Do you want to know how hosting a foreign exchange student changed my life? Or maybe you are here because you are already interested in hosting foreign exchange students and want to know the benefits? See how hosting and coordinating changed my family’s life.
My Hosting Experience
After 6 months of hosting a foreign student in our home and 9 months coordinating a group of foreign exchange students and their host families monthly, this has been an experience that has enriched and shifted my life forever. Moreover, is recognizing that this investment of time and resources has made a lasting positive impact on our students. Foreign student hosting is truly a delight if viewed from the right perspective.
How It All Began
This opportunity found me as my mom was approached by a regional director while in the office of the school where she serves as a long time valued educator. As she learned more about the opportunity, she thought it would be so well suited for me and the work I feel so blessed to do as a minister and mentor to students.
Originally, I was simply the coordinator recruiting host families and matching potential families with students who wish to study in the U.S. for a semester to an entire school year.
My mother then recommended me to the recruiter while we were on an international trip visiting my grandmother and my mother’s side of the family in Canada. The application, interview, paperwork and contract was all signed while on this trip. A true testimony to the power of recommendation and the internet to get things done all while traveling. And so it began, my journey to coordinating and hosting foreign exchange students.
Keep Going Despite The Setbacks
It certainly was not easy, especially within the 1st few months of promoting at local events where my non-profit had established partnerships. I personally followed up with potential host families who signed up at events who later declined to host. What they did not know is that this experience would eventually be one that garnered much benefit. Host families who take the leap of faith would soon realize this.
I can truly say hosting a foreign exchange student turned out to be one of the greatest blessings in this season of our life. Why? Because my husband and I were so engulfed by the daily grind of work and ministry, that we never considered slowing down to see just how beneficial it could be to have someone else in our home to care for. We now have a host daughter to consider when making plans. Someone to think of when deciding how decisions in our home could affect her.
Now, I understand you can’t really compare hosting an international foreign exchange student to having a baby of your own, since she is an almost young adult who can take care of herself for the most part. In this case, we are primarily there to guide, provide shelter and to make sure she does not go to bed hungry. For our current family of two, it was the closest thing at this juncture of our lives to having a child to worry about. It gave us a closer look and insight into further conversations about having our own children.
See, we have a plan and that plan was progressively shifting to “life without kids of our own could be o.k.” because of all the reasons we could come up with in this day and age. However, I truly believe God allowed things to fall into place the way it did. We ended up hosting without the original intent of doing so and it gave us a glimpse of how wonderful it can be to have a child of our own who depends on us. A child you can pour your love into, teach and exemplify God’s love while raising up to be God-fearing contributors to society and that will ultimately become a part of your legacy.
It may be surprising to some who know us personally that it took this experience to prompt us to explore this beautiful gift of expanding one’s family with a child. Other couple’s stories are different from our own, in that they already have children and having this international cultural exposure has enriched their current family dynamic. Younger host siblings are able to get a close look into the global community without living abroad and certainly the connection leads to the desire to further explore the global community as a someday scholar themselves. I have witnessed shy and inconsiderate teenagers grow and expand their horizons as positive contributors to society as a result of this experience.
As a once international student myself, hailing from the island of Jamaica and moving to the United States while in High School (Hampton High School for Girls) coming in the 8th grade and then studying abroad in London, England at Royal Holloway, University of London while a Junior at Spelman College, I know just how important it is to have a family and grounded community where I am planted. These experiences have built and formed me into the global minded person I am today, generally thinking how I can serve others rather than looking to live life for my own personal gain.
My own experiences as an international student, then study abroad student, then coordinator turned host family made me into the person I am today. In these positions as a student in every sphere, I was prepared to never give up when things got difficult. I am always astounded when I see just how strong and brave our students are when they deal so gracefully with challenges life sends their way. This experience is character building and bridges the path to depth in relationships that families would not otherwise experience without hardships and sometimes discomfort in growing and learning other cultures different from their own.
We have families and children through this experience of hosting a foreign exchange student, desire to take the leap of faith and be courageous in deciding to become foreign exchange students themselves through the outbound program. And there are scholarships in place for those wishing to embark on such a journey.
Let Us Know Your Thoughts
Have you ever considered hosting? or know someone who has hosted? I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of Hosting Foreign Exchange students and any questions you may have pertaining to this worthwhile endeavor.
I have another checklist and guide I would love to leave with you that I believe will help you if you are looking to see how this may be the best fit for you and your family.
Take The Quiz
Take the quiz poll below to see if student hosting is right for you and the best kind of student for your family dynamic. Also, learn of more ways you can live out your faith.
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Here are some commonly asked questions answered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
6 months into the journey and we realize our lives has changed for the better having met and cared for our host daughter.
If you are a subscriber or have followed this blog for any period of time, you know that I absolutely love the work I get to do with local and foreign exchange students as a coordinator. Now that High school graduations have taken place in the Southeast, my husband and I had to make it a priority to celebrate each and every student.
The students we have been working with these past nine months and the host families who have sacrificed and invested time, resources and so much more to see these their student have the best experience they could have while on the program are worthy of double honor. Living and attending High School in the United States is not as easy as the media would project, but each of these students we know had an experience of a lifetime.
Here are some of the gifts created with love and personalized by hand alongside my cricut maker to present on our final day out as a group exploring some of the highlights in Atlanta (Stay tuned for a dedicated post on Things To Do in Atlanta as the Summer draws nearer).
Today, I hope this post reminds you and inspires you to spread the message that You Are Absolutely Radiant.
Here are some relevant scriptures that should further inspire you as you consider hosting.
” And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work ” ~1 Timothy 5:10
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I was always interested by this idea and how it would work! I’ve had the chance to meet a family that did the same you did and since then it’s been my desire to do the same ? thank you for sharing your journey, it sure has made me more excited!
Hi Paola! This is so awesome to hear <3 I look forward to hearing your hosting story when it comes to past and do not hesitate to let me know if you need any help through the process 🙂
I have a friend who has had many foreign exchange students in her home and she loves it. It is for sure something I have been thinking about now that we have an extra room.
This is so awesome to hear Anne! So glad to have you here and to have you share about your friend and possibly you! It certainly is an amazing experience. Have you taken the quiz to see the country you would best host from? Please do not hesitate to let me know how I can support you along on this journey and you can sign up for updates as a potential host <3
This is an incredible idea. It is so great to have a chance to host someone from another culture and learn about them, their country, history and culture.
I am going to find out if I can do this in my area. Thank you so much
That sounds awesome Chavi! Thank you for that feedback as it really is an incredible experience. Please let me know if you find a program like this where you live ❤️
I’ve only known one family that hosted exchange students and they loved it. I’ve never really considered it before, though we don’t have the space currently, but it does sound like an enriching experience! The work you do is a priceless ministry!
It is really is enriching! Thank you for your kind feedback. That’s awesome that you know someone who has done this and maybe in the future the opportunity will arise for you to experience something like this ?
My husband and I hosted an exchange student from Germany for a year when our kids were 6 and 9. We had lived in Germany for 4 years and after being back in the states for a year, we decided it would be a great idea to host a student to share our culture just as so many of the people we met in Germany did for us.
It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely a great experience for all of us.
I loved reading about your journey. Such a blessing to be able to open your home to an exchange student.
That is incredible Tammy! So delighted to hear you have experienced hosting. It truly is a blessing! There is always such a great need for wonderful host families who have a heart as giving as yours ?
Wow, what a journey! I made friends with several foreign exchange students in high school and I thought it must be so cool to be able to do that. I’ve never even thought about it from the hosting point of view, but it was great to see it from that side.
Yes, Melissa, so many of us are more familiar with foreign exchange as observers from a far when there are exchange students all around us! They have this opportunity because a family saw the value in opening their home and hearts to create global impact.
such a great post, i always wandered what it would feel like to host a foreign student. Thanks for sharing your experience
It really is a tremendous experience! Thank you so much for visiting and for your positive feedback 🙂