by cruzanheart 12 Replies latest jw friends
Our daughter Jennie got an invitation to take part in a People to People Student Ambassador Program, and we're kind of curious as to what this is and how much it might cost (their website shyly avoids talking about money). Have any of you lovely people out there heard of this program? Is it legit?
Thanks for your help!
Nina
The People to People Student Ambassador Program provides opportunities for grade school, junior high and senior high students to explore domestic and foreign destinations, learning about the history, government, economy and culture of the areas they visit
Thanks, blondie. I looked at the website and it does look interesting, but I'm hoping to find someone with personal knowledge of the program. I don't want to send Jennie out into the wide world in a program that makes grandiose promises and/or charges a large amount of money only to find that it's a camping trip in the parking lot of a Denny's in Yosemite, staffed by Jehovah's Witnesses and/or former pedophiles. You never know . . . .
Nina
When I was in high school, I went on a 6-week stay in France thru the Experiment in International Living.
http://www.experiment.org/home.htm
There are several programs like it out there (haven't heard of yours, but I've not been looking either). I suggest you talk to the people who gave your daughter the information, and follow up on their experiences, etc.
EIL was okay in many ways, for example. We got what we paid for, trip-wise. No one cheated us out of money. No pervert leaders seducing the students. There were some other problems I dealt with, which were a bit unusual, but not due to the program itself.
It's a great experience if your child is old enough to handle it.
bebu
One of my former students JUST walked in with a recommendation from People to People to fill out. I will be investigating this a lot before I recommend her. There are so many "exchange programs" that are such a scam (collect lots of money from the parents, then send the kids off to foreign countries where they don't have host families lined up....put 'em in a school that gets "stuck" with them ... etc.) I still would go with the tried and true programs: AFS and Youth for Understanding. Shoshana
My daughter just received an invitation for this program. Her and I are going to a meeting here in the Chicago-land area on the 16th. to find out more about it. Looks legit and just might be a good experience.
Youth for Understanding
This was one program that had a very good reputation waaaay back when I was in hs. .
bebu
This one costs at least $5000 for a two to three week adventure, that involves a lot of homestays (that's the ambassador part). A whole group travels together. They go in the summer, and it doesn't look like they enroll in school, but participate in the culture in other ways. $5000 (not including spending money) seems steep to me when the lodging and food (thanks to the hosts) don't cost the program a dime, but the administration of it, along with the teachers for the program that travel with the kids, need to be paid and paid for. It gets good reviews, but it is expensive. The teen tours that are cheaper are known for their partying and allowing the kids to run wild in foreign lands, they have much less supervision. This program was established (in name at least) by Eisenhower. It is probably safe, and not a scam. My thoughts on exchanges, though, is that when you travel in a pack with other American kids, you tend not to mix it up with the local family you are staying with too much. Again, there are other exchange programs that are much more into the exchange of culture, not jet-setting. Shoshana
5000 (not including spending money) seems steep to me when the lodging and food (thanks to the hosts) don't cost the program a dime, but the administration of it, along with the teachers for the program that travel with the kids, need to be paid and paid for
$5,000!
Good Lord, Nina and I spent two weeks in England and didn't spend over $1,500! That seems VERY steep. I don't know but I'm not on board with this group. Too many unknowns.
One of my workmate's daughter went to Australia this past summer and another workmate's daughter just got an invitation to this program. Based upon the itenerary she had it must've been an incredible learning experience for her, and, yes, it did cost about $5000.
From what he told me, they screen the applicants for this program pretty good to weed out any troublemakers who would go. The students themselves have to demonstrate responsible behaivour, and I think he mentioned that she had to write an essay about why she wanted to go and what benefit she think she'd derive from the trip.
