STUDENT’S SECTION
F.A.C.E. offers the Academic Year
Program(AYP) to those foreign students who wish to experience
the true American lifestyle by giving them the opportunity to
live with a host family and attend an American high school.
These students are thoroughly screened, have
above-average grades, and must score successfully on the
Secondary Level English Proficiency exam(SLEP). Accepted
students must attend a series of orientations prior to their
departure for the US, and again upon arrival. All FACE
students are between the ages of 15 and 18, have their own
spending money, and carry medical and accident insurance.
A former student returns after 10 years
and writes......
I, my name is Satoshi. I was a student of
Yes//Face in class 96 and hosted by charm and John for one
year. Now I work at American company in Tokyo and enjoy
my life around the American working environment in Japan.
I am taking my vacation for two weeks and
coming back here to see my American parents in the US John and
charm. It’s been 10 years since I left this house.
A lot of things around here have been changed, such as
new porches in front and back of the house. The air Riau
with new homes and apartments on the way to high school I used
to go every day.
But I am truly realizing one thing never
changed is our strong relationship we established 10 years ago.
Charm never or get my favorite Peanuts butter cup !
And she still sends it to me every year :-) She also
remembered my favorite American dish, spaghetti and lots of
meat in the sauce.
Well, of course there was a good time and
a bad time during my stay as the most of you are experiencing
every day. I still remember the first time I got here, I
really had a tough time making friends in school, studying and
communicating with people. But when I faced to those
tough times, Charm and John were always there to help me out by
communicating with me in (a) variety of way(s) I believe
all of their kind helps where not only (with)my English
skill, but help(ed) me understand the culture. I
got over difficulties by myself but I definitely could not make
it without their help.
After its all done all the bad things
were fading off year by year and all the good things were
building up more and more. Even though those bad things
were (still) on (my)memory, (the)experience is I have
gone through make(s) me what I am. I'm very proud of
knowing them and I'm sure we will keep in touch with each other
for many years and years. Even after almost 9 years Charm
and John gave me a wonderful recommendation, which has helped
me to get the job I have.
I am sending my best to all of you who is
studying and hosting a student to have the wonderful days for
(the) rest of the year and for the future
I want to come back and visit more. I
want Charm and John to come to Japan and meet my family.
How being part of the FACE program helped
me.
There are tons of things I learned from
the program amd I can’t describe them all since they
naturally exist in myself now. Of course they are about
learning English, but to me, it’s much more about my
personality. The best thing I realized is to respect what
others (are) saying and not to insist (on) myself too much.
It’s rather important to give the way to the others
than keeps saying my idea. Otherwise, I’ll be doubted and
disliked in the end. Especially among the Host Family, I
need to be liked by them and then I can maintain my place to
stay, and I can (do) the same thing in the society. In
order to grow up, I need to restrain myself and sometimes hold
it back though what I think is right. Simply saying, do not be
selfish. Be humility person (Kenkyo). Making
friends in another country, never to forget.
This idea helped me to calm down and grow
up alot. It has helped me face many decisions. I know the
type of person I want to be.
I want to say Thank You again to my host
family, Ed and Nancy. I want to say Thank You to my other
host family, John and Cham, and to the F.A.C.E. program.
I have many good memories. Some day I will visit
America and friends.
Always,
Saki