International Experience

When a family hosts an exchange student, a common side effect is a newly awakened passion and interest in travel and cultures! American teenager Emily participated in a 2 week German immersion experience with iE shortly after hosting an exchange student from China, and she shares with us below the main takeaways from her experience!

In the summer of 2014, I got the opportunity to go to Europe! I stayed with a host family in Germany for two weeks. Of course, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for my Chinese host brother Andy. My family hosted Andy for the spring 2014 semester and he was truly a joy for my family and his classmates. His experience inspired me to do the same, and  I soon had a host family in Germany from the help of iE-USA and I was on my way!

I went to Germany with almost no knowledge of the language, but luckily, my host sister Elli went to a bilingual school and had near perfect English. My family welcomed me to their home with a homemade cake that had my name on it in German colors and made me really feel at home.

I was also extremely fortunate to be in Germany for most of the World Cup. I went to a viewing party with my family and got to see Brazil get destroyed; I also got to see Germany claim the title of 2014 World Cup Weltmeister (Champion). The camaraderie of a winning nation filled the streets that night and EVERYONE was honking their cars and singing in the streets.

I didn’t really expect much culture shock since my parents are foreigners, but that naivete put me in a constant state of awe. My other host sister Izzy was my age (17) and showed me the liberal German youth culture. I was surprised by how carefree my host mom Martina was; she was very supportive of all her daughters’ decisions and asked me to call her by her first name. I still cringe at the thought of not calling her Mrs. Perez. My host dad Mike was also full of surprises. Despite being a man in his late 40’s, he still lived everyday like his last. He’s in a band that actually gets gigs and not only acts like a father, but also like a friend.

After my two weeks, I had to say a terribly difficult goodbye to my lovely family. I went on to see Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Brussels, and London. I am incredibly thankful to the Perez family for making my time so enjoyable, my school staff for telling me about how wonderful hosting a student is, the people at International Exchange, and all the kind people of Europe who made my trip so memorable.

As an athletic student, Lukas thrived as part of both the tennis and soccer teams.

“I think sports will always play an important role for me, and that was really true of my time as an exchange student. Because of sports, I had no problems making friends.”

“I  was so surprised by the positive feelings that the school and host family had for me, even from the beginning. They treated me as though I had been with them since I was a little baby, like I truly belonged. It was very special for me.”

“Thank you for letting somebody like me live with you! You are such an amazing family. I think the whole family with all your aunts, uncles, cousins, and everybody is just incredible. Thank you for the best five months of my life!”

Host parents Steve and Lynn Franko of Vassar, Michigan share their story of hosting a Spanish student named Javier – a decision that quite literally changed the course of their lives!

Deciding to become IE host parents was not something we ever thought of doing at this time in our lives! We had considered hosting an exchange student years ago when our own children were in school, but having a smaller home with just one bathroom, we decided it would be too crowded.

Fortunately, the opportunity to host came up all of a sudden last August. My wife was visiting the high school near the beginning of the school year, and she met the local IE coordinator who told her she had a boy from Spain who she wanted to place in the Vassar Schools. My wife told her that she would go home and talk to me…

But after some discussion about it, I said that I would think about it and went out to mow the lawn. Well, I tossed the pros and cons around in my head and mulled it over. The voice in my head said, “Do it!”

The whirlwind began! This was August 29th and the deadline was August 31st, so we had to act quickly. We filled out paperwork for background checks and IE approval, had an interview with the coordinator, pictures were taken of us and our home, we wrote a letter to Javier, the IE student, and his family, and once approved, cleaned out and redecorated a bedroom for a teenage boy, and did many other things to prepare our home before his arrival on Friday, September 2nd. When we finally talked to Javier and his family via FaceTime, we knew we had made the right decision. We were very excited and also anxious. The night before he arrived we could barely sleep.

It was as if we were expecting our own child!

From the day Javier arrived, it has been an amazing experience! Our relationship has grown so close, it does seem like he is a member of our family. We have shared so many experiences, some wonderfully positive and some that have been learning experiences. Every experience has made the bond between us stronger.

Because this experience has been so wonderfully great, we have decided to host again next year and already have another boy from Spain for the 2017-2018 school year. If you’ve ever considered hosting a foreign exchange student or are considering it for the first time, I wholeheartedly urge you to do it! The experience is so rewarding and our lives have been enriched in so many ways; from the youthful exuberance of an extremely excited teenager so eager to learn and experience American culture, to the many activities that keep us moving and involved, and to the tremendous bond that develops as you welcome your “new” child and grow together as an international family. You will create memories to last a lifetime, for both you and your IE child.

What does it mean to be a “family without borders”? For our host families, it means more than just being open-minded about other cultures – it means actually LIVING them! These families open up their innermost circle – their FAMILY unit – and embrace a student as one of their own.

For many, hosting a student means adding a family member – for LIFE!

The following stories highlight families across the U.S. who have embraced this mentality. These “families without borders” embody what we strive for in student exchange!

Patsy and John Vanlandingham have hosted 4 exchange students in the last 6 years, and they’re expecting student #5 in the fall!  Their young daughter Tatum, who was a toddler when they first embarked on this journey, has grown up with exchange students in the house all her life.

“I have lots of brothers and sisters!” she cheerfully told her kindergarten teacher – even though Tatum is actually an only child!

“She absolutely views these kids as her brothers and sisters,” shared Patsy, “and she’s picked up a little German, a little Chinese, a little Spanish! She looks up to them just like a big sibling!”

The Vanlandinghams have developed a custom of introducing the new exchange student to those they’ve hosted previously. “We tell them ‘It’s time to meet your new sibling!'” shares Patsy. And as this beautiful international mash-up of a family grows, a goal grows with it: one day, the Vanlandinghams plan to schedule a “family reunion” trip to visit each host sibling in their own home country. It will be the ultimate family vacation!

“We do it because we want to share our lives with these students. We’re doing what we were meant to do.”

When Ranelle Ladbury’s triplets moved out of the house, she found herself an “empty-nester” in a big way. “It was hard because I had been a very involved mom. When they left, I was lost,”
remembers Ranelle.

So when she and her husband John got the chance to host exchange students, they jumped in without looking back. The Ladburys have hosted 2 students (a “double placement”) for 4 consecutive years, for a grand total of 8 students!

“We’ve visited several of our students in their home countries,” says Ranelle. “But to me those trips aren’t about just being a tourist. It’s more like going to see a family member.”

The Gasper family quickly connected with their exchange student Santat (San) from Thailand. Host mom Jeanine shares, “He’s surprisingly sarcastic and funny, making jokes and dealing with the utter chaos that is our family with four kids under twelve!”

About a year after his exchange year ended, San was able to make a return visit, which was a special surprise for his host siblings.
“My twelve year old’s utter shock when he walked in the door was the best!” Jeanine remembers. “It was obvious his brother from Thailand had come home.”

“San will forever be part of our family. And we didn’t try to make that happen! We were just ourselves, and it happened.”

This Memorial Day, our country takes a collective breath: a moment of quietude to honor, remember, and celebrate those who lost their lives in battle, leaving behind a mutual legacy of peace and protection.

But as we look behind us in remembrance, so too must we look forward in expectation.

While we celebrate heroes of war, we also long for champions of peace. Boots firmly planted on peaceful soil.

And while in many respects the world has reached a new pinnacle of complexity, one quite “old fashioned” idea still rings true: lasting change begins with PEOPLE. (And “people” are OUR specialty!)

It’s fascinating to note that the foreign exchange program continues as perhaps the largest grass-roots effort in public diplomacy. It’s purpose and reach, among other things, is to positively impact international opinions of America. After all, a person’s perception of reality goes only as far as their limited personal experience. When our most intimate life experiences shift, so do our assumptions about the world and our interactions within it.

The idea is quite simple, really: a student who learns to love a family, school, and group of friends in his or her host country will bring a positive worldview home.

Multiply this by a million or more people spread over years and throughout all nations – and you have a spark that can light up the face of the planet.

Student exchange is more than just soccer games and prom dates. It’s more than good-natured fumbles and peculiar fascinations. It’s an agent of change, of growth, and with any luck, of PEACE.

From our families to yours: Happy Memorial Day.

What do we love about the local coordinator role? EVERYTHING! The students, the families, and the travel opportunities! Katie Gittins and Desirre Madrid talk about connection, relationship, and “bringing the world home.”

“All these kids are awesome, they impress me when I get to know them. It’s going to be a lifelong friendship now – it’s a very rewarding thing that I do.” – Desirre Madrid

Have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes in student exchange? There are countless people working together to make the program run, and one of the most pivotal is the role of “Local Coordinator!”

Most of our Local Coordinators discovered iE as a way to support their passion for travel, youth, or service – and the flexibility and unmatched compensation make it all the more easy to stay!

One such coordinator is German native Dorothee Cooke, who’s been with iE for 6 years and has become an integral part of the team! We’re honored to share a bit of her story with you here.

Dorothee is a stay-at-home mom to 3 kids ages 10, 7, and 4. Though life keeps her busy, she finds that working for iE as a Local Coordinator fits well into her daily life.

After moving from Germany 6 years ago, Dorothee has enjoyed connecting and networking within her home city of Indianapolis, IN.

“I’ve done a lot of networking, gotten my name in the schools, and I think it’s very important to work with your RD and to get a feel for what works in your community,” shares Dorothee. “I’m now in my 5th year, and it’s been a wonderful learning process. My first year I made 1 placement, then 3, 5, and 6, respectively – THIS year I’ve already made 10 placements, and it’s only April!”

Sometimes we feel like proud parents, just bursting with pride at the impact our students are making in their communities. Whether playing with their host siblings, building camaraderie in their high school sports teams, or giving back through charitable service, our students never cease to impress us!

This particular season we’re so proud of our very own Milan from Montenegro and Liron from Germany, two boys who have made a significant impact in their local high school through their soccer team. Recently featured in their local Utah newspaper, The Tremonton Leader, this charming article shares how three international students changed the shape of the team in surprising ways!

“They’ve been able to fill some natural solutions on the field and leadership roles, which helped us get off to a fast start and be competitive,” said Coach Wilcox.

But perhaps what we MOST love about this story and these boys is the evidence of what we already knew: exchange students change, and are changed by, their host communities. Through relationships, team involvement, class camaraderie, or family connection, every single person is challenged to learn, grow, and become a better version of themselves. And it’s this quiet reality  that we hope will continue to shape our world for years to come!

Why I Cannot Possibly Forget My Old “New Life”

By Julia Thurner, a 2015-2016 iE exchange student from Austria

Yep, it’s been 9 months, and nope, I am not “over” leaving my exchange life behind! I have not forgotten it. And I never will.

Many things about the exchange itself have already been said by multiple people, so I would only like to add one thing:

It’s all a giving, and then, hopefully, a receiving.  But that’s how life works in general. Nothing comes from nothing!

My visa had expired, every day of the grace period used up, my exchange program had long ended and it was therefore high time for me to let go of my American life, accept that my adventure was over, and that I had to go back to “reality.” As it should have been expected, saying goodbye was tough, yes. But the most difficult times still lay ahead, because the adventure was far from being over.

Reverse culture shock is worse culture shock. You cannot just pretend that such a life-changing year never happened, even if you wanted to.

I have a theory that says the better the exchange year, the worse the reverse culture shock.

My exchange year was pretty awesome, so, according to the theory, coming back to a little town amidst an Austrian national park proved to be rather difficult! The past year I had acquired so many new habits, interests and character traits that I wasn’t eager to give up on. It also seemed like I saw the way of life in my native country with a new set of eyes. 

People started to slowly notice that I had changed. While some thought it was for the better, it seemed others refused to accept it. Being true to myself and pleasing them at the same time wasn’t easy. On top of that, I was homesick! Homesick for the place, the life, and especially the people 4,500 miles away!

I slowly started to accept that our dishwasher here in Austria is just tiny, same as our fridge; and my body adjusted to eating the biggest meal of the day at lunchtime instead of dinner.

The next step was going back to school! Seeing all my classmates and teachers again was nothing like what I had imagined. I have less in common with them than before, and our interests have developed in completely different directions. It’s also more than interesting to have learned the same history from two different countries’ views! Another thing I’ve noticed is that I’m not really interested in the talk of the town anymore either. I’m ready to move onto bigger things. Explore more of this wonderful world we live in. And write my own life story.

I hear from my family across the ocean almost daily, either through WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat or other media, and we usually skype weekly or every other week. My American mom is, in fact, my shoulder to cry on, the first person I turn to whenever something happens. And my American dad? Well, he’s the one responsible to bring me back to reality.

I’m looking forward to the summer, when I will finally see my family again! We’re meeting halfway, in Iceland, and after some amazing days there, I’ll be able to show them around my small Austrian town as well as Vienna.

Yes, it takes some effort on both sides to keep in such close touch, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I just love them way too much, and a life without them has become unimaginable! I feel like our bond has only grown stronger during the last months. Throughout all this time, 283 days to be exact, they have never stopped supporting and being there for me.

Here’s the good news: distance makes the heart grow fonder, I’ve heard!

Robert and Joan Bowling didn’t plan on hosting international students, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Excerpt from The Steward School Colonnade

When Robert and Joan became “empty nesters,” they welcomed this new chapter with open arms!

“We had four kids—we’re a Brady Bunch family, married 18 years, so when they were all out of the house, we were like, ‘Woo hoo!’ Nachos, light beer, and Reese’s cups for dinner… yeah! Watch all-night movies…sure! And then we bragged about it to the wrong friend,” Mrs. Bowling said.

Mrs. Bowling’s friend, an exchange coordinator, immediately suggested an alternative use for those extra rooms!

“She said, ‘You have three spare bedrooms. Would you consider…,'” Mrs. Bowling said.

Over the years, the Bowlings have welcomed a total of 4 students into their home: Jennifer Xu from China, Sophie Massier and Ayda Asghar Afshari from Germany, and Emilia Aguilera Rodriguez, who they’re currently hosting from Spain.

While it wasn’t originally in the plans, hosting as an “empty nest couple” has been rewarding for all involved!

“It’s been great exposure for us as well as these kids,” Mr. Bowling said. “We’ve been exposed to [the cultures of] China, Germany, and Spain, and there’s new energy being infused into the household.”

To learn more about the Bowling family hosting adventures, check out the full article HERE in The Steward School Colonnade!