I'm interested, now what?
What do I have to do to host?
Contact Frau Feole at Red River or Frau Crow at Central.
Look at the profiles of students from Germany in the German classroom to find a good fit for your personality and home life.
Pick up the pink "GAPP Agreements & Signature Sheet" and take it home, read through it with a parent, complete the Google Form on it, initial it, and sign it.
You can print this form off by clicking on the link above, but then you must email Frau Feole to get the Google Form link listed on the "GAPP Agreements & Signature Sheet" because it has been redacted.
Turn in the completed pink "GAPP Agreements & Signature Sheet" to German teacher.
Wait for an email from Frau Feole or Frau Crow confirming your partnership.
The email will contain your partner's name and cellphone number. At this point you should contact your partner.
What do I have to do as a host?
You treat your partner as a member of your family.
You are not connected at the hip. You are not an entertainer.
Your German partner will need some down time too. They will probably have school work to complete since they are away from classes. (You need down time too. You will probably have school work to complete.)
You don't need to "entertain" your partner, but show them what life in Grand Forks is like. Go to Target, Walmart, Scheel's, shopping, out for a milkshake, etc. There are a lot of things we consider "normal" but are new and exciting for the students from Germany.
It's ok for your partner to go with another member of the family for an activity (shopping, errand, sibling's game, etc.)
Hang out with friends and friends who are also hosting.
You aren't required to go on a big trip or spend a lot of money.
What do the German students do during the school days?
They will come with you to your classes, but sometimes you may have a test and in that case, they can go to the Commons or to another class.
They will have a homeroom, one class period a day, where just the students from Germany meet and discuss their experiences.
They also have presentations they will give in various classes.
They will give their presentation and stay in that class or return to your class or go to the Commons when finished.
They have some field trips they will go on and won't be in school with you every day.
What do they do after school if I have practice or a job?
They can come with you to practice, but that may not be interesting or exciting after seeing once. Choosing a different option would probably work better.
They can go home to have some down time while you are gone.
They can hang out with your family.
They can go with one of your friends or with another American who is hosting to hang out.
Whichever option you choose, make sure you are very clear where they are going, who they are going with, how they will get home, and what time they are expected to be at home. Communication is very important so there are no misunderstandings.
If you have a game or performance, they can travel with your parents to the game or hang out at home with your family. Please do not leave them alone for an extended period of time.
What should I do to prepare for their arrival?
Contact them! Ask them what foods they like and don't like, if there's anything they want to do or see, etc.
Sometimes Germans don't have a good concept of distance. They might say "go to Chicago" or something like that. They don't understand that Chicago is 10 hours away. They are also told that they shouldn't expect a big trip to Minneapolis.
Make a sign or poster with their name to show at the airport when you pick them up. Trying to pick out faces after traveling for many hours is difficult when you are very tired.
Tell your teachers you are hosting a student so they can get an extra chair in the classroom prior to the students from Germany arriving. (Frau Feole and Frau Crow will send out the list to the teachers, but it's good to talk with your teachers personally.)
What should I do when I first bring them home from the airport?
Show them where they will be sleeping/staying for the next three weeks.
Give them your wifi password and encourage them to contact home.
Offer something to eat and drink.
Show them the bathroom and how the shower works.
Give them a tour of the house (if it isn't too late at night).
Tell them if they need to get up by a certain time the next morning or not.
What should I do with my partner the next day?
Give them a tour of the house if you haven't done so already.
Introduce them to all the family members if you haven't done so already.
Tell them what food or drink they can help themselves to.
Give them time to decompress and relax.
It is important to overcome jet lag. Try to keep your partner somewhat active for the first few days during the day.
What should I do with my partner the rest of the time?
Show them around Grand Forks.
Take them to places you enjoy: stores, activities, landmarks, etc.
Go to events: school sporting events, theater productions, music concerts, etc.
You can invite them to religious services, but do not force them to attend.
Hang out with friends.
Take pictures together. Make memories.
You may think certain things are boring and not interesting, but everything is new to them.
Remember, it is ok to have down time to do homework, watch TV, and relax. You are not an entertainer. You are a student and they are a student too.