Host Family Stories

This month’s host family nomination of the McCubbins from Mexico, Missouri comes from 16 year old Michelle from Germany:

I don´t think I have the best host family... I know it!

I have done so many new things with my host family. My first day in America was in St. Louis with the whole family and we ate at Steak N´ Shake, which is such a good typical American diner! My first event in America was the state fair and going to watch my first race and also my first tractor ride. At the lake was my first time waterskiing and my first time riding jet skis. My first school day was awesome and I met so many great people. I also enjoyed the first time going shopping alone with both of my host sisters (Jessie and Kelsie) in the huge American mall, the first football game with Kelsie, the first time having a family day at the magic house, the first time going hunting, the first time washing my own clothes, the first time going to an American family reunion and riding four wheelers. I loved also getting all this American food and liking it so much that you can’t stop eating, especially when your family knows what you like!

My family and I haven´t traveled out of Missouri yet, but we made a lot of trips to St. Louis, Kansas City, Hunting, (The Amish, because they wanted to show me how they live), the state fair, to the lake of the Ozarks, which is where we went waterskiing and jet skiing and had a blast! We have a lot of family dinners and the family is really close. During the summer we are going a lot to Uncle Mickey’s house swimming. We also go to church together, play family games and just having a great time listening to each other and our stories.

My host mom Lisa is helping me a lot in school since she is working there, so whenever I have a problem in school I go to her first. She is also an awesome organizer, but wants to know where you are for sure, which is a good thing too. She is responsible and has a great human behavior. Jeff is just so funny and he is such a great cook! I love when he cooks (especially those carrot cookies!).

Jessie and Kelsie are not only my host sisters, they are the best friends and I just love that I got to know them. Just one call and they are there whenever I need them! It’s also such a great time with them and they offered their friends and their lives for me. I am so proud of Kelsie for sharing a room with me with all my little moods! In the community, whenever we meet someone I haven´t seen before, they introduce me so I always have people to talk to.

My year is going great. I tried here so many new things and have so many new experiences like the first football and basketball, new sports, all the country things. It’s just so much to tell back to the home family and it´s not negative!

I want to hold my grades and just have a good year, be a good exchange student so everybody has good memories and relationships that will never end! I look forward to staying in contact with my family and friends and come back here!! I will never forget this year.

There are just so many great experiences my family shared with me that I can´t be grateful enough they took me for this year. They are a part of my life now and I will never let them go. These four will always be a part of my heart! All that is why I love my host family and for me is it the BEST family!

My name is Gabriel. I'm seventeen and I'm an exchange student from Brazil. I live with my host family in a city called Rush in the state of Kentucky. I have two sisters, Laura and Devan, a brother called Carter, and a mom and dad called Tammy and Donnie. I love all them so much and I'm already worried about the day I'll leave. Since the day I arrived here I'm having a lot of fun, making new friends and learning new things.

Every day I go to school with Carter and Bev, our mamaw (grandmother). She works at school and she is always helping me with anything I need. She is the best mamaw ever, and I love her too. This year I played soccer for my school and my host brother Carter played too and we won the district championship and that was pretty cool! Here with my host family I'm treated as a real member of the family, and I do a lot of things together with them like going to shops, family reunions, family dinners and going to the movies.

I would like to thank Ayusa and the best community representatives, Rhonda Rogers and Vicky Barker, for choosing the best family for me and supporting me whenever I need.

Regional Director Vicky Barker also had this to say about the Waugh family: 

In the time that I have been with Ayusa, I have not seen a family and exchange student adjust to the changes that this family has adjusted to. The Waughs treat Gabriel like he's always been a part of the family. Each morning at school when Carter gets a hug from his grandmother before going to class, so does Gabe. Everything the family does, so does Gabe. Gabe and his host brother, Carter are extremely close and I'm sure Carter would agree with me, it's great having a brother after having two sisters.  I truly see a bond between Gabe and his host family that will be hard to break and will last a lifetime.

My name is Henrike and I am an exchange student from Germany. I am placed in Medford, Oregon and arrived on the 11th of August 2012 after 3 amazing and impressive days in New York. Although I am here for two months I can still remember how I felt before I met my family. It was the first time in my life I felt so excited but so tired at the same time. I didn't know much about my family, because I got my host family, 5 days before my flight. They welcomed me with two big signs: "Welcome Henrike".

My sister Karsen is seven years-old and the cutest little girl on earth. She goes horseback riding and plays violin. Due to the fact that we have many hobbies in common, we get along with each other very well. Often in the evenings I like to read books to her - great for my English! My dad Brian is a very smart, friendly, funny, and a protective dad. He likes to run and works successfully for the German company SAP. My mom Christy is a beautiful and gorgeous woman. Her mother is from Germany! She doesn't work, but spends a lot of time taking care of our family. All three of them are awesome people and communicate a lot. The good communication is reflected in having a balanced and relaxed relationship with no troubles and being able to talk about everything. They treat me like their own daughter / sister and offer me very much!

Our house is amazing. It's huge, beautiful and -what I love- it's American! Additionally to my family there is a golden retriever Wrigley, a cat Maggie and a goldfish Mickey (named after Mickey Mouse). I haven't been homesick at all and I really appreciate it! I expect, that my honey-moon-phases decreases, but I’m really happy here and enjoy my life.

Fortunately my school started as recently as the 5th of September, so I had almost 4 weeks to get used to my new life. During this time we did a lot: we went to Portland, Columbia River, Multnomah Falls, wildlife safari and kayaking.

One day before my school started we went to register me at South Medford High School (SMHS). My school is very new; the classrooms are well equipped and the campus is nice.

The pupils at SMHS are curious and open-minded. In the first week I already found friends; they are really nice to me and support me in experiencing the American culture and lifestyle. Because we don't have football games in Germany, going to them and cheering for SMHS is a super-American-amazing-exciting experience. After the games I often have sleepovers with friends and we watch movies and have fun! The next big event is Homecoming week with the big dance. It was a surprise I even have got a date for homecoming dance and I bought a beautiful dress. In my free time I spend most of the time with music (violin and orchestra) and my family to do fun and adventurous things with. For example I often watch riding lessons from my sister.

For me personally it’s a new situation to have a sister, a mom and a dad, because in Germany I “just” have a brother and my parents are divorced. I really enjoy my family life. If I hear the sentences "I am so glad to have a sister", "I love my sister" and "I am so happy, no one else picked you" from my sister, my heart melts. When Christy tells me how much I brought to the family and people are excited to meet the German exchange student it's a big honor for me. I fit so perfectly in this family and -honestly- after less than one day here I loved them; I feel home here. It's like a puzzle: my host family is one piece and I am the fitting one to it. And at the end it will be hard and sad to separate the puzzle pieces, because it was accomplished!

When I was here for exactly 17 days I had my sweet 16. As a family we went out to get for pizza, they gave me the prettiest and most delicious birthday cake I've ever had and many presents. A lot more than I expected!

I can't imagine any conflicts we could have. Some host families have trouble with the curfew for the exchange students. I just talk with my mom and dad about it, when something comes up! It works perfect, because I accept any rules, because I know that's just for my protection and that it's a huge responsibility to have a 16-years-old exchange student for one year. So many reasons to nominate my family for host family of the month! Exchange is... ...trust, friendship, communication, love, experiences, culture, fun, laugh, learning for life.

It’s not every day we hear that a future Olympian hosts one of our students, but that is exactly what happened when Regional Director Mary Lou Dunekacke reconnected with former host Curtis Tomasevicz this year.  Curt’s family hosted German student Philip with Ayusa back in 2001.  The Tomasevicz family lived in a small town in Nebraska, where graduating classes only held about 25 students.  Philip flourished, attending all the school events and sports he could.  Curt marveled that he never let any homesickness affect school or his exchange experience, and he viewed the small town atmosphere as a new and exciting experience.

Philip arrived in the Tomasevicz home just as Curt headed off to college.  The family often joked that Philip was Curt’s ‘replacement’, a thought that was comforting to Curt as he embarked on his college career.  Though not in high school together, Curt’s college was not far away, so Philip and the rest of the family came to visit often and watch Curt play football, and they still remain close.  Curt shares that “hosting a student has was great. Philip taught us a lot about international culture as well as extended the number in our family. He fit in great with us as well as at school. It took a little while, but he made some great friends with the other students.”

After college, Curt met another former college athlete who was recruiting for the U.S. Bobsled team and an Olympic athlete was born.  In 2010, Curt and his team won Gold in the 4-man Bobsled.  Curt now trains October through March, though as they look toward the 2014 Olympics, time off is harder to come by.  Currently, Curt’s team is in first place and they hope to make the U.S. Olympic team for 2014.

Curt understands that the education that comes from hosting an exchange student is invaluable. “Through hosting you have the chance to learn about the world” says Curt.  Hosting also helped Curt gain more insight into living and sharing with others, and prepared him for his career as an Olympic athlete.  Curt has traveled the world, and his experience with Philip and other exchange students helped prepare him for what to expect, and allowed him to learn some German, which helped him feel more comfortable among the locals.

Curt, his family, and their exchange students cherished their time together and the opportunity to share their culture – an experience he believes everyone should have.  “I would encourage anyone to consider hosting a student.  It will definitely expand your horizons to learn how other people around the world live. It's fun to teach the students about American culture as well. Holidays, sports, language, and food are all new traditions to be shared.”