755 Baywood Drive | Suite 380 | Petaluma, CA 94954

Autumn 2013

Welcome 2013-14 Students!

Dear Students and Host Families,
We would like to welcome our 20132014 exchange students to the United States and hope everyone had a safe flight and is enjoying their time with their new family members. Being a host family or an exchange student requires a big commitment. It can be scary and nerve-wracking. But for both the host families and the students, it can be a life-changing, amazing experience that breaks down cultural barriers and brings people together. Its an opportunity to learn more about another culture, expand your horizons, and share your own traditions and culture with others. We here at Face the World thank you for being part of this experience and look forward to hearing more of your stories and seeing more of your photos!

I'm really motivated

to do my best at school, in sports and in everything I will do in USA because this is a really good opportunity I have and I don't want to waste it. - Carlotta, Italy

In This Issue:

Welcome Students! Student Spotlight Letter from Lasha, Regional Director Face The World Photo Album Coming Soon! Open Your Heart Program Eagle Awards Info. Openings for CRs and RDs

2011 La Rue Photography

We had the opportunity to interview the Face the World Scholarship winner, Leon, from Germany, and find out how he was enjoying his cultural exchange and his time in America. It sounds as though Leon has wonderful plans for his host school and big dreams for himself. We know he can achieve them and hope his exchange experience will help him to do just that! Here is the interview in his own words! 1. Tell me a little about yourself and what you liked to do back home in Germany.

I am 16 years old and was student on the Schulfarm Insel Scharfenberg, a school on an island in Berlin, Germany. My school is specialized on politics, biology and art. Last year, I was school speaker and representative of Berlin. Currently, I am student on the Blue Earth Area High School in Blue Earth, Minnesota.
I am a very ambitious person, who is eager to learn. In Germany I received awards from the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft and Internationale Martin Luther Stiftung for my inventions. I invented a new type of temperature sensors, the first method worldwide for calculating when hairs are turning grey and am currently working on color pens for colorblind people. Furthermore I won Jugend Forscht Berlin and received scholarships from DFH e.V. (Deutscher Fachverband High School e.V.) and the Bayer Science & Education Foundation. The Bayer Science & Education Foundation sent me this summer for two weeks for a research program to Pittsburgh, PA. I want to use my time in Blue Earth to work on new inventions. If I dont work, I love to play piano and to go jogging. Minnesota is offering me great possibilities and I am ready to use them! 2. How was the flight and arrival (meeting your host family for the first time)? As we arrived about seven oclock at the TXL (Tegel Airport) to get my flight to Paris, France, I was definitely sad to leave my family. My family is my soul, but I got a second here. As I took the flight from Paris to Minneapolis, I was not sure if my decision was right to come over here. But, as I saw my host mum, Margaret, I knew that my decision was right. They are the loveliest host parents you could ever imagine.

3. & 4. How is the German culture very different from American Culture, and did these things surprise you? What was one of the most surprising differences between the two cultures?
Personally, I think that Germans are much more serious and unfriendly than Americans. Unfortunately, more than I thought. Americans are very openminded people, who want to share their ideas and thoughts. In our school in Germany, we have exchange students from Mexico and South Korea. Often, they have problems to become a part of our community. Here in America, students were adopting me immediately. My host family and me made a trip to the German Oktoberfest in New Ulm, MN. We became part of a parade and waved together German and American flags. It was a feeling of unity!

5. What activities have you done with your host family (such as kinds of outings an get-together have you done)? My host family and me made a trip to the German Oktoberfest in New Ulm, MN. We became part of a parade and waved together German and American flags. It was a feeling of unity! 6. How well are you adjusting to your courses in your High School? I think I am adjusting pretty well to the BEA High School Courses. The school is easier as in Germany, but the way how to learn in different. Students here have to remember much more than students in Germany. Because of multiple-choice questions, the number of tasks is bigger and with it also the knowledge you should have about a certain type of issue.

7. Do you have any new favorite sports activities that you have tried since being in the USA? 7.1. I will participate in tennis in spring. Until now, I go often running out in the country. Running gives me the feeling of freedom! As longer I run, as more independent I feel.

NOT SPORT 7.2. For a few weeks now, I am part of the robotics team, which meets about two times a week. For now a few weeks I am part of the knowledge bowl team and the math league. I just love it! The United States are offering me great possibilities. 8. Do you have any thoughts/experiences you want to share that I havent mentioned?

Yes, I have some plans to improve school life on the Blue Earth Area High School. Personally, I think, exchange students should share experiences in order to learn from other students. Open minds are enriching our world! In the past, I was participating in many Model United Nations Conferences. (A Model United Nation is a conference, on which each student has to represent one country and discuss its opinion with other countries, represented by other students, on different issues in order to create a final resolution.)

My plan is to organize already this year a Model United Nations Conference on the Blue Earth Area High School.

Letter from Lasha, Regional Director

hen we sign up for this amazing experience in foreign exchange we know that there are different reasons that each of us start the process. For Program Directors like myself, we want to help others have this experience and be there to guide along the way. For host families, they often want to have the opportunity to share their life in Americathe good, the bad, and the real America. Not the kind in the movies, but a real family (big or small, old or young). Each family has something they want to learn and something they want to teach.
For students, the reasons are even more varied. Some students want a year on their own. Some students want a chance to explore America and meet us. Some students want to share their cultures with us and teach us something about what their life is like as well. I have helped more than 150 students from all over the world come to the Colorado & Wyoming area since 2008. I have met some giving and patient families. I have also met students who, at the end of the school year or semester, feel like they have 2 families; one in their home country and one America. I have helped students that I was so extremely proud of and overjoyed at each exciting thing they experienced while here, and cried when I had to say goodbye to them. Sometimes they come home to America for a few weeks to visit family & friends.
Ewelina (Poland)

I wish I could write about each one of our students this year. Like the Italian girl who decided to play softball and adores it! Or the German boy, who despite a rough start is now volunteering to teach younger kids soccer. Or the Thailand girl who absolutely loves taking pictures of every new exciting place and thing her host mom takes her to, or does with her, even if its just Olive Garden. Or the Brazilian boy that giggles every time we see him because he is so happy to be here and experience everything. Or the Korean girl who was nervous about living in the country at first, but now cant think of a better family or place in the world for her to stay. Each story touches our hearts and makes us want to help another student. This, however, is about a Polish girl and her dog. She dreamed of coming to study in America, but was nervous about leaving her dream of becoming a dog show handler. So, after some serious searching, a dog show handling family was in fact found. Now she and her dog live in Westminster, Colorado. While she attends school at Mountain Range High during the day, the dog rests. On the weekends, when she isnt playing powder puff football or going to a homecoming dance or playing with her host siblings whom are young but absolutely adore her, or writing a blog about Color your Colorado, she also gets to go to dog shows and compete and learn. She told me once that she hadnt really expected that such an option as having both dreams come true. She had not really known what to expect about coming to America. That I say would sum up Ewelina (Poland) while she is having such an incredible journey. She put down all her expectations each day and she goes with the flow. She says she has learned to compromise and work harder than what she had ever imagined. She has laughed and cried. She has good days and bad days. Just like at home, just like she would anywhere. But she isnt just anywhere. She is living the dream and learning and teaching us all. So I want to thank each student and each family and each representative who puts their all into each day to make the world proud. In America we have a saying, When you are given a lemon, make lemonade. So, to each of you that may feel that they have been given a lemon, instead of saying, now what?, you decide to make lemonade or lemon pie or lemon chicken or anything special and wonderful out of the gift you have been given. Dont ever give up on the dream of Facing the World with a smile, and dont ever forget we can all be proud that we try each day. Now go out and Color your State and learn from each other. I promise the reward will be sweet at the end!

Andreea (Italy) & Leandro (Brazil) going tubing for the first time! Julio (Brazil), Best (Thailand), & Frida (Norway) having fun at the mall.

Frida (Norway) drives a golf cart with her host mom. (The only driving allowed!)

Camilia (Brazil) helping win the game at her

(Pictured right) Luisa (Brazil) with her host mom , Felisha, went to Boston.

school!

Community Representatives & Regional Directors Wanted!

Do you know someone who is looking to make a difference in the lives of others? Have them contact us at www.facetheworld.org!

Coming soon EAGLE AWARDS

Every year we like to award those who go above and beyond and embrace the mission of cultural exchange. We will take nominations for students, host families, and schools. Here are some of the student categories:

Student of the Year Academic Achievement Community Service Exceptional Effort

Outstanding Achievement

All submissions must include a photo and a description of the students achievement to deserve the nomination. STUDENT OF THE YEAR will win a prize and special recognition in our Face The World Newsletter! Studentsthink about what school, teacher, or host family youd like to nominate for an award! More information coming soon!