Ideas for Finding Host Families for Foreign Exchange Students

[judysue]

I am looking for ideas about how to find the kinds of families who would enjoy hosting an international high school student for the 2013 school year in Oklahoma. The students are 15-18, come from all over the world, speak English and bring own spending money and health insurance. Ingredients for success are a great family who would welcome the cultural experience and a willing high school to accept the student's enrollment. This is for a nonprofit organization.

Where would you look? Who would you contact? Welcome all well-intentioned ideas. Thank you in advance!

[kevinpate]

Avoid grandparents of small grandchildren. Speaking for my house, we keep the beds ready and open for frequent visits of the children and their children.

[judysue]

Exactly the kind of wisdom I am looking for. Thanks.

[bandnerd]

Contact some schools in the area. Many host exchange students in their schools and might have a database of people available.

[judysue]

It is interesting how school do not want to share this information. Perhaps privacy laws.

[CCOKC]

I hosted a young lady from Thailand several years ago. She had been placed in a home where she did not fit in and a lady from our church put a notice in the weekly bulletin that stated that she would have to go home if she did not find a new home. A week later she was living in our home. We still keep in touch with her. In fact I got an email from her last week asking for Thunder gear. (I guess word of KD has even reached Bangkok). I would recommend the experience to anyone who has the extra room and time to spend with a new family member. We also got to meet the other exchange students that were involved in the program throughout the state. The thing I really loved about the kids was how involved they got. Our Thai daughter even joined the tennis team even though she had never picked up a racket in her life. I really learned a lot from her and her friends.

[judysue]

That is a great story. I hear that families make life long friends with their students. Would you host again?

[CCOKC]

I probably would but not at this point in my life. When I hosted, I had two middle school children and I was only working part time. Now that my husband and I both work 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week (more during tax season) it would not be fair to host another exchange student. Especially since they are not allowed to drive and our public transportation system is not up to the standards that they are used to.

[WilliamTell]

this is probably tmi - but many many many years ago my uncle's family was hosting a girl named Ria L. from Germany. if i could find her again I would marry her in a heartbeat. im sure my wife would object, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

[judysue]

Too funny!

[stlokc]

There is also an International committee of the OKC Chamber of Commerce. They put together dinners for visiting business travelers. We hosted dinners for a group of Korean pilots, some Bosnian lawyers, a couple of groups from Africa. They stayed in hotels with state department escorts but would come for dinner at our house. Absolutely fascinating, you should see the holiday cards my patents get every year.

[stlokc]

Patents = Parents LOL

[judysue]

Thank you for some very good tips. I will definitely contact OCU. Tried OU International Department with limited success. and also Norman Chamber. Will check out OKC Chamber. Much appreciated!

[stlokc]

We hosted a variety of people all the way through my childhood. Never as long as a year, but we had a Japanese student for a month in about 1988 and a German for about a week in about 1990. Also a Brazilian boy for about a month sometime around 1991-1992. These were generally informal contacts, friends of friends. But there is (or was) a group called Friendship Force. I went on a Russian exchange with them the summer between high school and college. I would contact OCU as they have a thriving international program. And, perhaps, strangely, the FAA. They train air traffic control personnel from all over the world and have a network of interested families here.

[betts]

Have you checked with the private schools like Casady, Heritage Hall and McGuiness. They have a lot closer contact with the parents at their schools than the really big public schools, and probably fewer privacy restrictions.

[judysue]

We have very few students who want or can afford to go to a private school. I do have one student going to a private school in Tulsa, and you are right...they were so helpful and actually emailed all parents to see if anyone would host.

[bombermwc]

In MWC, the rotary club hosted several students each year. Maybe you could look at similar groups in your area.

[judysue]

Thank you. Yes, the Rotary Club does a lot of placing here in Norman and have for years, so it is a bit difficult to beat them to families.