New International Student Host Family Program Proves a Success Pairing of Exchange Students, Local Families Produces Positive Results

Author: Iruma Doman

Are you interested in meeting Middlebury College international students, learning about another culture and sharing your own?

This was one of the questions that appeared on a brochure sent out last August to many local families advertising the "Friends of International Students (FIS) Host Program" piloted at Middlebury College this year. Since then it proved to be an immense success.

College can be a wonderful and exciting experience but may initially seem quite daunting. This is even more so in the case of international students, when starting college not only means leaving home and family behind, but also adapting to life in a new country. The FIS program was intended to help international students integrate into U. S. culture and as a means of strengthening the bonds between the College and local community.

As an exchange student from England who had a wonderful experience with this program, I am very much in favor of it. Although I am only here for a year, my host family has been welcoming, supportive and very important in helping me adapt to and make the most of life in the United States.

The success of the FIS hospitality program was the result of the hard work done by Kathy Foley-Giorgio, associate dean of student affairs and international student adviser — or just Kathy as she is known to us! She organized it in response to the great interest and enthusiasm expressed by many international students who heard about her proposal.

The idea is that international students live on campus with American students but have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities with their host families. Basing her proposal on a similar, much smaller program organized at the College a number of years ago, Foley-Giorgio sent an application form to all new international and exchange students who were to arrive at Middlebury College in September 2001.

She also sent an information brochure and application form to various local families, particularly targeting those associated with organizations that might have an interest in international exchange, such as faculty and staff, Rotary Club International members and various religious organizations.

The response was positive: 50 percent of all incoming international and exchange students were interested, a total of 31 students. A similar number of families expressed interest, some even volunteering to take on more than one student.

All participants were required to fill in a questionnaire about their hobbies, interests and what they hoped to gain from the program. I, for example, was particularly keen to have a family, preferably with kids, who shared my interests in literature, music and travel.

My host family had expressed a particular interest in hosting a Spanish-speaking student (which I am), as their children had recently begun Spanish lessons and were eager to practice. Foley-Giorgio and her team matched students and families based on their responses to this questionnaire. Students got the chance to do what we all wish we could — fill out a form about how we would like our "parents" to be!

The organizers made some initial suggestions as to possible activities hosts could do with their students, recommending a minimum of two per semester. They strongly encouraged participation in the activities offered during the College's Family Weekends, which took place early on in the fall semester. They felt this was particularly important, as it might serve to give students some sort of family context despite being so far away from home.

Ultimately, however, the students and families were left to develop their own relationships, and the level of contact was determined by the individuals. The hope was that after the matching and initial introduction, they would develop a friendship that would last beyond the student's first year at college.

The program has, for the most part, been a great success. The terms "host mom" and "host dad" have become part of everyday vocabulary for many international students, sometimes jokingly even shortened to "mom" and "dad!" As the organizer, Foley-Giorgio said she felt "thrilled that it went so well, considering how quickly it was put together." Most of the feedback she has received has been very positive, and she was pleased to hear that "a good number of students and families have had exceptional experiences."

While most families developed good relationships with their students, some have also provided significant levels of support, particularly during break times. They have helped their students with travel arrangements and other practical matters, and offered a welcome change of scene and break from campus life.

All the students I spoke to about their experiences had lots to say. Ryo Shimada, an exchange student from Japan, said, "As a foreign student, I was worried how I would manage to fit in with American culture. The host family program has made it possible!" One of his "best memories" this year was a "nice little party" organized by his hosts to celebrate his birthday. When his mother visited from Japan his hosts "kindly let her stay in their house. Even now, three months after the visit, she still talks about how nice they were to her, and what a wonderful time she had in Middlebury thanks to them."

Andrey Bystrykh, an exchange student from Russia, felt that his "host mom," a retired Russian professor, was a "tremendous help" as he adjusted to life at Middlebury. "The mere fact that she speaks my language and knows my culture gave me a lot of confidence and backup since I knew I could always ask her for help if I had a problem," he said. "Besides," he added, "she displays the true Russian hospitality and always makes me feel welcome in her house." Many others echoed his appreciation of having the support and care of another family, as that is "something you really miss when you are away from home," as Bystrykh put it.

The FIS hosts themselves also praised the program. Most agreed the experience was extremely rewarding. Host mom Lynn Dunton, who works in the budget office at the College, feels that her two students have been "good role models" for her children. "Our four children enjoy having college age students from other countries sharing their language and customs. They have learned first hand the many skills needed to be away from home and one's accustomed culture," she explained.

A young couple who have had a particularly good experience with their host daughter, English exchange student Vicky Bussereau, have been in contact with her on an almost daily basis. They feel that in their case the coordinators made a perfect match. "We all joked that we would not be able to host another student next year because our experience with Vicky was so positive. Nobody else could compare!" They are looking forward to going to visit her in England in the future and "have promised to take her and her family to tea!"

As can be expected with such a program, however, not all experiences were as positive. In a few instances, students and families have had little more than periodic calls or e-mails. In other cases, after the initial introduction, the relationship simply fizzled out. This may be due to a lack of time either on the part of the student or the family or a simple mismatch. Moreover, there were a number of students who preferred not to take part in the program. One student commented, "I was so happy to finally get away from home that I did not want to come to college and have another set of parents." Others, however, expressed regret at not getting involved, especially those with friends who have had positive experiences with their host families.

I have only good things to say about my personal experience this year. I joined the program knowing only that I was hoping to get to know people from the local community and experience life in Vermont beyond the Middlebury campus. I have a wond
erful host family, including four kids whom I love, and I have really enjoyed spending time with them. They have helped me out with many practical matters, including picking me up at the airport after a visit home. I am one of the few who is sharing a host family with another international student, and I feel that this has further enriched my experience.

Andrew Fanous '01, my "brother" as I affectionately call him, is from Egypt, and we have enjoyed sharing our views on life at the College. I have taken part in many activities with my "family," including trips to Burlington, a Thanksgiving dinner, a visit to the International Student Organization cultural show and regular lunch meetings. The result is a wonderful friendship, which I hope will continue for many years after I leave Middlebury.

All in all, this "experiment" has been a success and now Foley-Giorgio is in the process of organizing next year's program, drawing on the many lessons from her pilot year. "I will strive to recruit more families," she told me, "and encourage more students to sign up. Some students didn't understand what it was about and therefore were hesitant to participate." Other changes might include the use of a more detailed questionnaire to enable more successful matches and fund other ways to make the FIS program an enjoyable and enriching experience for all.