Throughout my juvenile years, my family hosted many students from various countries. It was not unheard of to hear three languages being spoken in my house at one time. Although it got a little confusing while first learning the English language myself, it was very enriching to the growth of the left side of my brain. At the time, having “brothers and sisters” move in and out of the house was not uncommon, to accord due praise to my parents. For this reason, as a teenager and now adult I am laden with cultural awareness and philanthropy.
Near the middle ages of my adolescence our lives were full of sports and academics, therefore exchanges were diminished. Near the end of my high school years though, a feeling of inadequacy was felt. Therefore, my family decided to host a LABO foreign exchange student from Japan. It was a choice that was mine; therefore it was my responsibility to administer a feeling of “fitting in” to our family and community. Although my bringing up was full of exchange students, it beyond my understanding how to help a foreigner feel as though there was a place in our house and small town.
Our student came to live in our house and slowly I realized how my parents had welcomed a newbie into our society successfully. Therefore here are some tips that I had to come across to help our foreign exchange student feel comfortable in our house.
1. Room. It is a good idea to give a little space in the house just to the foreign exchange student. This can be in a form of his/her own room or a side of the bedroom that will be shared. It is best though, to have a room of ones own. Ones own room allows the student to relax by oneself and also to feel as though the family has placed a space in their lives.
2. Welcome Party: Bringing together all the close friends and family members for a welcome party helps the student to get to know all the members of the family. During our welcome party, we took pictures of all the members together with the student. Then, after being developed, we sent one photo to the students biological family gave one to the student and placed one on the wall of the house. The students’ photo we took and wrote all the names of each attending person. Our student would study all the names with the faces to learn about each person. It can be overwhelming to meet so many people at once however with the photo, the student was able to learn the names and feel as though each member was a biological family member or a close friend.
3. Dinner out: Since our ages were very close, it was easy to get to know each other very well on a personal level. Although we were brought up in two different countries, our lives were still on the same level. Therefore my friends and the student went out for a fun dinner together during the first few weeks of the student being in America. It was a time to have the exchange student meet different students that would be going to the same school. Then, during the start of school, the student had friends in most of classes. It helped to feel more comfortable in the classes that were not with me. In addition, it was good for the student to feel as though she had a place in the society.
4. Newspaper Article: Since we live in a small town, it was an option to place a large ad in the newspaper introduction the student to the town. By doing this, although she was very surprised and embarrassed at first, she felt as though she were a part of the community at large. Members of the community would come up to her and introduce themselves to her while out in the town. Secretly I feel as though she felt like a celebrity however in reaction to these welcome greeting she felt at home in the community.
5. City tour: After getting settled in to the house, we were able to take her out to the city to let her meet certain political figures and other community members. We took visits to meet the mayor, the fire department; she rode in a police car and so on. It was wonderful for her to learn how our city worked. Later years, her family members and other foreign exchange students still talk about how many things she got to try throughout the exchange.
6. Telephone Answering: It was important for our family to let the student know that she was a member of our family. Therefore, we felt it was important for her to learn to answer the telephone. This didn’t happen all over night though; it took her a few months until she felt comfortable with our house and community before answering the telephone. After the first few months though, she started answering the phone. It sounds small however it was a turning point in her homestay.
7. Encouragement: Throughout any homestay, the student will feel homesick or culture shock in the form of disappointment in ones achievements. Therefore, it is important to encourage the student by accomplishing small achievements. Some of the small achievements were answering the telephone, receiving a report card (although they may be lower than the average student), passing a test, talking to a new friend and et cetera. The more praise, the student feels less of a lack of achievement. Some of the actions we took to praise the student were buying cupcakes with candles for a small party for a report card, a small gift for passing a test, words or praise, and et cetera. It is important to an exchange student to feel as though he/she is earning the completion of goals while abroad.
8. Trips: It is important for the student to get out and learn about America in a hands-on form. These trips can be a very common task such as picking blueberries, going to a local museum, amusement parks, going to a baking class and so on. These trips are one of the most important ways a student can learn during an exchange; otherwise the student could just be in his/her native country reading from a book.
9. Cooking: Teach the student how to cook different items that your family enjoys. By doing this, it is a way to learn the culture and also something that the student can do after the exchange. These food items can be something like grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, pizza, chicken or et cetera. It is important that the food prepared and taught is something that is a part of the American tradition though. For instance, do not teach an Asian student how to prepare sushi.
10. Learning Time: It is an important part of the exchange process that the student teaches the family about his/her culture. Our family engaged in a “Japanese Session” every month. It was a way for our student to prepare authentic meals, celebrate a holiday and et cetera. This bi-cultural learning is a way for the student to learn about his/her culture while the host family also learns about the foreign culture. In addition, it is a great way to have the student eat traditional foods that have been missed while being abroad.
Through these main tips, our exchange student felt at home in our community and family. It was a way for her to learn about a culture while also becoming a member of a new family. Likewise, it was a way for my family to learn a new culture and appreciate the one that we already had. Having a foreign exchange student is so enriching, every family should be encouraged to try it at least once. It is a lasting relationship; our student still calls us and writes all the time.
