The start of school in Kanawha County is right around the corner, and as of now, five high school international exchange students are looking forward to immersing themselves in the American way of life in the Kanawha Valley.
Though some have already been placed, an international exchange student program is seeking homes for students from more than thirty countries in the U.S., and an area representative for the program hopes to place a few more in the surrounding area.
Kay Thorsteinson of ASSE, the American Scandinavian Student Exchange, said students are between the ages of 15 and 18 and come from a variety of backgrounds.
She said families must be open and willing learn from another culture, and also enthusiastic about sharing their own.
Thorsteinson said she works with families to find students with similar interests as members of the families and find a good "match."
Grace Javins, a 13-year-old Charleston Catholic student looks forward to meeting her new "big sister" when she arrives in August.
Her student, Irene, from Spain, will attend George Washington High School as a senior. She enjoys theater, just like her host sister and mother, Kim Javins.
The family said they look forward to showing her the city and enjoying their passion on the stage with her.
Julie Wolfe's family, of South Charleston, will be hosting Lucas, a boy from Spain who loves to play soccer, just like his host brother. He also hopes to try basketball while he is here.
While studying in the U.S., students become part of their host family. They even have the opportunity to share traditional American holidays with the students.
Thorsteinson said they become involved in their community by joining sports teams and volunteering, as well as participating in a variety of activities.
She said families of all backgrounds are welcome to apply and she is able to place students in homes up to 120 miles from her home in Dunbar.
As a representative, she will monitor the students and families throughout their stay to ensure a smooth transition into their new way of life.
Most students plan to come for the full school year (nine months), but some only stay for a semester. Though a few will begin to arrive on Aug. 8, many will not arrive until the middle of the month or later, meaning there is still time to apply.
Families are required to fill out an application online and pass a background check before they are able to host with the agency. They can begin the application process and view potential students at https://host.asse.com/.
Thorsteinson would like to connect with families interested in possibly hosting a student for the school year. She can be reached by phone at 304-372-0716 or by email at thorsteinsonkay@gmail.com.
Reach Jennifer Gardner at jennifer.gardner@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5102 or follow @jennc_gardner on Twitter.