Benefits of hosting an exchange student without kids at home

Just as no two exchange students are alike, no two host families are alike. ETC seeks diversity in host families so students can get the true American experience. Living with an American family or individual is almost always beneficial to the student regardless of family makeup, which is why it is not required that host parents already have children in the home. What is important is that families help them acclimate to their new environment with a built-in support system and providing an immersive experience of life and culture in the United States. Although exchange certainly benefits the student, hosting will benefit families as well. In fact, families that don’t already have children in the home may be uniquely affected by the experience of hosting. Here are just some of the ways hosting may benefit you without already having children at home:

While your student is discovering your area for the first time, you get to rediscover all the amazing places you may have forgotten about, or perhaps never known were there within your own community. Everyone experiences places in different ways, so you may be surprised by what activities your student may want to take part in or what things your community has to offer that they would like to take advantage of. Exploring your own city or region with your student will open your eyes to what you do and don’t enjoy about the place where you live.