summer: who and what?
About the summer.
My cousin’s wedding is right in the middle of the trip — can I leave to attend it?
Hey, we understand . . . weddings happen. That’s why everybody gets a 48-hour wedding pass. Use it at any point to watch that special couple tie-the-knot. But you only get one. And you can’t be gone during orientation, the solitude retreat, or debrief. (Trust us, you wouldn’t wanna miss them anyway).
Am I allowed to have visitors or go visit friends in the area?
Friends are cool, and it’s a great way to share what you’re doing, but it’s really the call of your team and team leader. Try to keep your out of town visitors to a minimum. Visiting friends in the area is fine, but we really want you to experience life in the neighborhood. So use your judgment and prioritize your summerXchange experience. Forty days will go by really quickly.
Where will I live during summerXchange?
In a van, down by the river!
Alright, fair question (parents and boyfriends like to know this kind of stuff.) Naturally, it depends on the location you’re in, but in general we’re aiming to house you with InnerCHANGE staff or close connections.
If you’re helping us explore a new site, you may be living all together with your team in a space provided by a partnering ministry. Or you’ll be hosted by well-chosen families right there in the neighborhood.
How can my parents get a hold of me in an emergency (can I bring my cell phone)?
Yeah, go ahead and bring your cell phone. (Though overseas teams are a different story.) Just turn it off during meetings, and don’t spend your entire summer text-messaging your girlfriend. Your parents will be ablet o reach either you or one of our staff members in case of an emergency.
Is where I’m going safe?
Well, that depends on what your definition of “is” is.
Do InnerCHANGE staff live there all the time and raise their kids there? Yeah. Do the poor we’re serving call it “home” day in and day out? Yeah. Do bad things sometimes happen in some of these neighborhoods? Yeah . . . but we’re being wise about our settings, and we’ll make sure you’ve got some street-smarts before we send you off for the summer . . . not to mention the whole ‘God is our protector’ thing. (Sorry mom & dad! Wish we could say more, but, no, we can’t guarantee safety!)
Can bring my car? If not, is there a place I can leave it?
If it fits in your suitcase and is a zero-emissions vehicle, then feel free to bring your car. Otherwise, it’s best if you leave it at home. We’ll make sure you can get around, and public transportation is part of the summer experience. This isn’t a no-exceptions policy though, so feel free to check in with your team leader or summerXchange staff about it.
My first choice site is my home town. Is that ok?
We find that the purity of a 40 day summerXchange experience is best suited for being away from your normal surroundings. But we’re not closed to you sticking close to home. Just expect to have to explain why you think that would be a good idea.
Can my friends and I be assigned to the same site?
Depends on how much money you’re willing to offer. (Oops, did we say that out loud?) Seriously, it’s a possibility but not a guarantee. Teams are assembled based on overall team style, location needs, and a complex calculus involving gender, birthplace and whether you’re left-handed or not.
Here’s what to do: let us know in your application who you’re hoping to be on a team with and why that’s important to you.
