Our favorite annual tradition is here – announcing Host Family of the Year! Each and every year, AYA students and Local Coordinators across the United States submit meaningful, heartwarming nomination letters about their beloved host families — and 2024 is no exception!
As always, we were moved by the plethora of incredible stories showcasing extraordinary bonds between our host families and international exchange students. It is always difficult to choose just one winner! But, without further ado…
Meet the AYA family who has been named Host Family of the Year for the 2023-2024 academic year: The Kirkendall Family in Idaho!
Read on to hear the heartfelt sentiments shared by their exchange student, Lina from Germany:
“My family is the perfect fit for me and I love them so much. The first second I walked through their doors they accepted me and kept me busy so I wouldn’t feel homesick. They taught me how to laugh and how to get through tough situations. I live in Idaho in a rural area but they still made it possible for me to never feel bored or alone.
I learned to push my limits and grow stronger and become a better version of me. They encouraged me to join sports and clubs and cheered for me on everything I did.
During September we went up to a family wedding where I met the whole family and I got welcomed by everyone so nicely. I experienced American wedding traditions and customs.
In October we went to Hurricane Utah to the UTV takeover where we had an awesome time and I got to experience what their hobbies are like. The road trip down there was so funny and 12 hours seemed like nothing.
At the beginning of December, we had a Christmas holiday weekend with the whole family and we played in the snow and had a great time. During Christmas time we went to St. Maarten in the Caribbean and we really spent a week in paradise.
And although I got to see all those amazing places (for which I am so grateful) those weren’t even my favorite memories:
- My host family tried to make it to every game to cheer for me from the bleachers and I always performed better when they were there.
- Before every game my host mom braided my hair because ‘when you look good, you play good’ and sometimes it got really late and we sat there until midnight.
- When I went on a school trip with DECA I had to wake up at 4 am and my mom woke up with me to make sure I was awake.
- While I was writing my business plan, I could ask my host dad for advice and he always had the right idea.
- When I had Volleyball practice before school my host sister had to drive me although she had practice in the afternoon and we had the best talks at 5 am […]
- Me and my host sister building Lego on the weekends and just talked for hours. I remember how we played cards until 2 am and we just keep playing and laughing.
At the beginning of this year, I was a semester student and this family is the reason I extended my year. [These] people deserve the world and I wish them only the best. They were there for me when I was sad and they celebrated with me when I was happy. They made me feel and treated me like a family member. They gave me a second home and a family. I found myself doing sports and finding new interests I adapted from them. I grew and learned how to deal with my problems and that sometimes even a hug from my host mom would do it. I love these people and they deserve recognition for everything they did for me this year and other exchange students in the past.”
You could be the next Host Family of the Year if you host an exchange student!
Host families from across the United States come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you’d like to host for a full school year, a semester, or just for a few weeks as Welcome Family, you can make an impact on an exchange student’s life by hosting!
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