Call Tips and Guidlines

From AFSWiki

Students who have been accepted into the program and are preparing to depart have been invited to participate in an hour-long Speak with a Returnee webinar and PowerPoint presentation, which will mostly be devoted to a question and answer forum about general expectations, cultural norms, and day to day living. As a Returnee, please read and observe the following guidelines:

• Before starting, try putting yourself back in your pre-departure shoes. Think about what advice you wish you had heard before departing. What were you most nervous about? How were you feeling? What do you wish you had packed (or not brought with you)?

• Students are probably a bit nervous about their imminent departure. You can help build their confidence by giving them a realistic yet general impression of daily life in the country in which they will be living. Use this time to share your excitement for your AFS experience!

• Remember to keep your answers focused on the cultural norms you learned and adjusted to rather than telling the full story of your AFS experience. We encourage you to draw on your personal stories, but keep them short, sweet, and use them to illustrate your points about cultural norms and life abroad.

• Feel free to share the reality of culture shock and to give examples of the challenges you faced but please do not dwell on the low times during your cultural adjustment. Instead, let these new students learn from your experience by focusing on how you overcame the challenges you faced.

• Please refrain from sharing any stories that defy the basic AFS guidelines (i.e. no drinking, driving, hitchhiking, etc.) This also includes traveling around the country. AFS does not encourage students to travel during their home-stay.

• Also, please do not tell students how to get around strict parental restraints. The students are going to live with families, and therefore must abide by their rules.

• MOST IMPORTANTLY: Have fun! Now is the chance to be the Returnee you wish you had before departing on your AFS experience!