Have you ever had any?
We had two when I was growing up -- both from France. I managed to converse with the one (I was in middle school then) in Spanish -- which we both knew enough of to use. The other girl came when I was a high school sr and had been taking a couple of years of French in addition to Spanish.
Very interesting to have them around.

Anyway, here is an article about some local families hosting students:
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080407/NEWS/804070319/10...ust_to_life_in_Ocala

Would you, have you, hosted an exchange student before? How did it go? Would you do it again?

My friend Barbara Rogers, who taught art at Vanguard High School for many years, once had a student whose host parents didn't get along with her. The student was distressed and wanted to go home, I think, but couldn't with half of the year ahead of her. So Barb met with the host parents and agreed to take her in. Barb's daughter, also a teen, agreed and I think they had a great experience. A few years later Barb and her hubby went to Germany and stayed with the girl's parents, and they treated them like royalty, taking them places, buying them things, etc. Barb and her student, Viola, still keep in touch now that it has been several years. Barb pretty much treated Viola like she was her own, with rules and family fun, and it worked out well.

Wow, it is great to see some conversation about hosting. I am Eileen Zimmerman, the Regional Director of AYUSA. That is my granddaughter on the front page of yesterday's paper. I'd love to answer anyone's questions about hosting. There can be issues that come up which make it better to move a student, but those situations aren't the rule. My experience has been that the moves are generally very successful. This is my third year working for AYUSA and the first year I have needed to move anyone. Everything worked out beautifully. I work hard to support the families, students, and schools. I also teach fulltime at Belleview Middle School and teach Sunday School....just can't get enough kids. Hope to hear from some of you.