If the host child does not receive some sort of grant, then the parent or guardian has to pay a fee to have their child participate in the CIEE exchange program. They are paying customers. Due to this fact, many of these host children end up coming from affluent families that are used to a certain lifestyle. From my experience our two host children were not use to hearing the word "no".

  Because the parents of the host children are paying customers and after all they are the children's parents, they will have the final say in any situation that arises. If your host child does not want to pitch in and help with the dishes. Or say they want to get in a car and drive around with other young people that you really don't approve of, you run the risk of having your host child removed from your home and sent to a new family. Case closed. You will not receive an interview to defend your position, and if you do, you might as well be talking to a brick wall.

  Generally the exchange kids come to America to party! After all they are kids. What would you do?  Please note, many exchange children coming to the U.S. are used to living in very populated areas or cities. Many are not used to living in a rural area.

 Here is an example from our experience:

  Our host child was not spending any time with us. After school she would eat then go to her room and be there on the Internet talking Korean and basically ignoring us. We mentioned this to our local coordinator, and she said we need to stop treating this girl as a guest, and start treating her as a member of the family. Limit her time on the computer, forbid her to type in Korean, and have her come out once a day and watch tv, or do something like board games with the family. Well that went over like a lead balloon. She continued to speak Korean even though her English was suffering. She also refused to spend time outside her room, even though she was finished with homework. We mentioned this to the local coordinator and she came over to talk to us and the child. The coordinator said that the host child would be receiving a letter home if she didn't start obeying the rules. About a week later we called CIEE and demanded that she receive a letter home. We explained the situation, and CIEE agreed to send a letter home. ( Don't know if this ever happened ) Well, less than a week later she was pulled out of our home ( she never returned home from school ) to be sent to a new host family that would be more "compatible". In other words a home that would treat her as a guest. So whatever CIEE says, if the child is unhappy in any way, and they complain home, and the parents want them moved, that is what will happen regardless of your feelings or attachments you may have with the child. You will receive very little support if any from CIEE!