Current Students’ Frequently Asked Questions
Travel
May my family / friends / boyfriend / girlfriend come visit me in
the U.S.? Perhaps. Students are not permitted to have visitors – or travel
to meet up with family or family friends - for the first 6 months of their program.
After 6 months, students may request to have family or friends visit. Students are
never permitted to have visitors under 25 (unless the visitor’s parent is present),
or stay anywhere overnight without someone 25 or over. Single-semester students
may not have visitors during the program. Students may travel with family or family
friends after the program with permission; however they may not return to the host
family’s home.
May I stay through the summer months so that I can go on vacation
with my host family? Perhaps. A specific itinerary with dates and places
must be submitted to your Exchange Program Coordinator well in advance of the end
of school. Your coordinator will then submit the itinerary to the SHARE! National
Office for consideration. (Note: proposals for vacations that begin more than 10
days after the end of school will likely be rejected.)
What is required for a student to travel to another country, such
as Canada, Mexico or their home country, then return to the U.S.? For
travel outside of the US, including cruises and travel to Canada and Mexico, the
student must send his or her DS-2019 form (which is inserted into the student’s
passport) into the ERDT National Office for a signature, well in advance of the
trip. This is the only way the student will be allowed back into the USA, as his
or her visa is for a single entry into the US. Contact your Exchange Program Coordinator
for detailed instructions. Students should contact the consulate of the country
they are visiting (contact information can be found online) to determine visa and
entry requirements for citizens of the student’s home country. If students travel
overseas after the program, they must take all belongings with them and return directly
to their home country (SHARE! will not sign DS-2019 forms for students to re-enter
the U.S. after their departure from the host family’s home).
Health, Safety and Cultural Adjustment
How do I use my insurance? SHARE! and its overseas partners
use different insurance plans, so see your insurance paperwork or contact your EPC
for exact instructions. Generally, you must pay bills and submit a claim for reimbursement.
If you go to the doctor, hospital or emergency room, it is best to call the insurance
company first, to make sure procedures will be covered. (In a life-threatening emergency,
of course, do not delay getting to the hospital).
I’m noticing changes in my body (for example: weight gain, acne,
diarrhea, constipation, missed or delayed periods). Is this normal? Yes.
Travelers often experience problems like this, due to increased stress and different
eating habits. If any of these problems become severe or interfere with your daily
life, see a doctor.
What can I do if I am being sexually abused, or believe that someone
I know is being sexually abused? Take immediate action. Contact your
Team Leader, and/or call the Darkness To Light Helpline: 866-367-4448
What do I need to know to fit in with fashion in the U.S.?
Boys in the U.S. tend to avoid capris and short shorts. They do not shave their
underarms or legs.
Girls in the U.S., as a whole, tend to dress rather casually and conservatively
for school. They shave their underarms and legs.
To be considered “clean,” people in the U.S. generally shower daily, use deodorant
daily, floss teeth daily and brush teeth twice a day. They change their clothes
daily and launder their clothes frequently.
How do I deal with culture shock? Remember – culture shock
is a normal reaction to the stress & confusion of trying to adapt to living in a
foreign culture. SHARE! provides students with a guide that explains some of the
stages of cultural adjustment and helps you to recognize and react to these stages.
Download “’Why Do I Feel Like This?’ All About The Adjustment Cycle: A Guide
For Students.” If you experience depression, major mood swings or have thoughts
of harming yourself, contact your EPC immediately.
My Host Family
Would it be okay to go live at my friend's house? Her family is more
like the kind of family I envisioned for my year abroad. There are many
factors to consider. Are you sure that you want to live with your friend? Your relationship
will certainly change. Is it worth hurting your relationship with your current host
family? Would you miss some aspects of living with your current host family? Is
your friend’s family able to host you? Discuss these matters openly with your EPC.
My EPC
Who can I contact if my local coordinator is not available?
At your orientation, your EPC should have provided you with the name of his/her
Team Leader (who may be an Area Coordinator, Regional Director, or National Office
staff member). If you have an emergency that needs immediate attention, contact
that Team Leader. If you cannot reach him or her, contact
the SHARE! National Office.
Are the orientations mandatory? Yes, with no exceptions.
Your EPC is required to give you a post-arrival and pre-departure orientation. If
you are unable to attend a group orientation, you must arrange to meet with your
EPC at a different time.
When is it appropriate for me to contact someone other than my Exchange
Program Coordinator, such as my EPC’s team leader, a school official, my natural
parents, the SHARE! National Office, my home country organization, the police or
the U.S. Department of State? Except in the case of a life-threatening
emergency, your first call should always be to your Exchange Program Coordinator.
EPCs are trained to help you deal with typical issues that come up for many exchange
students, such as homesickness, student-host family relationship matters, and practical
matters. They are also familiar with your history and student application. The advice
that they give you will be in line with the Standards of Conduct and the specific
rules of your visa. School officials, your natural parents and your home country
organization may not be familiar with the special situation that exchange students
are in, and may give you unproductive advice.
If you cannot reach your EPC, or are dissatisfied with the level or quality of communication
that you have with your EPC, call your EPC’s team leader (Regional Director or Area
Coordinator) or the SHARE! National Office. We are all here to help.
If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately for the police. If
you believe that a non-life-threatening crime has been committed against you (such
as theft), try to reach your EPC first. He/she may have advice that helps you to
more effectively communicate with the police, or resolve your problem another way.
If you your personal health, safety and/or well-being is threatened, and if you
feel that your SHARE! EPC and the SHARE! National Office are not responsive to your
concerns, you may contact the U.S. Department of State directly at 866-283-9090.
Rules
Can I get a job? Perhaps. According to U.S. government
rules, J1 students may not get part-time or full-time jobs while on the program.
However, you may do occasional odd jobs, such as babysitting or yard work, to earn
pocket money.
Can I get a cell phone? Yes. You may get a cell phone,
but you may not enter into a contract. You may get a prepaid phone. Your host family
may let you borrow a phone if they wish, but you are responsible for any extra costs
that you incur (text messages, overages, data plans, roaming or international charges).
If your host family does not have a landline, they must provide you with a cell
phone at their own expense, to be used for emergencies. If you misuse your cell
phone, SHARE! has the right to take it away or limit your use.
May I drive and/or get a driver’s license or permit? What about recreational
vehicles or farm vehicles? What if I am 18? No. SHARE! students are strictly
prohibited from operating any motorized vehicle (including the host family’s car,
Driver’s Education Vehicles and recreational vehicles like a plane, boat, ATV, snowmobile
or a farm vehicle) at any time. Students who ignore this rule and get into an accident
– whether at fault or not - will be immediately repatriated.
What are SHARE!’s rules on drinking, smoking and drugs?
Drinking and drug use are strictly prohibited by SHARE!. Students who are found
to be using illegal drugs or abusing prescription drugs will be immediately sent
home. Remember that some schools administer drug tests. Students may not bring drugs
to school, including prescription or over-the-counter drugs like aspirin. (A host
parent may give medicines to a school nurse, if you need to take them during school
hours). Unless you are 18 or over, and indicated on your application that you smoke,
you will not be allowed to smoke in the U.S. Smoking in the U.S. is restricted to
designated areas, especially around schools, buildings and parks.
What are SHARE!’s rules on sex? Engaging in sexual activity
is prohibited by SHARE!, as is the viewing of any pornography. In particular, note
that if you are 18 or older and have sex with someone under 18, you could be charged
with statutory rape even if the sex was consensual (both people agreed). Any students
found to be pregnant, or found to have caused a pregnancy, will be immediately sent
home.
May I use a laptop or personal computer while in the U.S.?Yes,
but you may not use it in your bedroom. Be sure that you are familiar with SHARE!
and host family rules regarding computer use.
Money
Can I borrow money from my host family, or lend them money?
No. SHARE! discourages host families from lending money to their student. If you
are not receiving enough money from home, notify your EPC. SHARE! strictly prohibits
host families from borrowing money from their student.
What food is the host family expected to pay for? The
host family is responsible for all meals eaten at home, all meals eaten out as a
family, and sack lunches. You must use your own pocket money to pay for extra snacks,
school lunches and meals out with friends.
My family doesn’t cook any food that I like. What can I do?
Your host family is expected to provide you with meals, but they are not expected
to cater to specific food requests (unless you noted an allergy or dietary restriction
on your application). You may need to purchase the food that you like on your own.
Contact your EPC for a Problem Resolution. The EPC will meet with you and your host
family, and all parties can come up with a solution.
School
What are the academic standards that SHARE! students are held to?
Students must maintain a “C” (2.0) average, with no failing grades (F’s). Students
who do not follow this rule will be put on academic probation until their grades
improve. If their grades do not improve, the student may be repatriated.
Is it guaranteed that I will be able to graduate / get a diploma
/ play sports? No. You must accept the school’s decision with regards
to diplomas, graduation, and playing sports. If you bother the school about this,
you may be put on probation.
Do exchange students need to be enrolled in a specific grade level?
Italian, Serbian and Montenegrin students must be enrolled as seniors. All other
students may be enrolled in any grade level. Some schools enroll students in the
same grade level as their U.S. classmates of the same age; other schools enroll
all exchange students as seniors, for example, so that they may experience senior-year
festivities. Unless you are Italian, Serbian or Montenegrin, you are expected to
accept your assigned grade level without complaint.
Are there any class requirements for exchange students?
SHARE! prefers that students take American History and/or English, and that at least
2/3 of their classes be academic in nature. Many students have specific classes
that they must take to meet academic requirements in their home country. It is your
responsibility to enroll in these classes while in the U.S.; however, if your school
does not offer the required classes, you must choose other classes without complaint.
Misc.
Do I get a chance to evaluate the SHARE! program?Yes.
We send out two sets of evaluations during the year - one shortly after you arrive
and another just before you depart. The evaluations go to the students, host families
and high schools. The evaluations are used to gather suggestions, improve future
programs and to determine if changes must be made to the program.
Is there a question you think we missed? Let us know at
info@erdtshare.org, and thanks!
