The exchange student guidebook encourages you to write out all the rule to make them easy for your student --otherwise all he students hear from you in the first week is "No, no, no"
Here's my draft (and including some examples from the guidebook)
Household rules:
1. Learn your new address and phone number right away -- keep a copy of it in your wallet.
2. I am your parent while you are here -- we're a family.
3. Everyone has chores to be done every day
4. We should always be polite and say "Please", "Thank you", "I'm sorry"
5. If you ever have a concern or worry -- if you're feeling sad or lonely -- please come talk to me - that's what families do.
6. Do not use appliances until you have been shown how to use them
7. Do not leave the stove or oven on after use. Do not leave the on when you are not home
8. Do not adjust the heat or air conditioner more than 3 degrees up or down.
9. If something breaks or doesn't work. Come tell me. I won't be mad
Daily Rules
1. Keep your room neat each day. Make your bed each day.
2. Make sure that your bathroom stays tidy
3. Do not leave food or dishes in your room. Put dishes in the dishwasher.
4. Clean up after yourself if you make food or work on a project
5. Turn out the lights when you leave a room
6. Do not burn candles if you are not in the room or if you are sleeping
7. Help with the laundry each week
8. Empty the dishwasher each day when you get home from school
9. Take the trash out on trash days (Monday and Thursday)
10. Help clean up after meals
11. Keep a list of things you need on the refrigerator
12. Mark important dates on the family calendar
Internet Use
1. Limit your use of the Internet to one hour a day unless schoolwork requires that you do more.
2. Do not give out personal information on the Internet - including your address. People are not always who they claim to be online
3. Do not use your web camera to talk to anyone other than your family at home unless approved by your host-mom
4. Do not access the family computer without permission. If using the family computer do not download files.
Financial/Money
1. Keep track of your own money. Let me know if you need help creating a budget. I will help you. You should contact your family back home if you need more money.
2. Let me know in advance (when possible) that you need something and I will take you to the store.
3. You are responsible for getting rides to extracurricular activities -- but if you cannot, I will try to take you there.
4. You are responsible for your school expenses, lunches bought at school, entertainment expenses and phone calls.
Making Plans
1. Your curfew on weeknights is 9pm. On non-school nights it is 11pm. If you are not going to be on time or if you need to request an exception to the curfew you must let me know.
2. School work must take a priority over your social life. You must finish your homework before going out with friends.
3. Always let me know where you are going, how you are getting there, who you are with and when you will be home. I always want you to be safe.
4. If you stay up late, please keep the TV/music volume down or use headphones.
SAFETY
1. Always keep the doors and windows locked when you are home. If I am not home, do not lock the deadbolt.
2. Do not accept rides or go places with strangers
3. Do not open the door to strangers. Use the peep hole and ask "who is it" before opening the door.
4. Do not ride in a car with someone who is unsafe or has been drinking alcohol. You can ALWAYS call me for a ride - anytime.
5. You can call me anytime -- 24 hours a day
Dating
1. No boys are allowed in the house or in your room without permission.
2 No more than one date per week
3. You may not date boys who do not go to your school or who are over 18.
4. I will want to meet any boy you go on a date with
Communication
1. Get a phone as soon as possible after you get here. You are responsible to pay for your own phone.
2. Call/Email or text me when you get home from school
3. Contact me if your plan change when you are out with friends
4. Do not make long distance calls from the home phone
5. Follow the CHI guideline for communicating with your family at home
Pool
1. Tell me when you are going to the pool and contact me when you come back
2. Rinse out wet bathing suits and hang in your shower to dry.
3. Use a pool towel instead of a bath towel at the pool
School
1. Take the bus to and from school each day. Call me if you miss your bus
2. Set aside time for homework each day. Ideally homework should be done before dinner
3. I am always happy to review your homework with you
General House Rules
1 Keep the plastic shower curtain inside the tub to keep the floor dry.
2. Hang your towels up after use. Towels are usually washed once a week, but if they need it we will wash them more.
3. If you have foods you like (or dislike) please say so -- we can buy different foods that we both like
4. Rinse and put your dishes in the dishwasher
5. Sharp knives and pots and pans are washed by hand
6. Do not stick your hand in the garbage disposal. Do not put meat, bones or celery in the garbage disposal. Be careful not to drop silverware or knives in the garbage disposal. Run water and keep your hands away when the garbage disposal is running
Ok -- what am I forgetting????
