Request for Host Families (UC, Payap, and SEACS Exchange program), March 26
This is a request to University of Cambodia students and their families to host an exchange student from the United States. This is a rewarding and rare opportunity for Cambodian students and their families. The US exchange students will be studying in the SEACS (Southeast Asia Comparative Studies) program in Cambodia and Thailand. The affiliated universities are the University of Cambodia and Payap University. Each exchange student will study for two months in Chiang Mai followed by two months in Phnom Penh.
- Duration: 2 Months (beginning 26 March 2011)
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Exchange students will be 5 female American (US citizen) students (18-22 years old)
- Compensation to Host Families: US$ 200.00 per month (for added daily expenses: food, water, electricity, appropriate transportation, etc.)
Note: one student per household (i.e., request for five households/families)
Host families will be selected based on several criteria:
- The family should have someone within the household who can speak adequate English (presumably a student at the University of Cambodia);
- They must have a residence/house within Phnom Penh preferably near the University of Cambodia campus;
- The household must be in a secure and safe location and neighborhood;
- They must have an available bedroom in the house for the exchange student (not a shared room);
- The room must be fully furnished with a bed, desk, closet/wardrobe and bookshelves;
- A hygienic bathroom/toilet must be available and properly equipped;
- Food needs to be provided to exchange students as and when needed within reason (if the student needs to eat at unusual times, the student will be expected to make their own arrangements). Also, the student may have some dietary restrictions, so the host family must be prepared to accommodate within reason. (As noted above: Host families will receive monetary compensation for living expenses-food, water, electricity, etc.);
- Locations near more central areas with access to provision shops, food service, internet cafes and transportation is preferred;
- Medical service should be located within reasonable distances and easy to reach in case of emergencies;
- Families must treat exchange students with courtesy and respect (they must be prepared for different cultural norms from the exchange students). However, families should not spoil or treat exchange students with excessive niceties. The exchange students are there to learn about Cambodian family life. They should be treated ‘normally’; and
- If problems occur, the family should contact the appropriate people in Phnom Penh who will help resolve the problems. Should severe problems occur with either party, the student will be removed from the household and appropriate action will occur.
