Exchange Program Looks to Replace Popular Student

Summer just began for parents and students in Dunedin, but for Karen Rose it is crunch time. Any number of students from around the world are counting on her to go to school in August.

Rose is a coordinator and advocate for PAX, an organization that arranges host families for study abroad students.

And she just said goodbye to last year’s success story, a 15-year-old girl from Thailand named Eye. Rose misses her more than she can describe. Whatever description she can muster breaks around her words as she recalls her time with Eye and the impact she had on her life. But there is no time for grief because she has until July 9 to find another host family willing to fall in love with a student the way she did with Eye.

“The hardest part of hosting is saying goodbye,” Rose said. “We all have our fair share of tears, but that is the only hard part. Looking back and seeing the impact you had makes it all worth it.”

Her advocate and host family were not the only people whom Eye touched. Eye handed out more than 50 invitations for a late spring birthday party to her fellow classmates. Almost everyone attended.

“They didn’t even realize she was from Thailand; they just thought she was Asian-American,” Rose said. “When they found out, everyone had questions. They loved it. They loved her.”

Exchange students arrive approximately one week before school starts and leave about one week after school is over. They spend that time with a host family, and that family could be anyone.

“Host families come in all shapes and sizes,” Rose said. “As long as they have an open, loving heart to help the student learn.”

Exchange students go through extensive background checks. They are required to thrive academically and expected to participate in family activities in the home, as well as participate in household chores.

“When I think back on my time with Eye, I think my fondest memory was just how endearing she was and her sense of wonderment. And she was just so sweet and grateful,” Rose said.

The PAX exchange program encourages families to consider being a host for a student to foster a sense of friendship among cultures. But in hard times, willing families are hard to come by. Host families are not financially responsible for entertaining the student, and the students arrive with their own insurance, but the families are expected to house and feed them for the duration of their stay.

For many, that cost is too much, and there is no compensation to negate the additional cost. There is a $50-per-month tax incentive that host families can take advantage of but no direct contributions.

With only days left to find host families, Rose is hoping that the opportunity to let someone special into their lives will be enough.

“She had such an impact on her host family, and she had that on everyone she touched,” Rose said. “I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world.”

Individuals or families interested in taking part in the program are required to go through a background check as well as an application process. Once that phase has been completed, Rose will inspect the home and take photographs for final approval.

She said it is important to note that families are not required to have a separate bedroom for the student. A room can be shared with another child of the same sex if they are within four years of age from one another.

Rose also added that it was wonderful to work with the Dunedin High School faculty.

"They were all just so wonderful, and they really made sure that Eye was OK, especially in the beginning. I really would like to send another child there, and I want them to know how grateful I am," she said.

For information on how you can become a host for a foreign student, call Rose at 727-329-8060 or visit PAX’s Web site.