Did you speak with someone from this program today via any kind of emergency number?
Wow, wow, wow. Sadly, things like this incident are rare but probably happen all the time; googling reveals that there are some very questionable “exchange programs” out there… Usually, it is not the hosts’ responsibility to become guardians for their exchange students, and most programs say so. Some, OTOH, apparently assume that they can dump the student onto the host, like this organization:
http://www.icecusa.org/host-families-faq/
I hope they are kidding.
OP weren’t you getting divorced last month and don’t you have a family member who is a convicted felon? What program is this?
I have an acquaintance who had a Chinese exchange student. She (the mom) is Asian and thought it would be good a good cultural experience for her teenagers. The exchange college student’s first statement was how disappointed she was that they lived in the suburbs. The girl refused to go to classes and spent her time here at shopping malls. She spent an enormous amount of money. The mom finally got the program to remove her from their care.
Agree. I doubt most legitimate programs involve a host family being the “legal guardian.” They may get some ability to sign for medical treatment though for routine things but I would think the program should still be primarily responsible . Maybe someone who has actually been involved in this will clarify .
Homeland Security contacted my husband. The President of US division called and said she would be deported if found, She broke rules of trip.
Yes, but she’s 16 years old. How did she leave your house?
This seems to be a wake up call then for people that have any interest at all in these kinds of programs. There are very good programs out there but apparently there are also ones that are not all that legitimate according to what you are saying is happening. Since you have not identified what program this student came from, it seems like the takeaway is to look at any program VERY carefully. How well did you check out this program?
And yes, you still have not said how a 16 year old girl that you had responsibility for left your home to begin with- what exactly was said or written by her? The whole thing seems very strange.
Praying that this young girl is found safe and sound and sent right back home. Wow! Thanks, @fauxmaven, for keeping us posted on this story.
Uber? I hear it is very popular in China.
Yes, Homeland Security suggested we take down our Facebook posts for our protection. We are not liable for what she did. She left around 3:30 AM. She will be deported if found.
I think that was uncalled for.
So sorry you’re embroiled in this @fauxmaven. Glad you and the French student are doing well together. Yikes–wouldn’t expect this from being a host to a young student.
At 3:49 AM we got a text message that she had to find work, and to not contact her, that she is safe… sounds like the people who took her made her write it. We slept late, and did not find out till around 10. The first thing my husband checked was to make sure she hadn’t jumped from our 3rd floor balcony!
You don’t need to “take down” your FB. All you need to do is to make it private.
Why would any first thought be that she would have jumped from your 3rd floor balcony? That is confusing.
I just can’t wrap my head around this at all. Lost the Chinese kid, took the French kid to buy shoes. What!?!
^ Maybe she is staying on the 3rd floor and they thought she exited that way.
She seemed very sad and depressed on arrival. Still have the French girl to entertain.
Yeah, if I lost a minor kid I had responsibility for, I think Five Guys and DSW on a Sunday with another kid would not be my priority. But, of course, everyone deals with things differently.
One of mine did study abroad in high school, and I was aware of the exchanges in the Rotary program who came to my state from other countries. They have a degree of latitude in their movements, being teens, and are responsible for themselves. My D at 15 traveled on Czech trains alone to and from Prague. Any teen with sufficient drive to do so can sneak out at night and find ways to leave town.
That this one teen has less than stellar intent in what should otherwise be a reasonable exchange program, should not reflect upon the program. Although, there should be a local as well as national contact for the program 24/7 and the lack of immediate response to a call is rather horrific on the part of the program.