Isa

Randomly, we now have an exchange student from Denmark RIGHT. NEXT. DOOR.  What are the odds?

Isa started the school year off in Washington State.  Unfortunately, it wasn't going well.  This is the ugly side of hosting - when things don't go well.  It's not picture perfect for everybody.  We were warned of this in our host class, and honestly some of the other host parents scared us a bit with their questions (I'm pointing at you, older man who seemed to want to use your student for slave labor for your two personal businesses).

When we signed up to host Marisa, many people joked that we now had a built in "au pair".  Not the case.  I do not expect Marisa to be my convenient babysitter.  There are times she may be home with Cora or Quinn if we have a meeting or need to step out of the house, but it's treated like a family situation.  I don't expect her to babysit so Scott and I can go out for fun.  But if I expect something or help from Quinn with Cora, I have the same expectation of Marisa - like a sister.  NOT a babysitter.  And Marisa admits to not being good with little kids and had no interest in babysitting gigs when she came here.

Back to Isa - very sadly Isa experienced some racist situations at her school in Washington State (she is part Asian).  On top of that, many of the kids at the very small school she went to did drugs recreationally.

Exchange students are strictly forbidden from being around and/or doing drugs/alcohol.  This could get them sent back immediately - no question.  They have to be very careful, not fall into peer pressure, etc.

They are also discouraged from dating or getting in any serious relationship (at our host orientation they told the story of the student who went home with a permanent gift of a pregnancy/baby).  

And if it wasn't bad enough, Isa's host parents didn't take her anywhere.

What is the point of hosting?  You don't get paid so no motivation there - I don't understand these situations and families that sign up to host if they also do not want to get an experience out of it.

Anyways - our neighbors reached out as they had been interested in hosting and must have applied and somehow gotten matched with Isa.  They had a lot of questions for us about the community/school acceptance and our experience or observations on race issues and having an exchange student in general and what Marisa's experience at the high school has been like.

They got approval and Isa flew to MN to finish her year with them - right next door to us.  She got here in time to start the 2nd semester at our local high school.  We went to their house on a Friday night to answer any questions and let Marisa and Isa get to know each other.

Isa is a sweet girl with highly exceptional English, seems motivated and had a lot of great questions.

So now - Marisa and Isa get on the bus together each morning, have choir together and it seems to be going well.  It's fun and random to have 2 exchange students in our little cul de sac.

Marisa struggles with decision making - maybe I'll write about that in another post.  Isa is talking her into going to the track and field meeting and participating in a Wednesday after school cultural program.

I heart this.  We tell Marisa - at the end of the day, we will not force you to do anything, but it is up to you to make this your best experience.  You did not come to America at age 15 to do nothing and go home with regrets.  I'm glad Isa has convinced Marisa to look into a few extra things that she may be interested in.