During my exchange student program as a junior in hight school, I came across certain problems with being placed in a host family that I believe was not ready to host an exchange student in teen years. I also have met many other exchange students from all over the world who were placed into a host family that didn't exactly met criteria described in a link below to become a host family. This many times causes and exchange student to terminate his/her program or switch between family witch complicates the situation.

http://www.csiet.org/publications-resources/docs/csiet_student_safety_guidelines-final_6-23-09.pdf

This link talks about criteria that a host family should meet to be one.

As an exchange student from eastern Europe back in 2008, I believe my host mother thought I was able to work for her as an au-pair, taking care of her daughter while she was out and about. I believe it was absolutely rude and probably she had no idea where I come from and how much money it cost my parents to allow me to do this and that I didn't come to USA to work for her but to study. During these programs many times exchange students face prejudice upon where they come from and may be taken advantage of.

This article talks about many exchange students being taken advantage of and forced to unwillingly works at strip clubs or be working and living conditions similar to indentured servitude.

<http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20552744/foreign-student-exchange-

            program-revamped-after-abuses-exposed?IADID=Search-

            www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com>

I believe these negative aspects of exchange student programs are arising due to cultural prejudice which exchange student programs are trying to overcome.