Today, we hear from Stacie, a wonderful host mom from Washington State, who tells us about her family’s experience of hosting Diego from Spain. From cooking and baking together to sharing Spanish traditions, he quickly became part of their daily life. His curiosity, laughter, and eagerness to join every activity brought joy and new experiences into the home. More than two years later, when he returned for a Thanksgiving visit, it was like he had never left, leaving behind memories and connections they’ll always cherish.
Hosting Diego was the absolute best experience for all of us. We gained a member of our family when he came to live with us. He was such a happy and fun boy who found joy in discovering everything new. He wanted to get to know not just my kids, but also my husband and me.
He was eager to integrate himself into the family and participated in everything. Diego was so willing to learn and embrace being in America, and he was open to accepting that American traditions are different from his own. His English and understanding of the language improved so quickly during the time he was with us.
We created so many memories cooking and baking in our house that, before his time with us was over, I made a recipe book for him of everything we baked and cooked together. I also bought him measuring spoons and cups because I knew our measurements were different from his.
In return, he made a delicious Spanish omelette for us. We definitely have many wonderful memories in our kitchen. It was so much fun to learn from Diego about certain customs and traditions from his Spanish culture and to share ours with him. For example, we still eat the 12 grapes on New Year’s. Some years, we even eat them with him over video.
What I’ve noticed most about hosting a student from Spain is how strong the sense of family is. I have temporarily hosted students from other countries, and I definitely noticed that family holds a more central place for Diego than for kids from other countries. He has many family-based traditions and a strong relationship with both his immediate and extended family. I think this made it easier for him to take an interest in our family. Maybe his strong sense of family helped him feel more comfortable and secure embracing us as his own.
Diego came to visit us over Thanksgiving. He was here for nine days, and it felt just like he had never left. It was so special seeing him get a bit emotional when he walked back into our house for the first time since he left in June 2023. We had so much fun. We laughed a lot and talked about all of our wonderful memories. We tried to fit in as much as we could while he was with us, visiting some of his favorite places and discovering some new ones too.
Overall, Diego was a true blessing to us. Not only will he always be a member of our family, but we will always be members of his as well.
Are you interested in making a student like Diego 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!
