1. H OSTING A N E XCHANGE S TUDENT F ROM G ERMANY Cliff Nichols CSIT 101 CCBC, May 2015

2. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* Background and familiarity with Germany Budget overview Overview

3. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Government & Legal System Democratic multi-party system Two legislative houses like US but… President and Chancellor have uniquely different roles. Germany has 16 distinct states as of 1990.

4. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Holidays and Culture Based on a rich heritage Oktoberfest is the most well-known holiday but the German Mardi Gras or Carnival celebration is just as widely celebrated throughout Germany. Festive Germans take to the streets in parades of vibrant colored costumes.

5. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Religion Mostly Christian, Germany is also host to a large population of atheists. The vast majority of Germans are Roman Catholic. Germany is home to the world’s grandest and most beautiful cathedrals. Some dating to Roman times…reminders of how skilled and dedicated the early followers really were.

6. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Climate Bounded by the cold North Sea and the European continent to the south, Germany is considered temperate. Average temperatures range from 25F in the winter to 86F in summer. World class snow skiing is enjoyed in the Alps to the south.

7. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Typical daily life People have different lifestyles depending on where they live. Urban dwellers enjoy a vibrant culture of nightlife and abundant entertainment options. The beautiful countryside has its benefits as well!

8. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Housing The trend has been toward suburbanization and quaint villages abound. However the government has begun a modernization effort to lure residents back to the downtown areas by offering convenient parking and more pedestrian-friendly areas.

9. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Education The government provides schooling up through age 15 Students compete for university slots approaching high school years. A number of world class universities can be found in Germany. Widely respected engineering and architecture programs are available.

10. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Transportation Trains, trains & more trains! Germany enjoys a modern and well- maintained rail system moving passengers and cargo efficiently across the country. Precise time tables are published and strictly followed.

11. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Health care A modern and capable health care system is in place in Germany.  Hospitals are clean and staffed by well- trained doctors and nurses. They are widely available in all medium to large towns and cities.

12. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT * For the Nichols Family* A Little Background  Greetings and Customs Privacy and order are central German values, so greetings tend to be polite and restrained. Germans lean toward formality with little emotion. They see this as respectful of others' dignity and privacy rather than being cold.

13. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT For the Nichols Family Budget discussion – Expected costs for the student $1483 Airfare $3383 per semester for tuition and insurance

14. GUIDE TO HOSTING A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT For the Nichols Family Budget discussion – Expected costs for the host family What are the expenses to host the student for a year? – $1425 per semester in Living Expenses

15. Summary Background and familiarity with Germany Budget discussion

16. Citations The CIA World Factbook 2012. New York: Skyhorse Pub., 2011. Web. EIDSON, JOHN. "Germany." Countries and Their Cultures. Ed. Carol R. Ember and Melvin Ember. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. 847-65. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 15 May 2015.. Stalker, Peter, and Peter Stalker. A Guide to Countries of the World. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print. "World Tables." Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. Ed. Timothy L. Gall and Derek M. Gleason. 13th ed. Vol. 1: United Nations. Detroit: Gale, 2012. 371-92. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 15 May 2015.. Voas, Sharon. "ICE Train Woos Amtrak." Pittsburgh Post - Gazette: 1. Aug 06 1993. ProQuest. Web. 15 May 2015. "World Data - Germany." Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2015.