The young, new mother was so moved she had tears streaming down her cheeks by the time she hugged her daughter for the first time.
Conveniently, this new daughter arrived walking, speaking two languages and appropriately dressed in a bright yellow T-shirt with “AFS Italy” printed on the front. She was chosen from halfway around the world and very much wanted by her new American hostmother and hostfather. It was love at first sight for the parents, and the feeling was clearly mutual.

This scene from the weekend is the beginning of the exchange-student experience, which is being enjoyed by thousands of families around the world beginning this month.

Hundreds of families in the Valley are repeating this tender moment this month as the year-long students arrive for the adventure of their lives. We are hosting a student this year for the 23rd time. It’s our passion and our joy to introduce students from foreign countries to magnificent California and the magical and singular place known as the United States of America. We are very patriotic. We feel that to know the USA is to love it. That said, we love traveling the world and have a great appreciation for the countries we have seen around the world and the generous, friendly people we have met there thanks to our exchange relationships.

It’s one of the big joys our life. We gain so much, not just from the relationships and travel opportunities. We laugh our faces off, as children bring joy into the house unlike anything else in life. And we are often the ones who learn. This year, we will are hosting a varsity tennis player, so we will have tennis coaching for the year, German lessons and she’s an accomplished cook. So there already are new, delicious dishes added to our family menus.

If you, too, like changing people’s lives forever; like being a part of the best year of a teenager’s life, there are many ways to get involved in this alternative motherhood. We consider consider this a form of national service for world peace, one prom at a time! In addition to host parents, there is always a need for confidantes, auntie and uncle families, chaperones, drivers, tour guides, cooks (!) and just buddies.

There are many organizations that can help. We use AFS-USA to connect ourselves and our family with the world without leaving home. Go to www.afsusa.org to check it out and sign up for more information. Or just contact me on Facebook. I’ll be glad to talk to you!