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A Time to be Thankful!

The Best Ways to Spend November as a Host Family

With the holiday season around the corner, many of us have a big turkey dinner and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on our minds. Because Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, I encourage those hosting an international student to take the opportunity to share some of your own traditions!

Here are some fun and uniquely American activities and events to participate in as a family this November:

1. Participate in a Turkey Trot.

The average American consumes between 3000 and 4500 calories during their family thanksgiving meal gatherings. Therefore, in preparation for the big day, many people participate in the tradition of running a turkey trot race. This race takes place in various locations all over America and range in distance from a 5k race to a full marathon. While some take place the day before or the morning of Thanksgiving, many take place a few days before and function as charities to help feed families in need. Beloved turkey mascot costumes are not required, but are often encouraged to be worn while running the festive race!

2. Take a Brisk Autumn Hike.

Nothing beats hiking on a trail in the woods with the crisp air surrounding you and the leaves crunching under your shoes. Enjoy some outdoor time with the family.

3. Volunteer in Your Community.

While November is a time of giving thanks, many Americans see this season as an opportunity to give back. Whether it’s serving food at a soup kitchen, volunteering at a food bank, walking dogs at an animal shelter or participating in a trash pick up in your town, this is an amazing way to lend a helping hand and gain a sense of community.

4. Go to a College Football Game.

The game, the screaming fans and the fall breeze make for a fun time to bond over your favorite team!

5. Create a “Things to be Thankful for” Chalk Board:

Hang a chalk board in your kitchen or living room. Everyday in November write a new thing you are thankful for!

6. Celebrate Native American Heritage month.

In 1990, November was declared National Native American Heritage Month. Learn a little more about American history by visiting a local museum! Visit the official Native American Heritage Month website to find exhibitions in your area that pay tribute to the history and culture of Native Americans.

7. Roast Marshmallows.

Get out those old wire hangers and have some friends over to roast marshmallows over a fire and argue about if the burnt marshmallows are the best or worst thing in the world. Oh and don’t forget the chocolate and graham crackers.

8. Eat and be Thankful!

Last but not least, enjoy thanksgiving day with your family and close friends, stuff your face with dressing, cranberry sauce and pie and share what you are thankful for!

We wish all of our Children of All Nations/ Student Ambassador Exchange family a very happy Thanksgiving! If you would like to share your stories, experiences and photos with us from the fall season, please send them to
info@saeglobal.org.

Meet Lily!

The month of October is upon us, and our team at Student Ambassador Exchange would like to recognize a Monitoring Local Coordinator that has consistently made an effort to go above and beyond her efforts to support our exchange students. We are proud to announce Lily as our October Local Coordinator of the Month!

Lily was born and raised in Hangzhou, China. As a little girl she always had a passion to travel and explore different countries and cultures. Almost two decades ago, Lily came to Tennessee as an exchange student. Attracted to the southern hospitality, country music, beautiful scenery and authentic southern cooking, Lily fell in love with Music City and has called it home ever since.

Her career started at Opryland Hotel, where she was hired as an intern. She completed the training program and went on to become a management associate in one of the largest hotel chains in the country.

Wanting to gain experience in consumer lending, Lily worked in the financial lending arena. Thinking that lending and real estate go hand in hand, Lily went on to become a licensed real estate agent. Her dream of running her own business has now become a reality!

Besides truly enjoying working with people, Lily also speaks fluent Mandarin, as well as English of course. She is currently a Chinese language instructor at two different facilities in Williamson County. Lily’s heart is to use her skills and knowledge to help people settle into their new Tennessee home.

Her unique experience in hospitality and finance, coupled with her bilingual skills and her genuine desire to help people, make Lily an outstanding asset to Student Ambassador Exchange. She has enjoyed so much to work with her host family and students. She hopes these unique experiences will be the lifelong joyful memories to many students to come.

Immerse in Spanish

Learn a New Language from Home

As an adult, learning a new language can be challenging and daunting. Many people do not know where to begin. Experts in linguistics agree immersion in the language is a top way to learn a language quickly. However, traveling globally can be expensive and time consuming. We have the perfect solution! – Hosting a foreign exchange student is an opportunity to speak with a native speaker without leaving home. Daily language exchanges with your host student will teach you a new language in no time.

A host student is also an excellent learning experience for children. Children are able to pick up on languages quickly. Their brains are like sponges soaking up knowledge. If you have children in the home, a foreign exchange student speaking their native language could greatly influence your child. Our exchange students from Spain are excited to share their culture and language with your family. With Spanish as the 2^nd most spoken language in the United States, this experience will be mutually beneficial.

At Student Ambassador Exchange (SAE), we connect you to an international exchange student in need of a host family.

Find an exchange student for your family here: http://saeglobal.org/student-exchange-photolisting/