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In This Issue:Advisors’ Angle: Winter Holidays. . . . . . . . . . 3

Introducing: Student Advisor Alena Stewart. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Keeping Up with NODPrograms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Students Share HolidayPhotos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CultureNotes: Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

nod vOICESSt. Paul Preparatory School (SPP) students are teaming up with another local high school and community members to knit for a cause.

SPP’s new Knitting Club is teaming up with Washburn High School’s Knitting Club and the St. Paul, Minn. organization Closely Knit to come together, learn to knit, and donate hats, mittens, and scarves to organizations that distribute warm clothes to homeless people.

SPP students meet every Monday after school with local knitting mentors. Washburn students meet at their school during the week. The two clubs remain in contact as they work toward their common goal of donating winter items to the homeless.

The club’s first meeting attracted only two students, but by the very next meeting, there were five students and three mentors. Club organizers expect it to grow as school starts again after break.

The club has also applied for a grant to help cover costs of materials. For now, materials are donated by members and the SPP community.

KNITTING FOR A CAUSE AT SPP

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Board of DirectorsDr. Frank Tarsitano, PhD – ChairmanMr. Steve Murphy – SecretaryMs. Alice Murphy – TreasurerMr. Gerard AvundoMr. Arnold Franco Mr. Francois Jean HucMs. Hilda Jaffe

Senior Management TeamDr. Frank Tarsitano, PhD – CEO & PresidentMr. Richard Banasikowski, MA – Vice President Mr. Jean Burdin – President, Nacel InternationalMr. Roy S. Nilsson – CFO

Advisory BoardMr. Jean Burdin – President, Nacel InternationalMr. Pierre Coudry – Interclass BrazilMs. Toni Cowles – Retired, Lauder Institute at the Wharton School, UPENNMr. Jaeho Eohm – International Language Forum, KoreaDr. Abraham Ho, DA – Nacel AsiaMs. Marie Jose Huc – CLC

NACEL OPEN DOOR EXECUTIVES

This newsletter is a publication of Nacel Open Door, Inc. For more information on NOD programs and opportunities, please call 800-622-3553, or visit our website at www.nacelopendoor.org.

Newsletter Production Staff: Director of Operations: Rae LenwayDirector of Marketing & Communications: Shannon RauschMarketing Communications Assistant: Karina Rajtar

Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD) offers multiple programs

in the United States and abroad to meet a variety of cultural and academic goals for all students.

These programs range in duration from one week to multiple years. The focus of some programs is a complete cultural immersion and exchange, while others are focused more on college preparation.

KEEPING UP WITH NOD PROGRAMSAYP Coordinators and a contingency of Local Representatives braved the frigid Minnesota temperatures to attended the Annual Conference in St. Paul in early February. Topics discussed included Host Family recruitment, what it means to be a Local Representative, and included a motivational speaker to help reenergize the network and give new perspective on working with international students.

SPP has been bustling with activity as students and staff move into the New Year. Students have been embracing opportunities to visit local city attractions on SPP Nights Out. Students also continue to get involved in the local community through volunteering in a wide variety of contexts.

SPP is also proud to announce that Christoph Grunau represented his home country of Germany at the World Youth Chess Championship 2013 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Despite frigid temperatures and the threat of snow, 51 prospective students from the Chinese Bridge Program arrived in the U.S. during the month of January. These students were able to visit PSP high schools in the northeast, have an interview with admissions personnel, and interact with American students. We hope to see these students on PSP in the future!

St. Paul Preparatory School (SPP)

Private School Program (PSP)

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Spring is on its way! This can be a challenging time of year for students. Many students may experience home-sickness after the excitement of the winter holidays ends and they head back to school. Others may feel restless as they settle into a routine.

How can you help students overcome the mid-program doldrums? This is also an exciting time of year! There are many opportunities for spring activities at school and in the community. Ask your student to think about something that they want to do or try here before they leave. Whether that means participating in a sport for the first time or trying out for a play, doing something new helps students

rediscover their excitement. If they don’t know what opportunities are available at their school, direct them to the school website, the guidance counselor or athletics director.

Remind students and host families to check in with each other about changes in their second schedule semester – will there be a new sport or activity starting soon? How will the student get to and from practice? Family chore charts might need to be changed to reflect changes in the student’s schedule.

As students transition into becoming a family member, it’s important to keeps the lines of communication open.

Encourage host families and students to be politely honest with each other, instead of letting frustration or resentment build up. The best way to resolve those issues is by talking to each other clearly, calmly and politely when issues arise.

Remind your students to check their Student Handbook or to ask you if they have questions about the program rules. Feel free to contact the Advising Office at advising @nacelopendoor.org with any questions regarding students or host families.

ADvISORS’ ANGlE: KEEPING IT FUN

MEMORIES

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Nacel Open Door National Office 380 Jackson Street, Suite 200

St. Paul, MN 55101 USA

T: 651-686-0080800-622-3553

F: 651-686-9601www.nacelopendoor.orginfo@nacelopendoor.org

www.facebook.com/NacelOpenDoorInc

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CUlTURENOTES INTRODUCING...Alena Stewart: International Student Advisor

Alena Stewart has a unique privilege few National Office

staff members have - she gets to interact directly with students and Host Families on a regular basis.

“Getting to know international students and their Host Families is a big highlight of my day,” she says.

As an International Student Advisor for the Academic Year Program, Private School Program, and St. Paul Preparatory School, Alena works with students, Host Families, Foreign Partners, and Local Reps to help build relationships, resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, and guide students’ academic progress.

Alena earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations/Comparative

Religion from the University of British Columbia in Canada. After college, she spent two years living in Turkmenistan as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She worked in youth leadership and educational development. Alena helped students prepare for college entrance exams, scholarships, and exchange programs; and she led summer camps, after- school groups, and leadership activities with students. In addition, she helped set up an English Language Resource Centre for the school, worked with teachers to design materials and lessons that incorporated new teaching methodology, and co-wrote a book based on a Turkmen folk legend.

Alena has been both a host daughter as well as a host sister, giving her useful experience in talking with NOD students, Host Families, and Local Representatives.

Alena can be reached by email at astewart@nacelopendoor.org or at ext. 626.

INDONESIAThe archipelago of Indonesia consists of thousands of islands and is consequently very ethni-cally diverse, and the country recognizes the value of its peo-ple’s differences in the national motto: Unity in Diversity.

The majority of Indonesians practice Islam. Muslims do not eat pork, so you will want to keep this in mind with your student.

Rice is a staple food for most Indonesians, and fish is preva-lent in many Indonesian meals.

In personal relationships, In-donesians tend to remain re-served and display few emo-tions until a true relationship develops. Confrontations are often met with smiles and a quieter demeanor.

Mutual assistance and agree-ment by consensus are impor-tant principles guiding life in Indonesia. It is a culture that values working together.

In Indonesia, eye contact is generally avoided, patience is valued, and displays of greed are avoided. Indonesians value neatness in grooming and do not generally concern them-selves with punctuality, though your student should know that this is valued in the U.S.