Ameerika Ühendriigid

Quick Facts:

Area:	9,629,091 sq. km
Population:	280,562,489 (July 2002 est.)
Capital:	Washington, DC
Language:	English
Religion:	Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10%
Currency:	US dollar (USD)
YFU USA web site:	www.yfu-usa.org

Introduction

Hamburgers, barbecues, sports, ethnic festivals, fireworks on the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Halloween, proms, school year-books, studying new subjects, improving your English skills. Those are just some of the many things you can experience while living in the United States. The United States of America is a country of much greater diversity than seen on televisions and in films. Exchange students going to this country rarely experience the extremes of American life-from the luxury to the violence-seen on TV, but they can develop a deep understanding of American lifestyles and attitudes by becoming a member of a family in the U.S.A. A country of vast contrasts in both its geography and climate, the U.S.A. is a land of immigrants. Some call its population a “melting pot,” where people from around the world have blended. Others say that the diversity of America’s people and way of life is more like a “tossed salad,” with each element retaining its identity while contributing to the whole. The truth is that a hundred exchange students could easily have a hundred different experiences during their stay in the U.S.A.! Who are Americans? They are usually open and friendly; have an explorer’s spirit; enjoy the challenge of solving a problem; and generally like to work and be entertained with equal enthusiasm. As an exchange student in the U.S.A. you may enjoy these aspects of the American spirit. The U.S.A. is such a large country that for many, life beyond America’s borders is considered far, far away. Many Americans are strongly patriotic about their country and express these values openly.

Area: Covering an area of 9,629,091 km2 the United States are slightly smaller than Canada. There are many different geographic features found in the US: deserts, high mountains, semi-tropical areas and many wide-open plains. Each geographic area has it’s own lifestyle, partly based on the environment.

Climate: In the northeast and central areas the winters are cold and snowy, but the summers are hot. The south and southwest have mild winters and usually very hot summers. The northwest is known for its frequent rain. Semi-tropical climates prevail in southern Florida and Hawaii. Alaska’s climate is very cold in the long winters, but moderately warm in the short summer periods.

Population: The American population is a mix between many different types of people. In the early 19th century many Europeans immigrated to the United States looking for the new world, and new opportunities. Today about 77.1% of the population is Caucasian, 12.9% is Afro-American, 4.2% Asian, 1.5% Amerindian and Alaska native, 0.3% native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander, and 4% other (These percentages include the Hispanic/Latin American population too)

Language: Most Americans speak English although there is no “official” language by law. In big cities it is very common to hear Spanish but also a variety of other languages are spoken. Certain areas of the country have distinctive accents and expressions that bring pride, yet amusement to the American people.

Religion: Religion has always been important in the US. Many of the early Europeans settlers left their home countries to come to the US to practice their religion in the “New World.” Many Americans actively practice their religions and religions of all kinds can be found. The majority of Americans are Christians, either Protestant or Catholic. Churches, temples, synagogues, and mosques often serve as both religious and social centers. Americans are constitutionally guaranteed freedom to worship.

Government: The federal government is a constitutional democracy made up of three branches: the Executive (the President and the Cabinet), the Legislative (two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate), and the Judicial (the Supreme Court system). However, responsibility for the organization of most day-to-day affairs and services is held by each of the fifty states, which organize each in their own way. They often transfer this power farther down to local government authorities. For this reason, there is no centralized, national educational system; and no standard policy in such areas as automobile driving, sales taxes or drinking laws. One of the most exciting features of American politics is observing the variety of attitudes which prevail from state to state on a common issue.

History: The lands which make up today’s United States were originally inhabited by hunters, farmers and native Americans. These tribes possessed a rich diversity of culture and traditions, which have influenced modern American culture, especially in some areas of western United States. Modern American history only dates back to 1492, when Columbus sailed westward from Spain in search of a shorter route to India. He landed in the Caribbean Islands, thereby opening new lands for European exploration and settlement. European colonial settlements were established in the early 1600’s in various parts of what is now known as the United States. Battles were fought among these groups, and control of the land frequently changed during the 200 years that followed. The English held the strongest control over their colonies along the Atlantic coast, but they did not have the support of the people, who staged a successful revolt in 1776. During the Revolutionary War the United States of America were created from thirteen colonies when they unitedin 1789 under a single constitution. Since then, immigrant expansion, treaties and further wars added more land to the West until the U.S.A. stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific by the mid- 1800s. By 1960 Alaska and Hawaii had joined the Union.

Economy: The US has a very large and rich economy. Both industrial and agricultural productions are highly mechanized and sophisticated. The US has long been a world leader in many forms of production, yet it is challenged today by many producers from many regions of the world.

Education: Schooling begins at age 5 with Kindergarten. Elementary school, junior high or middle school and high school form the 12 grade schooling system. Local boards of education manage public schools, with graduation requirements set by state boards of education or regents. Extracurricular activities, including interscholastic and intramural (within the school) sports, are a big part of high school student life in the USA. Many states and localities place restrictions on exchange student participation in such activities.

Family life: American family life is usually casual but often each member of the family will have a schedule of work or study that will keep them coming and going at different times from the home. All members of the family are expected to do their share of the daily chores and curfews are expected to be kept. American children respect their parents and that’s why the parents have authority over what their children do.

Food: The closest you come to an American national dish would be the barbecue: hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill served with Coke. Pumpkin pie and turkey are enjoyed for Thanksgiving. For the usual school meals you will typically find snack packs or, most schools have a cafeteria where they serve different meals every day.

Recreation: A favorite leisure activity in many homes is watching TV or film on video. Excellent athletic facilities can be found everywhere, and exploring the great outdoors is usually possible. Most high school students go to dances or parties in someone’s home during the weekend or maybe out on a date. The many high school sports teams have games and events in the evenings and on weekends which are well attended. It is the school spirit and parents and grand parents all come to watch the games. American families appreciate the times when all members of the family are together.

YFU USA
YFU USA was created in March of 2002 to continue YFU’s programs and tradition within in the U.S. YFU programs were founded in 1951 by Dr. Rachel Andresen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since that time, more than 200,000 students worldwide have been involved in YFU exchanges to or from the United States. YFU USA is governed by a volunteer board of trustees and has administrative offices in Bethesda, (Just outside of Washington, DC). Five district YFU USA offices manage and support thirty Field Directors and over 1,500 volunteers. YFU volunteers and staff are responsible for student recruitment, student interviews, pre-departure orientations, host family recruitment and selection, school relations, placement of inbound students support of students on program, travel support, and additional orientations (post arrival,midyear, and re-entry).

Exchange activities for inbound students: Once in the United States, students have a local post-arrival orientation, in the middle of the year there is a mid-year seminar and before the return there is a re-entry seminar. Most of the orientations last one or two days. During the year there might also be some local YFU parties and get togethers, different optional school, church or club sponsored trips, and optional YFU field or district trips.