Summary:

This month’s guest blog is by Sam Beauchamp, the regional director of CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange).  Our request for a guest blog came from a member of Restore Austin, Matthew Hansen.  Matthew and his wife Sarah are working with them to take in a foreign exchange student in August.  As they began to look more into this opportunity they were embarking on, they couldn’t help but feel this would be a great cultural opportunity for many people associated with Restore Austin.  From what we understand, not only does the student become part of your family for 10 months, but they are also going to be involved in some sort of service/volunteer opportunities while here in the states, and it gives you as a host family the opportunity to be more involved in the schools they will be attending.  Okay, we’re done talking, Sam, will you tell us more about CIEE?

Okay, in a summary, CIEE is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to quality exchange and global learning opportunities. The CIEE USA High School Program is designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor our students on a J-1 visa to attend high school in America. More simply stated it is our hope to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.  The truth is, there are many benefits for students of the CIEE USA High School Program. Cultural immersion allows students to gain a personal understanding of the “American way of life.” Attending American high schools, participating in school and community-run clubs, and living with a host family give students unique firsthand access to American culture. Many students also come to the U.S. to improve their English skills. After hearing and using the language every day, many students attain fluency by the end of the program.

Now, on a less technical and more personal note, what better city to get these young adults into than Austin?  Austin is one of the best areas in Texas for our students and there are not many challenges there with the schools as with other areas of Texas.  Austin truly offers these students the opportunity to experience a wide variety of American culture done right!  So, here is the deal, I could go on and on about what it means to partner with ciee, but I think it would be better to hear from the students themselves.  So, click HERE to read stories and watch videos from some past foreign exchange students. Also, if you would like to read more about the benefits in being a host family, click HERE, and to find us on facebook simply click HERE.

Sam, thank you very much for taking the time and informing us about the great exchange program of ciee.  If anyone reading this article knows of anyone who would be interested in this type of cultural exchange, please email Matthew Hansen at matthewdhansen@me.com.