Hosting a high school exchange student is an amazing way to immerse yourself in a new culture while welcoming a young person into your home. For empty nesters eager to make a difference in a foreign young person’s life and gain a new “son” or daughter,” hosting is an unbeatable option. However, many people wonder, “Can empty nesters host an exchange student?” Below, we’ll dive into this question and address who can host an exchange student in more detail.
Can empty nesters host an exchange student?
Yes, empty nesters can host a foreign exchange student. Empty nesters hosting exchange students must meet certain requirements to be eligible, but as long as they do, they’re free to host, just like anyone else!
Benefits of hosting an exchange student for empty nesters
Anyone who decides to host a high school exchange student will expand their cultural horizons, build a lifelong relationship with a young person, and positively impact the exchange student’s life by opening their home to them. Empty nesters and senior citizens hosting international students can enjoy all these benefits, in addition to the following:
- Brighten your home: It can feel lonely being an empty nester, like your home is missing something without your children. Hosting a foreign exchange student is an excellent solution—they’ll bring joy and youthfulness to brighten your daily life, while you brighten theirs by caring for them.
- More reason to travel: It’s common for empty nesters to start traveling more once their children are out of the house, especially if they’re retired. Hosting an exchange student is a great way to cultivate relationships with people who live across the world in countries you’re interested in traveling to. After you host them, you’ll have all the more reason to travel to their home and reconnect.
If you’re unable to travel, hosting an exchange student allows you to discover a new culture without leaving your home!
Who can host a high school exchange student?
Just as no two exchange students are alike, neither are two host families. What a host family looks like can vary widely, but what they all have in common is a passion for cultural exchange and a loving home. Host families may include single individuals, young families, senior citizens, and everything in between!
What are the requirements for empty nesters to host exchange students?
Whether you’re an empty nester or you have children living at home, the hosting requirements are the same as for anyone else:
- 25 years or older
- Live within the Local Coordinator’s service area
- Able to provide daily meals (breakfast and dinner), their own bed, and board
- Host families must provide transportation to and from school if no school buses are available
Host families must also welcome their exchange student into their home, treating them like a new member of the family. For empty nesters who are enthusiastic to bring a little extra light into their quiet home, this isn’t as much of a requirement as it is a benefit!
Host an exchange student with AYA
Academic Year in America (AYA) is a non-profit organization that connects enthusiastic international high school students with host parents who are ready to welcome them into their homes. In addition to matching host parents and exchange students, we offer valuable 24/7 support from professionals at our national office and our on-the-ground Local Coordinators, who are ready to assist you throughout your entire hosting experience.
Are you an empty nester who wants to host an international exchange student? AYA is here to help!
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