For the first two weeks of January 2012, families of UC High students and teachers will be hosting Australian high school students and teachers when they come to visit America for a cultural exchange program.
From January 1 to January 12, 40 students from Australia will be living in the houses of UC students as they travel around San Diego to experience American culture. Educational World Travel’s (EWT) website states, “Living with an American family provides young Australians with a greater awareness of the differences between our cultures” (ewt.com).
English Learner Coordinator Gail Hall, who is also UC’s Girls Golf Coach, stated that a fellow golf coach introduced Hall to EWT, a program that their school uses to fundraise money for their team. The Golf Team does not get funded by either the school or the district. Hall said, “I contacted EWT and told them that we want to do this as our fundraiser, and they said ‘great.’”
EWT has four basic requirements for families to host one of the Australian Students. The first is to provide room and board for the student. The student must have his or her own bed, but can share a room. Meals outside the home, while in school or touring are the student’s responsibility.
The second requirement is that a family provide a positive and clean environment, where there is no abuse of any kind, including drug, alchohol, verbal, or physical abuse within the home. This is in order for the student to feel safe, secure, and welcome, especially being so far away from home.
The third requirement is that the family ensures that the student has transportation to and from school.
Finally, the host student and at least one parent should be home during the evenings so that adequate supervision and care of the Australian student can be provided.
According to EWT, for one or two days out of the 11 days that they are here, they Australians will have the opportunity to attend their host student’s classes at school.
This is Senior Ariel Boyer’s first time participating in a foreign-exchange program. Boyer said, “I hope that I can learn more about the Australian culture. I’m going to take my Australian out to the mall, the beach, Sea World, and Outback Steakhouse.”
According to Hall, the Australian students will be going to San Francisco after leaving San Diego. There will also be a chance for UC students to visit Australia in return. The cost is $4,000 and EWT is arranging the trip for the summer of 2012.