Being a host family is like trekking in unfamiliar territory; there are so many questions you might
ask yourself, like “what is my student going to be like?” or “will they enjoy living here?” Yes, it
can all be quite scary when you consider that a foreign person you’ve never met before is
coming to live with you for some time. Crazy right? Let me tell you a brief story about my
perspective and, coincidently, becoming a host sister.

When my mom, Jen, took up an offer to place a group of exchange students from Spain as
another source of income back in 2002, she didn’t hesitate to do so; with no experience and four
young kids in a small apartment in Northeast Massachusetts. I briefly recall the large manilla
envelope specially delivered from Spain; it contained a handful of young teenagers’ profiles,
names, interests, and photos; it was all coming together. We chose a boy from the group named
Xabier; Xabi is what we called him; he was the start of something more than I could ever expect.
Although I was only 7 or 8 years old, my memories are vague, but it was probably one of the
most memorable summers of my childhood. Jen decided to continue the gig over the next few
years; she successfully recruited families across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Her
regional program grew from a mere 12 students to upwards of 150 students per summer. It
doesn’t include her assistance to other regions like New York and Vermont, who continuously
looked to her for help and guidance.

Now let’s fast forward twenty years later; our family has personally hosted close to 50 exchange
students, and we’ve encountered close to a thousand exchange students- WHOA. It wasn’t until
my teenage years that I fully comprehended my role as a host sister. Sure, I was there to help
the students practice their excellent English skills, but they taught me a few life lessons that I’ve
held onto. I grew up learning and welcoming people from other cultures and backgrounds with
open arms. I pride myself on being unbiased when meeting people and treating everyone with a
level of respect. I developed a love for travel; I even flew to Spain solo in the 7th grade. I’m
never afraid to go to new places and try the unfamiliar here and abroad. This type of upbringing
has shaped me into the young adult I’ve become, and I would not change a single detail.

One of the most important lessons is appreciating the little things around us; we often don’t think
the places we live or go are less than impressive. Once we started hosting, the students were
always in awe of the most mundane things, such as a yellow school bus, Drive-thrus, and even
peanut butter. They are ordinary aspects of our lives here in the United States, but they made
them memorable for my students and me. As I pointed out, the short time they have here can
lead to years of intangible influence on their character and ours. They will go back home to their
natural families and friends and look back on every little detail of their trip for months and years
to come. One student I had was Ana, an only child who came into our household of 8; we were
worried it would make her even more anxious. Not only did she return year after year, but she
also photographed almost every moment she spent with us, and she eventually moved to the
United States for several years. Ana has become an extension of our family; we watched the
shy teenager bloom into one of the most intelligent and talented individuals I know. To know that
we grew up together is nothing short of exceptional. We’ve seen our students graduate, have
children, get married, and become incredible members of their communities. Our lives are
forever intertwined.

I hope with every summer that approaches, each shy and nervous host family, whom it may be
their first time or 7th, experiences everything I mentioned above. They signed up, not knowing
what may happen in those short 25 days, but knew they wanted to take on this experience,
even if it seemed crazy. I believe homestay travel is the only way to connect globally, not
through social media, not through the news, and not just by traveling to a destination to be
shuttled around by a tour bus. How is that connecting or breaking down cultural barriers? Our
little bubbles are not sustainable for personal and global growth.

I’ll answer the questions from the beginning; “What is my student going to be like?” They are like
every teenager you’ve probably encountered but add a sprinkle of eagerness and a pinch of
anxiousness; it’s very endearing. “Will they enjoy living here?” Yes, but that depends if you take
the leap and step out of your comfort zone. Remember, these young kids signed up to live with
strangers in a foreign country. I advise you not to think about the what if’s. It’s not as scary as it
sounds, and you’ll be begging them to stay longer the day they depart, conveying that Jen and I
have done our part, and we’ve successfully intertwined two families for a lifetime.

If you want to experience being a Host family or want to become a Exchange Student yourself,
please reach out to us, and let’s make that connection happen!

Be it travel, school or work, foreign interaction with diverse cultures is a part of life. When

individuals and families open their homes to students, personal development is inevitable.

Familiarization with another race, culture and ethnicity expands the mind. It offers the entire

family a study on how to be adaptive to intercultural interactions and demonstrates how

different yet similar we all are.

Once hosts open their homes to students, a natural family-like relationship transpires between

the student and the host family. Learning about another person’s culture and interests

represents an understanding of the world as seen through the student. By opening your door,

you open a student’s eyes to the real America: real people, real experiences, and real life. At

the same time, your generosity of spirit creates a positive view of the United States that crosses

borders—and lasts a lifetime. These bonds are crucial to world development.

Imagine knowing that by your hosting a student, you are forever changing their point of view.

You are shaping their minds. Your family will show them what your day-to-day life is. Your

values and traditions. We are very much in a world that needs peace and understanding.

Hosting is Diplomacy at the most basic of levels. When you change someone’s mind, break the

idea of stereo types – they share their experiences with those around them back in their home

country.

Your own ideas and perceptions of other cultures will change as well. You will understand

different political systems, customs and religions.

The benefits of hosting extend to making a lifelong friend. Many families stay in touch with

their student for many years to come- and visit them in their home country. You get to

experience their foods, neighborhoods and customs. You are creating memories to carry a lifetime.

Youth exchange programs are a vehicle for shared global understanding. Youth between the ages of 12 and 20 have the opportunity to shape a more global career, develop close ties with individuals in another country, and learn about a new culture. At STEP, we have listed our top four reasons youth exchange programs changed lives.

Language

Language barriers are a thing of the past. New people, across borders, can learn key phrases and communicate easily – bolstered by technology. There is now such an amazing opportunity to learn a new language by integrating into a community, and this learning can happen quickly. Today, however, only one in five American students aged K-12 learn a foreign language. At STEP USA, we are confident that learning a new language is one of the most important elements of our outbound program, sending US students to Spain. Many of our students report back that very quickly, any language barrier went away.

For example, Tessa, who visited Spain in 2015 through STEP, said that: “the language barrier was interesting to work through but with a mix of my Spanish skills and my family’s English skills we were always able to find a way to communicate (even if it meant a silly game of charades).”

Learn about a culture

Students from Spain are able to integrate into a new culture in the United States as a part of a structured, supportive program. They are able to learn in classes, gain insights from society around them, and become a part of a family and network of existing friends. At STEP USA, we have heard a tremendous amount from our students about how much they have learned and became comfortable in the new environment in Spain. It was a great “bonding experience”.

International connections

Student exchange programs, especially amongst youth (ages 12-20), are an important element of building a global mindset in young people. STEP USA believes that as a Spanish exchange program, the connections that we build through exchange can make for a more connected and understanding global community.

The language barrier was interesting to work through but with a mix of my Spanish skills and my family’s English skills we were always able to find a way to communicate (even if it meant a silly game of charades).

Career Foundations!

Nowadays, resumes for entry-level job positions all look the same. Similar experience, work and extra-curricular. Experiencing a different education system in another country helps students in two ways. Firstly, it improves students’ chances of employ ability as it demonstrates a unique ability to interact with an integrate into a new culture. New office spaces and jobs look for individuals with a clear ability (and passion) to assimilate, quickly. In addition, research among European students who took part in a recent international exchange found that program participants increased their employment by 42% compared to those that had not done international exchange as they have more transversal skills like cultural awareness, tolerance, and new languages.

With these experiences, students are set up for a successful and more connected future. We are so excited to continue to house students in the US and send students abroad for programs. For more information on what we do, visit our Program About Us page.