i just got an invitation for Student Ambassadors People to People?
i just got a letter inviting me to travel to England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland in the summer of 2010, could somebody tell me more about this? and maybe answer a few of these questions? 1. what kind of things do they ask at the interviews? 2. how much might this cost in the end? 3. i heard that you stay in someone's house, what is that like? do you go by yourself? or with another student? do you stay the night? 4. i'm surprised i got an invitation, i get good grades, but i'm not the smartest person, do you have to have alot of prior knowledge of the countries you will be visiting? or do you learn everything while on the trip? 5. and just any other info would be appreciated! =] thank you
Embassies & Consulates - 2 Answers
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1 :
1. They want to know if you can afford the trip. 2. A small fortune... $4,500 to $6,500, depending on the trip. 3. You go in a large group and ususally stay in dormitories. 4, A LOT of people get the invitations becuase FEW can afford it. 5. My niece went to China last summer for 6 weeks. The total cost was almost $7,000.
2 :
I went to Australia just a month ago with People to People. It was the most amazing experience of my life!!! I highly suggest you look more into it, and if you get a chance to do it, it is worth anything you can imagine. I actually didn't get to go to my interview because I was sick that day, but the first thing you do is go to like an orientation with 100 or so other kids at a local college or something like that. Your states People to People Head leader will most likely talk to all the kids in the room about the trip you have been invited to. You will see a DVD all about People to People and about the trip you are going on. It really is a good introduction to what you have been invited too, and you definitley need to attend it. After you attend the meeting, you decide if the trip you were invited to is right for you, and then you sign up online and begin payments. They will soon begin emailing you time and dates for the interview. I missed my interview because I was sick, but my delegate leader ending up calling me and having a interview over the phone. It was just basic questions like Who is your hero? or What are some of your hobbies?. It is not stressful at all, but before you go through the interview process you have to get several recommendation letters together and fill out some papers. You really should get chosen no matter what, unless you have awful recommendations or you have done everything completely wrong. It was way easier than I thought it was going to be, but it was really a vital part to becomming a Student Ambassador. My trip was 20 days long, and we traveled the entire east coast of Australia. From Cairns to Sydney was our route, and that would be similar to traveling from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia. The cost usually ranges from $6,000 to $8,000, but once you go to your very first Intoduction Orientation Meeting, you should learn the exact price. People To People is great about giving you ideas on how to fundraise. They have a website devoted to giving you fundraising ideas, but I can't remember the name, but like I said, they will give you all this information at your first meeting. You do get to stay at someone's house for 2 nights. On my trip, our homestay was cancelled because some things arose, but we stayed on this beautiful island instead, so I was happy! The homestay would have been a lot of fun! You get to live with a family from the country you are in, and see what life is like in a home for them. I was sad to have missed out on this, but I know you will enjoy it if you get to go! You do go by yourself, and if you do get scared or anything like that, you can call your deleagtion leader and sort out the problems! You are in good hands while with People to People!!! You do not have to have a lot of prior knowledge about the country you are visiting. As long as you are a student who attends a middle school or high school you are elligible to attend a wonderful trip like this!! Once you are accepted, you wil begin the "training" process. These are the meetings you attend every month where you meet your fellow delegates( the people who live in your area that have also been accepted into the program), and you will get to know them and your leaders. At home, you have to watch some videos about the country you are visiting, and you have to complete some quizes and all that was SOOO easy!!! During the meetings, you learn a lot more about the country you are going to and what kind of things you will be experiencing. I higly suggest you take this opportunity, because at first, I looked at the invitation and was like "This looks so cool! But it will never happen!" And after going to the introduction orientation, I was really intrested. So I followed the plan on how to join a delegation, attend meetings, and pack up and leave! I had THE TIME OF MY LIFE! It sounds like so much fun in meeting, but when you actually experience it, it is absolutely amazing. I feel more accomplished than ever now that I have traveled with People To People. It has changed my perspective on getting to know people. I used to just like to get to know people so that they could be my friend or I could chat with them on facebook, but now that i have met Australians and experienced their way of life, I realized that meeting new people needs to be about learning about their culture and seeing how their way of life effects the world. I can't wait to travel more and see the rest of the world. I wish I would have had someone tell me like this how great the trip was going to be, because it was soo much more than I expected! It's worth the work and worth the waiting! I felt like it took 100 years for me to be able to get on the plane! And I met soo many new people. You will grow so close to your former delegates, and even to some locals in the country you are in!! I have missed Australia every day since I have been home, and since they wouldn't let me stay :) all I want to do is go back! haha I hope you
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