Sometimes, hosting an exchange student becomes something far bigger than a single school year. Today, we hear from Sharon, a host mom and International Coordinator in Texas, as she reflects on welcoming her very first exchange student, Diego from Spain. What began as a nervous first step into hosting quickly turned into a lifelong bond, showing how one exchange year can grow into family connections that last far beyond borders and time.
Diego came to us in August 2019. He was our first exchange student, and we were a bit nervous, to say the least. We selected Diego because he was one of the youngest in the portal, and he was our son’s age. They would both be sophomores at school. We never expected the bond we formed to be so strong or the year to end the way it did. He instantly became a part of our family.
We would ask what he wanted to do, and his response was always, “I want to do whatever you are doing.” And he did. He went to yoga with me, lifted weights with my husband John, played video games with my youngest (who was four years younger than he was), went on runs, grocery shopped, attended airshows, visited family, and went to football games. Diego truly made the most of his American experience and dove headfirst into our family life.
At school, he was no different. He joined the swim team, which meant 6 a.m. practices 20 minutes away. Our school does not have a pool, so they swam at the natatorium. After practice, the kids rode a bus back to school, or, if they were lucky, drove themselves. If they were driving, Diego could ask for a ride rather than take the bus. This often meant grabbing a second breakfast on the way to school. Diego had several friends who were happy to drive him.
Before every swim meet, the team would go out for pasta at one of the local restaurants, and they formed a strong bond. Diego set a school record in the 500 meter swim, and his team won the conference championship in 2019. It was a great fall. For Christmas, we visited Orlando and did all things Disney, NASA, and Universal. We wore matching socks, shoes, and shirts, and he fully embraced the silliness.
When spring break rolled around, tragedy hit the world with COVID-19, and things took a turn. Students never returned to school, and since no one knew how things would end, Diego was advised to complete his year online in the United States and catch up on his studies in Spain so he would not lose credit for the year.
He studied constantly, and at the end of March, the Spanish consulate called all of them home to Spain. With tears in everyone’s eyes and broken hearts, we took Diego to the airport and said our goodbyes. The stillness of the airport felt like something out of an apocalyptic movie. In our hearts, we assumed this might be the last time we would see each other.
But we were wrong. In the summer of 2022, after he graduated from high school back home in Spain, his parents surprised him with a two-week trip back to the United States. We surprised him by taking him to many of the places we never had a chance to see while he was here. We invited two of his closest friends and took a road trip to Austin and San Antonio. It was a wonderful two weeks. This time, the goodbye still stung, but it did not break our hearts, because we knew we would see each other again.
Right image: Sharon (second from left) and her husband (left) smiling with Diego’s parents in Spain, 2023
In December 2023, we planned a two week trip to Spain with the help of Diego’s parents. When we told them we were going to Spain, they offered to help and made most of the travel arrangements for us. We flew into Madrid, and when we landed, our luggage did not. They brought us clothes to wear and sent my husband and me off to enjoy some alone time in the city while they took the boys home with them.
They planned our tour itinerary so we could see the best of Madrid, Segovia, and Sevilla. Best of all, we spent New Year’s Eve at their home, celebrating with their family. The following day, we visited their family farm and enjoyed horseback riding and the beautiful countryside. The familial bond we have formed with our Spanish family goes far beyond the days Diego spent in our home, and we will forever be connected to him and his family.
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 2026-27 school year. Check out the profiles of our wonderful students. New student profiles go online every Thursday!
