What if you could give yourself and your family a meaningful cultural experience, all from the comfort of your home? AYA host families know this is possible through hosting an exchange student—a unique opportunity to welcome an international student into your life and connect with them on a deep level. But depending on where you live, you might wonder if it’s even possible for you to become a host family. If you live in the suburbs, have you asked yourself, “Can I host an exchange student?”
Can I host an exchange student in a suburban area?
Yes, you can host an exchange student if you live in a suburb. In fact, it’s very common for exchange students to stay with suburban host families! As long as you live within 60 miles of a Local Coordinator, you can host—it doesn’t matter if you live in a big city, a rural community, or a suburb!
Benefits of hosting an exchange student in the suburbs
The benefits of hosting an exchange student are universal—cultural learning, the chance to build a lifelong connection, and the joy of changing a young person’s life for the better. However, suburban areas offer unique benefits for hosting an exchange student, including:
- Strong sense of community: Suburban communities are often tightly knit, where neighbors know one another and community institutions and events are very welcoming. When you host an exchange student as someone who lives in a suburb, they receive a supportive environment to learn about American culture.
- New cultural experiences for everyone: Suburban towns may offer less cultural variation than larger urban areas. Welcoming a high school exchange student provides you, your family, and your community with a cultural exposure they might not otherwise receive in your area.
- Access to cities: Suburbs are usually located near metropolitan areas, allowing exchange students to enjoy a quiet home life while still having access to city attractions and experiences.
Requirements to host a student in a suburban area
Regardless of where you live, the requirements to host an exchange student are the following:
- Live within a Local Coordinator’s service area
- Provide daily meals (breakfast and dinner) and their own bed (exchange students may share a bedroom with a child of the same age and gender)
- Provide transportation to and from school if no school buses are available
Above all else, host families must provide a supportive, caring environment for the exchange student to thrive!
Host a high school exchange student with AYA
Academic Year in America (AYA) is a non-profit organization that connects enthusiastic international high school students with host families ready to welcome them into their hearts and homes. In addition to matching exchange students with host families, AYA offers 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.
If you live in a suburban area and want to host an exchange student, AYA is here to help!
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