Befriending an Exchange Student
My Firsthand Experience with an Exchange Student
By: Nicole Springer – SAE Summer Intern 2017
I grew up in a suburb in Minneapolis, Minnesota, our high school was one of the largest in the area and we had so many diverse cultures and traditions at our school. However, most of my friends and I had never met someone from a different country.
During my sophomore year of high school a new exchange student from Iceland named Ben came to our school he also came with his older sister. He started to hang out with my same group of friends and eventually we got to know each other a lot better because he was in the same after school activities as me. When my friends and I would hang out with Ben we always had so much fun, he could make almost everyone laugh because of his easy going care free attitude. Whenever Ben meet a new friend every time he would try to convince people that in Iceland there are penguins walking around everywhere and you can play with them and have them as pets, strangely enough he could actually really convince people that this was true.
The more my friends and I got to know Ben and his family the more we enjoyed his company and learning more about Icelandic culture and traditions. Ben was leaving back to Iceland around the same time that his birthday was, so all of us decided to throw him a huge surprise birthday/going away party. We all hid downstairs at the house he was living in and when he came down we threw confetti and sprayed him with silly string. Till this day I can honestly say that’s one of the most fun parties I’ve been to.
Looking back at the time my friends and I spent with Ben I can honestly say that all of our worldviews expanded immensely and all of us really valued the time we got to spend with someone who seemed so different than us at first but once we got to know him we realized that he was just like any other high school kid our age, he enjoyed the same kind of stuff and was happy to hang out with the new friends he was making while being different than us at first but once we got to know him we realized that he was just like any other high school kid our age, he enjoyed the same kind of stuff and was happy to hang out with the new friends he was making while being abroad.
To learn how to open your family to an Exchange Student contact our team today. Registration ends soon, you don’t want to miss out!
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Share Your American Culture
Today, July 4th is a sacred day in American culture. It’s a day we celebrate the freedoms and wonders of our country. Just like us other countries are proud of their heritage and are eager to share it. Hosting a student provides your family an opportunity like the no other. You get to bring the world into your home. Student’s love learning how Americans live and want to share their country cultures with you as well.
Many students still need host families for the upcoming school year – please contact us today to learn how you can open your home to the world!
SAE offices are closed Tuesday July 4th to observe Independence Day.
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