foriegn exchange students

[JIL]

Has anyone ever housed a student? how did you go about it, and how was the outcome? thanks JIL

[texican]

One of my neighbors (her brother bought my parents place) just fell in love with the idea of having an exchange student living with them. Her hubby was cold on the idea. Cold... cold... cold...

Till the uber-hot 18 yr old German 'girl' showed up. Then he started warming up. Wife wanted him to carry her and the kids everywhere... ok. Wanted to make sure she got the American experience... She'd go sometimes, but didn't have to force hubby to take her out.

He finally warmed up real good, and took her out, took her in, took her upside down.

They got Dee vorced after she went back to Europe. There was fault all around...

Moral most of us yokels got, was don't tempt temptation if one party doesn't want or can handle the temptation.

Or, make sure you screen the exchange student and make sure you're not getting a super-model.

If you have undying faith, it'd probably work. But remember Reagan... Trust, But Verify.

[ldc]

Jill, I taught foreign exchange students for 2 decades, and was an intermediary for many over that time span. Many potential problems, although divorce was probably the only one our program didn't face (as far as I know!). We did face pregnacies tho. Many, many health issues come to the fore when they are under stress (even happy stress) in a new country, no matter how rich the sending country or family is...Cultural problems regarding money on every possible level and ...Food habits/problems/allergies/unwillingness to "eat local"....Dishonesty on the part of both parties... Religion problems/no religion, and the normal girlfriend/boyfriend things, personality conflicts between the host family and the students. Here the students paid their host families and expected a lot by US standards. You're welcome to pm me. I'm not against the idea; it just doesn't always work out the way one expects. Oh, and car and cycling accidents were big on our list too. ldc

[sidepasser]

Having sent a kid out on "loan" and had one "loaned" to me - never had a problem with either.

Depends on the screening program I suppose or else I was incredibly lucky - however the school that was the intermediary was also very highly rated and would not accept "just anyone who had money" to go through the program. Last girl was a Ukraine girl, very nice and polite and respectful. My son still talks via skype to her and will visit her next Fall when he returns to Russia.

[Cindy in NY]

When I was in college, my parents had a foreign exchange student living with them and my 3 sisters. After about a week, my Mama was ready to send her back. The girl was from Brazil and was quite well to do. She thought she was going to sleep in on fresh sheets every day, use three fresh, clean towels everyday, and have fresh squeezed orange juice waiting on her when she decided to grace everyone with her presence! That didn't last long!

There was also the problem of staying out late and generally getting into any trouble she could find especially if it involved boys. I'm surprised that there wasn't a pregnancy involved.

[KIT.S]

Ours were short term teenage boys, both from Japan, at different times. We did very well. Some of our food wasn't exactly appreciated, but we eat a lot of Asian-type foods, too, and one of the boys was so thrilled that I bought him miso soup. He even wrote his mom, who thanked us. They were both easy and got along well, but we didn't have them for an entire school semester, either. Also, we didn't have any kids exactly their ages. We exchanged letters for a while, after they went home.
Kit

[SpaceCadet12364]

This is our 2nd year to host an exchange student, both time girls.

Last year's was from Thailand...very sweet girl, kinda shy, and I think the transition from big city (Bangkok) boarding school to small town KY (and a public HS) was a bit overwhelming sometimes. There were some food issues; we raise/eat beef, being buddhist she didnt eat beef. Didn't do much dairy (milk, cheeses) but liked ice cream. Wasn't overly enthusiastic about most fruits & veggies either. Pretty much unlimited personal budget, I think...she LOVED shopping.....but towards the end, I think her parents kinda put a hold on that somewhat.

This year's student is from Switzerland. Small town, but has lived/goes to often much larger cities, so the small town doesnt seem to bother her much. The local HS here is about double the size of her one at home though. Much easier on the dietary stuff, she likes most anything I have put on the table (doesnt over do it though) and is TINY weight wise. Much more outgoing than the Thai girl, which I think helps ALOT. Has made loads of friends here already.

Both times, we are in it for the entire school year. All in all its a good experience, of course there are times that I am sure we get on one another's nerves. Maybe we have been lucky, no troubles with either of them really. Our DD has loved the experience of having "sisters", and still keeps up with her Thai sister online.
I guess it helps somewhat in that we always have eaten differently, somewhat, than most people we know (at least seemingly around here anyways). Both of us were military, and traveled quite a bit. So, I think we are much more open to different foods and such, and I try to cook healthy and not so much of the convenience stuff. Figured doing the exchange hosting was a way to let our DD experience a touch of traveling and meeting others.

It has worked well for us.

[Callieslamb]

We have had Chinese, Thailand, and Japanese students in our home. The Thai and Japanese were with us only a few months until they found permanent homes. They were placed in our town for a special camp to help them with their english. We took them in to help the people running the program. The Chinese student was with us for most of a school year. We found our experience varied with the student. We went though an exchange group called "Open Door". We had to have background checks done on us to be accepted into the program. Then we were shown a list of students to pick from - they even had videos of the students.

None of the students wanted to go to a home with younger children. All came from 'only child' households. We had 5 children and it was difficult for them to be one of a crowd, especially the Chinese boy. All 3 of our students expected to be given a California-type American experience - lots of running around and partying. They were very disappointed to land in land-locked, unknown Tennessee.

The first month was always good. Everything was new - they were polite and ready to try just about anything. Then, the shock of "I'm not going home" hits as well as the "they aren't going home" shock. There's a couple of rough months and then things get much better. Food was a problem- they tried really hard, but it was a tough transition. How the school accepted them was a problem. Most of them were already into the drinking scene - we don't drink alcohol in our home. Big problem. Our Chinese student finally told us that he only came to America so he could stay in the US - but we had signed papers saying that we wouldn't encourage or help him stay. So he looked around until he found another home that would assist him. He then helped his parents come to the USA. Our Japanese girl was the easiest one, but had the least language skills. Her parents sent her so she would be prepared when the family immigrated at the end of her exchange term.

Our kids had a difficult time with the students. All 3 came thinking Americans were rich. Our kids had after school jobs and they received a lot of grief over it. The students had a difficult time doing chores of any kind. They had their own spending money. We only provided room and board and transportation. If we went on a famil trip, we, of course paid their way. Our Chinese student needed extensive dental work which he couldn't pay for - so he suffered a lot of pain with that. I don't think we will do it again, but it isn't because it isn't a good opportunity. Our family just wasn't a good fit. We are very quiet people. None of the students wanted to have anything to do with church - which is fine - except our kids' social life comes through church youth activities.

If you want to do this - google for an organization that handles it and ask them a LOT of questions.