My Gift to You—A Free Ebook: “International Students—Inviting the World Into Your Home”
We recently had the joy and honor of meeting a beautiful foreign exchange student from Rome, Italy. She “landed” in the loving and caring home of our German/American friends here in Pennsylvania.
In the brief times we had together, she touched and impacted our lives—our little “world.” Her dancing accent and her fresh cultural perspective made us smile. We had a big laugh together as I massacred the name of my favorite spot in Italy, “Cinque Terre.” The words were so poorly pronounced that she had no idea what I was talking about. After multiple attempts, she finally understood and pronounced it correctly for me. Wow, those Italian words were music to my ears!
Imagine what it would be like to have this international student living in your home for six months—rubbing shoulders with your children, sharing meals, exchanging cultural traditions, learning each other’s languages—living life together.
Check out our free download, “How to Host an International Student.”
Changed Lives
Imagine how your life would be impacted—how your family and your children would be forever changed, how your tiny worldview would broaden? That’s what happens when you invite the world into your home.
There are many foreign exchange students waiting for placement—waiting to find a host family. There are international students sitting and waiting on the other side of the world right now who would love to come and live in your hometown, who would love to come and live with your family.
These young internationals desire to experience another culture, learn a foreign language, and meet people who are different than themselves. They long to “see beyond” their world, to expand their horizons, and to become world shakers and changers.
Help Write Their Story
You could play a part in their story. They could play a part in your story. That’s what cultural exchange is all about. Two worlds, two cultures, two languages collide, and we are forever changed!
Would you consider opening your home and inviting the “world” to come in?
My Gift to You—A Free Ebook: “International Students—Inviting the World Into Your Home”
For more information, please leave a comment below or contact me at:
the culturalstoryweaver@culturalstoryweaver.com.
I can connect you with my German friend, Liisa, who is helping to place international students in host families in Pennsylvania. She can also help you find resources and show you how to get started.
Stay tuned for an upcoming article on Liisa’s story—how her life and family were forever changed by their Italian foreign exchange student.
In the meantime, I found these fun books and resources online as a place to get started. Check them out!
Host Family Survival Kit: A Guide for American Host Families
The Exchange Student Survival Kit
My Exchange Student Experience
—The Cultural Story-Weaver
My Gift to You—A Free Ebook: “International Students—Inviting the World Into Your Home”
For more information, visit www.chinet.org.
Let’s Weave Cultures!
Have you ever hosted a foreign exchange student? If so, what was that experience like for you? Perhaps you have considered doing this, but haven’t. What is stopping you?
Check out our free download, “How to Host an International Student.”
What country would you choose if you could invite an international student into your home?
If you have been a foreign exchange student yourself, tell us about your experience!
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
My sisters daughter has a foreign exchange student that they brought to Pa for Christmas with our entire family. She got to set on Santa’s knee and thought it strange we had a bonfire in our home (a fire place). It was neat to learn about her as she learned about American Christmas traditions and wants to come back here, after she graduates, for Christmas ?
What a great experience for you and your family . . . and for the foreign exchange student! Are your sister and her family hosting the student or does the student go to school with your sister’s daughter? Where is the student from? Have you considered hosting an international student one day? 🙂