We got this great letter from Natasha Johnson, Regional Director in Washington and Oregon for CIEE. It would be a great opportunity for those interested in taking in an exchange student. Please read below.
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Hello!
My name is Natasha Johnson, and I am the Regional Director in Washington and Oregon for CIEE, a non-profit High School Exchange Organization. We are currently looking for host families in your area, and we thought you may be someone or know of someone that is in the position to host a CIEE student. We have open slots in some local high schools, but economically speaking, times are tough and finding families has been difficult. We accept all kinds of families – with young children or teenagers, no children, empty nesters, single parents, and so on. The main requirements are love and patience! Your family will not only gain a new family member, you will also learn about a different culture, its values and traditions, language, food, and more. My own family has been hosting for five years now and we feel so fortunate to have’ family’ all around the world as a result- in Ukraine, Thailand, Japan, Germany, S. Korea, and Tajikistan!
The kids are nervous but excited at the same time and CIEE is trying our best to accommodate these students to be placed in a family with similar interests to their own. This is why I am sending these particular students to you. These students have all expressed an interest in horseback riding and I think they would love to be placed with a host family who also shares that passion! Hosting an exchange student proves to be a great promoter of diversity and diplomacy for the local communities, which is one of our first and foremost goals. They are here to be a part of a family and come to know us first hand, discovering America through your eyes.
Our students have the appropriate visa, medical insurance, and pay for all of their own expenses, with the exception of food and utilities. If you are not in the position right now to host a student we would greatly appreciate your help in forwarding this along to your network of friends and family. The students are arriving in August and are on a 10 month program. Please feel free to call me at any time at 866.583.0332 and for more information visit our website at www.ciee.org/highschool .
Here are a few kiddos that we are seeking host families for in your area- please take a look! I ask you to help by please passing this e-mail along to anyone you think might be interested in welcoming a student in their home or who you think would make a great host family. CIEE does offer a referral fee of $50 should a family you referred to us decide to host.
Many Thanks!
Natasha
