My high school had an exchange with specific high schools in France and Spain. About 30 kids would go to each country for a month in the beginning of 3rd quarter and then return. 2 weeks later, their hosts and hostesses would come to our Boston suburb. My sibs and I all did this.

Usually they placed same-gender but the year my sister participated, there were more American girls as compared to French girls. Our family ended up with Philippe. He was a very polite boy from what I recall. I was in college so I barely met him

We heard from both of them this week! They're full of questions, of course, and I'm trying to think of all kinds of random things to tell them. Any ideas about what they need to know beforehand?

We still don't know when they're coming and school starts in about 5 weeks.

They're here! The Korean from Germany came Thursday and the Japanese came yesterday because the Japanese students have to go to a 10-day camp in Wisconsin first. Volleyball tryouts start tomorrow!

The Korean girl was born and raised in Germany--her parents teach theology and Korean there-- so of course, she has a strong German accent and i'm starting to remember a lot from my 5 years of German. Both girls are huge Disney fans; we chose the right kids! The Japanese girl pointed to the Korean on the way home and said, "She say your #1 son rook rike Orrando Broom." LOL! We'll have to work with her on her 'l'.

Yay! Congrats. I hope the experience is a great one...keep us posted.

They've been here 3 months! We've had a great time with them and I can thoroughly recommend hosting to everyone. Last night they trick-or-treated (one wore a kimono, the other a cheer uniform) and scored a ton of candy. They just finished volleyball season, they went to the Homecoming Dance, and they've been enjoying the football season; we're now going into the playoffs. I think they like WalMart even better than they like the mall!

Next week they'll be interviewed for the school paper. They've already been interviewed for the yearbook and we found out that the Japanese student replied to "What has been hardest for you?" with, "Understanding the English of black students.":eek: Aiee! I hope it doesn't get into the yearbook.

LOL! That's not negative in my opinion. I don't understand the kids 95% of the time either, and I'm black. :(

Now, I know how my parents must have felt when I was a teen (in the 80s) whenever I said something was funky fresh, flyy, or def. Word! :D

I hope this continues to be a great experience for all of you. :)

This has continued to be a wonderful experience for us, and I hope for them too!

Both made varsity track (hard to do here) and one made the National Honor Society! They've definitely seen the gamut of American life; our daughter is about to deliver and they've been to some baby showers. My husband's aunt died after Christmas and they were with us for all that too. One daughter got married in the fall and they celebrated right along with us (several showers there too) and participated in the rehearsal when bridesmaids couldn't come until later. They loved going to football games and celebrating holidays; we're making their Easter baskets now!

My prediction about the house being filled with our sons' friends has come true. One had had 5 friends spending the night on Friday and our visiting daughters, who hadn't noticed all the cars out front, were startled when they all came tramping down the stairs the next day.

So we've signed up for 2 more next year: a Chilean and a Japanese!

They're gone--they had to leave on June 15th. :( It was hard and everyone cried.

The week before they left, we went to Disney--the Japanese is a hardcore Tokyo Disneyite--and we had a blast. You know how you kind of get used to everything at Disney being fake? Well, the last day we were standing next to a wall with a massive hairy bug on it and the Japanese was calmly standing next to it and I said, "Um, do you realize that bug is real?" and she screamed the place down. Anyway, they got picked to be in the backlot show at Disney Hollywood Studios and probably rode Splash Mountain 40 times. So much fun!

So they've facebooked us and we'll stay in touch! Maybe they'll come to college here. This week we got the papers on the next 2 and they'll come in about a month.

Our Chilean student has now left to start her senior year at home and we'll have our Japanese student for another month. Right now she's cooking with Spam again--apparently, Okinawans love that stuff! (ew) She went to the state quarterfinals in tennis and made the National Honor Society and went to 2 proms!

These 2 saw a wide range of American family life just like the last 2 did. They were here for our grandson's birth, our niece's wedding, and unfortunately, my brother-in-law's death. Like the last one, our Japanese student is astounded by the Southern drawls rolling out of the mouths of BlazerCheer and SweetTea (well, what do you expect, we adopted them from Japan as infants). LOL.

We've signed up again and hope to have another Japanese student in August. :)

What programs did everyone host from?
 

Okay, I have been a lurker around here for ages. This thread finally inspired me to post.

What programs did everyone host from?

I am anxious to hear. This is so exciting to see the Greek Community involved.

FYI: I am American. I was actually an Exchange Student way back in the days when they called Recruitment "Rush." I am thinking of posting my story. So, I will hold off giving all the details.

Neither myself nor my parents have hosted exchange students, however I was a Rotary exchange student to Germany the year after I graduated high school (yeah, a year that doesn't count for anything made the desire to actually attend some classes that more appealing! lol). I was also involved in the District and club side of the Rotary exchange program. I had a good experience overseas - two host families which were very interesting. My first family I was their first exchange student and they also only had sons (the oldest being on exchange to the US). The second had two daughters (the youngest on exchange to Australia and the oldest had been on exchange to the US) and would be considered hosting veterans.

Happy this thread got a bump! We have a very large, but very close, extended family and we try to vacation together at least once a year. A lot of us made it to Arizona in the beginning of April and my aunt and uncle brought their exchange student from South Africa. My uncle is the President of his Rotary Club and they hosted her through Rotary. She was so awesome and I feel fortunate for having been able to spend the week with her.

Yessss!!! We just got approved for the third year and will be hosting 2 girls, 1 from Japan and 1 from the Philippines. :) My husband said that the coaches are fired up because one's in swimming and soccer and that the band director is excited because the other has played the flute and trumpet for awhile. They should come in a couple of weeks!

Y'all try hosting, it's been super!

I'm actually thinking about it, as youngest son starts HS this fall and the two older sons will be both be in college. Youngest is taking Latin though, and it seems most of our Foreign Exchange students are language based (French and Spanish).

Is there a certain group you go through, or should I just re-read this entire thread? Neither DH or I are in Rotary so I guess that's not an option?

We've used Youth for Understanding and we've been very happy! Go to yfu.org and check it out and I'll pm you the number of our coordinator. The kids have been well prepared and truly a joy.

Our coordinator said that many high schools are turning them down this year because of economics and at this time of year, I'm sure that the exchange organizations are getting frantic.