Dozens of pupils selected as candidates for international cultural exchange projects from middle schools in east China's Jiangsu Province later this year have been given a special lesson on how to cope overseas.

During a recent meeting organized by the Jiangsu Education Centre for International Exchanges under the provincial education department, the parents of students who are already on the YFU (Youth For Understanding) exchange project were invited to speak to the latest batch of candidates, telling them stories about their children's experiences overseas.

The centre is in charge of selecting candidates for the programmes.

One of the most important lessons outlined by parents was how to get on well with the foreign families they lived with.

The father of Jing Xiang, a YFU exchange student who is studying in Germany, said his son was now living with a different German family as the first had felt he had not adapted well enough to living in a new environment.

For example, the German students usually wear uniforms in the school, and regular clothes at home, but Jing only brought with him one set of Western-style clothes, and all the rest of his outfits was sportswear.

With Jing always wearing his sportswear at home, his host family took it as a sign of sluggishness, according to his father.

He said his son also found it tough to cope with some daily routines.

Each member of the family had their own settled time of using the bathroom, and put everything in order after using it, including clearing away their dirty clothes.

Jing Xiang followed his own routine from China, and did not discipline himself as the German family wanted.

The longer it went on, the family found it increasingly tough to communicate with him.

Jing's father said that he himself had learnt from his son's experiences.

"In China, parents always pay much attention to their children's study, especially what scores they have got, but seldom pay attention to the living details," he said.

"We should learn something from German families."

Zhou Yun, another YFU exchange student, has a very good relationship with her host family in the US.

Her father, Zhou Yang, attributes it to his daughter's upbringing and knowledge.

He told this year's student candidates that she learnt how to make some simple Chinese dishes before she went abroad, which were appreciated by her host family and new friends.

"I have learnt a lot from what these parents told us," said Yu Xinan, who will go to the US to take part in the exchange project later this year.

After she and her mother listened to the tips, they began to make full preparations for Yu's overseas study life.

"Now I am making my own breakfast and cleaning my own room every day, as practice for my studies abroad," she said proudly.

Her mother, Li Weijun, said: "I finally made up my mind to send my daughter to the US because I hope the experience will not only give her everyday skills but also broaden her horizons."

In total, 145 students will be heading abroad as part of exchange programmes led by YFU, AFS (America Field Service) and AYA (Academic Year in America), all of which are non-profit educational organizations headquartered in the USA, offering opportunities for young people around the world to spend a semester, summer or nearly a year with a host family in another culture.

Having paid fees from 60,000 to 70,000 yuan (US$7,500-8,750), the parents will see their children head off to the US, Germany, France or Italy. They will start their journey this July or August.

Jiangsu Province began to send middle school students to such international exchange programmes in 2000.

(China Daily January 26, 2006)