FLEX Program through the eyes of the Parents

My son Sławek has become a finalist of the FLEX program.

His dream to meet America has come true.

He put lots of individual work into this and is very thankful and happy, that he succeeded. Sławek flew to Michigan State at the end of August. All the information provided by the program are reliable and true. I should also add, that the FLEX program is an amazing and very well-organised initiative. Even the recruitment process is a huge experience.

Sławek is staying in Michigan State in the town of Fruitport. His carry-on luggage in the airplane was a trumpet. He really wanted to continue to learn how to play on the instrument and share his musical experience in the United States, and that’s what happened! The host family we got in touch with is just perfect! Even before the departure from Poland Sławek was signed up for the school marching band. When he arrived, the band t-shirt was waiting for him and he already knew the dates of future performances. Amy, Rob and his host siblings: Gabby, Jaden and Hope welcomed him with a self-made poster and huge smiles. Until now, Sławek’s smile is as big as it was - I see it on pictures and hear from every story. To welcome him, the family made a beautiful frame with picture of his Polish parents and put a special name tag with his name on the door of his room.

Sławek’s host family is wonderful. They are very protective and organised. Sławek is at all times under their supervision and warm care, what affects his safety. Amy and Rob stay in touch with me - they often write and systematically send pictures from concerts, competitions and trips. American culture has already found its way to our house in Poland!

It’s fantastic that every day is well-organised and really intensive. Sławek admires the cooking of his host family. Varied meals are prepared at home and he has an opportunity to explore world’s cuisines, because of family’s amazing cooking skills. The food is healthy and tasty.

Sławek spends a lot of time in American high school. He has a chance to choose the classes he attends. Everyone is open to help. The classes last 50 minutes and the breaks between them are 3, 4 minutes long, just to move from one class to another. At the beginning of the school year, besides all the kind teachers, one student was assigned to support Sławek on the school campus. There are no longer breaks, like in Polish schools. Rehearsals for music class are also on Saturdays. On Sundays Sławek spends time with the community of Fruitport in the local church, amongst the pastor.

A huge experience was Sławek’s visit in project office organised by Rob. For 3 full hours he could, in front of the computers, talk with designers and IT specialists, ask questions or design in D3.

Sławek spends many hours after school in the marching band’s rehearsals, where he is being driven by Amy and Rob. During the rehearsals he met a lot of people from school and got closer with them. He participated in school prom and he applied for workshops from politics and teaching English, that will (if he passes the recruitment) take place in Washington.

All the stimuli from the host family are very developing for him. Amy and Rob keep the discipline, they are precise and it works for Sławek. They give him a lot of their time and support all his actions. They help him make decisions. They also take care of his clothing, and provide living in very clean conditions. There is social media children prevention in their house. Hope and Gabby are wonderful and modest girls.

There is no time for longing and home-sickness. I can hear in my child’s voice that he is happy. He enjoys everything he does. I have a proper contact with him and I also keep in mind, that Polish language should be limited during his stay in the United States. I called him myself only once, I’m waiting for him to be the initiator of contact. I respect his time and responsibilities. The environment he lives in - a lot of forests and lakes - positively affects his body. His local coordinator also watches over his safety by contacting and meeting him.

My son travels a lot. It’s one of his hobbies. Since the earliest years he has been exploring metropolises on Google maps and he knows many details. He is interested in history of the United States, that he knows a lot and lively talks about.

Sławek also has the opportunity thanks to his American parents, to to DIY in their garage and to get into a role of a brother :) In Poland, he is an only child.

He always wanted to find some time for fishing, when he was in Poland, but he didn’t succeed. Currently he has already been fishing in the Great Lakes region. He performanced with his band on a huge Fort Field in Detroit. He visited an enormous amusement park. There are many valuable details in his stories. I think that the memories will stay for his whole life. I am so thankful for the host family. They systematically provide me with information and thank me for for blessing them with Sławek’s presence. It’s amazing. There’s only few such good and wonderful people, who would give Sławek such a big opportunity for development. From the bottom of my heart, I am thankful for everything.