Creating a family from strangers

REGION- “Building a better world through communication” is one way Vickie Alexander, Regional Director for International Student Exchange (ISE), perceives the student exchange program. Students and their Host Families grow in understanding of each other’s traditions, foods, cultures, and beliefs, through daily interactions in a family setting.

The ISE organization works with both foreign students wishing to study in America, as well as American students looking for a short-term, summer, academic, or gap year program abroad.

ISE J-1 Secondary School Visa program was introduced after the world wars, “in an attempt to prevent such conflicts from arising in the future.”  While they are required to have an intermediate grasp of English, most are not fluent English speaking. Alexander stated that when one of her students is having difficulty with describing something, she asks them to spell it, and they do. She knows when they have finally gained a better grasp of English when they tell her they “dreamt in English!” 

Students range in age between fifteen and eighteen years old, and must maintain a 2.5 GPA, or C, average while attending school in their host country. However, the classes they take in the US do not count towards their studies in their home country. They do have to make up for that school year once they return home.

For many youngsters, traveling to a foreign country, being away from family for the first time is, as with anyone, frightening. One young lady from Taiwan and was part of the program in 2019-2020, had a fifteen-hour layover at Chicago O’Hare on her way to Michigan. Upon arrival at a small local airport, near her host family’s home, and at night, she said “it’s so dark here!” A young man from South Korea was amazed at seeing the stars and moon and took hundreds of pictures of them. His home in Seoul, as is hers in Taiwan, is on a high-rise with several hundred apartments, and the sky is not visible. City lights and smog are what most are accustomed to.

Students interested in international exchange programs go through a multi-step process involving their home, host institutions and partner organizations in both countries. Students complete an online application, go through a screening process and interviews. Once a student has been accepted in the program, their information is posted to the ISE online site for prospective Host Families to view. It is best to choose a student who more closely matches your family’s interests if possible. The local representative can help hosts with those decisions.

“If you have a spare room, age-appropriate space, welcoming attitude, and the desire to make a positive impact locally and globally, then you should host an exchange student.” Hosts may be retirees, a young family with small children, couples without children or those with teens or similar ages to the exchange student. 

According to Alexander, as Regional Advisor, she needs to meet with the students each month they are in the U.S. Host families and students always have access to their Regional Advisors. Some advisors have games and meals for all their exchange students monthly, so exchange students are familiar with one another and to see how they are acclimating. Alexander does not, as most of the students are busy with sports, the Quiz Bowl, choir, and other school activities. 

Many students may take on an American name. “Eva” was one of those. Eva came to America as a frightened, reclusive fifteen-year-old. She would often hide in her room, which was larger than much of her apartment in Taiwan. Arriving in mid-Michigan, to a home surrounded by open farmland, blue skies during the day and stars in the evening, was much different than life in Taiwan. Eva joined the basketball team at her adopted school and became outgoing and more social. She enjoyed being in a farm community with animals and open spaces. Eva is in constant text contact with her “home mom,” sometimes asking for advice or just to say, “good morning.” 

Eva (Tzu-yi) recently had this to say about the program: “Through this exchange program, I have become more independent. I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from around the world and exchange different cultures, which is priceless to me. I had a wonderful host family who made my experience unforgettable. They took me to the northern part (Upper Peninsula) to see the stars and fish, and I had a fantastic time there. I can’t wait to see them again!” Eva is currently attending University in Sydney, Australia.

Exchange students are not considered guests, but family. As such, most stay in touch with the host family after they return home. Lifelong friendships are formed, and they may return for visits years later, or invite their host “moms and dads” to their wedding. 

Regional Advisors may place students anywhere in the U.S. however, Alexander’s area is within a one-hundred-mile radius of Roscommon. Alexander currently has students in Petoskey, Gaylord and Vestaburg. Alexander has nineteen years with the program. There are twelve students coming to the area for the 2024-2025 school year. They are still in need of six host families.

Prospective host families may click on the attached QR Code to learn more about the program and students in need of a host family or contact Vickie Alexander 989- 329-9249.