FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT JOURNEYS:

 

What is a ‘host’?

• welcomes members into their homes for one week

• provides accommodation and activities that reflect their community life and culture

• participates in sightseeing, shopping, visiting local attractions and other group social activities are included

 

What is an ‘ambassador’?

• a guest in the home of a host sharing everyday life experiences and activities

 

What is an ‘inbound’ and ‘outbound’ journey?

•  ‘inbound’ journey is when we welcome other Friendship Force members from around the world into our homes and community as our guests

• outbound’ journey is when we travel outside our city or country and are hosted by Friendship Force members in other areas of the world

 

What is a ‘homestay’?

• you are hosted free as a guest in the home of another Friendship Force member

• share their life for a week and most likely their friendship for a lifetime

• as ‘ambassador’ the only expectation of you is that you offer to treat your hosts to a restaurant dinner and present them with a small gift, usually something that reflects your city/country

 

What are the travel costs?

• on an outbound journey we pay our own transportation costs plus a nominal fee to Friendship Force International

• FFI in turn  passes on some of this money to the host club which enables them to provide us with a program that  usually includes sightseeing, dinners, etc.

 

Not a traveller?

• don’t ever have to travel if you don’t want 

• can still participate by hosting guests in your home, day hosting or joining in the planned activities during an Incoming journey  

• meeting other Friendship Force members is a great experience

 

I work all day, how can I participate?

There are many ways you could participate in a journey.  

• you could provide accommodation on a ‘bed and breakfast’ basis and let another club member assist you by looking after your guest during the day (‘day hosting’)

• you could contribute by inviting a couple of guests to join you for a meal one evening, or provide some food or assistance for the welcome or farewell party

 

How are journeys organized?

• individual clubs decide where in the world they would like to travel and from what cities or countries they would welcome guests

• information is forwarded to Friendship Force International in Atlanta and there the staff organizes club match-ups

• FFI then informs the clubs of their matches and each club can either agree or disagree with the match

• if both clubs are agreeable, the journey is confirmed

• member from each club acts as ‘Journey Director’ and they work together to find suitable dates and facilitate the pairing of ‘Hosts’ and ‘Ambassadors’  

• pairing involves trying to match people of similar ages and interests if possible

• host club forms a committee that plans the sightseeing, outings and entertainment for the week. Journeys are most enjoyable and successful when both clubs work effectively together

​