Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student-Part I

       The idea to host an exchange student first came to me on a July afternoon while working in my classroom, getting ready for the new school year.  I stopped by the office to "chill" with the secretaries, principal, and anyone else who was hanging around. 

     Our high school counselor happened to mention that we have an exchange student from Germany, a girl, 16 years old, who was enrolled, but her host family "fell through."  He asked if I knew anyone interested in hosting a foreign exchange student.  I immediately popped up with: "We'll take her!"  Everyone present replied with some version of, "Are you crazy?  Why would you want another kid?  What about talking to your husband?" 

     I went home and started getting our spare room ready.  We had at that time, only one child of our own, our daughter, aged four at the time.  I told her that on Friday we were going to the airport and pick up Kirsten, our new exchange student. 

     When my husband got home, we hit him with the big news.  As I predicted, he was fine with it.  He didn't, as my co-workers hinted, go berzerk! 

    During the next week, we filled out the applications, sent our new "daughter" our profile, talked to her and her parents on the phone, met the local representatives of the exchange program.  Finally, on Friday, we picked her up at the airport. 

      Since that first year, we have hosted two more students.  Each student presents his or her own challenges:  language, culture, morals, cleanliness (or lack thereof!), but the rewards each time have been enormous for me as a mom, for my own children, and for the student we've hosted. 

     Sharing your home, your life, your culture as a host family is a wonderful way to bridge barriers between cultures and countries. 

     Our current exchange student, Luyi, is a s 17 year old student from China.  He asked me, "Why did you host me?  What do you get from hosting?"  I replied:  "We get the knowledge that we have made a lifelong friend.  No matter what happens between your government and ours, we'll always have each other as friends.  That friendship is built on mutual respect and love."