I know that being serious is not at the top of peoples minds here..

I could really use some input though.

I am in the situation where I need to help some immigrant exchange students assimilate to the US.

These are approx 16 y/o from Europe. Just a brief part of their background is that most come from fairly wealthy families.

These kids will be going all over the US.
I have a pretty good idea of the basics..

So here is the question....
What do you consider to be important info for a teen of today?
I am not asking for all the profound truths of life...of course a few probably would not hurt.
What does a teen need to know to fit in?
What movies would you consider to be perfect images of the US?
Do not consider things to be trivial. What you make think is trivial may be very strange for them. (For example..they are now learning Peanut Butter)

I am very curious to hear what your responses will be.

8/2/2007 10:01:41 PM

i'm sorry i'm too stupid to help - all i can really provide is chit chat shit - i apologize

[Edited on August 2, 2007 at 10:04 PM. Reason : sry]

8/2/2007 10:02:34 PM

We're just like europeans except less classy. And we don't give a shit about soccer.


Seriously, it doesn't fucking matter. There's not so much of a big difference that they can't adjust in 5 seconds.

8/2/2007 10:25:48 PM

Quote :

"What do you consider to be important info for a teen of today?"

Avoid getting into political discussions. We should avoid it over there and they should probably avoid it over here until they are with friends. Just to avoid the whole "you're foreign, suck a fuck I hate you" sort of thing (kids will be kids completely retarded). I guess you might want to give them a primer on what's popular over here right now as far as games and music and such go. If they could name a band or two and say "i've played so and so game" they'll have a much easier time fitting in (though I have no idea where these exchange students are coming from, they may have a similar market for these things to the USA). I guess you could point out to them what sluts look like so they don't get themselves "in trouble" (HERPES).

Quote :

"What does a teen need to know to fit in?"

Whatever the hell buzzwords they're using these days. That's lame... That's gay... Eat a bowl of dicks... These are key to having a conversation, sometimes. Again, some knowledge of pop culture in the US would be good. Just turn on MTV to see what dead-heads like these days.

Quote :

"What movies would you consider to be perfect images of the US?"

It's like some terrible question for an english test. Uhhh, outside of this question being impossible, I can only suggest that you look at some non-exploitation movies for this. What I mean is don't go for any "EPIC MOVIE" or "ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE" or "CRUNK ASSHOLE'S FRIDAY NIGHT OUT" type of movies. If it's targeting a ridiculously specific demographic, avoid it. If it's a documentary, avoid it. I honestly still think some movies like National Lampoon's Family Vacation and a Christmas Story still fit how stuff in the US goes. Obviously those movies are popularly out of date, but we're still a bunch of capitalist, commercialist, suburban-loving Americans.

I guess you could inform them about some popular shitty food they're going to be exposed to while they're over there. Lots of processed junk from WacArnold's and such. If they're hanging out with their new friends, chances are they aren't going to go out and hang out at a smoothie shop if they're getting food. They might want to know what they're getting into as far as hangouts/events while hanging out/crap that happens at parties over here.

And that's just a shot in the dark post. I'm really just finding something to do here while my clothes get washed. @_@

[Edited on August 2, 2007 at 10:32 PM. Reason : ^ Generally, that is pretty true. I guess I forgot to mention sports...]

8/2/2007 10:31:56 PM

Quote :

"Eat a bowl of dicks"

^ ???

8/2/2007 10:57:13 PM

^ C'mon, these are important phrases used in civilized discourse between teenagers across America. They should DEFINITELY know that before they come here.

8/2/2007 10:58:34 PM

I though this thread was going to be about the movie... then I remembered this isn't Chit Chat.

8/2/2007 11:00:35 PM

We're just like europeans except less classy. And we don't give a shit about soccer.


Seriously, it doesn't fucking matter. There's not so much of a big difference that they can't adjust in 5 seconds.

8/2/2007 11:01:55 PM

To answer your question, though, we had some German exchange students in high school and they were drinking fools. So be on the lookout for that.
___________________

I remember for our Arabic class one dude did a presentation on what it meant to be a FOB.

He and his buddy buy a newspaper from a stand, read it, and stand around thinking.

Next slide: they're selling newspapers that are piled up ontop of the stand for $2.00 and have these hilarious grins on their faces.

We were laughing so hard, my ribs hurt.

Ok, it's not so funny now but when he narrated it, it really was funny. Kind of like the time someone freaked out because there was a spider on the floor and this dude stomps on it. Then the guy who gave the presentation says, "Kanat [Arabic for spider]"

[Edited on August 2, 2007 at 11:15 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on August 2, 2007 at 11:25 PM. Reason : .]

8/2/2007 11:13:59 PM

Quote :

"This is beautiful. What is that? Velvet?"

8/2/2007 11:23:10 PM

Have them buy a box set of the Simpsons and/or Family Guy. If they can get the humor and learn some references from that, they'll be golden. I would watch it with them so they can ask questions and you can provide answers.

[Edited on August 3, 2007 at 12:45 AM. Reason : ]

8/3/2007 12:45:01 AM

http://studyabroad.ncsu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Abroad.ViewLink&Parent_ID=8ACA3210-110A-9DE8-730DA207894A902F&Link_ID=8AD12D44-110A-9DE8-73E48B7F0D20272C&pID=9&lID=35#cultural

Quote :

"One: Don't assume everyone is the same. Two: What you think of as normal behavior may only be cultural. Much of human behavior is universal but certainly not all. Before you project your norms on the human race, consider the possibility that you might be making incorrect assumptions. "

Also: If you wanted things to be just like home, you should have stayed at home. Foreign travel will expose you to people very different from you and your friends/family and yet, in some ways, exactly the same. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Eat where the locals eat. Try the local foods, et cetera, as long as it doesn't violate your religious/moral beliefs.

Quote :

"What does a teen need to know to fit in? What movies would you consider to be perfect images of the US?"

I think TV is better than movies for introducing them to American culture.

8/3/2007 1:12:39 AM

FIVE KEYS TO AMERICAN SOCIETY
http://www.facebook.com
http://www.myspace.com
http://www.urbandictionary.com
http://www.wikipedia.org

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

[Edited on August 3, 2007 at 2:05 AM. Reason : go on youtube and learn culture]

8/3/2007 2:04:18 AM

^ Haha, yeah those are essential but for the most part, Euro teens will be familiar with them, except for urbandictionary. I can't tell you how many times ive directed people here to it to explain the meaning of something they've heard on tv or heard me say.

Which country(ies) are these teens coming from? People from certain countries will have a much greater culture shock than others from countries that share a lot of cultural similarities to the US.

8/3/2007 7:41:35 AM

8/3/2007 7:44:07 AM

I support telling them to say "eat a bowl of dicks"

8/3/2007 8:13:11 AM

I coached/taught a couple German exchange students last year.

Quote :

"What does a teen need to know to fit in?"

From what the Germans said, the kids over here are ridiculously rude to each other compared to back home. This is half true, and half perceived, I think. They certainly are rude, but many of the examples of rudeness they cited were kids just joking around. For example, "go kill yourself" is a relatively benign term usually meaning nothing more than "you messed up."

They also said that American schools were horrendous. I can't really argue against this point. You didn't mention whether these kids would be attending school while they're here, but if they are, prepare them to see some ridiculous stuff. And for heaven's sake, do all you can to get them in honors classes.

It all depends of the crowd they hang out with. The Germans at my school said that the honors/AP kids were very similar to Europeans as far as social interaction goes.

Quote :

"What movies would you consider to be perfect images of the US?"

I'd advise against imitating the movies.

If a rich European kid comes to school trying to look/act like a hip-hop star or punk-rocker, he or she is going to get laughed at. They should just be friendly and be themselves-- the intelligent kids will like them. Probably the worst possible scenario is that they're accepted into the popular crowd.

8/3/2007 8:48:44 AM

tell them to dress like this:

8/3/2007 9:30:43 AM

Quote :

"These are approx 16 y/o from Europe"

i would be willing to sponsor a female
I will let her live with me and i will show her why USA = #1

8/3/2007 9:58:54 AM

you've obviously given this topic a lottathought

8/3/2007 10:14:40 AM

Thanks all....
The basics about the country is not that hard to come up with.
It is the ever-changing youth culture that is the challenge.

And do not miss-understand..I was not advising that they mimic a movie.
I was just hoping to give them a chance to see american humor, culture, etc.
I do like the idea of the Simpsons though.

You would be shocked at how many people in Europe think every place in America is like New York City. This is all they see on TV.

You all have given me some good ideas though..thanks.

8/3/2007 9:09:39 PM

If they want movies, they need to watch

Deliverance
Fargo
Napolean Dynamite
Kids

That should set the tone for geographics and how freaking crazy everyone is, but all different.

The big thing isn't really preparing them, so much as making sure they get hooked up with someone once they get here to show them around, get them involved etc.

Definitely want them in Honors/AP courses as someone else mentioned, and if they play ANY sports, get them involved. Sports are pretty much the best high school bonding experience possible. It will get them friends quickly, give them something to relate to with everyone, and will help learn the lingo.

8/3/2007 9:50:57 PM

junebug is a good movie to show the cultral differences within our own country

8/4/2007 1:44:47 PM

Borat

8/4/2007 2:51:13 PM

remind them marijuana is illegal in the US, as well as bribing the cops when they get caught. i know some people from eastern europe who learned this the hard way.

8/4/2007 4:01:12 PM

tell them what kind of shoes they will need, because every european kid i know has really gay shoes

8/4/2007 4:34:33 PM

fuck that shit. European shoes are hot as hell. Maybe if you end up going to school in some country-bumpkin place. Other than it's baller.

Im going reiterate getting them involved in sports. Especially in NC. High School soccer here is, in many areas, much more popular than football. That could easily give them a leg up, no pun intended, socially.

But really, going out for any time is going to be worth it.

8/5/2007 1:45:32 AM

8/5/2007 6:32:51 AM

^^not to mention having a hot european accent

8/5/2007 12:33:40 PM

Quote :

"What do you consider to be important info for a teen of today?"

Americans take a shower every day.
Deodorant is a must.

Surprised no one mentioned those yet.

8/6/2007 12:21:35 PM