Attention to interested American host families.

Perhaps you are contemplating to host a French student for 2 weeks at Easter break or 2-1/2 or 3 weeks in July. They will arrive with other students from various towns and villages in France. They will stay in the area with other local families. You will  be provided with contact information for these other families in order to facilitate communication for extra activities and transportation during their stay.

Who we are…

U.S.M.D. stands for the United Sates with Meetings and Discoveries.

It is a French non-profit organization registered in Paris (France) created by a French English teacher – Martine BADUFLE-DOUCHEZ, President and other professionals (teachers, travel agents and parents) in fields that involve the development of American culture and language in France. We are all volunteers and pleased to make all these children happy thanks to your hosting. The American coordinators are local volunteers from the cities in which we operate the program.

Our philosophy …

We provide French and American teenagers the opportunity to develop mutual knowledge of a foreign language and culture. It is our belief that participation in international homestays will foster a significant understanding of the values and attitudes of foreign cultures, while at the same time exposing students to the uniqueness and diversity of American life.

We organize family stays for boys and girls aged 12-17 (sometimes 18) who are ready to welcome their American friends after their visit in America, or who are doing a return visit to America after having welcomed an American student.

The goal of our program is to make the French child spend time with your American family and NOT  with the French students in order to improve their skills in your language and the knowledge of your culture.

What we expect from a host family …

Students should be welcomed as a family member and treated with the same amount of respect and compassion that you would give to your own child. They should be expected to follow the family rules and picth in with household chores in the same manner you expect from your son or daughter. However, students should not to be expected to act as babysitters or housecleaners.

1. While host families are not expected to change their way of life, plan continual special activities or plan special meals, we do ask that you expose the student to various social and cultural aspects of your home, neighborhood, and community, such as local free concerts, festivals, beaches, shopping, movies, museums and any activities that your family enjoys.
2. Open communication with your community coordinator as well as with the French chaperone who will take care of the group  is essential. Both of them will be available to assist you in answering questions to help you solve any problems which may arise.
3.  We recommend that you contact your French guest by email or write to him or her and tell them why you have selected them to be your guest. He or she will feel more welcome when once they arrive.
4. Your Frenchie will bring their own spending money and he/she is expected to pay for their personal expenses, including : 
• Dining out
• Special food and snacks outside f the family diet, unlesss treated by the host.
• Entertainment such as movies, sports events, travel and excursions.
• Personal items such as toiletries, clothing or souvenirs.
• Long distance telephone calls.

N.B : Money misunderstandings can sabotage trust and harmony in the visitor/ host relationship.

Student preparation

As soon as a student has joined in our program, they receive a brochure mentioning what they should know about cultural differences between France and The United States, and what they should do and learn in order to make the trip as successful as possible. They ought to adapt very easily because they are very excited by this opportunity.

Arrival and departure

Your local coordinator will tell you when the Frenchies arrive with their chaperon. A phone tree will be activated to inform families. If you have a conflict the day of their arrival, please inform the local coordinator and he/she will make arrangements for their pick up.

Arrival day

Relax ! Humor, warmth, and understanding are the key to success for your first meeting. They will melt away your student’s feelings of insecurity and your (own) possible apprehensions.
Remember, fatigue and struggling with a new language and family all take a lot of energy. Because your student is on a very different time zone, they may simply wish to shower and go to bed on their first night of arrival.

Give the student a sense of belonging and familiarity through a household orientation. Remember to relax and have a good time! That’s what a homestay is all about. Please familiarize your student with the family rules that you think are pertinent to their stay in your home. Do not expect the student to learn simply by observing your actions or those of your children.

The largest single contributing factor to your visitor’s initial fatigue and adjustment will be the language barrier. Most of our French students have never experienced their English skills except in a class, that is to say, not much !!! So here are the following methods which might help your student’s initial adjustment :

1. Provide him/her a lot of rest.
2. Have a language dictionary with translations in both languages to assist household communication.
3. Create opportunities for activities that do not demand constant conversation, such as sports, cooking, baking, music and art.
4. Remain positive and patient, speak slowly (not loudly), creating an environment for language development and confidence.

Rules and responsibilities

For a good start, don’t hesitate to tell them the family rules, don’t wait until there is a problem.

1. If  you have special duties, such as picking up your own room, bathroom, orderliness, cleaning up the kitchen after a snack, etc., explain those beforehand, so the student knows what to expect.
2. Students may not go out at night by themselves. They must be accompanied by your teenagers or other responsible persons that you know and approve of.
3. US laws require all visitors to abide by the laws of their host country. They have been told during a meeting one month before departure in France or a report has been mailed to them.
4. The students have read and signed an affirmation of the rules about no smoking or drinking on this trip. You can always call the French chaperon or the local coordinator if you have any questions or problems.

Activites

Although students need not to be entertained all day long, we trust that you will do your best to make them appreciate your home and share your everyday life.
Group activities are occasionally organized as a way of supporting your busy lives, but they are never intended to replace time with your family.  Remember the primary goals of this visit are to learn about American culture through the host family and to maximize exposure to English, not time spent with other French speakers.

Sometimes the « activity «  just means staying at home, going shopping (they love it) and enjoying the culture of the household in which they are staying.

Problems

Try to be patient aand work them out by explaining the cultural differences between France and the United Sates. If such action doesn’t work call the French chaperone or the local organizer right away so they can talk to the student or help you find a solution.

Don’t suffer for 2 or 3 weeks before reporting a problem. Nip it in the bud ! There is always a solution.

Health insurance

All of our students are very well insured for liability, responsibility and accidents.

If your student has an accident or a health issue requiring medical attention, first try to reach the chaperone unless it is an emergency. This will be easier as she/he has dealt with before. If you can’t reach the chaperone or the local organizer  whose both cell phone numbers you will have, take your French child to the emergency room at the nearest hospital. There you will need to give them our insurance information which will be given to you before the students’ arrival.
The operators both speak English and French and they will give you a number to register your file.

You won’t have to pay anything. Our insurance company will contact the correct US correspondent who will call the hospital.

Each student has a medical authorization on your behalf and on the behalf of the French chaperone because they are under the age of 18.

If you have any questions,  don’t hesitate to call the person who contacted you or ask us.

We are looking forward to having you as a future host family and enjoying the great experience of opening your home to someone from a different country and culture.