Hosting an exchange student can be a life-changing experience, and for Katherine and her family, it’s one they’ve said “yes” to three times! What began as a simple reference check led to welcoming Rocio from Spain, whose easygoing nature made her an instant part of the family. This year, they opened their home to two more students, creating even more unforgettable memories. From cheering on their students as they try new activities to enjoying delicious homemade Belgian treats, hosting has brought joy, cultural connections, and lifelong friendships into their home!
What motivated you to become a host family?
We had discussed it previously. My husband had an exchange student from Spain at his school during his senior year. They became good friends and have remained in contact 30 years later. We were also listed as references for friends who were hosting. When the coordinator called for a reference check, she asked if we had ever thought of hosting… and here we are!
What was it like to host your first student, Rocio from Spain? Do you have a favorite memory?
Rocio was amazing. She is a very laid-back girl. She just smiled and went along with everything. It took us two months to realize that she was just smiling and following along, but not really understanding what we were saying! She tried fastpitch softball, even though she had never seen a game, and jumped right into whatever my daughters were doing. We took several road trips to see sights, and we have so many photos of her dead asleep, mouth open, in the back seat of the car. She instantly fell asleep whenever we got in the car!
What inspired you to host again this school year, and what led you to welcome not just one but two students?
We hosted Rocio when our older daughter, Margarite, was a junior, which made things easier since she could help with transportation. We had planned to host again when our younger daughter, Ava, was a junior and were considering a student from a different country. Before we arranged that, Rocio’s mother reached out and asked if we would host her younger sister, Alicia. How could we say no?
Then, when International Coordinator Kristine contacted us about Lilly, I told her we already had a student coming. She assured me that we could host two and thought Lilly would be a great fit. I was surprised when my husband and Ava said, ‘Sure, we can have two! There’s an extra bedroom now with Margarite gone.’
Lilly and Alicia have very different personalities, but that has just made the experience even more fun! Lilly is a baker! Although she lives in Belgium, she has a French passport, and the rest of her family is in France. I think we’ve learned just as much about France as Belgium! She has spoiled us with her baking and, of course, Belgian chocolates.
What advice would you give to someone considering hosting?
I would encourage it. We have now had three different girls in our house. They have all been great kids. It certainly is easy to have them when we have children of the same age who can help with transportation to school and all the after-school activities. Encourage your students to join every single club and activity and attend all the events at school. The busier they are, the less likely they are to be homesick, the more they get off their phones, and the more they meet different people and learn about all the variety in our culture!
Are you interested in making a student a part of your family? We are looking for American host families to welcome a student for the upcoming 2025-26 school year! Check out the profiles of our wonderful students! New profiles go online every Thursday!
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