P2P would be a great tourist trip … as I said, you’d have fun. But they’re VERY expensive. If you are going to spend that kind of money, you should seriously consider a year (or at least semester) exchange where you will gain some major benefits including culture and language immersion. Colleges and universities LOVE former exchange students and often offer preferred admissions and/or scholarship money.

For a complete list of the organizations certified to operate in the U.S. go to www.csiet.org. You should also ask your school counselor as a program is only as good as its local representatives. Generally, Rotary is the cheapest but most competitive and AFS, Aspect, 4-H and YFU are quality programs that can offer some scholarships.

For more information on being an exchange student, go to http://www.exchangestudentworld.com/, a site written by exchange students for exchange students.

I took PTP trip to Australia this past summer, and it was really the greatest thing I have ever done. The people in your group (“delegation”) that you travel the whole time with become your 2nd family. What a scene it was at our home airport when we had to say goodbye! I still see my friends from PTP about 1-2 times a month, and will probably stay like this for life. I also keep in contact with my homestay family.

Now in regard to some of the things you may have heard: It is on the expensive side; about $6,000 for the high school 20 day programs. (high school programs are usually around 20 days while middle school programs are around 14 days, being around $3-4,000) However, this cost can be brought down with buissness sponserships, fundrasing, scholarships etc. You do get high school credit for it, as an elective.

If you do decide to apply, you have to go through an interview process to be fully accepted. You should not worry about these interviews because they’re main purpose is just for your leaders to make sure your not a problem to travel with them and to get to know you.

Before your trip, you have to attend about 6 informational meetings (once a month) in the months leading up to your trip. Note that this is not the same as the one you are invited to in your letter. This is only after you enroll in the program. During these meetings, you meet with the other kids who will be traveling with you and your leaders. (great time to start making friends, so that you will know other people when you actually leave) In said meetings, you also go over policies and all sorts of information about the trip. All your burning questions are answered here, if not at the initial info meeting.

There are some cons to it though that I’ve noticed:

1) In a rare case, you may not get to do every single activity on the itinerary. For example, my delegation had to miss learning how to play cricket at Sydney stadium because our flight had a delayed arrival. However, they did manage to get us to go to the big mall the next day as to kinda “make up” for it. Its all based on timing.

2) The cost obviously

3) You are strictly limited on the amount of luggage you are permitted to take. Only one rolling suitcase and one carry on bag is allowed, and these have size and weight restrictions.

4) This wasn’t a problem with me, but potential homesickness can spoil a great day.

5) There is a strict curfew at night. Usually, you and your roommates have to be in your hotel room by 10-11 pm, although your leaders can adjust this depending on what you did that day or are doing the next day.

6) There is a dress code, but its nothing too extreme. You are required to wear your PTP name tag/lanyard just about everywhere except your hotel room, swimming and during high adventure activities.

7) In order to get the high school credit, you are required to write and keep keep a travel journal of your trip each night.

Most notable pros:

1) Stay with a native family for two days in the country you are visiting. They would have kids about the same age as you and would go to their school.

2) Everything on the trip is already set up by your program manager of ie hotel/restaurant reservations (You will have three full meals a day), food/hotel bills, activity planning, ALL flights(all flights are coach class)/bus and other transportation. In other words, you have to do nothing except enjoy these!

3) Basically, everything is included in the ~$6k tuition except airline fuel surcharges, souvenirs, payphone calls, extra snacks in between regular meals etc

4) You do things you never have done before.

5) Make ALOT of great friends!

6) Hotels are 3-4 star properties…really nice

7) Your leaders will let you have “free time” to wander around in individual groups by yourself for a certain amount of time. ie Stores, small towns etc

8) As I have said, you can easily earn the high school credit..and with slightly more effort, even college credits!

9) By traveling with PTP, you automatically gain access to really nice alumni trips such as South Africa and even Antarctica! All of which you can travel in the very next year.

10) By traveling with them, you can join the Passport Club, which is for alumni only and can help you to keep active in PTP even if you don’t want to travel with them again and other things.

This program is really great and I would reccommend it to any and everyone. Even if you don’t want to or plan on going, I would definitely go to the info meeting. These meetings are extremely helpful. You get a background on the program, get to meet with other potential delegates who may travel with you, meet and ask questions to program leaders and alumni who have already attended a trip. There is absolutely no obligation to travel if you attend the meeting. If you do not decide to go this year, don;t worry. Chances are that if you go to they meeting, you will get another letter at this same time next year inviting you again, though the destination countries may not be the same but thats no problem; your sure to have the best time wherever you go. Hope I was of some help to you and your decision making. Feel more than free to ask anymore questions you may have!