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Show Volume V, Issue XII THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 5 April 1, 2002 Host Families Needed - Nacel Open Door, A Non-Profit Organization Opening our homes to foreign highschool students can be an economical way to have a world-class experience! Consider a couple of options available this year: One-Month Summer Program French, Spanish and German students will be arriving in July for one to two months this summer. The students will arrive in time to experience Independence Day and Pioneer Day. Foreign students enjoy parades and celebrations! You can take the student on vacation or stay at home. Even an inexpensive picnic, softball game, or trip to the mall can be exciting when you share it with your guest. Preparation for life in the 21st century demands that our children have greater cultural awareness, and skill in speaking a foreign language. The number of students wanting to visit this area of the west has grown, demonstrating the warmth of western families. This year, 80 students will arrive in July for the summer program. Medical and liability insurance are provided, and the students bring their own spending money. A separate bedroom is not necessary, but a separate bed is a requirement. Host families need not speak the stu- The Songer family with Charlotte, one of their French exchange students. This was taken after running a face-painting booth for the 24th of July. Left-right: Charlotte, Jenny, Sarah, Katie, Casey, (front) Emily. dent’s native language, because the School Year Program students come here to practice their The students come from all parts of English. the world during the ten-month, school year program. They attend our local Ogden Valley Resident’s Experiences: schools, ride the school bus, and have Pat & Steve Songer – Summer Program academic expectations—just like any Pat talked about her family’s experiother teenager in the U.S. ence with the three French girls they hostWhat You Gain, and What to Expect ed during three different summers. “It Each student comes with the com- was a real positive experience. It was a mon desire to learn about the American great way to introduce my children to family and culture. another culture. They, in-turn, invited us Families have a unique opportunity into their home. We took our daughters of sharing our western culture, Katie, Sarah, and Jenny to France, and showing the Winter Olympic sites, stayed with our exchange student’s famiand making lasting relationships ly. We each had a unique lifetime experiwith an international student. This is ence. Jenny learned to love French, a great way for your family to disreturned to France three times as a result, cover a new way of looking at the and speaks it fluently now. It was a great world, without leaving home. Office Space Available July 1st cultural experience for me as well. Even if I’d never been to France, I felt I learned a great deal through our exchange students’ pictures and stories about their homes. We keep in touch with Christmas cards and letters, so it’s still fun.” Terri & Joe Boyce – Summer and Ten Month Program Terri and Joe have hosted eight students in all—from all around the world— during school terms and summers. Most of the time, they did not have another child in their home. “We found plenty activities for the students through school, public, and church—making their own friends outside our home.” The Boyce’s have hosted two students from Germany, and one from each of the following: France, Spain, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Thailand. They’ve visited many of their student’s homes, “For an experience unlike any other international travel. You don’t realize what family life in another country is like, until you witness it first-hand. The same is true when you host a student in your home. You learn about their lives, family, and culture through day-to-day experiences as they compare their home to their time in yours. Our world is getting smaller through our connections and mobility; this cultural exchange enables us to enlighten the students and ourselves as we bridge a few more gaps between nations.” Elaine & Ramesh Krishnan – Ten Month Program This was the first experience for Ramesh and Elaine. Orgil Enkhbat fit right into their family of four boys, and became one of the “gang.” Although somewhat limited in his language skills initially, Orgil’s enthusiasm made up for it. He was fun loving and always open to trying new things. He really took to ski- ing, and was thrilled to be able to witness the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Krishnan family also benefited from a greater Orgil Enkhbat from Mongolia. understanding of culture, food, history and geography of Mongolia. “Reading any number of books about another country and watching things on TV will never equal knowing and living with someone from that country; it is the next best thing to living there.” Appreciation and respect for other cultures and people is much needed, especially in these days of unrest all over the globe. On the whole, it’s been a wonderful, positive educational experience for the entire family. Nacel Open Door is a 39-year-old non-profit organization. For more information, contact Ogden Valley resident, Terri Boyce at (801) 745-3898; Melba Kirby (801) 392-7156; or Carol Peterson (801) 943-6983. |