Sharing each other’s culture and living as family can lead to some pretty great experiences and cherished memories. It is not surprising, but always wonderful to hear when host families and AYA exchange students form lasting bonds.
The following contribution is from host mom Melissa reflecting on several years as an AYA host family in Wisconsin and saying goodbye to her most recent student.
Those darn goodbyes are the worst part of this journey. Sarah left last Saturday evening, with the only problem at the airport coming from having purchased too many things in the USA! We finally got it all settled though. She arrived in Paris safe and sound. Direct flights sure help! Sarah is now another daughter, and it’ll be tough with her so far away!
The last couple months went like this: Prom, what a magical experience for her! Much fun!! Then we went to New York City. Sarah’s father had work [in New York] so her mother, sister and a cousin came to join us as well. We met them there for a few days. How fun that was to all be together!
Sarah was on the track team so that kept her busy through the spring. The other thing that kept her super busy was she got to be friends with many other exchange students that were here from other organizations. She and my daughter Kyley therefore attended many goodbye parties, which made her realize early on how difficult the departure would be for her.
We spent a weekend in La Crosse as my son Tanner attends college there. Sarah really loved La Crosse, and in June we took her to Chicago to experience that as well. Also in June, I had a family reunion that amazed her; I have a huge family, and she has a very small extended family. We then went to Country Fest in Cadott and she got to experience country music and life in an RV.
Sarah seemed to love it all! We had a large going away party for her which was fun and sad all at the same time. I made a large scrapbook for her to try to capture a snapshot of her year here. She was amazed at it and all we have done in a year. Then the day arrived that we had been dreading from the first day she arrived. Kyley said it best though when she said, “One bad day in 11 months mom, so worth it.”
Kyley is pretty lost without Sarah. They are sisters in every sense. Social media allows them to be in contact every day, but we all know that isn’t the same!
Being a host family has meant so much to our family. We have truly had three amazing girls. Jessi is coming to stay with us in September for two weeks. We went to Germany and spent a week with her last summer and Kyley was in Germany for over a month last summer. Alina came back once, and we saw her in Germany for a week as well, with Kyley splitting her time there between the two of them.
Sarah’s family has invited us to France next summer, and I have no doubt we will see all the girls again and again. We were very fortunate to be blessed with these three. The goodbyes are difficult, but the memories of all we have shared and the ones yet to be shared do make it all worthwhile!
Hosting exchange students with AYA has also opened Kyley’s eyes up to the bigger world we live in. She has had her ACT scores sent to colleges in London. If accepted, I know that is where she will go. It’ll be tough on this mom, but what an amazing experience for her!
For our family, hosting has been a five-year adventure. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of AYA. It has been a great ride! Thank you for everything.
AYA is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization working to provide opportunities for cultural exchange and global learning. It’s all possible thanks to host families like Melissa’s, so generously providing international high school students with a home, love and parental guidance to make the most of their time in America.
Hosting a student is a great way to enrich your family and community while giving an international student the opportunity of a lifetime. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please email aya.info@aifs.org or call 800-322-4678.
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