Travel changes you. It expands your horizons. As you learn a new language, you create new neural pathways in your brain. As you learn about a new culture, you create new rooms in your heart.

One of the best ways for young people to travel is to take part in a student or cultural exchange program. These programs offer high school and college students the opportunity to study in another country, often living with a host family. The student is exposed to a different culture. Their understanding and tolerance of others increases; their social horizons are broadened.

It’s not just the student who benefits from the exchange. The host family is also exposed to another culture and often ends up learning just as much as their student.

We reached out to two host families with International Student Exchange (ISE). Jennifer is a substitute teacher, and she and her husband have four children, in addition to hosting students. Wayne and his wife Amy live in Decatur and are going to host another exchange student in the fall. We asked Jennifer and Wayne to tell us about the hosting experience.

Madeworthy: Did you have any background in hosting international students? Were you an exchange student yourself?

Wayne: Yes, my mom placed students when I was younger, and my family hosted around 12 or so students over the years… I previously hosted students from Mongolia, Norway, and Italy. I was never an exchange student, myself.

Jennifer: I didn’t grow up with any; however, my friend hosted a girl from Spain a few years ago, and that’s what got me interested in hosting. I have never been an exchange student.

MW: What was the most unexpected thing about hosting a student?

Wayne: Our student from Mongolia was a bit of a culture shock for us. She was from a very rural and not-so-modernized area of Mongolia, and everything was very big, very new, and very different for her. She went through a big learning curve after arriving here. She was a very sweet girl, and ultimately it turned out to be a great experience both for her and our family.

MW: Have you made plans to visit your student in their home country?

Wayne: Not yet, but we often talk about it. It’s on the bucket list.

MW: What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from your student?

Jennifer: We have learned they are more structured and study harder than American kids. They understand the importance of an education, and they enjoy the American way of life.

MW: What would you say your students have gained from coming here to learn?

Wayne: They may give different answers if they were asked, but for me, I believe the students have learned that they can go out into the world with confidence, be their true selves, and be successful anywhere they go.

MW: 7. Did you learn anything that surprised you about your student’s home country?

Wayne: Italian food is one of our favorites… we learned what we think of as Italian food with lots of sauce and cheese is more of an American concoction… authentic Italian food is lighter, full of fresh ingredients and vegetables, and uses more fresh herbs and less cheese for flavoring. We also learned that Norway is more than just the cold and hard land of the Vikings. The Norwegian people are a very loving, accepting, and happy people who are very in tune with nature, for example, the phenomenal fjords and lakes, magical skies, and beautiful oceans.

MW: Did you learn anything that surprised you about yourself during this journey?

Jennifer: I learned I’m a little OCD when it comes to putting away groceries and how I like to clean.

Wayne: I developed a deeper appreciation for others. This is going to sound silly, but as a grown man and father of seven, I am always the one that gets the most excited when we go to Disney World, and we are about to ride the It’s a Small World ride… it ties back to the deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures that I have gained from hosting exchange students.

M

The post Creating New Rooms in Your Heart first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

A little over a month ago, I first stepped foot in New Zealand. I cannot say that I knew what to expect. Up until now, I had only ever lived in Fort Worth. When it came down to choosing a college, I picked TCU.

Moving here, to Auckland, by myself, not knowing anyone else, this was going to be my biggest adventure yet. Even my wildest of dreams could not have prepared me for how incredible this place is.

I have hiked up numerous volcanos (Mt. Eden, Mt. Hobson, and One Tree Hill), climbed through lava caves on Rangitoto, learned to surf in Raglan, crawled through ice tunnels on the South Island, hiked across Fox Glacier, guided a snorkel group in Motuihe, sipped wine in the vineyards of Waiheke, swam at Hanua waterfalls, paddle boarded in Mission Bay, sailed on a dingy in the Auckland wharf, rafted on underground rivers in Charleston, admired art at numerous museums, and spotted glow worms in the pitch black; all this, and it has only been a month! I even managed to squeeze some classes in, too. (Don’t worry, Mom!)

The days seem longer here. I feel I am able to get more out of them, probably because I am so busy. It is not the typical ‘busy’ like home, though. It is different, and dare I say, better. I do not feel bogged down or stressed by everything I have to do. I am genuinely excited to have ‘busy’ days here. I feel content coming home after a long day, being absolutely exhausted (or as my local friends have taught me, “shattered”). I know that means I am making the most of my time here.

I wish I approached life this way when I was back home – not wasting any time. I wish I busied myself with exploring the city I call home and its surrounding areas: spending time talking to the locals, shopping small, volunteering with organizations, and walking the streets. That is what I am doing here, and honestly, I have loved really immersing myself in Auckland. Quay Street and Ponsonby have some incredible local shops and are perfect areas to walk around in and meet people. Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) is a wonderful organization to volunteer with. They take locals out to marine reserves around New Zealand for them to snorkel in hopes of instilling a newfound appreciation for our marine environments. These things have helped me feel so much more connected to Auckland than I ever thought possible.

I have been so fortunate to spend my weekdays exploring the city and all that it has to offer and my weekends caravanning around the rest of the country. Auckland has been the perfect hub from which to explore New Zealand and Oceania, especially Fiji and the Cook Islands. I have been to so many events, like the Lantern Festival in the Domain, Auckland City Limits in Western Springs, the Volvo Ocean Race at the Viaduct, and the opening of a new exhibit at the Auckland Art Gallery. Auckland is also close to some amazing beaches and hikes. Piha is a nearby black sand beach that is a favorite among the locals. There are plenty of smaller communities nearby to go and explore, Raglan being one of my absolute favorites with Waiheke a close second. And I would not be doing New Zealand any justice if I did not mention the people. The locals here (known as Kiwis) are some of the most hospitable people I have ever met; their welcome truly rivals our southern hospitality.

It goes without saying that things do not always go to plan. That has certainly been true of my time here. However, it is during these times of crisis that I have been so fortunate to meet so many exceptionally kind Kiwis. I have been offered places to stay, numerous rides, the occasional drink, and even a car to drive. I have been so fortunate to have had these helping hands along the way, and I suspect many people have experienced the same generosity because that is just the Kiwi way. I feel like I owe so much to this experience, these people, and this country. I cannot wait to see what the rest of my time here has in store!

This article originally appeared in the May/June issue of Madeworthy.

Makenna Barbara is a student at TCU. She has interned with Briggs Freeman Sotheby International Realty and is headed home after studying abroad in New Zealand. Judging by her photographs, it was a great trip!

The post From TCU to NZ: A Student Abroad first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.