Farm life is full of early mornings, hard work, and rewarding moments. For one host family, it became even more special with the addition of an exchange student. Today, we hear from Heather and Robert from Texas. When Alejandro from Spain joined their family, he jumped right into the adventure, from helping with chores to learning new skills. Whether gathering eggs or fishing with his host brother, farm life provided him with a unique exchange year!
What inspired you to become a host family?
Honestly, it was a last-minute decision. We got a phone call asking if we would host a student, and we thought it would be a good experience, especially for our 4-year-old and 11-year-old. We didn’t have much time to think about it, but we said yes!
How are your children enjoying having Alejandro in the family?
They love him! They do everything together. Alejandro and my son, Rhett, love to fish, play basketball, and play video games. One of the cutest moments was when Alejandro read a book to our younger son. It was such a sweet sight. It’s going to be a sad day in the house when he has to go home.
What has it been like to host Alejandro from Spain?
It’s been good! It’s been fun and a neat experience for all of us. He’s shared some food from Spain with us, and he taught us how they celebrate Christmas there. On Christmas Eve, they gather with family, and then on January 6th, they celebrate Three Kings’ Day. That’s when they open all their presents. It was really interesting to learn about!
Are there any perks to hosting an exchange student on a farm?
We have a small family farm with chickens, turkeys, pigs, and goats. It’s not a commercial farm, just something we do as a family. They need to be animal lovers, and Alejandro is, so that’s been great. He’s really gotten involved with farm life. He had never been fishing before, so that was completely new for him. He also learned how to play basketball and American football, and he ran cross-country for the first time.
What advice would you give to families, especially those with farms, who are considering hosting?
Just do it! It’s a great experience. You get to learn about another culture, and the student gets to experience a totally different way of life. If you have a farm, it helps if the student likes animals and is willing to help out. Alejandro has been great about locking up the chickens, gathering eggs, and our son showed him our goats and rabbits. Hosting Alejandro has been such a fun and rewarding experience. We’d definitely love to visit him one day in Spain!
Are you interested in making a student like Alejandro 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!
