International Exchange Students: Broaden Your Horizons!

Can you imagine inviting a complete stranger to live in your home for 10 months? It sounds like a very scary thing to do. But what if, instead of a stranger, you were welcoming in the newest member of your forever family? That is exactly what international student exchange programs are all about.

International students who apply to study abroad are adventurous, brave, smart, and ... just like teens here in America! These students enjoy music, sports, and hanging out with friends, the same as American teens. They want to come experience American life and culture, and they want to be welcomed as a member of your family.

It is easy to see the benefits an exchange student receives: a place to live, the support of an American family, and the experience of a lifetime. But what do Host Families receive? They don't get any money for hosting a student, so what is it that makes a family want to host? Former Host Families agree that hosting a student is a way to bring the world into their own home. Many families will never have the opportunity to travel the world but they find that hosting an international student allows them to experience a new culture. Host Families find that their children are more open to new ideas and new cultures, and have increased empathy for others after hosting an exchange student. Families also find joy in showing a student their part of the world and seeing their town through new eyes. Here in Maryland exchange students get to experience eating steamed crabs with their host families - a tradition that is not to be missed!

Host families come in all shapes and sizes. Some have teens the same age as their student. Some have younger children or older children. Others don't have children in the home at all. Single parents, grandparents, couples of all types - all are eligible to be Host Families and all provide unique experiences to their students.

Our modern political climate often fuels an "us" versus "them" attitude about the world. Hosting an exchange student is a way to break down those attitudes on a very personal level. While doing so we realize that this student who was once a stranger is now a permanent part of our family, and they take a piece of our heart with them when they leave.

For more information about hosting an exchange student (or studying abroad), contact:

Heather Johnson, ASSE Area Representative
443-867-0380, SharingMyStory@yahoo.com
www.asse.com