Thankful for My Host Family

"I was an exchange student to Germany in the summer of 1991, and my experience remains as vivid today as eight years ago. I am most thankful that the Youth For Understanding experience opened my eyes to the kindness and love strangers can extend to one another, when they are committed to making the relationship develop, and for that I am forever thankful. I have also been blessed with having a family 6000 miles away. Although we have only seen each other twice in the past eight years, we still send each other birthday presents and postcards whenever either one of us travel to interesting places.

Moreover, I believe my exchange experience has opened many doors for me professionally. Universities and professional schools are interested in students, who are multilingual, possess good communication skills and international awareness. And it is a genuine pleasure to strike up a conversation with random people, and discover that we have both been to the same part of Germany. If only more students had the opportunity to discover the joy of international exchange…"

Lily Chao
Germany, Summer 1991

"I switched families while on exchange. Looking back I was a rotten student. I didn't communicate with my host parents and spent a lot of time in my room with my head buried in an American novel or writing long letters home. My Area Representative stepped in and it was decided that I should move.

I then went to stay with my Area Representative, who spent a lot of time talking to me about how important it was to communicate and participate with my host family. When I moved in with my new family I made a conscious effort to participate with them and to make friends in my community. I was a very shy teen, so coming out of my shell was extremely difficult but in the end it was so worth it. My new family and community embraced me and the remainder of my year was exceptional. Over the past 15 years they have continued to provide me with unconditional love, laughter, guidance and support.

I would never have the confidence in my self or the wonderful relationship with my host family if it were not for what I went through on exchange. I am forever grateful to Youth For Understanding for providing me with that opportunity -- it's the reason why I volunteer and stay involved to this day. I want to help others overcome the challenges of exchange and reap the rewards a successful exchange can provide."

Julia Martin
Netherlands 1985-86
  

National Alumni Council
David R. Jones has become the newest member of the National Alumni Council. David was a Youth For Understanding exchange student to Argentina in 1987 and has continued to remain involved with the organization ever since his return. As a Youth For Understanding volunteer, David has worked at various trainings, Pre-Departures and other orientations. In addition, he has done recruitment, interviews and worked with international students. He returned to Argentina in 1993 while attending Iowa State University. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he was involved with an extremely active alumni group. After moving back to Iowa in 1996, he became a volunteer with his local Youth For Understanding field. David currently works as the Executive Officer for the Bureau of Refugee Services, a national agency that resettles refugee populations from all over the world to communities in Iowa.

Pacific Southwest Regional Office
Mary Ann Nation has joined the Pacific Southwest Regional office as the new Outreach Coordinator. She is a Congress Bundestag alumnus and has been a Youth For Understanding volunteer for the past 8 years. Mary Ann worked in Region 20 for two years as an American Overseas presenter. She received her master's degree in international education and non-profit management from Monterey Institute.

Alumni Link
Twyla Lomen of Des Moines, Iowa has joined the Alumni Link editorial staff. We'd like to thank her for all her help!

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