Our Exchange Student Experience

Our first foreign exchange student experience was actually with two unrelated Asian 12-year old boys. One of them was very shy and wanted to stay in the same home with someone he knew. Had we thought this through, we would have separated the children into different families, but as this was our first experience, we were eager to go with it.

We put the boys together in the same room and soon they became comfortable with us and our home; however, in an odd sort of way, it felt like “them” against “us.” We had rules that they followed, they joined us for meals, got ready for school and other activities as they should (for the most part they were very well-behaved), but free time at home was spent in their room talking their native tongue together and becoming closer friends. The purpose of their visit to become immersed in American culture, language, and “the American way” was defeated by having them so close in age and proximity. We had a good time together, but it will not be a lasting relationship for our family and the exchange students.

Our next foreign exchange student experience couldn't have been more different than the first. We agreed to have one female student. From the moment we met at the airport, our daughter and the exchange student were mesmerized with each other! The girls got along great from day one. They decided to share a room even though we had a separate bedroom available. Our daughter helped her with English skills and the exchange student did very well in school and we all had fun with extracurricular activities. We have some wonderful memories and are still very fond of our exchange student.

It was sad for all of us to take her to the airport and say goodbye at the end of the stay. We have kept in contact via Skype, email and letters. We hope it will a long-lasting friendship between two girls from entirely different backgrounds and countries –which is what I think exchange programs should aspire to be.