We just got an email from the superintendent of LO's school sharing the opportunity to host exchange students for the 2016/17 school year. It's not something I would want to do now when my kids are this young (the poor kid would be deathly bored) but I think it would be great once the girls are older. Then they can hopefully hang out and learn from each other. It's definitely something I would consider in the future!
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We hosted 3 while I was in high school. I loved it!! I would jump at the chance for boys to have the same experience.
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I'd love to!
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Absolutely!! I lived with a family while studying abroad and had a fabulous experience!
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I would definitely consider it later when LO is a little older. I lived with a family for a year while studying abroad in France and it was an awesome experience.
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Sure! We had a month long exchange student in high school and it was a great experience.
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Definitely!
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I'm not sure to be honest. I'm not sure what it all entails? But definitely not till the girls are older and I would probably only host similar aged girls.
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Yes I can't wait to do this when my kids are older!!
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My best friend's family hosted an exchange student when her youngest brother was in middle school. She said it was kind of cool. It's something I would consider, but I doubt DH would go for it.
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Maybe but probably not since I have a girl and a boy. Too much opportunity for funny business since I wouldn't do it until they are older.
DH's family hosted several girls. The first was a trouble maker and was kicked out. The rest were from the country they adopted his sister from. That always awkward for SIL and the exchange students.
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It sounds fun in theory but I would worry about the exchange student getting into trouble on my watch!
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I would happily host a college student, but I'm not sure about a high schooler. I was an exchange student twice in college, and I loved it and my host families. I think they liked me, too--one family came halfway around the world to my wedding! They are just amazing people.
I've also had several close family members and friends who had HS exchange students, and it was often really rough on everyone (a few times it was fantastic). Based on these experiences, I think I'd rather have a slightly older student.
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I would if it were an actual exchange that my child wanted to participate in (aka they are the same or similar ages, and same gender). However, I had a pretty bad exchange experience of my own as a pre-teen so I would only do it if my child really wanted to. It's not something I'd volunteer for otherwise.
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We hosted probably 10-15 students through my childhood, from birth to high school. Some were great, some less so, but overall, good experiences. But when I think about it, I need my home to be my space, and I ultimately don't think I'd be a great long-term host.
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We just hosted an exchange student when LO was 7 months. It was short term (just over a week) and so much fun! We'll definitely do it again.
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My high school did a three(ish) week exchange with a school in Italy. I would host for something like that - maybe up to six weeks or so - but don't think we would enjoy hosting for a full year, or even a semester.
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Yes, I plan to when my son is older.
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If we have enough room (an extra unused bedroom) I would like to, but probably college students and not teens.
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My husband's family did every other year for a long time and it was a great experience. We have visited one, his parents have visited most of them and two came to our wedding.
Assuming we have room, we will host once we have late elementary aged kids.
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I think doing it late elementary age would be great. I know people that did it around high school and it sometimes brought alcohol and smoking into their house around their teenagers.
Also would depend on the room we have. Right now it doesn't look like we will ever have extra space.
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I have always wanted to do this because we hosted exchange students when I was growing up, but we will see if it happens. I'd like the kids to be older and to have an extra bedroom before we do.
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No interest
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No - I am a big introvert and don't like the idea of not being able to relax in my own home. I'm ready for guests who I love to leave after 2-3 days.
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I have no real interest in doing this. I might do it for a shorter period of time if my child was going to do an exchange with the same family. But it's pretty unappealing. I am already starved for down time / time to myself.
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No interest. We had my college-aged cousin stay with my mom a couple years back when she took a couple semesters of college classes here and it was just too much to handle on top of our daily schedule. I can only imagine it would be harder with our own kids and their schedules.
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I would definitely consider it once my son is school aged, if we have the space.
I did an exchange in high school (Japan) and another in college (Costa Rica) and they were both great experiences. I kept in touch with the family I stayed with in high school for many years after and even flew back to Japan while I was in college to visit them. After my trip to Japan, we temporarily hosted a student from Japan for about a month, until she could get a permanent family, which was great, we would have kept her for the full year if we had the space.
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I participated in a few exchanges when I was in high school (short-term homestay in France, and a year-long study abroad sophomore year in Honduras), and my family hosted a few short-term students as well (a girl from France and a girl from Venezuela).
Now as an adult I am heavily involved as a volunteer with the same program I did my year in Honduras with. I actually think I get more enjoyment out of that than I would with hosting a student. I serve as a liaison to families and students, and also run arrival/departure orientations (and the occasional social activity). I like getting to know several students and figuring out how best to help them adjust to life with a family here.
From my perspective, I have seen it work much better when families with kids host while the kids are young-ish (late elementary/middle). I've noticed that families can almost feel defrauded when they host students the same age as their kids, because they think they will become great friends and it doesn't always happen. In my anecdotal experience, those are the families that tend to host once, whereas the hosting repeaters are those who start when their kids are younger.
If you are thinking about hosting, PLEASE consider hosting an Asian male...those are by and far the HARDEST students to find families for (everyone wants European girls!!!), even though they are some of the sweetest kids I've met.
Ack that turned out longer than I meant, but I LOVE talking about exchange students. And I just wanted to put out there that there are ways to be involved without actively hosting a student!! If anyone wants to chat about this further feel free to wall me
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@MediaNaranja: that's so fascinating that everyone would only want European girls and not Asian males! Whaaaat??
I probably wouldn't but only because I'm not a fan of people in my space for extended periods of time.
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never again. when i was a freshman in HS, i went on an exchange so in return, we had to host a girl from france. she was a nightmare. randomly i will text my mom "remember M_?" just to get her reaction.
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I would be open to it when kid(s) are older as well!
I am an immigrant myself so I definitely am passionate about helping exchange students out!
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Absolutely! I was one, and absolutely loved my host families. I also grew up having them, and have such great memories--we learned a ton from our exchange students!
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