Darby Flats

PLEASE DO NOT AGREE TO HOST WITHOUT A PLAN. For a child that is looking forward to his Flat's travels, it will be devastating to not have a Flat returned. Please keep in mind that this is for the kids! Some children and/or parents work very hard on their Flats. If you don't keep your agreement, you could turn the child off of Traveling for good. Disappointment affects everyone differently.

With that said, emergencies happen and life gets in the way! Communicate with the owner of your visitor. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't understand! People deal with their own drama every day. Communicate and they will understand! I once had to send back a Flat with nothing done. The family was thankful simply because he got HOME! Use consideration and manners.

1. Determine where the Flat is going to "sleep" while visiting you. You don't want to lose him, so a stable location is a must. Write the owner's e-mail address on the envelope you're keeping him in. This way, if there is a problem, the contact information is readily available.

2. Determine an itinerary for your visitor. I've found that my best intentions are not good enough. :) Look at your calendar and figure out when you are planning to send him home. Plan about three activities for your visitor. Be sure you have time to accomodate the things you really want to do with him/her.

3. Figure out when you are going to complete the Flat's travel journal. If the owner has sent one, it is your responsibility to complete it. A few minutes a day is what works best for me. Angel likes to sit down and fill it out all at once at the end. What will work best for you?

4. What are you going to include in his return package? You will need to snail mail the Flat and his journal home. Are you going to print pictures for the host, or simply e-mail them? Are you going to write your own journal to send home with him? Are you going to send souvenirs? Please determine this, as postage will increase as you add more to the Flat's return package. Some hosts will not be able to reciprocate. Please be grateful for whatever time and energy the host spent on YOUR Flat.