tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post192462115703988695..comments2024-01-07T19:55:48.622-08:00Comments on Northwest Ladybug: An Open Letter to Margaret Crotty, President and CEO, AFS Intercultural ProgramsCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918419288660146429noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-83989339300744771312016-09-23T15:19:06.387-07:002016-09-23T15:19:06.387-07:00It's been quite a few years since I wrote this...It's been quite a few years since I wrote this post and, although I still get those "please welcome this poor student into your home, even just for a week - s/he has no family to live with" emails, I largely ignore them now. I tried to impact change, but not sure my post did a thing. I'm so sorry the student you refer to is afraid to speak up. I have heard of that with other students, too. Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07918419288660146429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-18783159475316751842016-09-23T15:02:28.329-07:002016-09-23T15:02:28.329-07:00Yes, yes, yes.
I found this old post while googli...Yes, yes, yes.<br /><br />I found this old post while googling "horrible experience AFS," because I've been stunned with what I've seen. You are 100% correct. <br /><br />This organization isn't what it once was, and it disappoints me so much. I was a student, I've hosted and now I've witnessed the most insane treatment of a young exchange student studying here in the USA. He's asked me not to speak up in public, because he's been told that if he complains, he has to return to his home country. Shocking and so disappointing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-3328302943353074182008-06-22T15:12:00.000-07:002008-06-22T15:12:00.000-07:00Dear Anonymous,I'm sorry my post angered you. I'm ...Dear Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry my post angered you. I'm sorry, too, that you question my commitment to exchange programs -- and AFS in particular. Our experience as host parents (and my subsequent experience as a liaison) was nothing short of life-alteringly wonderful. And I know that most AFS students ARE welcomed into loving homes. <BR/><BR/>My post was about those eager young people who get on a plane hoping for the experience that was presented to them, only to be shuffled from temporary situation to temporary situation. If there's no home waiting for them on the other end of that plane ride, and if they enrolled into the AFS program with that expectation (and PAID for it), it just doesn't seem right or fair that they land in the foreign country in which the agency has told them there'd be a family for them... to NO ONE except a "holding" situation. It seems no more "warm and loving" than foster kids being shuffled from holding family to holding family.<BR/><BR/>I understand that host families are hard to find, but that's the reality. Why accept numbers of exchange students that goes far beyond the number of committed host families to house them? If nothing else, it's simply a bad business decision.<BR/><BR/>That said, Margaret Crotty and those at AFS who are doing all they can to keep the exchange program alive, have my full respect and admiration. She is an amazing, committed, intelligent woman, and I trust that her heart is in this and that she will do great things for AFS.<BR/><BR/>Feel free to keep the dialog going, but you might want to identify yourself if you do.<BR/><BR/>CarolCarolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07918419288660146429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-78684273681443498132008-06-22T13:20:00.000-07:002008-06-22T13:20:00.000-07:00As an AFS volunteer, you should get all of the fac...As an AFS volunteer, you should get all of the facts about an AFS situation before you post only your side and your view to the world. As a volunteer with AFS for 20 years since my own abroad experience for the year to Japan with AFS, I am ashamed and angered by your post. Committment numbers are set by all AFS partner countries years in advance of anyone ever boarding a plane. The responsibility of finding host families for all of these students around the globe is a daunting challenge for AFS staff and volunteers every year. With the tighting economy, placing students into 'enthusiastic' host families is increasingly difficult. We believe in our mission, and we choose to press on with a positive attitude. Ghandi asked us to "be the change you want to see in the world". That is how I choose to live my life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-30312091862907018242007-11-23T08:43:00.000-08:002007-11-23T08:43:00.000-08:00Oh, Carol, I've worked with both AFS and YFU, and ...Oh, Carol, I've worked with both AFS and YFU, and I'll write you privately about this... and you are SO right. On the flip side, too, neither agency, nor any other exchange organizations, should take kids who have multiple allergies, extreme religious, political or extracurricular needs, etc. I could go on and on and on about this.<BR/><BR/>Hugs to you and I feel your pain on this issue!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02362687820368214420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-2968675768701278842007-11-22T11:47:00.000-08:002007-11-22T11:47:00.000-08:00Hi Carol,yes I realise your experience with AFS ha...Hi Carol,<BR/><BR/>yes I realise your experience with AFS has been very positive so far. I didn't mean to criticise AFS as I don't know them.<BR/><BR/>I just tried to explain what I do know: how Rotary works. <BR/><BR/>I am curious for their reply though! <BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work and happy thanksgiving!Goofballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11155032632164828945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-9102231627663860262007-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:002007-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:00Hi, just dropping by to say that I have “roared” y...Hi, just dropping by to say that I have “roared” you. Visit my blog to find out what I am talking about. Roooaaar! (Will be back to read your long post!)swenglishexpathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06102783327902959539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-16365797432674081982007-11-22T05:24:00.000-08:002007-11-22T05:24:00.000-08:00I wanted to come back and wish you a very Happy an...I wanted to come back and wish you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving, Carol. <BR/><BR/>I am so glad that you found me, and I look forward to having a little more time next week to read back and get to know you better!kim-dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650811256788756378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-55863862131306579252007-11-21T16:39:00.000-08:002007-11-21T16:39:00.000-08:00wow what a wonderful thing you are doing being a h...wow what a wonderful thing you are doing being a host parent/liasion and caring so much. it truly is fantastic and it is heartbreaking to think that a student would be brought to another country, money taken, if there was anyone less that enthusiastic to meet and welcome themmkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584449486757395979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-65869806223859451372007-11-21T15:03:00.000-08:002007-11-21T15:03:00.000-08:00Thanks for the feedback! I should make it clear t...Thanks for the feedback! I should make it clear that our own experience with AFS has been 99% positive (and our experience with Laura has been 100% positive!) and that all-in-all I think it's a great organization. <BR/><BR/>But this whole "they're on the plane... we need host families, quick!" thing has really been bothering me and I just SOOO feel for a kid who has to endure that and the loneliness it causes -- as the boy I'm a liaison for this year did. There are lots of important lessons to be learned on a year abroad and I think "I'm really not comfortable in this environment" and "yikes, I need to learn to communicate and adapt" are two of them. But feeling lost and afraid amid an organization whose job it is to make you feel welcome and wanted should not be among those lessons, in my opinion. <BR/><BR/>I did send this letter to Margaret. I'll let you know if I get a reply...<BR/><BR/>CarolCarolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07918419288660146429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-65691557403712589722007-11-21T13:12:00.000-08:002007-11-21T13:12:00.000-08:00My god, I had no idea that AFS would have students...My god, I had no idea that AFS would have students come to the States without an assigned "permanent" family. That is just criminal. I can just imagine what these poor kids feels like. I thought my experience coming to this country and attending school were horrific, but this is so much worse. At least I had my family around me. This is criminal, just criminal and sure doesn't make us look good to the rest of the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-48321388828963100832007-11-21T12:26:00.000-08:002007-11-21T12:26:00.000-08:00wow...that is a shocking situation; Very shocking....wow...that is a shocking situation; Very shocking. Unacceptable. It breaks my heart for the people that are in that situation.<BR/><BR/>I don't have any experience with AFS. I was a Rotary exchange student. I never really thought about it since my sister had been a Rotary exchange student and we ahd been hosting a Rotary exchange student. So I never considered any other organisation since we are really happy with Rotary. <BR/><BR/>The only clear difference I know between AFS and Rotary is that AFS is an organisation existing purely with the goal of exchange students and therefore they are costly. It strikes me in your letter that you often refer to the money that students have to pay to AFS. <BR/><BR/>Rotary is a service organisation existing all over the world with many many local projects and some global projects. The Rotary youth exchange program is just a small part of Rotary. <BR/>You can apply with your local Rotary club if you are interested to go on an exchange. They'll interview you, check your motivation etc and then forward your file to your hosting district. Fairly simple for them to accept you as a matter of fact. However if they accept you, it implies that this local club will also host a foreign student coming through their town. And that means they'll be responsible for searching host families for this student. Families in plural as Rotary tries to find min 2-3 families for one student a year. This has many advantages and disadvantages which I will not abord now. <BR/><BR/>What is the cost of being an exchange student for Rotary?<BR/>- the price of your flight ticket<BR/>- health insurance valid in your hosting country<BR/>You don't pay Rotary anything as an organisation, on the contrary, they pay you monthly pocket money. And your stay with host families is free (they don't get any financial compensation either). Usually they do enquire whether your own family doesn't want to use the empty bedroom to host a student for a couple of months. <BR/><BR/>Some families feel obliged to do so and are not good host families...but usually it delivers very motivated host families as they know what their own daughter/son is going through. <BR/><BR/>The problem that Rotary often encounters is that the Rotary members end up being host families...always the same families and they start seeing it as a burden. They too have difficulty finding host families. Usually they don't have all the names of all the host families ahead of time before you leave, but I have never ever heard of someone leaving without a host family picking him/her up at the airport or in their host town!!!!! That is how it should be. <BR/><BR/>When I applied at the local Rotary club, I had heard already that they had had some bad experience with exchange students coming to our town using drugs etc. The Rotarians were not eager at all anymore to be hosting another foreigner. But hosting a foreigner was the condition for them before they could approve my application. So...they approved my application on the condition that I could give them 4 host families for the student that would come to my town. That's a bit of an unorthodox Rotary request, but I accepted the deal, used our social network and I did provide them 4 families (including mine) for the Californian girl that came over. <BR/><BR/><BR/>and now I am going to stop this longest comment every ;)Goofballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11155032632164828945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31107400.post-37843963344132521152007-11-21T08:51:00.000-08:002007-11-21T08:51:00.000-08:00HELLLOOOO, CAROL! I just had to stop by--I'm at w...HELLLOOOO, CAROL! I just had to stop by--I'm at work, OOPSIES--to say a quick hi and to tell you that I'll be back. And to say I love the cat in Kat's hood--DARLING!<BR/><BR/>And I apologize if this comment shows up twice :)...kim-dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650811256788756378noreply@blogger.com