"I became a coordinator with the EF Foundation just a couple of years ago. I was calling EF offices in Boston inquiring about their high school year abroad programs for a student at the high school where I teach when by chance I asked if there were any job opportunities.
I was interviewed that same week and invited to an all-expense paid weekend in Toronto, Canada to attend a national conference for coordinators and supervisors for the student exchange program. There were various seminars throughout the weekend and we had the opportunity to meet many coordinators who themselves host exchange students.
At the conference I was able to look through dozens of applications of students coming to the US for an exchange year of semester. I knew that if I chose a student I would have to find a host family for the student. But I was also thinking of hosting a student myself. So, I finally decided on an application of a student from Germany - high grades in school, various activities that we would get along with in my small apartment, a nice photo on the front and a personal letter written to his future host family.
The months went by and finally my student, Hardy, arrived by plane. I still
remember when he stepped off the plane - I was holding a big poster
welcoming him in various languages.
Hardy attended McCallum High School for a year. At first, he sometimes didn't understand certain things said in English, nor did he understand me at times, but as the months went by, we got to know each other pretty well. We took many road trips. At Christmas we drove all the way to New York and Boston; Spring Break in Monterrey, Mexico; Easter Break in Big Bend. Hardy really liked his school and made many friends. We shared lots of laughs. He spent only 10 months here, but I unofficially adopted him. He's like -- is a son, and we have memories that we'll always remember. And now, I just got back from visiting him and his family in Germany for Christmas. Then we took a 7 day trip to Paris together. It was great! Hosting an exchange student has been one of the best experiences of my life."
