Awareness of the existence of cultural differences and how to deal with these differences can have a profoundly positive impact on the quality of your relationship with your student and on your entire family’s hosting experience. To this end, this handbook is designed to help you learn about both South African and U.S. culture by examining a number of cultural contrasts that you and your student are likely to encounter, including:
- Traditions and rituals around food and mealtimes
- Key differences between the U.S. and South African school systems
- Predominant communication styles in the U.S. and South Africa
- South African and U.S. American views on concepts such as time, space, and privacy
- South African family structures and teen life
- South African cultural norms regarding personal appearance, interpersonal dynamics, and other issues
Click here to access the handbook.