Thursday, October 21, 2010

Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student can be a rewarding experience

Have you ever wanted to know what another country was like? Ever wanted to know the different customs and ways other countries celebrate, and how their day to day activities vary from yours? In the 1990's we hosted several different foreign exchange students through a group called Youth For Understanding (YFU). The students we hosted were from Germany, Denmark, and Brazil. Each student left a lasting mark on our lives. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to have these students in our home for 10 months each, and to learn about their cultures and for them to learn about ours. There were trying times (there always are when someone new comes for an extended stay), but we must say, the good times and memories outweigh the bad times. We have been fortunate enough for some of the students to have come back to visit. They have brought their spouses and we have had a great time visiting with them. The last visit was actually only a couple of months ago. We also stay in touch thru email. It is interesting to see them with their families and to see the wonderful adults they have become. It is also great because our daughter was an only child. She now feels like she has brothers and sisters. Her children have learned a lot about the different cultures, and countries thru their visits. They have also learned a few new words in different languages . If you ever have a chance to host a student from another country, it can be a very rewarding experience.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

What a great post. My brother and sister-in-law are hosting a foreign exchange student this year and will be visiting in November. I'm so excited to meet her and learn more about her culture! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.