ROTARY INTERNATIONAL Multidistretto Italiano Scambio Giovani

Transcription

1 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL RYE Rotary Youth Exchange Living a Safe Exchange Experience Guidelines to prevent unpleasant and unsafe situations during your stay Andrea Cremoncini Chairman, RYE Italian multidistrict

2 Whatwewilltalk about: 1. Some Major Cultural diversities in Italy (what seems strange is not weird, it is INTERESTING!!!) 2. How to identify (avoid) and handle potential risks associated with living abroad in Italy 3. How to report any incident of abuse or harassment, and other perils.

3 The only universal quality is diversity Montaigne

4 Social Habitsin in Italy: Not all of Italy is the same, there are significant differences between regions, gender, and age generation. Your host Family represents the fast lane to get this sorted out as they will provide you with the social pattern. First Night Questions: are your first chance to understand the local culture of your host city/region. Your questions must include asking about : 1. unsafe areas 2. unsafe behavior (religious and cultural aspects) 3. Un-appropriate dress codes

5 Kissing Families and friends usually kiss when they meet. It s unusual between boys. Common between girls and opposite sex. The friendly kiss is deposited high up on the cheek, never on the mouth (except between lovers ) and isn t usually really a kiss, more a delicate brushing of the cheeks accompanied by kissing noises Boys: never go first! If a girl expects you to kiss her, she offers her cheek. Girls: it s not mandatory to accept kisses! If any person swirls on your face for a kiss you don t like, just step behind and stretch out your arm for a polite handshake. With a smile.

6 Dress code: Presentation and impression are important to Italians and are referred to as bellapresenza or bellafigura (literally beautiful presentation or figure ). The term refers not only to the way you look, but also to the way you act and what you say. It s similar in some ways to the oriental concept of face, and Italians must look good and be seen in the best light, always appearing to be in control and not showing ignorance or a lack of savoir-faire. It s important not to show disrespect or ridicule an Italian, even if it means biting your tongue on occasions.

7 Dress code: Italians generally, tend to be trendy in their attire even if they loaf around in shorts or jogging pants, they will not wear pijamasout of their homes. In most regions, pijamas are restricted to the bedroom! Don t remove your shoes in public. In general Italians consider bathing costumes, skimpy tops, flipflops or sandals with no socks strictly for the beach or swimming pool, and not the street, restaurants or shops.

8 Body Language Maintain eye contact while talking. Otherwise Italians might think you are hiding something. To beckon a waiter or waitress raise your index finger and make eye contact.

9 Tricky Handgestures Offensive gestures! Rock and Goth subculture - In Italy as well this gesture, made across the stomach or chest, to mean We're Cool or Rock on, it also can mean "Safe" or "all's cool. Meaning: Your partner is cheating on you. Meaning: Inflicting an evil influence.

10 Some Italian Clichés you won t find in Italy 1. Rolling Spaghetti with a Spoon In general Italians would NOT roll their spaghettiusing aspoon, it s considered old fashioned. The same thing applies to cuttinglong pasta with a knife. Regardless of what you might have seen or heard, don't do it. If you're having troubles rolling your pasta using your fork, just set the tines on your plate to help yourself. 2. Salad As Appetizer In Italya salad is served as a side dish with the second course, and very rarely before the first course. Asking for a salad as an appetizer is not common. 3. Pasta and Meat on the Same Plate Italians never put two courses on the same plate. You will never see them mixed. A good pasta dish in Italy doesn't have a juicy sauce: the pasta is supposed to be colored by the sauce, and not immersed in it.

11 4. Cappuccino After a Meal In Italy cappuccino is considered abreakfast drink. After midday no true Italian would ever drinkcappuccino. Italians prefer astraight and bitter espresso to help with digestion after a meal. 5. Italians Eat Pasta Every Day While pasta is a popular dish, many Italians prefer to replace it with rice, minestrone, and soup. The Italian diet is usually heavy in meat and fish. 6. Italians Eat Big Dinners In most cases Italians eat more at lunch than at dinner, and dinner is typically eaten later in the evening rather than late afternoon. 7. Italians Have Large Families Italian families with six to eight children are a thing of the past. Italians generally get married in their 30 s, they alsohave the lowest birth rate in the world and, as a result, the population is shrinking.

12 How to protect Yourself and Avoid major risks

13 R.I. Statement of Conductfor WorkingwithYouth Rotary International is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants in Rotary activities. It is the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians spouses, partners, and other volunteers, to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of and to prevent the physical, emotional or sexual abuse of children and young people.

14 Who shares the responsibility for keeping Youth Exchange students safe? Host families Counselors Rotarian and Non-Rotarian volunteers Students Parents Teachers and others in the host community Youth Exchange is a program run at a District level, meaning that each Rotary district develops its own policies, based on common guidelines established by the Rotary International. Rotary Clubs and Districts assume a significant degree of responsibility for the well-being of the students they host, and have many safeguards in place. Each Rotary District has a Youth Exchange support system led by a district chair.

15 Rotary Youth Exchange SupportSystem System : Multidistrict staff and Officers(when applicable) Host District Governor and RYE Delegate RYE Commission members Host Club President& Board members Host Club YEOs Rotarian Counselor(s) Host family (ies) and NRCs Students We start from HERE

16 Do youknowtowhom youcan makereference reference? Importance of your G.F.

17 First of all: Maintain a list of all useful reference contacts, both in your host and native country

18 You are the first to contribute to Your safety: 1. Embrace the challenge Learn the host culture to better understand how to behave. Make an effort to learn as soon as possible the language of your host country Discourage prowlers by holding a reputable standing at school and with your friends. Choose friends who enjoy safe, positive activities Join school or community groups.

19 You are the first to contribute to Your safety: 2. Attend Local Club meetings INTERACT with people! Contact Rotary counselors whenever possible to discuss your concerns. Ask questions and discuss any troubles with a trusted adult, even if you re embarrassed. Make sure someone responsible knows where you are at all times. 3. Follow the 4D s + 1 (and also the 6 B s!) NO Drinking, Driving, (seriously) Dating, Drugs Don t do dumb things Be First, Curious, on Purpose, Grateful, on Service but most of all BE HERE and NOW!

20 Major risks you may face while living in Italy: These risks are present, in various degrees, also when you are at home, but as a foreign student you are more vulnerable simply because you are away from home and you are less familiar with the environment in your new country. This condition may become a signal for prowlers. Accident Theft Illness or Injury Drug/Alcohol abuse Harassment Physical/ sexual/ emotional abuse

21 How toreport: Crisis Notification System Counselor Host family Parents Youth Club Officer Youth District Officer Club Chair District Officer Police Hospital privacy Protect your privacy REFRAIN from excess in using social media

22 Why do Youth Exchange students need training in abuse and harassment prevention? Harassment Physical/ sexual/ emotional abuse 1. Rotary and Rotariansare committedto the Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth 2. Harassment& Abuse is a crime. 3. Abuse and Harassment prevention is based on awareness, which is why the topic is included in training sessions for all Youth Exchange participants..

23 Don t stereotype! The commonly held stereotype of a sexual abuser is that of stranger, or weird looking person, basically somebody you don t know. The reality is that most sexual abuse is done by people who know the victims. Men and women who sexually abuse young people are of many different ages and appearances. Both male and females are under the target of sexual offenders. No person, male or female, of any age, has the right to make any person do sexual things they would not have freely chosen to do. You have the right to say NO!

24 Men s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them apart Confucius

25 Doing the best thing ever...

26 What if something goes wrong: Homesickness is normal among Exchangers Keep yourself busy, read and write letters Communicate openly to your family Talk to your friends Your native family may help, but they are not here. Always focus on HERE and NOW!

27 Always be Positive: Getting angry or being in a bad mood won t help anybody We want you to express at best your potential (which is almost endless) We need you to SHINE...

28 Remember that: Failure is an essential component of every great achievement. Men who had great success in the past, always found it after repeated failures, because this made them grow Keeping focus on your goal through hard times will deploy your potentialities, and ensure highest achievements

29 Continue to Chase Your dreams and... I HAVE A DREAM... Keep Shining!!!

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