Our MacKid community is all about connection! We love to connect our local families and small businesses and we love to be a part of our community!
Well, if you've ever been curious about connecting with different cultures and places, you might have a desire to make friends from around the world. How can we connect even further outside our community, you ask? By hosting a foreign exchange student! By hosting a foreign exchange student we can welcome a different culture, a different language and different values to our homes and we can learn how other cultures live their day-to-day life.
As Texans we are used to opening our hearts and our homes to others with our heartwarming hospitality so hosting will come to our MacKid families naturally.
Hosting an exchange student not only benefits your family but has a positive impact on our high school students, teachers and community at large. Here are just a few ways:
- Exchange students help American students and teachers learn cultures, values and geography.
"Everyday when I go to class, my World Geography teacher asks me about Japanese culture" - Mako from Japan
-International students become ‘inter-cultural’ assets to their American friends.
-Your exchange son/daughter helps you to see your daily life from a different perspective.
"I've never seen a whole Turkey cooked before, that was the best part of Thanksgiving" - Alisha from Germany
-Another benefit of foreign exchange is when your exchange student joins clubs, sports, and volunteers in the community others benefit from the cultural exposure.
"I love helping my host mom with her dog rescue. It is so much fun! I do not have pets back home." Marek from Czech Republic
So when you become a volunteer host family, you are helping to re-connect the world and make lasting connections abroad.
Northwest Student Exchange, the busy bees behind this project, has several students waiting to be matched with “their US host families” here in Texas. This nonprofit organization has been placing students since 1987 and has placed 100s of students with Texas host families in local high school ISD throughout the state. Several NWSE exchange students have previously walked the halls at several local high schools in DFW and surrounding communities.
Embark in this amazing year-long journey!
Frequently asked questions about becoming a foreign exchange student host family:
Q.: Who can host:
A.: Well, anyone can host… you don’t have to have kids in high school to host an exchange student. Families, singles or empty-nesters make great host families.
Q.: Does my family have to speak the foreign’s student language?
A.: No, all foreign students come with English fluency
Q.: What are host families responsible for?
A.: Host families provide a caring home environment, 3 meals per day, and occasional transportation. Students come with own spending money, phone, computer and travel medical insurance.
Q.: How can my family become a host family?
A.: You can email Karen Sweet, Area Coordinator, at kkbsweet@hotmail.com
Q.: I still have some questions, how can I learn more?
A.: Visit www.nwse.com and you will find all the information you need to help you and your family on this amazing journey!SEARCH OUR CALENDAR HERE SUBMIT AN EVENT HERE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER SHARE ON FACEBOOK
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