Akimel A-al Friends Across Borders Club

What is Friends Across Borders?FAB is a cross-cultural exchange program between students in the United States and Mexico that exposes us to different cultures - ours and the students in our sister school in Esperanza, Sonora Mexico.Through FAB, students are not only able to learn about a culture different than their own, they are able to experience it first hand. It’s a great bonding experience and a chance to get to know many different people and make new friends, both at our school and friends from Mexico.

Why FAB/HATB?FAB/HATB is the perfect opportunity for you to gain skills in a real-life setting!• Communicate with others • Be culturally aware and adaptive• Be open-minded when making decisions. • Be adaptable • Work together with others • Be tolerant and flexibile

La amistad no tiene

fronteras.

What happens during the student exchange?During the exchange students in the club choose and participate in events that they have planned. Some of the events that have taken place here at AMS are as follows:• Tour of B.O.B. and America West Arena• Outing to the Phoenix Science Museum• Excursion to the Phoenix Zoo• Shopping at the Arizona Mills Mall• Family picnic• School dance• Party in one of our HATB family homes• Tour of DVHS and Metro Tech High Schools• Amazing Jakes or other fun activity• Activities at the AZ Sonora Desert Museum• Excursion to the Musical Instrument Museum• Excursion to the World Wildlife Zoo• Tour of Ice Cream Store• Ice Cream Social in May, with presentation of certificates to club members

March 18-22, 2015 Student Exchange

March 18-22, 2015 Student Exchange

March 18-22, 2015 Student Exchange

Who would make a good student ambassador?

Parents and students often ask this question. Based upon our twenty-two years of in this program, we have found the following qualities to be helpful. A student who: • likes challenges and learning new things • is flexible in his/her views and thinking• would like to learn firsthand about how people in Mexico live; their language,

customs and culture• would be proud to represent our school, community, state, and nation• is willing to put time and effort into the HATB program • enjoys meeting and making new friends• would enjoy meeting or hosting a student from Mexico • would enjoy participating in school and family activities with other HATB families

Do I need to be able to speak Spanish?• NO, there are lots of things we can do to communicate!• Google translator• Other club members and/or adult chaperones who may be able to help you• Body language: gestures, tone of voice, etc.• Pictures, magazines• Vocabulary booklet• Friends or others who might help you translate• Most of our activities are done together, so the whole group helps each

other out!

Could I be in the FAB club, even if I wasn’t able to host a Mexican student?• There are many students who are interested in learning more about

the Mexican culture and language but are unable to host . These students are welcomed as FAB club members! • They participate in all training and fundraising activities and meet the

behavioral and grading criteria. • They are able to participate in all FAB activities during the week that

we host the students and adult chaperones from Mexico here in our community.