Going to Poland for a year.

raghorn

raghorn

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
3,674
My son, not me. I posted this in Community a couple weeks ago, thought I'd bring the discussion over here now.

My oldest son has been selected by Rotary International to spend his senior year in high school (next school year) as a foreign exchange student in Poland. We're both very excited about it (although I'm a bit saddened to have him leaving home a year sooner than I expected).

What sort of things should he start doing now to help him prepare for this trip? Obviously he'll be studying the language and culture, but I'm also looking for any input that may be helpful. Are there any special items he might want to take with him? Any other advice in general?
 
Send money.
Shake his hand and wish him the best.
Give him a, 'Don't blame me; I voted for Kerry" bumper sticker





munk
 
Raghorn?

You've done your work with him. If he has a question in his mind, you will be there to answer it for him...all he has to do is ask what you would say.

My admonition to the kids was usually: "Don't do any irreparable or profoundly stupid."

Worked, mostly.


My best to him.
 
I was a member of the Rotary, and I'm sure his brothers in Poland will take good care of him...

Knowing the language and culture are obvious, but if he's motivated, he might want to absorb as much as he can BEFORE he goes... There might be a Polish community close to home, and they would surely be willing and happy to take him under their wing. He might be interested in getting a Polish phrase book by Berlitz or the like, and also study up on Polish culture. He might even find a forum on the Internet... :D

Arm him with a few packages of 3M Post Its (gotto be careful how I spell this!), and have him label anything and everything in the house and outside too in Polish. A CD will help with the pronunciation... He'll have very little culture shock if he's able to pretty much understand what's being said to him, and be able to respond before he makes his move. Cable TV will be a good friend in the beginning at least as well... :rolleyes:

Try to find him a city guide in English where he'll be staying. He can prepare his address book with addresses and phone numbers of the U.S. Embassy, Clubs for Foreign Students, Athletic Clubs, English language news stands, ethnic (read non Polish) restaurants, Libraries, Museums, etc. He might consider with registering with the U.S. Embassy upon his arrival too. Besides being a very valuable source of information while there, they will help if there are any problems...

Do a bit a research into finding the cheapest phone cards for calling him, as I'm sure you'll be on the phone quite a bit! :eek: :D He can also probably find some good deals there too. In Europe it is cheaper to go to small shops set up by mostly 3rd World Entrepreneurs where you'll find small phone booths with super low prices to the U.S. and elsewhere. They should be quite common anywhere there.

Send him off with a "Care Package" of all his favorite foodstuffs and U.S. goodies, and knowing what his likes are, and his rates of consumation of these items, send him a package once and a while. They're REALLY appreciated, especially when newspapers, letters sent to him in the U.S., etc. are included!!!

I wish him a fun and interesting experience!
 
Have him go on bread and water...eating Polish food for a year will pack on at least 30 pounds...

What a great opportunity!!!

*I* had to get drafted to go overseas... ;)
 
Nasty said:
Have him go on bread and water...eating Polish food for a year will pack on at least 30 pounds...

What a great opportunity!!!
Click to expand...
Ditto. Raggie my Barbie is half Polish and knows a few words of the language. Her grandparents were full blood and spoke little English IIRC, may have been great grandparents.
They do know how too eat!!!!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top