... von Ihren Gastschülern?"

Unsere Partner in Dublin (auf dem Foto links), die Austauschschüler bei Gastfamilien in Irland unterbringen, haben eine ihrer Gastfamilien befragt, und was diese sagt, gilt wohl für alle Gastfamilien: "Respect is an important consideration for any student."

Unsere Partner haben mit Dolores Mahony gesprochen, einer Gastmutter aus Cork, im Süden von Irland. Sie arbeitet in einer Personalabteilung, ihr Mann ist Küchenchef, die beiden Kinder gehen noch zur Schule.

Warum nehmen Sie Austauschschüler auf?

It´s a chance to experience another culture; to let our children learn something from them. We want to share our home and culture with someone else. Of course, to be a host family one has to be prepared to be very flexible, you are going to encounter cultural, social, language and other barriers at first but you can learn as well as share.

Another reason is that it can be so rewarding: It´s great if they come back to visit shortly after they finished the programme. And it´s very satisfying to know they enjoyed their stay and were eager to come back again.

Wenn Sie die Bewebung eines Austauschschülers vorgelegt bekommen – wonach entscheiden Sie?

They would have to be mature in outlook, willing to go out and get involved in their new surroundings and not rely on other exchange students.  Be open and honest and to communicate if they have difficulties and to share their good times with their new family

Sind die Austauschschüler eher Gäste oder Familienmitglied für Sie?

We will treat them as a family member from when they arrive.  To be a family member they will have to respect their ‘new home’ and the rules and responsibilities that come with this. Lying on any issue cannot be acceptable, discussing one’s host family in front of other students, not respecting the rules of the host family, or school and acting the same as if they were at ‘home’ simply won’t do. Respect is an important consideration for any student.