In the medical forms that need to be filled out as part of the application process, you will have to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. A YFU representative contacted us before a host family was assigned to ask what special accommodations my daughter needed. We talked a bit about how she managed her disease at home (which was minimal), and we decided that she didn't need anything that the typical host family couldn't provide. My thought was, "it's Germany. They have doctors there, too."
I really wish I could go back and re-do that conversation. If I could, here is what I would say:
"She needs an experienced host family."
As many chronic illnesses are exacerbated by stress and change, a host family familiar with and able to mitigate the stress an exchange student faces would have helped a lot. Having to change host families after a month got her off to a shaky start. A host family who could recognize and deal with culture shock (as opposed to recognizing something "different" that might indicate a health issue) would have helped."She needs to live in a city with easy access to a specialist."
My daughter was living in a rural area, and when she became really sick, getting her to the specialist was unrealistic for her host family. If she could have easily gotten to the doctor, she would have felt like less of a burden."She needs a host family who understands a healthy lifestyle for someone with a chronic condition."
This includes knowing what a "bland" diet is (evidently difficult for many Germans to understand), exercising regularly (if appropriate for your child), and getting enough sleep. Many Germans (and indeed most Europeans) stay awake (in my opinion!) unreasonably LATE. Getting more regular sleep would have helped my daughter a lot. ( . . . and you telling them that by Skype tends not to be very effective.)Being an exchange student is stressful, and removing the stress completely is impossible. However, we could have done more to ensure that she was adequately supported during the stressful times. I would also consider asking for a school placement where your child will have the opportunity to take many classes in English (unless your child is completely fluent in the language of the host country). A placement in an English speaking high school will not do much to help his/her language skills, but the stress would be lower, and that may mean the difference between successfully completing the exchange year and having to come home early.
