What's it Like to Host an Exchange Student?

Editor's Note: This September, for the seventh year, Grayslake Central and Grayslake North will host more than 18 students from Spain, according to the Grayslake District 127 website. The program is offered through Share America. "The students come to improve their English and learn about the American culture firsthand," according to the district website. Host families are being sought for these students. For more information, contact Laura Krapohl at (847) 265-5748 or LauraKrapohl@yahoo.com. Below, Patch Senior Community Editor Marcia Sagendorph, a Grayslake resident, shares her story of what it was like to host a student through Share America.

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Opening your home to a stranger for three weeks. It sounds crazy, but it was one of the best things our family ever did.

We opened our home to Juan Bosco Bascon Ortega, or "Bosco," as part of the Share America Exchange program in 2011. Bosco was one of several kids from Spain who participated in the program at both Grayslake North High School and Grayslake Central High School. Other Spain kids were matched up with families in Libertyville. 

Going into this, my family spoke very little Spanish. It didn't matter. Bosco spoke fluent English and wanted to experience American life with our family. We all had a blast! We took him to Chicago, went to a White Sox game (where he saw a rare walk-off grand slam), hosted bonfires in the backyard with lots of teenagers and helped Bosco get ready for the homecoming dance at Grayslake North. Bosco went to some classes with my kids, Lauren and Kyle. He loved seeing the spirit at the schools, which is very different from his school back home on the southern coast of Spain.

Bosco and his sister Raquel, who stayed with another family, enjoyed getting a taste of life in America. They became more than friends with our kids—they became siblings. My kids got to go visit them in Spain, and Bosco and Raquel are coming back to Grayslake for a visit this summer. They are extended family members.

All of this began with a quick three-week program that flew by. I would recommend the Share America program to anyone. The Spain kids bring their own spending money—you just give them room and board for the duration of the program. They attend classes one day, and go sightseeing the next with the other Spain kids. So families don't have to do a lot of entertaining—it is all worked out in advance. 

The experience taught my kids a lot about other cultures. It also gave us all a new insight on our own culture and how fortunate we are here. It is awesome. You wouldn't think three weeks would be enough time to get so close, to form bonds that last a lifetime, but it is. Trust me on that.