Bring the world into your home!! Learn to laugh in another language!

by Welby WhitingAt the airport, Sara immediately walked over to my daughter who was holding a “Welcome Sara!” sign and gave her a big hug, much to the delight of my daughter! Hannah had a new friend! She also had a big sister with whom she would spend lots of time that school year learning about Sara’s city, language, culture, and family. And Hannah also had a role model who taught her to study hard in school, think positive, and be responsible for ones actions.Hosting an international high school exchange student can be an incredible learning experience for a family and its members! One-on-one, as each family member learns from their student a new culture, and maybe a new language, they are able to share a bit of their own culture, customs and values with the newest member of their family. This experience opens their eyes to the world around them and possibly changes how they view their own world. This is what my own children have experienced through hosting an exchange student.

We first hosted Sara from Montenegro last school year and Marika from Sweden this school year. When those students stepped off the airplane and met us, their host family, lifelong friendships had begun.I first got into this exchange student business 10 years ago because of my own experience living abroad as an au pair. It was during that time that I became fluent in the German language and learned about the country and its culture. I’ve remained in touch with my German family and the experience of living in another country was unforgettable. It opened my eyes to other perspectives and taught me a great deal about myself. For that I am very thankful. That very experience I want other folks to encounter and that’s exactly what hosting an exchange student provides. It is an absolutely incredible and unforgettable experience.

With International Student Exchange, the host family gets to choose their exchange student based on shared interests and hobbies, country of origin, and age and gender preference, so that the student blends in best with the family. The student attends the public high school for which the host family is zoned (they can attend private school as well), have their own monthly spending allowance and health insurance, are fluent in the English language, are pre-screened before being accepted into this program, and are fully supervised while here on the exchange program (5 or 10 months). Anyone can host: traditional family, singles, empty nesters.The only financial cost to host families is room and board.

ISE is seeking host families for the ’11-’12 school year so folks interested in hosting an exchange student, can contact Welby Whiting at 566-1225 or by email at welbyw@aol.com. You can also check out ISE’s website at http://www.iseusa.com/

Welby Whiting
South East Regional Manager
International Student Exchange (I.S.E.)
9053 Marmont Lane
Williamsburg, Virginia 23188
Toll-free 1-800-263-2936
Ph 757-566-1225
Fax 757-566-1204
Email: welbyw@aol.com