The Boundless Benefits of Becoming a Host Family

The Boundless Benefits of Becoming a Host Family

Host families do more than just share their homes and hearts. In fact, host families often gain as much from the exchange experience as the student does. Benefits of hosting are really boundless, and we have shared a few here we believe are encompassing of the host family experience.

Experience a new culture.

Cultural exchange is a key point in student exchange and perhaps even vital to understanding global interactions. Inviting exchange students into your home and community is an opportunity to learn and to teach. Having exposure to new cultures, languages and ideas helps expand knowledge, accept differences and opens the door for communication and friendships.
Meet Our Current Students!

See life from a new perspective.

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often miss the little things. Hosting an exchange student is a tangible way to pause for a moment and take everything in. Having a new set of eyes see your daily life through allows you to break routine and really appreciate life.

Find a new mentor, friend, and sibling for your kids.

Children already see the world from a different perspective and inviting an exchange student is an opportunity to learn about someone different from their own family. Younger children will have an incredible mentor and older sibling to learn from and older children will have a new friend to share experiences and school with. No matter the age, the lessons learned and the memories shared between your children and exchange students are invaluable.
Meet Our Current Students!

Laughter.

Exchange students who come to the U.S. to study don’t need a lot of things, excursions or special treatment. But what they do need is you! They need a supportive and safe “home away from home.” A place they can truly be themselves, which includes all of the warmhearted fumbles and candid moments, which can turn into the fondest memories.

Stay connected.

We often hear from host families who keep in contact with the student they hosted well beyond the dates of the program. These friendships span over several continents and are one of the most profound parts of student exchange. Whether, sending a text, mailing a holiday card or even visiting a student in their home country, host families are truly connecting the world through education and culture.
Take the First Step and Apply to be a Host Family Today!

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Happy Lunar New Year!

Lunar New Year is a time to get together with family and celebrate the coming year! This year consider hosting an exchange student and make this year a great one for your family! Create memories and build lifelong friendships, enrich your entire family as you learn about the culture of your new ’son’ or ‘daughter’, and become an American ambassador by sharing U.S. culture.

Learn more about becoming a host family and how to apply here.

 

Create something special for your family! Find a family and exchange student tested and approved fortune cookie recipe below!

Fortune Cookies

Total Time: 1 hr 24 min
Prep Time: 1 hr
Cook Time: 24 min
Makes about 20 cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites, room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour, sifted
  • 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  • Cut a stencil out of a plastic coffee can lid in the shape of a 3-inch disk.
  • Whip the egg whites until stiff and chill.
  • In a mixer, cream the butter, then add the sugar and continue mixing.
  • Add the flour and blend in, then add the vanilla and blend again.
  • Add the chilled egg whites and mix on low until well incorporated and the batter is smooth.
  • With a small offset spatula, spread batter through the stencil so it is a circle onto parchment paper, about 6 per cookie sheet.
  • Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until light golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
  • Quickly remove the pan from the oven and one at time place a fortune across the center with a bit hanging out.
  • Fold cookie circle in thirds over fortune with flaps only slightly overlapping each other.
  • Turn over and bring opposing sides together and pinch. Let cool.
  • Enjoy!

 

Wishing you and your family good fortune and a happy new year!

-Your Student Ambassador Exchange Team

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5 Reasons to Host an Exchange Student

Every year, Student Ambassador Exchange helps students from all around the world connect with host families in the US. As a host family, you’ll welcome an exchange student into your home while they study in your local high school. It’s a great opportunity for students and host families to experience new cultures, create memories together, and make lasting friendships. You’ll be surprised at what you learn about yourself and the student as you get to know one another!

Why Host an Exchange Student?

Learn About New Cultures

Hosting an exchange student is an amazing way to learn about other cultures without having to leave your home! Our students are excited to share their own heritage with their host families (in addition to learning about American culture). You can learn about the student’s native language, traditional food, holidays and festivals, and more.

Bring Excitement into Your Home

When you host a student from another country, activities that you do regularly suddenly become new adventures with your student! For example, activities like going to a restaurant and watching sports seem like special events when you’re introducing them to your student for the first time. This can revitalize your family activities and inspire you to explore your local community with them!

Improve Your Communication Skills

If you’re learning your student’s native language, practicing speaking with them is a great way to improve your skills. Also, learning to communicate with someone despite a language barrier is an important skill that you gain through hosting. You’ll improve your ability to connect and relate to others with a culture different from your own!

Make Lifelong Friendships

Host a student and make lifelong friendships with them! Hosting allows you to establish a meaningful connection with someone that you otherwise might never have met. Oftentimes our students and host families keep in touch with each other after the student returns home. Maybe you’ll even get to visit the student and their family in their home country!

Do a Good Deed

By hosting an exchange student, you’re making a positive impact on their life! You’re helping them adjust to another country while ensuring they feel safe, supported, and a part of your family. As a host family, you play an important part in helping students grow and develop.

Are you interested in hosting an exchange student? We are currently matching students for the 2018-2019 school year! Visit our photo listing to meet our available students and check back regularly to meet any new students added. Contact us today to find out how you can change one student’s life through education and cultural exchange!

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