Mexico & South Korea.
If you are interested, or know of anyone interested in Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student, Please Email Us at infelwes@cecomet.net or Call our Office at our toll-free, 24-hour phone line at:
1-800-647-8839 for more details.
Please visit our Student Gallery page. You must first contact our office to obtain a password to enter the site. This is where there are brief descriptions of the students, along with their pictures. Thank you.
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ALL 2008-2009 International Fellowship Students
Please feel free to call our office anytime at 1-800-647-8839 with any questions, concerns or comments. There is always someone available to take your call. We are available 7-days a week, 24-hours a day, including ALL HOLIDAYS! You are never alone.
All Schools & Host Families are welcome to call the 800 number at any time with their own questions, concerns or comments.
Thank you to all of the people who have made the exchange experience possible for all of our students... The Area Directors, Local Representatives, Host Families, Schools and Communities... ENJOY!!!!!!
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Letter from Yuhei (2004-2005) from Japan...
"Through this studying abroad, I have lost nothing, but I have received many things. I want to mention a few of them."
1. Having Pride in Their Country
"I felt their huge pride in their country. In Gordon (NE), students watched the American flag and pledged allegiance to the flag every morning. We listened to the American anthem before every sports game too. In Japan, there are people that swear to God in morning, but no one does the pledge to our flag. I was really surprised that national flag and anthem are established among even students. Our country's history (Japan) is one of the reasons why we don't sing our national anthem very much or watch our national flag, so this is a difficult problem. However, I was really affected by their strong pride in their country."
2. The Relation Among People
"Gordon (NE), the city I had lived, has about 2000 population. Thus, they know each other very closely. At the restaurant, school, or store, they always exchanged words. "Hi!" "How are you?" "What's going on?" ... They greet everyone, even exchange student... Those words helped me a lot. Those words helped me to enter in other country easily. This custom wasn't only in my city that is really small, but everywhere, including other cities or even in other states. We exchanged greetings every time. It is really comfortable to do."
"This trend was in sports too. I played football, basketball, and track. Every game, a lot of friends who don't play sports and their parents came and gave us big cheers. Also, there were live broadcastings by radio. People in the city support their team. I was really excited by their huge excitements. That is one of the reasons why I could have really enjoyable sports season for a year."
3. Taking Care of Their Families
"This relates to the relation among the people, but I realized that they really take care of their families and love them in the US. Lots of pictures are seen around the house and on their desks. Also, they rather have time with their families. When they invite company, they invite them into their house and cook instead of going to a restaurant. If my host dad's friend came, host mom would join them. What I want to say is that it is really important for them to entertain visitor as a family."
"On the Christmas Day, the biggest Holiday in the US, of course they spend the time with their families. I was assuming that they spend with their friends on the Christmas Day, but that was absolutely wrong. When it is close to Christmas Day, they start decoration of their houses, inside and outside. This shows their families' big relationships."
"In Japan, only husband goes fishing or golf, or only wife goes to her parents' home, but in the US, what they spend time with their families is a basic rule."
4. Their Praising
"My teachers, coaches, or friends like to praise their students or players. They did that to me, exchange student, too. They always told me "pretty good!" "good job!" "You are the best player in your Japanese school, aren't you?"... These words helped me a lot. We seldom praise each other like this. But, I was really impressed by those warm considerations."
"Ten months, I had been in the US. That taught me that Americans have huge love for their country and families. Also they provide love for other people, and have good communications."
"I lived in a small country city for ten months and had these wonderful experiences. Through those experiences, I've begun thinking about my future. Since I came here, I've started to be interested in relationships between people. I've been thinking that I would like to have a job, which has connection with many people. Hopefully, I would like to use English and move between Japan and other countries. Of course, this dream came from my experiences here."
"Because of this great studying abroad, I've been able to think about even my future. I really appreciate Gakushuin Boy's Senior High School (Japan). I would like to say Thank You."
(JA 025 2004 Yuhei in Gordon, Nebraska)
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STUDENTS TO TALK ABOUT...
Please start sending in information about our 2007-2008 students once they are settled and there is information to put in our newsletter. The best way to do so is by email with pictures attached or if necessary by "snail" mail.
Thanks!
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Employment Opportunities
We are always interested in enthusiastic individuals here in the United States to assist our Placement Directors in locating host families and schools for our students. Please Check out the "Employment Opportunities" page on our website.
Call 1-800-647-8839 for more details today!
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Pictures from the I.F. STUDENT TOUR to NYC & DC!
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International Fellowship Tour 2009
The International Fellowship Tour to NYC and Washington DC is scheduled from Tuesday January 20, 2009 through Sunday January 25, 2009.
Tour information is available at www.internationalfellowship.org under the Tour Information Link, by email, fax or calling 1-800-647-8839.
The email address is infelwes@cecomet.net
Thank You!
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General TRAVEL and/or Transportation Issues
If you have any questions or trips you need permission for, please call, email, fax or snail mail them to the office. Please keep in mind any "INTERNATIONAL" trips must be brought to our attention at least 2 months in advance.
As for trips within the United States, permission must still be obtained from the Main Office in Westfield, New York PRIOR to the Trip. We would like at least a TWO WEEK notice on all trips.
ANY and ALL TRIPS involving "potential" travel with Natural Parents or the Natural Parents planning a "possible" trip to visit their child MUST be presented for authorization and approval PRIOR to the finalization of any trips/visits.
Thank You for your Cooperation.
Please feel free to "snail" mail or email in any information you feel is worth putting in the International Fellowship newsletter.
Thank you.
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