Ashley from Texas welcomed two students, Seio from Japan and Irakli (Ika) from Georgia, with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program sponsored by the Department of State, into her family for the 2024-25 school year. Read Ashley’s letter below, along with Irakli’s sweet response to see what she means to them and discover the love hosting can bring into your life!
Dear Seio and Ika,
How do I even begin to say goodbye to two young men who have completely changed my world?
From the moment you both stepped off that plane, I had no idea just how much life we were about to live together. From watching the Dodgers play, to carving pumpkins for spooky Halloween photos, to a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York for the World Series. Every adventure with you has been full of laughter, wonder, and heart.
We rode roller coasters, soaked up sunshine on boat days, and hit the road for weekend escapes to Oklahoma. We shared a real American Thanksgiving, Christmas, blew up fireworks for New Year’s, Easter, and Memorial Day, welcomed family into our home, and sailed off on a cruise—memories I’ll carry forever.
You’ve been here for every season of life, through prom and homecoming, through births on the farm and the heartbreak of animals we had to say goodbye to. We danced at Christmas parties and celebrated the magic of the holidays together. And when I took a leap and opened the restaurant, you were there, every step of the way, supporting it, living it, being part of it.
We’ve done so much more than just pass the time, we’ve lived. Together, we built something beautiful. We conquered challenges, created stories that will live forever in photos and inside jokes, and left a lasting imprint on one another’s hearts.
Now, as you prepare to head back home, I hope you know this is not the end—just the beginning of a lifelong bond. You’re forever part of this family, and this will always be your home. I am so incredibly proud of the young men you’ve become, and beyond grateful to have had a front row seat to this chapter of your lives.
So don’t say goodbye, say see you later. Because I’ll be waiting… with open arms, cold drinks, and more stories to make whenever you find your way back to Texas.
With all my love and pride,
Your Host Momma,
Ashley
P.S. Don’t think you’re off the hook! I expect regular updates, future visits, and maybe a few surprise postcards from wherever life takes you next.
WE LOVE YOU
Living with you has been an amazing experience, and I will never forget it. You were surely more than a host mom to us. You have been our best supporter throughout the year. You were the first person I would go to seek comfort. It was not easy at first, so we both relied on you emotionally. And we are so lucky to have had you around, always ready to listen.
We are beyond grateful that we got to meet you and that you let us be a part of your family. It’s an unimaginably brave and kind act on your part to let COMPLETE strangers live in your home. You are such a wonderful person, my English isn’t even enough to describe how I feel about you!
We just saw Lilo and Stitch today, and it made me cry because I realized you are my Ohana now. And you will always stay my family, even though we will be thousands of miles apart. And don’t even hope I will leave you alone, weekly FaceTimes are on their way!
– Irakli from Georgia, part of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program sponsored by the Department of State
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!
