Global Pittsburgh
(formerly known as Pittsburgh
Council of International Visitors or PCIV)
Global Pittsburgh is an independent, non-profit,
volunteer organization. Two activities offered by PCIV to students
in the English Language Institute, University of Pittsburgh, are:
3-day
homestay/airport pickup is NOT arranged through the ELI. You
must contact PCIV directly. Use the Global Pittsburgh
form to apply for airport meeting.
Invitation
to a Homestay
The
homestay program is an opportunity for scholars who have not visited
the United States before to be guests in the homes of Pittsburgh families
for 2 or 3 days before academic studies begin. Students arriving between
10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. should take a taxi or airport bus to a hotel
and may contact PCIV the following morning if they have registered for
a homestay. Please note that changes in arrival date cannot be accommodated.
Apply for a homestay with the Global Pittsburgh
application form according to the directions below.
To
apply for Airport Meeting or Three-Day Homestay:
1. Please print out and then fill out the Global Pittsburgh
application form and return to Global Pittsburgh. It must be received by their
office AT LEAST 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE DATE YOU WISH TO BEGIN YOUR HOMESTAY.
2. With the form please enclose a brief letter to your host family describing
yourself and your interests. Simply address the letter "Dear Host
Family." THE LETTER MUST ACCOMPANY THE FORM in order for us to
arrange your homestay.
3. If possible, Global Pittsburgh
will send you information about your host family and your host family
will write to you before you leave your home country. If you do not
hear from PCIV or your host farnily, please contact the Global Pittbubrgh office
when you arrive in Pittsburgh.
4. When you know your travel plans, please notify the Global Pittbubrgh office of
the EXACT DAY, TIME AND PLACE OF YOUR ARRIVAL IN PITTSBURGH. YOUR FORM
MAY NOT BE PROCESSED UNTIL YOUR ARRIVAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED
BY THE GLOBAL PITTSBURGH OFFICE.
5. If your travel plans change or you miss your flight, it is very important
that you notify Global Pittsburgh immediately. Global Pittsburgh will contact your host family.
As it may not be possible for your hosts to adjust their schedules we
may have to cancel or re-schedule your homestay.
6. Because host families may have difficulties hosting a scholar and
his/her wife/husband and children due to space limitations, scholars
arriving with families should understand that Global Pittsburgh may not be able to
arrange a homestay for longer than one night, if at all.
