GLOBAL EXPERIENCE  NEWSLETTERSEPTEMBER 2010       


             
IN THIS ISSUE
Host Family of the Month
Iranian World
To 10 Health Benefits of Lemons
Recipe of the Month
STUDENT FEEDBACK CORNER

"I feel very welcome at my host family.  They are very lovely and always treat me like a family member.  They really care about me and they told me to be careful when I walk at night because it might not be safe.  I couldn't imagine a better host family than the Susnja's.  Thank you Global Experience for sending me this wonderful family.
 
  
Maximilian Hohenberg for Susnja's Family, Brighton Le Sands
EXCITING NEWS
 
We are proud to announce that we are now expanding to Wollongong and soon will be Canberra.  Therefore we encourage our families, if they know anyone around the areas who'd like to do homestay, please feel free to refer that family to Global Experience.
 
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We are getting closer to the end of the year.  As part of Global Experience's culture, we will have the End of The Year Function on the 12th December and would like to encourage our host families to join us.  The  venue is to be confirmed and you are welcome to bring your children and students as well.  Further information will be sent to your email in the beginning of November.

FROM THE DESK

Hello hello hello!

 
This month Sonia's travelling in South America and I've been asked to do the honours in her absence with 'From the Desk'.  My name is Lynn, I manage Global Experience and support the team as they deal with your enquiries and needs on a day to day basis.
 
There are a couple of things worth noting this month.
Insurance - I know we've been saying an insurance solution is coming soon and it still is.  There's been a lot of work going on behind the scenes with Insurers to create a special Homestay product to suit your needs, which is why its taking some time.  As soon as the details are finalised we will be sending out a special email notification so please stay tuned.
 
Special service for Saudi Students - We're in the midst of creating a special service for our Middle Eastern students who have particular needs, typically Halal food and an en suite bathroom.  I know many of you have already been looking after these students and doing a very good job with them.  The new service will have a higher rate to recognise the additional effort required to make these students feel comfortable.  For any family interested the requirements are going to be - no pets in the home, ability to provide halal food, en suite bathroom or dedicated bathroom for the students use only, 45 minutes travel time on public transport to the institute they are studying at - and a warm welcome!  This service is going to be launched in November, any families interested are welcome to call the office mid October and discuss their interest.
 
Canberra is on our radar for next year.  If any of you know lovely families that would like to do homestay in Canberra, please get them to contact us.  We are looking to start in January 2011.  Word of mouth is always the best way to find the right people to work with and your help with this is much appreciated.  You know what we are like to work with and we'd like to find good families like yourselves in Canberra.  I'm sure you know some!
 
End of the Year Function - yes we're planning on having one, December 12th, picnic style so there will be lots of space and room to play games and have activities.  We're waiting to have the venue confirmed and then be sharing the details with you.  Last year was a great event and we're looking forward to having another memorable time this year.
 
That's about it from me.  Thank you for your ongoing support and as always, and for taking such good care of the students.  You do good work!

Warm regards,
Lynn Copithorne
General Manager


 
e list for students. With all the talk of politics these days the decisions that need to be made by the government


 

 

HOST FAMILY OF THE MONTH - HELEN ANDRIANAKIS
                                             by Helen Andrianakis
 

First of all, I feel honoured and very proud of the good work I've done.   I am delighted to say thank you to Global Experience for being nominated as a host of the month.
 
I am half Persian/Armenian and my kids are half Greek as well.  I have two boys, 14 and 16 years old.  I had just finished my previous job working part time as a Receptionist/Administration for the Premier Cabinet.  My kids love their soccer and kungfu sports and I love my gardening.     
 
I have been doing homestay for almost three years now and have enjoyed every moment with my students.  It gets very interesting to know about other cultures as there are a lot of things we can learn from them which inspires me to continue being a homestay family.
 
I believe that the main reason my students love staying with me is because of my gourmet food.  We are also a loving family as we look after and treat them as part of the family.  So far I haven't had one upset student and I'm pretty grateful for that.
 
It is important to get to know the students' background and culture.  The more you understand about them, the more you can deal with your students with patience and understanding.  Creating home rules can also help in minimizing problems and misunderstandings with your
students.  
 
Being helpful, friendly and warm, are also the keys to be a succesful homestay family.  We need to understand that some students are totally scared and frightened at not knowing what to do in a strange country.  We have to give them a warm welcome and assure them not to worry.  Let them know that you will always be there whenever they need someone to talk to.
 
It makes me happy when my students are happy, especially when they want to extend their stay with me.  I really love seeing my students interact with my kids at any level, such as playing sport and play station games together.
 
Homestay has taught me that every individual is different due to their culture and background.  I'm very keen to learn about cultural
differences and I feel like I'm going back in school when I learn about students' home country and I really enjoy every minute of it.
 
I thank Global Experience for giving me the opportunity to have students at my home.  I am also happy with Global Experience services and hoping to continue working with them in the future.  
 
 

IRANIAN WORLD

 
Iran has a heterogenous population speaking a variety of Indo-Iranian, Semitic and Turkic languages.  The largest language group of the speakers of Indo-Iranian languages, who in 1986 comprised about 70 percent of the population.  The speakers of Indo-Iranian languages are not, however, a homogenous group.  They include speakers of Persian, the official language of the country and its various dialects.
 
Islam is practised by the majority of Iranians and governs their personal, politic, economic and legal lives.  Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening.  The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day.  Friday is the Muslim holy day.  Everything is closed.  Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday.
 
During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day.  Fasting means no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking or gum chewing.  Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar).  The festivities often continue well into the night.  In general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan.  Many businesses operate on a reduced schedule.  Shops may be opened and closed at unusual times.
 
Greetings tend to be affectionate.  Men kiss other men and women kiss other women at social events.  If they meet on the street, a handshake is the more common greeting.  When Iranians greet each other they take their time and converse about general things.
 
Iranians give gifts at various social occasions such as returning from a trip or if someone achieves a major success in their personal or business life.  It is common to give monetary gifts to servants or others who have provided services during the year on No Ruz (The Iranian New Year).  Money should be new bank notes or gold coins.  If you are invited to an Iranian's house, bring flowers or pastry to the hosts.  When giving a gift, always apologize for its inadequancy.  Gifts should be elegantly wrapped and generally are not opened when received.
 
Cuisine throughout the Iranian land is filled with delicious tastes and healthy ingredients.  From using rice in virtually every meal to the absence of red meat in most dishes, the eclectic tastes of Iran are unsurpassed.  Many dishes include rice as a staple, both for its health aspects and for the fact that is locally grown, making it inexpensive and readily available food.  The primary beverage is black tea.  The principal dietary taboo is the Islamic prohibition against pork.
 
In Iran one can never judge a book by its cover.  A traditional gentleman in ragged clothes, unshaven and without any outward trapping of luxury may in fact be very rich and as powerful as the mightiest government official; he may be a revered spiritual leader.  On the other hand, a well-dressed gentleman in an Italian suit driving a fine European car may be mired in debt and openly ridiculed behind his back.
 
Social mobility is also eminently possible in Iran.  Clever youths from poor backgrounds may educate themselves, attach themselves to persons of power and authority and rise quickly in status and wealth.  Family connections help here and hypergamy (married into a higher class) for both men and women is very important. 
 
TOP 10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF LEMONS 
                                                               by Heather Loney    
 
From weight loss to controlling blood pressure, fresh lemons have many health and nutritional benefits.  Lemons are a common and readily available fruit, commonly used in cooking and household cleaning.  Mixing fresh lemon juice with pure filtered water is a powerful detoxifying drink.  But lemon juice has many health benefits beyond its cleaning properties as below.
 
1.  Relieve Digestive System Problems
Lemon juice mixed with warm water relieves heartburn, nausea and bloating.  Lemon water also helps the bowels eliminate waste more efficiently as well as eases constipation.  Lemons are also effective in the treatment of intestinal worms.
 
2.  Lose Weight with a High Fibre Diet
A weight loss remedy that is quickly gaining in popularity consists of drinking warm water with fresh lemon juice.  Lemons contain pectin fibre, which reduces cravings for food and promotes normal laxation.   
 
Fibre makes us feel fuller and also slow digestion.  People who have diets that are high in fibre are therefore more likely to lose weight than those with low-fibre diets and are also more likely to avoid gaining weight as they age,
 
3.  Rejuvenate the Skin
Lemons are high in vitamin C, which has many heathy skin benefits including maintaining collagen levels and repairing tissue damage.  Vitamin C is an effective anti-oxidant and helps fight free radicals and prevent wrinkles, as well as treat sunburns.
 
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that monitored 4,025 women between the ages of 40 and 74, women who took in a higher level of vitamin C had a lower likelihood of having wrinkles and dry skin.
 
4.  Stabilize Your Blood Pressure
Lemons are high in potassium, a chemical element that can be used to help control high blood pressure.  Lemons strengthen capillaries and have also shown to reduce palpitations.  Lemons also have a calming effect, and help reduce depression and mental stress.
 
5.  Treat Urinary Tract Infections
Lemon juice is diuretic and therefore encourages the increased passing of urine.  Combined with its natural detoxifying properties, lemon juice makes a great remedy for treating urinary tract infections.  If you are prone to UTIs try incorporating lemon water into your daily nutritional routine.  Squeeze half a fresh lemon into a cup of hot water and drink this every day.
 
6.  Take Care of Your Teeth
Fresh lemon juice helps alleviate toothaches and when massaged into gums it can stop gum bleeding.  Lemon juice also kills bacteria caused bad breath and stains on the teeth.  When using lemon juice for dental care be sure to use modestly as the citric acid in lemon juice can weaken the enamel on the teeth.
 
7.  Calm Anxiety and Reduce Stress
Lemon juice has a calming effect as it acts like a nerve sedative.  Make the most of the relaxing properties of lemons by soaking your feet in a tub of warm lemon water.  Also the vitamin C found in lemons helps reduce stress suffered by individuals with a weak immune system.  Vitamin C is sensitive to stress and is therefore one of the first things to be delpeted when an individual places stress on the body through alcohol, cigarettes or excess weight.
 
8.  Treat Respiratory Problems
Sufferers of asthma and similar respiratory problems can find relief by drinking warm lemon water.  Drinking hot lemon water alleviates chest congestion and eases coughing fits.
 
9.  Treat Infections and Wounds
Lemon juice is a natural antiseptic and is used in many home remedies for treating infections and wounds.  Gargling with lemon water is effective in treating throat infections and tonsillitis.
 
10.  Regulate Your Cholesterol Levels
Last but not least, lemon juice helps raise HDL cholesterol levels and prevent SLDL cholesterol from oxidising. 
 
Get the most of this powerful superfood by adding into your daily diet.  Squeeze lemon juice on salads and fish, or make a hot cup of lemon water to sip in the afternoon instead of coffee.
                         
 
RECIPE OF THE MONTH - JOOJEH KABAB


Ingredients
1 chicken, 1 kg
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 large onions, grated
4 medium tomatos
2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon saffron

Directions
Prepare marinade: mix olive oil, grated onions, saffron, salt, black pepper and lime juice.  Wash and cut chicken into small pieces, then remove the skin.  Marinate overnight (or at least for several hours) in refrigerator.  The container should be covered.

Thread chicken on long, thin metal skewers.  Thread leg and thigh pieces, wings and breast pieces separately, as breast requires slightly less cooking.  Also thread whole tomatoes separately on another skewer.  Brush with marinade.  Barbeque for about 5-10 minutes on each side, turning frequently.  Joojeh Kabab can also be prepared in the oven.Prepare chicken as before, pre-heat the grill to a high temperature, and place just under the grill, again turning frequently.

Serve hot with plain rice (Polow or Chelow) or on middle-eastern bread. 
 
(serves for 4)
                       
 " Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson -