Hosting a foreign exchange student has been something I’ve been interested in since high school. We live in a community that is predominantly “older German” and Hispanic. Most of the exchange students we had (way back when I was in school) were either German or some form of European. In recent years we have seen an increase in our African American population. However, our Asian population is almost nonexistent. Different cultures have always interested me and in college I took different World Cultures classes.
During the pandemic I stumbled across C-Drama (Chinese dramas) and K-Drama (Korean drama). I fell IN LOVE with Asian culture. I decided to start learning Mandarin Chinese after I had completed a couple C-dramas. I fell in love with the language. Plus, I had started picking up different words and phrases so I figured “why not.” I stumbled across an Exchange Program Ad and clicked for more information. I never in a million years thought my husband would agree. He is not too keen on ultimately strangers in our house. Shortly after I placed my inquiry online a coordinator messaged me and it kinda led from there. I was upfront about this just being a wild idea. A month or so later the exchange coordinator contacted me again and said, “Sarah, I think I found a student who would be perfect for you and your family.” After less persuasion than I initially thought, my husband caved to the kids and I. Long story short, my husband converted our lower level (his man cave) into a 4th bedroom and exercise room (yes his sacrifice was great indeed) and the rest they say is history! My husband may look grumpy on the outside but he’s a softy on the inside. People love to joke that he is an old man trapped in a young persons body. He’s a little old school so to speak.
We were placed with our sweet girl in September 2021. After months of online communication, we picked her up from the airport at the end of July 2022. She has become an invaluable and integral part of our family. We feel beyond blessed with how she fit right in with our whole family. She is a piece of all of us plus herself stuffed into one person. Her mother, father, and younger brother are just as sweet and wonderful. We are so blessed to have met them in this life. Our family has grown by 4, not just 1. Although we’ve never met in person, the kids LOVE their 奶奶 (nǎinai) Grandma and 爷爷 (Yéyé) Grandpa. Yes, my kids call them grandma and grandpa in Chinese. It is how they differentiate between their sets of grandparents.
Since arriving in America we have had a year of “Firsts.” Not just for Miu Miu but for us as well. We have learned so much about Taiwanese culture and traditions. We decorated and celebrated Chinese New Year. Have tried lots of new food and recipes. We were even blessed enough to bring in the new year with Miu Mia’s family. The fireworks were awesome. They are 12 hours ahead of where we are in Southern Indiana. Asian culture has such an extensive, rich, and beautiful history. Asian culture values education and a typical school day (at least in Taiwan) is much longer than here in America. So, unlike Western culture there are many things Miu has not experienced in her school. Things such as school sports, cheerleading, drama club, choir, musicals, dances, prom, etc.
Aside from the “Firsts” Miu has experienced at school, she has experienced just as many here at home. Not just the exploring and sight seeing but the way we celebrate birthdays, Halloween, go trick or treating, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, egg hunting, etc. She pumped gas for the first time, used a microwave, saw stars, and so many other “little” things that we tend to take for granted. She’s even been a champ at trying American food. She does not understand our obsession with condiments and sauce in this country. 😂
Sadly her time here in America is coming to and end. We only have a few more months to Jam Pack with as many hugs, outdoor movie nights, outings, shopping trips, shenanigans, and make as many memories as we can. We still have Spring Break, Easter, and Prom to look forward to. A piece of us will definitely leave with her when she goes back to Taiwan. It’s crazy to think that a person halfway around the world who ultimately started out as a stranger could have such a large impact on our lives. She has changed and shaped our lives for the better. She turned out to be something we didn’t know we were missing and everything we needed. I am in no way, shape, or form under the illusion that if we were to ever host again in the future that it would be the exactly the same. Now, that’s not saying it wouldn’t be another amazing experience. I just mean that she is one of a kind. We are so proud of how far she’s come and the things she’s accomplished since being here. Hosting in general has been such an amazing experience for our family and we don’t regret it for a second No matter where life takes our beautiful girl, she will always have a home here.
**Pictures of our time hosting thus far is in the Gallery page.
I love this Sarah