Today, we had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Heather, who shares the joy that she, her wife Beth, and their children have experienced in hosting an exchange student! After coming across the profile of Wencke from the Netherlands on the Aspect website, they were excited to make her part of their family for the 2023-24 school year. Heather and Beth tell us how following your heart can lead to once-in-a-lifetime experience through the joys of hosting!
What inspired you to become a host family?
Wencke was the primary inspiration for us to become a host family. My wife, Beth, came across a brief profile of Wencke on Facebook and she looked like she would be a perfect fit for our family. Wencke appeared to have similar interests and our hearts were open to welcoming her into our home. We didn’t overthink it, and we just said yes.
Did you initially have any concerns about hosting?
Our main concern about hosting Wencke was for Wencke! We were concerned that she may be uncomfortable living with 2 host Moms versus a more traditional family. We knew Wencke would already be dealing with a lot as she moved from the Netherlands to Nebraska, and we didn’t want that to be an extra stress for her.
I think talking to her on the phone and via Facebook messenger over the summer really helped ease our anxiety. Having rules for the students up front is also a nice comfort. The students know they will be sent home if they do not keep their grades up or get in trouble.
Do you have a favorite memory while hosting Wencke?
It’s hard to pick out a favorite memory with Wencke because the whole journey has been quite wonderful. I would say a moment that immediately sticks out is when her Mom, Dad, and brother, came to visit for 2 weeks. It was really neat to see Wencke around her family and to share Wencke’s Nebraska life with them. Beth and I particularly enjoyed talking to Wencke’s parents and sharing our personal testimony with them on how wonderful of a daughter Wencke is. We were able to show Wencke’s whole family what our life in Elkhorn, Nebraska looked like, and we were even able to take them back to where we both grew up in rural Nebraska and share that experience with them too.
Beth and I both grew up on farms and our respective families were able to show them our tractors, 4-wheelers, cattle, and even a cow giving birth to a baby calf. We finished our time together with a ski trip to Colorado. It was fun skiing with Wencke and her family as we were educated on the difference between the Rockies and the Alps.
Have you learned any cultural customs or fun facts about the Netherlands through hosting?
Our favorite Dutch word we have remembered and used is “doe-doei.” It sounds like Mt. “Dewey” to us so that always makes us all smile. While we hosted Wencke’s family, we all had so much fun together and we learned that we can’t quite hang with the Dutch! Maybe it was the coffee they enjoyed throughout the day that gave them a little extra boost of energy.
Honestly it was probably because they were in vacation mode while we tried to also be in vacation mode with them and balance work at the same time. Wencke’s parents mentioned a big difference they noticed was the athleisure wear that everyone seemed to be wearing all the time. Her parents commented that what many Nebraskans are accustomed to wearing daily, would be more of a gym outfit for them. We told them we take our comfort seriously!
How have your children reacted to having a new host sibling?
Our kids absolutely adore having Wencke as a sister! We have 4 kids and they all just love her so much! One of our daughters regularly tells her, “I love you to heaven and back!” Truth be told, we all love Wencke to heaven and back!
Do you have advice for same-sex couples who are thinking about hosting?
My advice is to not overthink it. Keep the main thing, the main thing. I would recommend being fully transparent with the potential student to gauge their comfort level, and from there, just embrace the foreign exchange student into your family like one of your very own.
We have had an absolutely amazing experience hosting Wencke! She has been a wonderful addition to our family, and we are so happy that we followed our hearts, and said yes to her and this experience!
Are you interested in making a student like Wencke a part of your family? We are looking for American host families to welcome a student for the upcoming 2024-25 school year! Check out the profiles of our wonderful students!
