chronovisor
Temporal Novice
Hello, and thank you for opening up your home and heart to a time traveller. You will find that you and your new "past-buddy" have a lot to discover about each other. By hosting a person from another time period, you have a unique opportunity to learn about their culture, language and traditions, while helping them acclimate to ours more smoothly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DID THE "PAST-BUDDIES" GET HERE?
This is the most frequent question we're asked here at PBH, and the answer is all at once simple and complex: about a year ago, a very confused individual was found wandering around in a village in the Ukraine. Upon questioning, it was discovered that this individual had inadvertently walked through a time portal, travelling instantly from his own point in time to ours.
Efforts by multinational task forces were unable to locate this rift, but the point was soon moot, as a second visitor soon showed up at a different temporary rift in central Greece. Ever since, past-buddies (PBs), have been showing up regularly in various spots around the globe. The journey is one-way, and is as-yet unexplained. The unfortunate aspect, of course, is that some of the PBs show up in areas that are now under water, or occupied by several feet of concrete.
However, those who survive the journey have been granted legal resident status in whichever nation they arrive, and, in most cases, are given full rights, health care and a "leg-up" program, which now includes a brief stay with a host family such as yourself. It was determined that having them stay with "regular folks" was the best way to deal with them, rather than have them sequestered in a cold, unfriendly laboratory.
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WHAT DO I TALK ABOUT/DO WITH MY PAST-BUDDY?
Your PB has been given a brief tutorial on what has happened to them, and they have all been given thorough psychological screenings to make sure they are able to deal with the situation. Those who have passed the screenings are then released to the PBH program, where they are placed with a PBH family.
Your PB has been certified as a normal, functional human being who, just like anyone else, needs friendship, companionship, patience and understanding. They will need to be gently exposed to new ideas and new technologies, and they will need you to help explain how our modern world works.
Some suggested activities are: taking them on hikes and picnics; having simple gatherings of food, music and conversation with a few close friends or family; engaging in rudimentary sports or liesure activities; gentle instruction in books, art, literature, history and other developments. Use your imagination--just be sure that the activities are focused around helping your PB become comfortable in these new settings.
--------------------
HOW LONG WILL MY PB STAY WITH ME?
It is hoped that they will forge lifetime friendships with their PBH families. As full-grown adults, they have nearly the same rights as any citizen. After 3 months, an Institute representative will meet with you individually and check the progress of the PB. If it is determined that the PB is able to live on his/her own, the PB will be given that option.
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CAN I OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM IF I CHANGE MY MIND, OR IF I GET NERVOUS OR SCARED OF MY PB?
You can change your mind at any time, but bear in mind that opting out of the PB program is permanent. There is no "exchanging" of PBs except in extreme cases. If, at any time, you believe that your PB might pose a physical threat to you or your household, contact the Institute immediately and report it. It should be noted that your PB has been given a clean physical bill of health, and has been fully innoculated, so there should be no undue risk of them passing on the black plague, nor of them succumbing to the common cold.
--------------------
CAN I CHARGE PEOPLE TO SEE/VISIT WITH MY PB?
Absolutely not! The PBs are not to be exploited or used for profit in any way, shape or form. Any violation of this policy will result in the immediate removal of the PB from your family, and placement with another.
--------------------
CAN I TAKE MY PB OUT OF THE COUNTRY?
Some PBH families have expressed a desire to take their PBs back to their "homeland," as was the case with an Irish-American immigrant from 1845 who wanted to go back to Ireland. All such requests must be cleared with the Institute beforehand, and permission from the destination country must be obtained. Note--it is seldom allowed, because of the potential risk of flight/disappearance by the PB. A PB who wants desperately to return "home" sometimes has not fully accepted the fact that he is where/when he is. If your PB expresses such an interest, try to placate him/her with the next best thing: communication with natives or naturalized residents, exposure to that culture in electronic and print media, and anything else that will put them in mind of the area without actually having to go there.
--------------
WHAT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE/CULTURE BARRIERS?
These are among the top issues of PB hosting, since a great many PBs will not be native speakers of the same language as you. Even English-speaking PBs from a few centuries ago will be hampered by a language barrier. They have been given some basics, but the rest is up to you. Again, be patient, work with them, and learn from them. You will find that you have more in common than you think!
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Once again, we thank you for your participation in the PBH program. Below is a progress report form, which is to be sent in periodically with information on your experiences with your PB.
PB name: _____________________________ Modern name (where applicable): _________________________
Nickname(s): ____________________________________________________________________________________
FB vital stats:
1) Gender
2) Race
3) Height
4) Weight
5) Hair/eye color
6) Distinguishing marks/characteristics
PB place of origin: ______________________
PB birthdate or era of origin (approximate if necessary): __________________________
PB native language: _________________________________
Other basic information you have learned about your FB (ancestry, witness to historical events, etc): __________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(use extra paper if necessary)
Please write your impressions and experiences with your PB:______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(use extra paper if necessary)
Do you have any questions/observations for the Institute? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
(use extra paper if necessary)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DID THE "PAST-BUDDIES" GET HERE?
This is the most frequent question we're asked here at PBH, and the answer is all at once simple and complex: about a year ago, a very confused individual was found wandering around in a village in the Ukraine. Upon questioning, it was discovered that this individual had inadvertently walked through a time portal, travelling instantly from his own point in time to ours.
Efforts by multinational task forces were unable to locate this rift, but the point was soon moot, as a second visitor soon showed up at a different temporary rift in central Greece. Ever since, past-buddies (PBs), have been showing up regularly in various spots around the globe. The journey is one-way, and is as-yet unexplained. The unfortunate aspect, of course, is that some of the PBs show up in areas that are now under water, or occupied by several feet of concrete.
However, those who survive the journey have been granted legal resident status in whichever nation they arrive, and, in most cases, are given full rights, health care and a "leg-up" program, which now includes a brief stay with a host family such as yourself. It was determined that having them stay with "regular folks" was the best way to deal with them, rather than have them sequestered in a cold, unfriendly laboratory.
--------------------
WHAT DO I TALK ABOUT/DO WITH MY PAST-BUDDY?
Your PB has been given a brief tutorial on what has happened to them, and they have all been given thorough psychological screenings to make sure they are able to deal with the situation. Those who have passed the screenings are then released to the PBH program, where they are placed with a PBH family.
Your PB has been certified as a normal, functional human being who, just like anyone else, needs friendship, companionship, patience and understanding. They will need to be gently exposed to new ideas and new technologies, and they will need you to help explain how our modern world works.
Some suggested activities are: taking them on hikes and picnics; having simple gatherings of food, music and conversation with a few close friends or family; engaging in rudimentary sports or liesure activities; gentle instruction in books, art, literature, history and other developments. Use your imagination--just be sure that the activities are focused around helping your PB become comfortable in these new settings.
--------------------
HOW LONG WILL MY PB STAY WITH ME?
It is hoped that they will forge lifetime friendships with their PBH families. As full-grown adults, they have nearly the same rights as any citizen. After 3 months, an Institute representative will meet with you individually and check the progress of the PB. If it is determined that the PB is able to live on his/her own, the PB will be given that option.
--------------------
CAN I OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM IF I CHANGE MY MIND, OR IF I GET NERVOUS OR SCARED OF MY PB?
You can change your mind at any time, but bear in mind that opting out of the PB program is permanent. There is no "exchanging" of PBs except in extreme cases. If, at any time, you believe that your PB might pose a physical threat to you or your household, contact the Institute immediately and report it. It should be noted that your PB has been given a clean physical bill of health, and has been fully innoculated, so there should be no undue risk of them passing on the black plague, nor of them succumbing to the common cold.
--------------------
CAN I CHARGE PEOPLE TO SEE/VISIT WITH MY PB?
Absolutely not! The PBs are not to be exploited or used for profit in any way, shape or form. Any violation of this policy will result in the immediate removal of the PB from your family, and placement with another.
--------------------
CAN I TAKE MY PB OUT OF THE COUNTRY?
Some PBH families have expressed a desire to take their PBs back to their "homeland," as was the case with an Irish-American immigrant from 1845 who wanted to go back to Ireland. All such requests must be cleared with the Institute beforehand, and permission from the destination country must be obtained. Note--it is seldom allowed, because of the potential risk of flight/disappearance by the PB. A PB who wants desperately to return "home" sometimes has not fully accepted the fact that he is where/when he is. If your PB expresses such an interest, try to placate him/her with the next best thing: communication with natives or naturalized residents, exposure to that culture in electronic and print media, and anything else that will put them in mind of the area without actually having to go there.
--------------
WHAT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE/CULTURE BARRIERS?
These are among the top issues of PB hosting, since a great many PBs will not be native speakers of the same language as you. Even English-speaking PBs from a few centuries ago will be hampered by a language barrier. They have been given some basics, but the rest is up to you. Again, be patient, work with them, and learn from them. You will find that you have more in common than you think!
-------------------
-------------------
Once again, we thank you for your participation in the PBH program. Below is a progress report form, which is to be sent in periodically with information on your experiences with your PB.
PB name: _____________________________ Modern name (where applicable): _________________________
Nickname(s): ____________________________________________________________________________________
FB vital stats:
1) Gender
2) Race
3) Height
4) Weight
5) Hair/eye color
6) Distinguishing marks/characteristics
PB place of origin: ______________________
PB birthdate or era of origin (approximate if necessary): __________________________
PB native language: _________________________________
Other basic information you have learned about your FB (ancestry, witness to historical events, etc): __________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
(use extra paper if necessary)
Please write your impressions and experiences with your PB:______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(use extra paper if necessary)
Do you have any questions/observations for the Institute? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
(use extra paper if necessary)