3 Great Reasons to Host an Exchange Student

Thousands of foreign young people come to this country each year as exchange students. Whether they stay a few weeks or several months, the interactions they have with Americans form rich memories that will last a lifetime. Have you ever considered opening your home to host an international visitor? Here are three reasons why I think you should.

1. Have fun

Welcoming a new person into your family creates all sorts of opportunities for fun and enjoyment through living life together. Imagine the sparkle in your student's eye as she builds her first snowman (and probably sings the Frozen soundtrack along with your kids). Or, you can explain to your student who's never had a hamburger before what they are and why we put "grass" on them (shredded lettuce).

Have you been meaning to check out that new museum, park, or sports team in town but just haven't made it yet? With a foreign student in your home, you'll have the perfect excuse to play tourist in your own city.

2. Learn something new

Let's face it - we can't all pick up and leave our jobs and homes behind for an extended period of time to traipse around a foreign country and immerse ourselves in another culture. But, by living with an international student, you're bringing the world to your home. Hosting is a great way to "travel" without ever stepping on an airplane!

You can learn all sorts of things from your foreign student. For example, did you know that in countries around the Caspian Sea, they celebrate the first day of Spring with the holiday Nowruz? It's a lovely celebration that involves a table set with the 7 S's (items beginning with the letter S in the Persian language). Or perhaps you already know that Japanese people eat with chopsticks, but wouldn't you like to learn proper chopstick etiquette?

Beyond learning about another language and culture, your student and your family can also develop important life skills through the hosting experience. You'll learn new ways to communicate, how to be flexible and adaptable, and how to see the world through someone else's eyes (empathy).

3. Be patriotic

That's right, average citizen, even you have a role to play in America's foreign relations. By forming enduring ties with people from other countries, you are participating in the important work of public diplomacy, which is the realm of international affairs that happens on an interpersonal rather than inter-governmental level. If you've shared pancakes with someone on a cozy Saturday morning, the theory goes, you're less likely to want to go to war with that person's country. I mean, in a nutshell. Public diplomacy is more that pancakes, but you get the idea. Plus, who knows, that kid you're making pancakes for might become a member of parliament in his country some day!

You can also share with the student you host all the great things about our country, like our spirit of volunteerism, the power of civil society, and the effectiveness of grass-roots efforts to make a difference. These might seem like obvious concepts to you, but in some parts of the world, these ideas are pretty novel.

Are you pumped up and ready to host??
Great! Just so you know, most organizations have hosting opportunities for all types of families - single people, married, with kids, no kids, urban, suburban, rural, etc.

• CSIET - the accrediting body for youth exchange programs, they provide a search for all programs available in your area
• C2C - a program of the US State Department to connect host families to their amazingly awesome scholarship students from less popular exchange countries like Tanzania and the Republic of Georgia
• World Affairs Council - is hosting an adult more your speed? Check out the International Visitor Leadership Program with your local WAC. 

Who knows, maybe you'll wind up with a cute magnet like this as a present from your visitor! :)