Foreign Exchange Students? My dd just left!

[mamakarata]

I haven't any gripes really. Just looking for someone to share the experience with. My dd is 16 and left Monday for 5 months to start a semester in Costa Rica. I am very excited, and nervous but mostly excited and proud.

She is an amazing girl who loves photography, video making/editing/ etc and is in fact making a video of her experience complete with footage of the preparations, trepidations, separations, and now the journey!

She isn't the typical outgoing, first one to jump in to something new, type of kid either. Not like many that we met at the orientation. And she didn't go with a group of teens. She actually flew by herself, and is now at her host home - a single mom of 5 kids, speaking only Spanish and preparing for school to start next Monday.

Anyone want to share their experience with this? I did not host a student myself. I would like to someday, but it wasn't possible this time.

Thanks for e-listening!

[theelfqueen]

I was an exchange student in High School (to Russia) and it was the most amazing experience. Very exciting, educational, fun, etc. One of the best experiences of my life overall.

[terrordactyl]

i always wanted to do it i almost went to germany but it ended up not working out though

[Geofizz]

I spent a year in Turkey as an exchange student. It was a wonderful experience.

[RockyMtnMommy]

I did a year in France and it was a wonderful experience. I lived with a wonderful family and remained in touch with them for years after. I still look back on that time fondly. She is very lucky to have this experience.

[mamakarata]

The funny thing is, she really vacillated after making the commitment and then decided she would regret it if she didn't. So it was a hard decision for her. It seems anyone I talk to who has gone all felt they "couldn't wait" to get on that plane.

I don't hear from anyone who struggled with the decision at all. Maybe that is what I am trippin on it. I wonder from her perspective if she will feel lonely or isolated and how she will deal with those feelings. It's strange for me because I am not there to help her through it.

Do any of you recall how you dealt with those feelings? I must say, she and I are quite close, and this was a huge step for her.

Thanks for humoring me!

[oceane]

I didn't have any problems with my decision while away (to kentucky ) but I had some tough times in my host family, as my host brother was very abusive (he was eleven so it was verbally) and my host sister struggled with depression which led to conflicts, but I didn't notice it so much while I was there (I guess I had to not deal with it as I wouldn't have finished the year). After I came back though I had suffered from mild depression and was severely homesick whenever I left longer than 2 weeks. :
On the upside: That was just my family. And they were nice most of the time. I bet her family is very nice and it's only 5 months not ten and I do have to say that i changed from being very shy to being more outgoing and confident. And her knowledge of Spanish will be very valuable. And it does teach you to be more independent. She'll be fine!!!

[mamakarata]

Thanks Oceane. Sorry about the abusive kid! Yuck

She seems fine so far, although her only complaint so far is the school uniform which is, as she puts "booger green, riding up to her belly button, giving her camel toe!"

And she wasn't laughing. I, however, was ROFL!

[beanandpumpkin]

We hosted a German student this past academic year. We love her like she's family! It was so awesome. We're going to Germany in a couple of months to visit her family for 2 weeks, and they're coming here in March to stay with us for 2 weeks. We've even discussed Hanna coming back to spend next summer here, and she's considering college here.

Best wishes to your daughter... I hope it's the experience of a lifetime!

[oceane]

Originally Posted by mamakarata

Thanks Oceane. Sorry about the abusive kid! Yuck

She seems fine so far, although her only complaint so far is the school uniform which is, as she puts "booger green, riding up to her belly button, giving her camel toe!"

And she wasn't laughing. I, however, was ROFL!

see, an experience!

[littlecityfarmer]

We just hosted for the first time this past year and had a great experience! Our student, a 16 yo from Hamburg, Germany, was just such a good kid, and our little ones adored her. She went home at the end of June, and we hope she'll come to visit next summer. We plan to go to Germany in a few years (as soon as everybody is walking, verbal, and potty trained), or as soon as we can afford to make the trip. We'd be hosting again this year, too, were I not due w/ #3 at the end of August and if we had a big enough vehicle to transport everyone...

Good luck to your DD!