I guess i’m not only looking for advice, but also anecdotes…
I’m hosting a German for 3 weeks starting sept. 20… He’s male, and about 2 years older than me. However, my life usually consists of scool, homework, and surfing the web. Wednesdays,i actually do something, a card tournamet, and was going to see if he had any interest in learning howto play. Suggestions as to what my German and I can do? (Finding some decent beer for the fridge is on my list :p)
bump. :(.
Well, is there any interesting stuff in your area? Historic sites, beaches, good places for hiking? Take him to wherever out-of-town visitors usually go.
I’d guess a sports event at any level would also be an interesting intro into American culture, although I feel a bit silly saying that when I’ve never attended any.
Is anyone you know having a get-together during this time?
When a friend of mine hosted a French exchange student in high school, we all had a blast. Some of the things we all did together:
Played soccer in a hailstorm
Taught the French guy how to breakdance (OK, this was about 1985)
Made a very, very messy attempt to make Chinese caramelized apple slices with sesame seeds (my friend’s kitchen was never quite the same after that)
My friend’s parents used to eat out a lot, so he got to try all sorts of hole-in-the-wall ethnic food that he’d never tried before (he loved Thai)
Had a typical Saturday-night gathering of the high school kind, involving much playing of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Madness, old Yes tunes, and other classic rock, plus exchanging of backrubs (which Laurent had never done quite that way – in a big circle – but thought it was great fun)
Introduced him to old Dr. Who reruns and Monty Python (yes, my friends were a huge bunch of geeks)
Generally took him around and introduced him to our entire messy, goofy, incestuous, close-knit bunch of friends
His trip was a smashing success; some of us exchanged letters and mix tapes with him for years afterward, and I have even visited him in France a couple of times and met his fiancee (he’s now married with 2 kids). I’ say it’ll all be new and interesting to him, and you should try for a mix of touristy-type stuff and regular stuff that you and your friends would be doing anyway. Hope it works out for your German as it did for Laurent!