It is important that you treat your host family with respect. Remember that they chose to have you become a part of their family for the time you are staying with them. They do not owe you anything, and anything that you receive from them comes from the goodness of their hearts. You will be spending a lot of time with your host family, so make the best of it. Hang out with the children and learn what you can from the adults. You will be a lot happier during your exchange program if you keep your home away from home filled with positive energy.
Before you leave your home, study the language of your host country. Many people participate in foreign exchange programs because they believe it will help them learn the language more effectively. Foreign exchange programs will help you learn the language, and immersing yourself in the language is probably the best way. If you enter the country unprepared and without a solid foundation, however, it will be a lot harder to begin communicating with foreign speakers. Make sure you have a fundamental understanding before your trip begins, so you can start speaking the language on a basic level as soon as possible.
Traveling to a foreign country is an excellent opportunity to learn a lot about a culture that is different from your own. You can learn about the morals and values of the people of foreign countries by spending quality time with the locals. Listen to their music. Visit their art museums. Attend their most popular sporting events. Go out with a group of friends you might meet on your trip or while at school, and instead of doing something similar to what you might do at home, try something that is their idea of a night out on the town.
Make the best of the opportunity to get away from your parents, extended family and other authority figures in your life while you are gone. Although these people are extremely important, participating in a foreign exchange program is among the most effective ways to gain your independence. Discover how to spend time alone with yourself, perhaps while enjoying a good novel or taking a walk to explore your new city. Learn how to trust your own instincts and make your own decisions. You will be happy you did.