Hosting Team’s Experience With The Glasgow Exchange Leading up to the exchange Leading up to the exchange, we were introduced to the six girls over facebook. Thanks to social media we were able to connect with the girls, learn their names, begin to get to know them, and understand what they were looking to gain from this exchange. It was insanely helpful to hear some of the things they wanted to see while visiting Boston! Some of those activities included: Celtics Game, skating on Frog Pond, and others. We tried to incorporate all that we could in the short time we had together and it’s safe to say we were able to fit a lot into seven days! At the airport After figuring out the time of their arrival, a group of about 10 of us met at the airport to meet our new community members and welcome them to America! When the girls walked out of customs, it felt as if we were all already friends. Later that night we went to pizza and had an absolute blast before the girls got to rest from their long flight and adjust to the time difference. The hosting team was in charge of the logistics of the exchange. Our jobs included figuring out who the girls would shadow for the day, who would pick up the girls at the hotel, and how they would get to activities. The members of this team had to be organized, efficient, punctual, and selfless. The hosting team included Lydia Grasso (captain), Jen Masciovecchio, Abbigale Murphy, Juan Pablo Enrique, Jon Benney, and Jackie Baba. Who is the hosting team? Day One: 9:30 am : Pick up 10 – 12 pm : Classes 12:30 – 6 pm : Hanging out at Harvard Square 6:30-10:00pm : Dinner at Fire and Ice Day Two: 9:00 am : Pick up 9:30– 2 pm : Lab and Classes 2:30 – 3:30 : Dunkin Donuts 4-9 pm : Bowling and Arcade! Day Three: 9:30 am : Pick up 10 – 12 pm : Classes 12:30 – 2 pm : Target trip 2:30 – 6:00 : Chill time 7:00-10:30pm : Celtics Game! Day Four: 9:30 am : Pick up 10:00am – 1:00 pm : Aquarium 1:00 – 2:00 : Seminar 2:30 – 5:30 : Relax 6 – 10 pm : Faneuil Hall and Shopping Day Five: 9:30 am : Pick up 10 – 12 pm : Classes 1 – 9:30 pm: Prudential and Newbury St. Day Six: 8:00am -9:30 am : Shinty at Umass 10:00-11:30 : iHOP 12:00 – 2:00 : Duck Boat Tour 3 – 6 : Getting ready 6 – 10 : Banquet As the hosting team we spent a tremendous amount of one on one time with the Glasgow students. We got to know each other through the numerous activities done throughout the week, as well as guiding them through our daily routines. The exchange gave us an opportunity to connect with students from another country; and learn that although we eat larger portions, don’t wear lab coats to lab, and can legally drive two years earlier, we’re the same. We’re all college students who stress over exams and have a passion for science. We’re all young adults coming into our own, paving our own paths, and building lasting relationships. We were all brought together through this exchange, all eager to learn, experience new things, and make new friends. Summarizing the experience Acknowledgments We would like to thank those who helped this exchange happen. Special thanks to Sanofi/Genzyme, Dean Andrew Grosovsky, Professor Hager, and Julie from the university of Glasgow.