Foreign exchange students enhancing lives in Santa Rosa County

There's one sure way to learn about the culture and people from another country. For many families in Santa Rosa County, it’s by hosting a foreign exchange student.

The Academic Year in the USA organization has made it possible for families to host a foreign student for ten months.

Becky and Eric Shiver of Pace have an 11 year old daughter named Savanna and a 16 year old foreign exchange student named Kvitka Krotyuk.

For the Shivers, hosting an exchange student is something foreign to them.

"It's exciting. We wanted to educate Savanna more, and this is the perfect way to do that," Becky Shiver, 42, said.

Kvitka is fluent in Ukrainian, English and Russian and speaks a little Spanish and German. Becky Shiver said Kvitka is encountering many things in the United States she has never seen, or done, in the Ukraine.

"They (Ukrainians) don't eat black pepper with their foods. They eat a lot of beans, rice and poppy seeds," she said. "Going to the mall is always an adventure."

Back in the Ukraine, Kvitka lives in an apartment building. Here in America, she is living in a big four bedroom house.

Being a host family isn't for everyone, but the Shivers said it works for them. "She has been a big sister to Savanna," Eric Shiver, 41 said. "As a family, the cost is not a burden. But, with the economy the way it is, it would have been nice to do more things with Kvitka," Eric Shiver said.

Becky Shiver said the exchange students come with their own spending money. Kvitka came to the United States with a wardrobe of skirts and blouses.

"She buys her school lunches," Becky Shiver said. "I'm a thrifty shopper, so we got her name-brand clothes at a good price. And we borrowed a dress from a friend for homecoming."

Eric Shiver said Kvitka has had a positive effect on Savanna's grades. Savanna has become an A student from observing Kvitka's study habits.

Another host family is waiting for their foreign exchange student to arrive in August from the Netherlands. Somer and Jeff Jones of Navarre are hosting Evelien van der Wel. After finding out more about the program Jones began a plan to host a student.

"I actually saw it in a local newspaper," she said. "I went to the Web site first."

Jones, 28, has experience with hosting a foreign exchange student. "My family has hosted before in Las Vegas where I was born," she said. "We hosted a student from Sweden for a year when I was 10."

She is eager for the experience because she enjoyed it when she was younger. "I remember a lot of it. It was really a positive experience for me," Jones said. "It was like having a big brother."

She said it was curiosity when she went to the Web site for information. "It quickly became — I really want to do this," Jones said. "I think our family has a lot to offer a student because we love experiencing life."

The Jones have three children, Brynley, 7, Brody, 3 and Brielle is 18 months. "We are as adventurous as possible," Jones said. "And in our student's profile, she wants a family that will take her places."

Jones said it'll be a learning experience for everybody. "It gives an opportunity for my oldest daughter to learn a new culture," she said. "I think it's going to be so amazing to watch her experience our culture. I expect to have another member of the family and I hope she will come visit us in the future."