Bringing the World to Hope

Many people stop and ask me, “Why do you host exchange students?”   My response is usually, “If I cannot travel the world, why not bring the world to me?” 

It all started because Shanon Pittman, local coordinator and longtime friend, called and said, “Hey Trina, I need a huge favor; I need a place for this kid to come to until we can find her a permanent placement.  She is arriving tomorrow. The family that she was originally supposed to stay with had an unexpected event arise, and they are unable to keep her.  She is already in flight.” 

Of course, John and I talked it over with our kids, and we agreed to just be her welcome family. Little did we know at that time she would be a perfect fit for us, and we would become her forever family!

Anxiously, we awaited for Shanon to bring her to our home.  We had no clue what we were doing, only that this kid needed a safe, warm, loving home which we knew we could easily provide.  While preparing,  we scurried around to find an extra bed for her to have set up and ready.  We welcomed her with open arms and shared many laughs, and tears that year.  When time came for Tiffa to go home to Indonesia, we took her to the airport.  Our hearts had grown to love her as our own.  We cried so much when we said our goodbyes and watched her walk down the concourse hallway as far as we could still see her.  The drive home was very quiet. 

We still talk to her on occasion.  She is a very busy and successful adult living in Indonesia in her own apartment.

The years have flown by since our first student arrived.  I don’t really like to call them exchange students because, to me, they become my children.  When they hurt, I hurt.  When they are broken, my heart is broken.  I love them like my own kids.  Since 2012, we have hosted Indonesia, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Thailand, and China.  We are currently hosting Viola and Yuliia, two lovely ladies from Italy and Ukraine. 

We have had some wonderful and some not so wonderful experiences along the way.  What we have had more than anything though is a house full of love and adventure.  We have built relationships around the world not only with the kids, but with their families as well.  Much has been learned about different cultures, how our society is different from other countries.

We were shocked when we took a trip to Conner Prairie one year, and one of the students said that it was much like her home.  Even the feather bed was what she slept on back in her home country. 

Hosting has kept us humble and made us see how blessed we truly are in the United States.  Things we see as normal, some of these kids can only dream of.  Something as simple as riding a school bus, that we just find as routine, is listed as one of their dreams.  Watching a football game in person, another dream come true.  Even having stores like Walmart, which I dread to go to on most days, is amazing to them because of all the items under one roof.  And it has made me realize I have a love/hate relationship with the airport. 

Our local coordinator works for CIEE, Council on International Educational Exchange.  This year, we are fortunate to have seven kids in our community from Italy, Ukraine, two from Brazil, Germany, Liberia, and Moldova.  Shanon also has three students outside of Hope placed from Denmark, Spain, and Tunisia.  CIEE has been bringing the world together since 1947.  They are a wonderful company helping dreams become reality. 

Their mission is to:  “humanize international relations and foster peace through international education and exchange programs that promote intercultural understanding; increase global harmony and stability by helping individuals learn to embrace people different from themselves and ideas different from their own; help prepare future leaders who will be able to communicate across cultures to tackle issues confronting our globally interconnected and multicultural world.”  For more information about their company, hosting, or becoming an exchange student yourself, visit www.ciee.org .

If you have ever thought of being a host family but just aren’t quite sure about how it all works, please reach out to Shanon Pittman, our local coordinator at [email protected].  I would encourage you to give it a try at least once.  Nine years, eight kids, and eight countries later, we are still making memories that will last a lifetime with these brave kids that travel across the world to live the dream of being an exchange student in The United States of America.  It is one of the most exciting adventures our family has had the privilege of being a part of throughout our lives.