3. Presentation at the 2007 YEO Pre Convention Meeting Maria Letícia M. C. Ferreira D 4770 - Brazil leticia4770@netsite.com.br

4. When discussing about the “inbound syndrome” with a former exchange student through MSN he proposed some of the following …

5. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: The answer is quite simple... It´s impossible to someone who hasn´t experienced an exchange, or someone who has already forgotten it, to try to understand the inbounders´ feelings, fears and insecurities

6. Bonding together means to be among 5 to 10 people, within 190 million who live in Brasil, for example, who understand what they´re going thorough… Jokes make more sense; limits make sense…

7. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: And so on... Maria Letícia diz:: That´s true... Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: It´s not a question Maria Letícia says:: I agree with you... Maria Letícia says:: I need some hints on how to manage that situation and how to avoid some excessive cases ….

8. Maria Letícia says:: That´s the proposal of our speech at the YEP meeting in Salt Lake City…. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says:: Can I give you a suggestion? Maria Letícia says:: managing the inbound syndrome Maria Letícia says:: of course

9. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says:: At firsf place, let´s talk about the inbounders before going to their exchange year. In my point of view: 1. Decided/ or not decided boys and girls 2. Ready to have the biggest adventure in their lives 3. Young boys and girls - 15 to 17 years old 4. Families who give or don´t give support 5. ***Important *** Boys and girls who don´t have a minimum idea of how it will be to be out of home for a year and who most of times are unconscious of the obstacles they´re going to face.

10. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: The first shock happens at the end of the first week up to the third week when the only thing that is in our minds is: Where did I get into? That´s something which normally happens thanks to the first student´s frustation... he /she doesn´t have either his/her father, mother, boyfriend/girlfriend, or friends to tell them what has happened.

11. As a result... 1. How many students want to give up in the first month? 2. How many of them spend a lot of time/ money with telephone and the internet? 3. How many of them have serious problems with the first host families?

12. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: In my opinion, the first host family had to have or to be a former exchange student or a mother or a father who was an exchange student´s mother or father… To show that situation to your listeners I would use the image of a child´s swing …

13. Out of the blue all those expectations, excitement, news … just fall down and … throw up all the difficulties very high to the sky … to the sky !!! hehehehe So, it comes the first inbound meeting in the second or third month... What does it happen then? Instant empathy!!! From one side, high expectations, excitement, news, etc... The other side, a written sign with … “difficulties” illustrated with a ??? ( I didn´t have any idea of what it would be … )

14. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: Everbody has been through the same thing … Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: The "bonding" is instantaneous... That´s it. A way of managing that, and I would like to establish if I was in a Rotary Club … is the idea of having an “ Inbound Leader” …

15. This person would be elected by the inbounders´group to be their representative in the district. When something happens between the exchange student and the family, it´s demagogic to think he/she is going to talk with his/her counselor. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: Counselor is “something” I think... that never worked in life …

16. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: My two brothers were also exchange students... They also used to say counselors “didn´t work”. With me… didn´t work with me too… But... that role of “Inbound Leader” is generally the person who is referred as a “little leader” or someone you can have as your confidant.

17. Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: There is always one … When the exchange student had some problem with the family, school or Rotary Club, he/she should call his/her “Leader” … Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: Did you understand what I meant? Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: I and my friend used to be that kind of person for sometime... there...

18. Maria Letícia diz: Yes, I can see what you´ve said Maria Letícia says: But to find that kind of leader isn´t something easy... Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: We were the ones who tried to set some trips to ski… Leticia, in reality, it´s the own group who has to elect that leader …But it couldn´t be something official, in my opinion. In my Business Administration course we called that “Informal Leader”.

19. Maria Letícia says: Please, tell me then when you were an exchange student and your host district... Joao Paes de Almeida :: Brasil says: I went in 2002 to D 5470. Maria Letícia says: Many many thanks João, for your contribution, bye

22. Youth Exchange Program Distrito 4770