News & Events
CENTRAL JERSEY: Hosts revel in their 'extended' family
Posted on 08.05.2010
CENTRAL JERSEY: Hosts revel in their 'extended' family
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 4:05 PM EDT
By Chelsea Radler, Staff Writer
Reposted with permission of Register-News www.centraljersey.com
The extended family of Alysa McCormick spans three continents.
As a teenager in Pennsylvania, Ms. McCormick encouraged her mother, Virginia Monson, who now lives on Winding Brook Road in Bordentown Township, to host an exchange student. Ms. Monson took in two travelling gymnasts from Denmark for one week.
”That was such a positive experience,” said Ms. Monson, who recently corresponded with one of the girls for the first time in 20 years via Facebook.
The concept had been so warmly received that the family decided to host another student for a year. Ms. McCormick, of Lawrenceville, was a high school sophomore when her exchange sister Rika Tabata arrived from Japan.
”I could not have asked for a better daughter. She’s my foreign daughter,” said Ms. Monson.
Both the student and the family learn and benefit from the experience, she said.
”I got to have another child, which was wonderful. I got to experience new culture and new friends. I learned a lot more about Japan that I didn’t know,” Ms. Monson said.
Rika has visited the family twice since returning to Japan and corresponds regularly.
After developing a lasting bond with Rika, Ms. Monson was excited when her daughter decided to become a host mother herself, welcoming a Finnish girl into her home.
”I wanted my children to have the same experience I did,” said Ms. McCormick, who now has two boys, 12 and 14 years old.
”I don’t have a daughter, so I got to have that experience,” she said.
Her extended family also welcomed Alina Piilonen, 17, who stayed with the McCormick family for the past academic year.
”They always wanted their picture taken with her, like she was some kind of rock star,” Ms. McCormick said of her nieces.
Ms. Monson and her husband also assumed an active role as host “grandparents” in Alina’s American life.
”She integrated herself into our family beautifully. She is part of our family,” said Steve Monson, Ms. McCormick’s stepfather.
The language barrier posed no challenges to the family dynamic because Alina was proficient in English. She honed her skills watching “Grey’s Anatomy,” Ms. McCormick said.
”The European students seem to have a wonderful grasp of the English language. They speak better English than we do,” Ms. McCormick said.
The use of bathroom passes in school and the concept of a curfew surprised Alina, Ms. McCormick said. The family enjoyed celebrating holidays and cooking together. The McCormick home was full of teenagers during a farewell party last month, her host mother said.
Both Rika and Alina participated in Youth for Understanding exchange programs. Founded in the aftermath of World War II, YFU is a non-profit international educational organization that has paired 250,000 students and host families in 64 countries.
”It gives your family a larger connection to the world, and it’s a lasting connection. It adds a lot of family richness,” said Maia Hughes, regional director of YFU’s tri-state area programs.
Exchange students must apply and be accepted to YFU’s program.
”They’re all top-notch kids,” Ms. Hughes said. After being accepted to the program, students upload a personal profile to the Internet.
Those interested in becoming host families are evaluated by YFU to ensure they are suitable mentors to an exchange student. After they are evaluated, potential host families can browse profiles and choose a student with interests similar to their family’s.
”The children are hoping someone will choose them because they can’t come unless someone does,” Ms. McCormick said.
Once committed, a host family must provide a bed, three meals per day and a place to study.
”We’re looking for families that will provide a warm, caring environment. They can be any shape or size,” Ms. Hughes said.
Even in times of economic hardship, Ms. Hughes said families should not be deterred by the expense of hosting a student.
YFU also provides an experienced support network to help students and parents cope with homesickness, adjust to a new school and ensure safety.
For more information about becoming a host family or an exchange student, visit www.yfu-usa.com or call Ms. Hughes at (609) 512-1018
cradler@centraljersey.com
The original story was publised by the Register-News on CentralJersey.com and may be viewed here.
