Have you ever hosted an exchange student?

We've hosted dozens coming from everywhere from Japan to Brazil and ranging in ages from 18 to 60. It's been an amazingly positive experience and some of them still keep in contact. You do need to be comfortable sharing your space, patient and good at communicating clearly. Out of all of them there's been one or two that we didn't like much however overwhelmingly their company has been a pleasure. We've learned an enormous amount about different countries and cultures, had fascinating conversations about everything from birthday traditions to politics and enjoyed an array of different foods from the ones who could cook!

by Here and There

No, but I imagine if we did, we'd learn quite a lot.

by Vee

No we haven't. How do security concerns get sorted out in these situations?

by Happy Mom

What sort of security concerns do you have? Exchange students generally come via an agency and have travel insurance. As the host you would be advised to have household insurance for breakages etc. I guess if you are the suspicious type you wouldn't be hosting them anyway. I've never had a problem, but I am also fairly trusting and use house/pet sitters as well.

No, I never have, but wouldn't it be such a wonderful experience.

by Tracie Louise

I have not, but maybe it's something I would think about in the future.

by Matteo Lor

We've had several Japanese students come to stay - just like in your picture, we learned to do some amazing origami, and they learned to eat with a knife and fork. It was fun.

by Lucy

No, but once my kids are older I will look into it.

by Sarah Bell

Yes, both Japanese and German. How ironic that these were our enemies in times past. My daughter was in turn hosted by their families.

by grann

I certainly have, and have just signed up to do so again next year. I host American College/University interns who are visiting Australia either to study or work as an intern in their field of study. Sometimes I am "mom" to them and other times more of a flatmate.
I love it. I am still in contact with students I hosted in the early 2000's.

by Fiona G Davy

No, neither the room or the money to do so!

by donjo

I would love to. We don't have enough room unfortunately. At secondary school, I met quite a few in my year level. I became friendly with a Japanese girl. She came back to Australia for a holiday about 10 years ago so we had a bit of a reunion

by Lluxi

Yes, several times. While living in the UK, and when my son was at high school, we had several school exchange students from Germany and France. He had reciprocal visits with the families concerned. Thirty years later he is still in contact with some of them.

by norma

Yes ,I have had students from Japan,this was a great experience,and we still stay in touch

by aussi

I haven't hosted an exchange student but have friends who have. One had a positive experience and is still hosting. The other had a large sum of money go missing and overall he wasn't a nice person so they were grateful when he decided to leave shortly after the incident. He wasn't accused of taking the money but he was the only person in the house besides the owners.

by helga

No, I've never hosted one, but my mum and dad used to, like with any one else they all have their own personalities, I think there was only one that my parents was not sure about,she had a couple of disgusting habbits, like one was she had scabs on her head, she would peel them off and put it in her mouth!

by Diana Nairn