Monday, March 19, 2012

Step to USA: North Kingstown, RI: Host a Spanish Exchange Student this Summer! June ...

Step to USA: North Kingstown, RI:  Host a Spanish Exchange Student this Summer! 
June 28-July 24.  I have 25 students ages 14-17 who need your help!  

Checkout some of the Spanish students who are available for placement this summer (2012):

I have several Spanish girls who love to play basketball!
(3) 14 year old girls and (1) 15 year old girl who love to play basketball and play in baskeball leagues in Spain. They also enjoy many other sports such as surfing, soccer and tennis.

-14 year old Maialen plays the accordian! (and basketball)
-14 year old, Ainhoa, enjoys playing the guitar, basketball and loves swimming and animals.
- 15 year old, Aurora, enjoys tennis, swimming, cycling and volleyball
-15 year old, Paula, enjoys, tennis, photograpy, art and shopping
- 16 year old, Maria, studies languages, loves dance and swimming
-15 year old, Gabriella is studying music and plays flute and piano (reggae and rock) and loves sailing and windsurfing.
-17 year old Loreto (girl) loves photography and soccer
-17 year old Amaia plays the flute and enjoys sports, gymnastics and horror movies
-17 year old, Daniel enjoys acting, karate and playing the guitar
-16 year old Carlos who loves basketball, tennis, swimming, soccer and music
-15 year old, Mikel, likes swimming, reading and writing
Call  JoAnne at 885-5732 for more information on how to view these and other profiles/photos of students.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Host a Spanish Exchange Student this Summer! June 28-July 24
We have 25 students who need your help!

STEP is a 28 day homestay program for teens ages 14-18 years old, based in Bilbao, Spain.  This is a great program for families with not only teenagers, but younger children or adults without children. Ask your friends and neighbors to host as well it's alot of fun to share the experience. Opening your door to a new culture, without the expense of traveling, can truly change your world and establish a friend for life!

Host Family Responsibilities: Host families provide a bed, 3 meals a day and transportation to and from student excursions. Families are also expected to pick-up their student and drop them off at Logan Airport in Boston (we hope to make carpool arrangements).  All students speak some English, travel with spending money and medical insurance.  Students are to be treated as members of your family and not a guest.  STEP takes care of all the big excursions, so your responsibility as a host  is to practice English with your student and integrate them into your daily summer routine.

The Host Family Application Process- The STEP application process is very simple.  You can fill out the application on line, you need to provide 2 reliable references. Simply email or mail the application to me, I will set-up a home visit at your convenience, this takes no more than 1/2 hour and the application is complete once the application is submittred and the references are checked.

How do I/we pick a student? Once the application process is complete,  you will have access to the student profiles (these will be available in March), you can choose a student who is compatible to you or you and your family.  We have boys and girls with many interests ranging from sports to music and theater, you can choose the student that is the best fit for your family.

Students will be attending 5 full day excursions: See calendar below.  Host Family members are welcome to attend excursions and enjoy the STEP discounts on travel, tickets and hotels.  Host families required to get their students to pick-up and drop locations in RI for excursions.
What if I've never hosted before?? Don't worry, I will be scheduling a host family orientation in May so that families can ask as many questions as they'd like so they feel they're 100% comfortable with hosting.

STEP 2012 Calendar:
June 28-Studens arrive  Boston/Logan
June 30th - Welcome Party for host families and students
July 2 - Excursion to Wrentham Outlets/Drive In - 1p.m.-11 p.m.
July 10 - 6 Flags Amusement Park
Ju;y 12 - Boston
July 17&18 - NYC
July 22- Farewell Party
July 24- Students depart Boston/Logan

Let's help promote global awareness! Spanish students are great role models for today's teens.  They are so gracious to come to America and experience an American home.  Most of the students and their hosts say this is the most rewarding experience they've ever had with memories that stay with them for the rest of their lives. So don't wait, sign up today!!
Contact: JoAnne Hanrahan, 885-5732, stepinri@gmail.com