As we celebrate the spirit of gratitude during this special month, we wanted to share a wonderful letter written by Saule from Lithuania, who is spending her 2023-24 year with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program sponsored by the Department of State. Saule’s American adventure began when she arrived in Illinois and was welcomed with open arms by her host family. The warmth and love they showed her made her feel right at home. Her letter serves as a reminder to cherish and appreciate the connections we form with the people around us!
Dear Host Family,
I was so scared to go here all alone and live with strangers for 9 months, but from the very beginning, I started to feel like I was at home. When I landed at the airport, you met me with a sign that said,”OMG.” I knew that I made the right choice coming here and that I was in the right place. I was scared to go to school and meet my host sister, Zettie, in person, but she gave me the best school tour I could have asked for, no, even better. She answered all the questions I had and had the patience to listen to me when I was struggling with English words. She still does. You all do. I was scared about how I would fit in, about food and classes. After the first week, I knew that I did not have to worry about anything because my host mom, Nancy, made the best food in America and Zettie helped me with schoolwork.
The first weeks flew by quickly and then there was my birthday. This day was hard for me emotionally, but again, you all made it so much easier for me. I cannot tell you all how much it meant to me just for you to be there for me, the effort Nancy put in to bake that cake and nail it, and all the thoughtful gifts that I am using every day. Thank you so much.
Before I came here, I tried not to have huge expectations for the year and to take whatever I got, but you guys are the best family I could have asked for. And your effort to take me to as many places as possible and try as many new things as possible that there is to try, thank you. It has not even been 3 months since I got here, and I have gone to a lot of various places, from dress shopping for Homecoming to the Pumpkin Patch and Chicago Art Museum. I could not even imagine my year to be this good.
Every morning, no matter what, Nancy wishes Zettie and me good luck, and every day after school she asks how it was, and I am very thankful for that. Thank you to my host dad, Matthew, for taking me to ride on a combine with you and explaining all the things about farming to me. Thank you to my host sister, Rozella, for all the hugs that I need and all the sensitive, caring talks that we have. Thank you, Zettie, for being there for me all the time and being almost the same person as me, because it makes things so much easier. And finally, to my host brother, William, you were the only one that I was scared to meet, but from the very first time that we met, I knew that there is nothing to be scared of because you’re so friendly and easy-going that it feels like I knew you way before this.
I cannot thank you enough, but I will try.
Love you all.
Are you interested in making a student like Saule a part of your family? We are looking for American host families to welcome a student for Spring 2024 and the upcoming 2024-25 school year! Check out the profiles of our wonderful students! New profiles go online every Thursday!
