Host

“Hosting brings so much to your family, a look into another culture, a way to serve and an avenue to establishing peace in our world when countries come together to share their children.”  – Joan Kramer,  Rotary Past District Governor, District 6080.

“Exchange students come here to experience a different culture and enrich themselves. But really it’s a two-way street. I am the one who benefited from hosting. Tourism travel to another country is great and I love it, but if you really want to get to know another country, you have to get to know the

These students are different. Just think of the most mature valedictorian you’ve ever met in your life, that’s what you’re getting. They come in and they’re such a good influence on your children, and they’re just an overall good influence on your life. It’s a plus all the way around.

It was such a rewarding experience exposing my kids to a different culture. They don’t really get to see people that look, talk, dress differently than we do. So that was neat for my kids to see at such a young age, and it’s inspired them to want to do the same.

We have our own lifestyle. I think we’re just a normal family. At first I thought that could be a negative thing, but it was a different source of experiences that also represent life here in America to the students we hosted. That definitely turned into a positive for their overall experience.

There was nothing truly difficult about having students in our home, they’re incredible kids. The issue was more us, getting nervous, thinking we need to treat them like company. That’s the obstacle people have to get over. It’s more comfortable when you just relax. Like, this is our family, we are who we are, and

You have to go on living the life you live, and in the end you’ll realize you have a lot to offer students. It’s the little things. Something as simple as making homemade pie crusts together, and baking things from their home. Those are the memories that will stick with us.

The Rotary Youth Exchange is different from other programs I’ve seen. Knowing how thorough Rotary is in vetting students and families was comforting. It all came together for an experience we felt great about.

It was an incredible experience for our whole family. Each student loved our grandson and he definitely enjoyed having them all stay with us. It makes the world just a little bit smaller in a good way.

I loved how each student bonded with our family in their own ways. Just getting to know people from other countries and allowing our own kids to get to know them really helps to open the world up.