Ever wonder what it’s like to host exchange students while homeschooling your own children? For Tiffney and her family, it’s been a rewarding mix of shared learning, cultural exchange, and spontaneous adventures. This school year, they’re hosting Dilnora from Uzbekistan, who is in Washington State with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and Sara from Norway. Both girls attend the local high school while the family homeschools their daughter. Tiffney shares how the experience has added depth, fun, and a fresh perspective to their everyday life!
What initially inspired you to become a host family?
When I was a kid, my family hosted two Japanese exchange students at a time every four years for two weeks. When I was 15, I had the opportunity to be an exchange student in Japan for 16 days. It was a lot of fun and such a great experience. I wanted to be able to provide that hosting experience for my family.
It’s so exciting to choose a student, get to know them before they arrive, and then go pick them up. Showing them things we love about where we live also gets us out and seeing our world through their eyes. We have them ask around school about what local students think they should see, and then we all get to experience something new together.
What has it been like to host Dilnora from Uzbekistan and Sara from Norway?
This is our first time hosting two students at the same time, and we’ve been having such a great time. The girls are very different and bring out a playful side of each other. My favorite memories are just listening to all my kids joke and laugh in the evenings. I love hearing them banter while cleaning up after dinner.
What is it like to homeschool while hosting?
Homeschooling while hosting has become normal for us. My kids have the same days off as the public school kids so we can go out and do fun things together. Our daughter is definitely paying more attention to her geography these days. She also enjoys eating the foods our students cook for us. I keep coming back to hosting because of the relationships we’ve built around the world. Who knew pieces of my heart would one day be spread so far?
What advice would you give to other homeschooling families considering hosting an exchange student?
Give it a try! There is so much that you can learn from your student while also letting your kids teach them new things. We are more active in outdoor adventures, we cook a larger variety of foods, and we dive deeper into the stories and history around us. There are lessons all around us, and showing someone else makes learning all the more fun along the way.
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!
