What is "American culture" - need to show it in Boston are to exchange student from Northeast Spain
 

Not American history or even tourist sites - much of that will be covered in the 9-5 sessions, day trips M-F they will be taking thru month of July.

Stated purpose of exchange is so these HS age students can live with American family and experience American culture (not positive that is what students want - having done shorter exchanges in past, they mostly want to shop)

So we have baseball tickets, will play mini-golf - what else would seem like American culture in Boston area? Thanks

Oh, my, that sounds like fun!

Fast food, Revere Beach, Franklin Park Zoo, skateboarding (look up a shop in the phone book and ask them where to go to watch the talent), doing whatever the local kids do on weekends.

Christmas Tree Shop, Jordan's Furniture, and Costco. They won't know enough to ask to go to places like that but they'll love them; you can find all 3 together in Avon.

If your town has a recycling center, go there -- even better if it's the sort of town where everyone takes their own stuff to the dump and there's a "leave something, take something" emporium. Visit a shelter for abandoned pets.

The Boston Hispanic community is of course mostly from Central and South America, but I'd try to look up a few cultural organizations and see what sorts of festivals or events are planned for July. Or just go shopping in the Hispanic part of Jamaica Plain.

If you take them to church, find an Americanized experience -- for instance, if they're Catholic that would be a folk Mass or a Teen Life Mass. Some Protestant churches have much better and more interesting music than others; whatever is suitable.

I think just being yourselves will expose them to the "American culture" they speak of.

I agree with Starrsville. Having been involved with exchange student industry for 11 years, it seems to me that a teenager is a teenager-regardless of nationality. So, I don't think recycling center, Jordan's furniture, Costco. or Christmas Tree shopping is going to be such a big hit. I think Anonymous was going for that only-in-America would you find enormo-selections-galore shopping experience but I think it would be lost on a visiting teenager.

I also disagree with any Hispanic cultural events. Kids from Spain are Spanish and most likely would be offended by the 'lumping' of cultures simply by the commonality of language (especially if the student is Basque).

Ask the student what they would like to do. And keep it simple. Their expectations are pretty much what you'd expect from a teenager. Hanging out, missing friends, listening to music.....

Thanks for responses so far. Since we also have our own HS age daughter, I am sure they will find teenage things to do. My goal may be to drag them both off the computer and away from the malls for at least part of the time.

Take them to Walmart!

Glad you have Red Sox tickets - that will be the best one. Make sure you explain the rules and some of the lingo before you go so they can follow along.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/of...sics/lingo.jsp

As mentioned, a gospel type church service would be an eye opener.

Take them to a bluegrass concert or some other uniquely American type music show.

Treat them to a dinner at a lobster or crab shack.

I thought Anonymous had excellent suggestions! As Gail notes, teenagers love to shop, and Xmas Tree shops are a pretty good example of affordable American "culture." I also think the Jordan's Furniture with all the hullaballoo and huge movie screens is pretty unique. Skateboarding, Revere Beach... sounds like what Gail is looking for to me.

I love the Bluegrass/American music suggestion. Baseball and mini-golf sound perfect, too.

I also don't have any of my own to offer; just wanted to chime in a "second" for those who did.

I think "hanging out" with people "being themselves" might be pretty disappointing to someone who's already been visiting a month from somewhere so far away.

What a fun thread and great opportunity for the hosts!

I actually vetted my response wtih my 19-year-old daughter (while she was getting ready for work) before posting. As was noted above, teens love shopping and those are uniquely American shopping experiences that could all be visited in one afternoon. My daughter took her college roommate to the Christmas Tree Shop over spring break and it was the hit of the week. And who would expect an IMax theater in a furniture store?!

The idea of visiting a Spanish-speaking community was not only to give the kids a language break but to show them what the immigrant experience in the US is all about -- small enterprises, foods and other connections to home, the fundamental American concept that there's opportunity for everyone. All of us have ancestors who went through that experience at one time or another. If you think the Hispanic connection would offend, then take them to Chinatown!

If in Boston, Filene's Basement!!! Also, what about the beaches on the Cape.

How about a picnic and swimming at some place like Walden Pond? Of course the 4th of July in Boston would be an experience - even better might be a small town parade and festivities, maybe with a bluegrass band, popcorn ,fireworks,etc.

In addition to a baseball game, are there any college football games you could take the student to? Baseball is a fairly international game, but college football with the marching band, cheerleaders and tailgating is pretty uniquely American.

My thought would be to go to a country fair that has a pie-eating contest. I googled to find one in Boston, but the only one that came up is in New Hampshire - it has a tractor pull contest too - sounds like a lot of fun!

http://www.balloonfestival.org/pieandwings.html

Good luck and have a great time! :)

Yankee Homecoming Days are in Newburyport during the time your guests will be here. Big parade, free outdoor concerts every night, goofy events like the Smelliest Sneaker and pie eating contests, firemen's muster, fireworks. check out yankeehomecoming.com

I agree with the idea of showing the immigrant experience to the visitors. It is a huge part of Boston - the Europeans in the past and the Central/South Americans now. There is a festival in Lowell that encourages all ethnic groups to participate - I believe it is the Heritage Festival but not sure on the official name.

What is a Christmas Tree Shop? And why is it open in July?

Make sure some of the shopping is in a mall, for true commercial-American culture.

What are you doing on the 4th? You can do the big-deal fireworks on the Charles, but it seems to me the back-yard barbecue is also pretty solidly American. Make sure you do that, if possible.

But don't by pass non-commercial American culture. Any chance to visit some farms outside of Boston? Like Bennie and Zootsi's ideas best.

LOL, the Christmas Tree Shops started out as a seasonal decorations store and now are a huge chain of large stores that sell everything from seasonal stuff (currently garden tools, teak furniture, Fourth of July party stuff and decorations, etc.) to packaged food, gift wrap, and lamps. A little bit of everything, all of it extremely well-priced. A fun store to go exploring in and especially to buy bargain souvenirs (I'd take the visitors there on July 5).

Just what I was thinking Cassandra, a good old fashioned backyard barbeque, 4th of July would be perfect...

How about Hampton Beach, teens love it. Maybe find a drive-in movie theater, there's one in Mendon, and one in Wellfleet, or the one at Weirs Beach in NH.

Are there any high school or college events happening that you could send them to? So he or she could get exposure to a group event of teens of similar ages? Go to Harvard, Boston U., or Boston College to walk around and get a glimpse of college life, although it's summertiime and would be quieter there might still be students and events going on.