There are many things that make the IFYE program unique. One, that as a participant, you will be staying with host families. And two, that most often you will have no idea who they are or what they do until they are there to meet you and take you to their home. Of course, the IFYE organization and partnering host country staff are aware of the details and background of the people you will be staying with, however it is often not shared with the participant in great detail. Why? - I believe it is because the unknown helps keep you, as the IFYE participant, flexible. Not knowing exactly where you are going or what your host family is like, allows you to be more open minded, gives you more to experience and talk about, allows your host family to teach you about their country in their own way, and thus bringing the exchange of cultures to life.
Arriving at Vienna airport, going to first host families
Things that I did not know before leaving on my international flight to Austria:
Things that I did know before leaving on my international flight to Austria:
Once with a host family, there is also another type of flexibility that you need to have with day to day life. Not everyday will be a site seeing day, not every meal will be made special, and also not every second of the day planned. I experienced some changes in plans, but was often asked by my host families what I wanted to do. Events were explained to be beforehand but many parts getting lost in translation. My favorite example of this so far in my travels is when I went to a summer festival with my host dad and little host brother. I was told a few days before that this festival traditionally has a bonfire to mark the start of the summer. We went around super time, and had already had a long day. We were all pretty tired but still wanted to attend. We got some food, talked with friends, watched the kids play games, and listened to the traditional music. After some time my host dad asked me if I wanted to go home. At this point I was pretty tired and said yes. So we went to search for my host brother, who had gone to play games. Instead of finding him, my host dad noticed some other friends and starting talking with them. He then gestured to me to sit down and introduced me to some of his friends who could only speak a few English words. They talked and talked - in German. It then started to get dark out, and they were still talking. Eventually, my host brother found us. After this I was told that in a few minutes they would have fireworks followed by the lighting of the bonfire. My mood livened. We stayed for this and then soon after went home. Because I was flexible, I ended up getting to enjoy a beautiful firework show on the lake, and this experiences ended up being one of my favorites.
Fireworks on the lake at the village‘s summer festival
Being open minded, flexible, and patient are all necessities of a traveler. Staying with host families as an IFYE, you get to learn and reinforce these qualities in very unique ways. And while having these qualities when staying with host families, allows you to experience the culture in the best way.