[Caipirabob]

Bugmenot ID & Password: no_email_666@yahoo.com, nopassword.

I have mixed feelings on this.

Ok, they're French, but they're just children. It might be a good time to impress upon their youth that America can be a wonderful country and the people aren't the monsters that Jockstrap has lead them to believe.

Still, I wouldn't feel compelled to invite a stranger into my home, either. There was a time when such things were more common, but the values were also more common. I don't believe it's the same situation today. I wouldn't want to keep a potential anti-Christ heathen in my home near my children for months at a time. Feed them a meal, show them charity, yes. Beyond that, the French have worn out their welcome in my house.

So really, I can't blame the country in general for feeling that way.

Still, a few months of being exposed to Judeo/Christian values might save some of the children. Perhaps the group should have actively pursued such homes knowing the children might have a better chance of finding welcome there...wait a minute...you know the French are going to do that intentionally...

Their loss...

[dbwz]

Every spring, for years, I've seen a hand-lettered sign at an intersection in a town I pass through frequently - "Looking for Homes for 20 French Teens". This year "French" became "Spanish".

I agree with you though, no need to take it out on the kids. It's a lost opportunity.

[ArmedNReady]

A similar thing happened several years ago with a German cycling team that came to the US. The person who arranged the visit did not have enough host homes when they arrived. This person said that the kids were going to have money for all of their expenses and that the organization that sponsored the visit was going to pay each host family for food for the kids. I felt sorry for kids and I had 4 spare bedrooms so I offered to take 4 of them in. It was a disaster. The kids ate me out of house and home, they did not have money to pay for anything (siteseeing,travel while here, recreational activities, food, etc.). Although I found out they were lying about not having money. They trashed my house, wrecked my motorcycle, they would call me at all hours to pick them up from whereever they managed to go, two of them were arrested for vandalism, they rented porn videos on my Blockbuster card and took them back to Germany, they poured an entire bottle of Joy dishwashing liquid in the hot tub and literally filled the room with suds, etc. By the time it was over 8 weeks later, I had spent several thousand dollars to take care of these kids. Of the bunch that I housed, there was only one who was a decent kid. He was well behaved, financially responsible and has continued to stay in touch for close to 20 years now.

The only repayment that I received from the others was when I was cleaning the house right after they left: I found one of the kids wallets with several hundred German marks......And his passport! I still get a grin when I think about how much trouble he must have had at airports without his passport.

[tiki]

I agree with you. Why not take the oppurtunity to show these kids how wonderful America is.

[Edit35]

I don't view these "kids" as children.

According to the article, they are around 16 years old, probably older.

I was fairly active politically when I was 16, and I sure don't recall myself as being innocent.

Of course, that doesn't mean these particular students are anti-American.

I certainly wouldn't throw a Frenchman out in the snow on a cold wintry night. Nor would I go out of my way, in today's climate, to make them comfy.

[steveyp]

Tough.

F
The
French

[jrcats]

We had a Spanish student about 6 years ago & had nothing but trouble. Her sister was with a another family & she had taken a camera etc. from the home. All they wanted to do is walk the streets downtown. We live in a rural area so downtown was a mall. They were to stay here 4 weeks but the company sent the sisters back after 2 weeks. They thought they could just do what they wanted without any supervision but found out we didn't play their games.

[Atlantic Friend]

"Ok, they're French, but they're just children. It might be a good time to impress upon their youth that America can be a wonderful country and the people aren't the monsters that Jockstrap has lead them to believe."


Well, if they or their parents have read this thread, I guess they'll have a rather strange idea of America or Americans...

[albee]

"World Exchange, a nonprofit organization that coordinates a summer exchange, is scheduled to have 92 French students land in New York this week. But only 30 have a place to stay."

Let them eat cake.