Ive been asked a few times why I like to host exchange students. The answer is difficult as opening your heart and home to a stranger is not easy to explain, its very personal. Its as unique as you, your family, and the student. I suspect sometimes people ask me because they are trying to determine if its right for them and their house. I cant tell you that, but I can tell you the million plus reasons why having these inspirational kids in our house works in my home. Ive been a host mom 4 times now. Each experience unique and gifted our home in unique ways. There was at least one common factor across all 4 of my international kids, they were grateful. Grateful for a bed to call their own, a safe place in an otherwise scary situation, a family to do things with, and to be loved. I know this with 100% certainty because they told me both with words and actions on a daily basis. The little things that mean so much like helping with the grocery shopping and carrying in the groceries without being asked, cleaning the kitchen, their rooms, making dinner, making me laugh (especially on the low days), generously sharing their natural families with me, and so much more. Ill try to post more reasons as I think of them. I love each of my international kids as my own. After their school year is done here and they go home, the emptiness of the house is close to a child going off to college, only I dont know when Ill get to see them again. Im so grateful for FB, WhatsAp, and Skype. Thanks to these amazing technologies Im able to still celebrate their accomplishments with them and offer what support I can from afar. These students start as a stranger on a piece of paper and become family for life. Why do I host foreign exchange students? For starters, the term foreign exchange student is inadequate for what these kids are, they are the part of my family that I didnt even know we were missing.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:58:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015