Blog

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!