Exchanging can lead to alot of Laughter...

Part of Hosting an International High school Student is to allow them to show you about them, their culture and abilities. Kwon told us in his application that he loves music, plays in his choir and praise band and church and likes to play piano, guitar, and other musical instruments. So this morning, our 1st real day together as a family, we broke out our keyboard and ask him to play for us. which he eagerly did, and then Chris decided to try it and well hence the laughter! Our keyboard is the full functioning kind and plays itself (halleluah!!) and Chris started pushing the autoplay buttons and many of the songs Kwon knew and he grabbed his Japanese flute and began accompanying Chris and the keyboard. Good times can be so simple and yet yield learning and alot of enjoyment for all.

Enjoy the Show :)!.

The Educated Experienced International Student willing to share his musical abilities.

The musically disadvantaged "Host" Dad attempting to play

Come Meet Kwon from South Korea and consider hosting

Many of the students have Arrived!!! many are coming in the next few weeks to start they full school year (10 month plan) others will arrive in January for the (5 month plan). Some students will need/request a move and will need new families so finding host families is a year long process. But, there are ways to be involved without being the "HOST" family (where the student lives while being here and attending school). You could have the student visit with you for a weekend or a special event or dinner, or attend a special event or dinner with our group. These students are 15-18 and just like our kids in many ways, they like to play sports (soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball and football) many want to try things they do not get to do in their countries, they play instruments, laugh, joke and love life.

Come and meet Kwonneung "Kwon" for short from South Korea. He is 15 will turn 16 in February. He will be attending Louisburg Highschool and wants to play soccer and basketball. He plays piano, and guitar, japanese drums and other instruments. He is Christian, his mom is a pastor in South Korea. The family he was going to be placed with could not be processed completely in time due to the background checks appeal process that are required with CIEE. Therefore my family is hosting him until we can find a family in the Louisburg area so he can remain in the Louisburg Highschool where is host family had started telling him about and where he and his family had started researching. Call me or email me and we can set up something. He is very anxious to start making friends and meeting kids his age at his school.

****Current Needs**********

Fully willing and committed families that can commit to hosting students is the South Johnston High area (Benson and Four Oaks area) and Rosewood areas. We have had families complete the applications asking to host students, had the students assigned, and make contact with the families and begin preparing to come to their homes and then while the student was in orientation (only 2 days before the student is to arrive to the host families) the families contacted us and expressed a desire to "cancel" their placement. We thankfully have previous host families and "welcoming families" just incase something like this happens but these families are only able to welcome the child from the airport and give them a warm and welcoming place to stay a get use to American living for 2 weeks while we find another premenate family. One family in the Rosewood area, hosted 2 students last year, and have been awesomely supportive to other host families agreed to host one of these students and post poned travel plans and dad had to get comfortable to having a teenage boy in the home with his teenage daughter, but they made the arrangements needed so that they could greet this young man and help him until his new family is found so that he could start school and begin his Journey to learning about America without delay because of circumstances beyond anyones control. Local coordinators cannot express how much we appreciate our host families and especially ones like this family that are there for these students and will make slight compromises and sacrafices for these students.

If you can commit to welcoming these students into your hearts, homes, and families for the remainder of the school year. You provide them a bed (they don't not have to have a separate bedroom if the child is within 5 years of age of them (at least 10) and same sex (no coed) sleeping arrangements. The students usually like sharing a room for the companionship and similarity of home (many have siblings). Meals, (some, because the students like to share their cultures foods and cooking, also if you eat out they have their spending money.) We suggest treating them like you would any visiting family member. As the adults and "Guardians" you would provide supervision and decision making authority of day to day activities to keep the child safe and behaving appropriately and in accordance with rules. You have support and mediation services with your local coordinator and our Team Leader Joy Gorman and if it is above her authority or abilities or you or the student is not happy CIEE also has support staff. In exchange for your willingness to work with the international student and extend your hospitality you receive alot of admiration from the student and their family. Their notes and little gifts also make me cry. You and your family enjoy experiencing and learning a new language, culture and culinary skil while you help the student learn yours by just talking and allowing them to participate in the things you do everyday. Although there is no payment for hosting, you can claim a $50.00 tax credit for each month you host a student.

If you are interested call or email me or check out the website: www.ciee.org/hs/host if you are ready to start your Hosting experience click on the register and complete the application by answering all the questions about yourself, spouse, family, home and typical weekday and weekend routines. We will upload pictures when we come out to meet you if you need assistance with that. But, please confirm background checks on anyone 18 or older living in the home and click the submit button and someone in your area or Joy Gorman will call and schedule an interview. If you have more questions or want to reach her, she is available at (919) 830-9194 or through email aprayerpartner@msn.com

2. I you or anyone you know has laptop computers that the students can purchase for reasonable prices or that can be loaned to them to use please contact me.

3. Kwon was not able to bring his guitar with him and enjoys playing in the praise band at home and another student really wants to learn to play the guitar and kwon could teach him and others to play if they had guitars to use. If you or someone you know has 2 guitars that we can borrow or know of good guitars for a reasonable price please email me or call me.

Hosting Makes the World seem smaller and friendlier

We are the World and we are similar in alot of ways and hosting and being an exchange student is a great way to see this. And once you see the we are all hoping and trying to make a difference you have relationship and bridges to cross the great divide.

Tis the season of International learning experiences, many students are preparing to come to the US or are here awaiting placement into homes of those willing to share and show the students what America has to offer. The students come to attend school for the school year, participate in clubs and sports, join in on youth groups and other things that teens do. They come from all over the globe, but a large number come from Germany, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, and China. Both boys and girls age 15- 18 apply to the program, submit to testing, SLEP to determine their level of understanding of the English language and they write the most passionate personal letters about themselves, their family and their desire to come to the US.

If you would like more information see the website; www.ciee.org/hs/host or contact me and we can discuss hosting in more detail and complete your application and submit your information for a background check and get the process started to match you with a student.

Dot Wiggins
Local Coordinator in North Carolina
(919) 219-2650
dotwigg@gmail.com

If you are ready to apply, go to the website www.ciee.org/hs/host select "HOST FAMILY" and click "REGISTER" completely fill out the application, making sure to fill all the blanks, for children or retired/unemployed people enter "Student/unemployed/retired in the occupation blank. and confirm all the adults for background checks and I or someone in your area will be in touch. In the blank that asks "How did you hear about the hosting opportunity" please enter Dot Wiggins blog or Facebook.

Please share your hosting experiences here and let us know where you are located, we may plan a trip to visit :). If you are planning "field trips or tours with your students and can include more please let us know too, we might be able to join you.

Happy Hosting.... Lets make the world smaller and more friendly by "Opening our homes and hearts to international students".