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Current Students
Current District 7170 Rotary Youth Exchange Students
 
Inbound and Outbound District 7170 Rotary Youth Exchange Students - you have come to the right place! This section of our site is devoted to helping make your year here or abroad the best possible.
 
Resources
 
Culture Shock by Dr. Dennis White - A basic article on the concept of culture shock and how it may affect Youth Exchange students. The article describes stages of culture shock and a typical progression in a year-long program.
 
One World ... or Many? by Dr. Dennis White - A presentation of the concept of developing intercultural sensitivity by moving from ethnocentrism to ethnorelativism. These concepts, applied to the Rotary Youth Exchange experience, are developed from work by Dr. Milton Bennett of Portland State University
 
The Middle Wave of Culture Shock by Dr. Dennis White - For many Youth Exchange students, there is a potentially difficult period of culture shock combined with homesickness that can "hit" around November or December. This article describes the phenomenon and attempts to help prepare students, parents, host families and YEOs.
 
It's Time to Go Home by Tracy Fordham - A former Rotary exchange student, now a cultural researcher, shares some thoughts about the end of an exchange year, and the challenge of determining where "home" really is.
 
So You Think You're Home Again (Students) by Dr. Dennis White - Observations and advice for students returning "home" after completion of their exchange years.
 
So You Think They're Home Again (Parents) by Dr. Dennis White - A look at the returning student phenomenon for and from the parents' perspective.
 
The Things No One Told Me by Lori Ruhlman - Simultaneously a mother of an outbound student and a host mother for an inbound, the author shares her experiences and emotions from both sides of the program.
 
The Values Americans Live By by L. Robert Kohls - Written originally for foreigners coming to the USA, this article acts as a mirror allowing Americans to view their own culture through someone else's eyes.
 
Seven Lessons in Intercultural Communications - Some lessons that can emerge from cultural awareness exercises, simulation games or other experiences. Taken from the work of Craig Storti, who has published several books at Intercultural Press.
 
Travel & Visa Assistance
All travel arrangements are through T Zell travel agency.  You can visit the special Rotary Youth Exchange program page at https://tzellyouthexchange.com/ 
 
Handbooks