Somewhere in mid-July, I finally received the long-awaited placement letter. That’s when I found out I’d be spending the next 10 months in the state of Ohio.
We started talking almost right away on Facebook. By the following week, we were already making video calls — discussing plans for the year ahead and sharing things about ourselves. Honestly, I liked them from the very beginning :)
They met me at the airport with big posters and even bigger smiles. At first, of course, there was a bit of awkwardness, but I made an effort to keep the conversation going. And within just a couple of weeks, I felt like we had complete mutual understanding — even with my host sister :) It’s not always easy to find common ground with kids her age, since everyone has their own interests, but I think I managed! Now she tells me everything, asks for help, and often invites me to play together. Things with my host parents are also going really well.
I think this is such a valuable experience — learning to listen to other people’s opinions, consider more than just your own wishes, and, in general, work as a team. Back home, maybe your parents give in to your whims, you argue, you raise your voice… but here, that’s not going to work — and I wouldn’t recommend trying! These people are volunteers; they don’t get paid for hosting you. If you start showing off your bad moods, no one will like it.
My relationship with my host mom is great. Sometimes she asks me to help with something, and I also try to offer help on my own. That’s actually really important, because doing something together brings you closer. And it’s the perfect time to talk — whether you need to ask for something or they have something to tell you. It’s a relaxed moment with no interruptions, so you can have a real conversation.
My regular chores (aside from occasional requests) include helping cook dinner and setting the table, cleaning my room, loading and unloading the dishwasher, and sometimes feeding the cat or walking the dog. Honestly, it’s not difficult — especially since I almost always have help from Eden, my host sister.
I also get along well with my host dad. The only challenge is that he talks really fast, and I barely understand anything, so I always ask him to repeat himself 😂 But there’s nothing to be embarrassed about — it’s better to ask than to spend the next hour not understanding what’s going on. Many people (including me) even think he looks a lot like my real dad! What’s more, the way my host family interacts is a lot like my own family back home. Everyone’s friendly, supportive, and always ready to help. I can honestly say I feel incredibly lucky to have them, and I’m beyond happy 😍
Why not experience something like this yourself? Apply for a high school exchange program and start your own amazing host family story!