5/2/2008 - AFS Students 'Become Your Children'
WHO: Robert E. and Allison S. Wheeler, 10 Cleveland Ave., Canton, have hosted seven foreign students through the AFS intercultural exchange program. Mr. Wheeler now serves as the organization’s area team hosting coordinator.
WHAT DOES AFS STAND FOR?
Bob:”It used to be known as American Field Service. It was an outgrowth of volunteer ambulance drivers in World War I and World War II. After World War II a bunch of them got together and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we got together when the bullets weren’t flying and the bombs dropping?’ I think the first year they exchanged students was 1947. There are 3,000 a year coming into the U.S. now.”
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH AFS?
Allison:”We started while I was working at Edwards Central School. They had students every year.”
Bob:”It all really began with an empty bed.”
Allison:”Our daughter Abby went to Australia for a year. She was a junior. I have a sister who lives in Australia and she really wanted to visit her for a year so we had an empty bed.”
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED WITH AFS?
Allison:”We have had seven students. The first was in 1990-91. We have a shelf for each of our AFS students in our living room.”
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THEM:
Allison:”Anja was from Germany.”
Bob:”She was from East Germany until she was 12. Her family tried to run the wall two times. It turned out one of their best friends was a traitor and turned them in.”
Alison:”She was here when Germany unified.
“Zheng, he was from Shanghai, China. He graduated from Boston University in May 2007. He is working for Lehman Brothers in economic analysis. He is trilingual in English, Chinese and Japanese.
“Kuriko, she was a January to January student in 2002. She is from Hamamatsu, Japan. Kuriko is going to graduate from the University of Houston next month as a communications major. She is trilingual in English, Japanese and Spanish.
“Shu is coming back to Cornell in the fall. He is from Beijing, China.”
Bob:”Ziang was from Harbin, China. It is famous for ice and snow sculptures. Chianti was from Thailand.”
Allison:”Valentina is from La Paz, Bolivia. She was here last year.”
Bob:”One thing about being near an AFSer: they talk about their children. They rapidly become your children. As of this year more than half have come back for college.”
WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES WITH AFS?
Bob:”There is a paid staff. But the bulk of the work is done by volunteers.”
Allison:”Bob’s duties involve finding beds and families.”
Bob:”The North Central Tier is from a little further south than Cortland, as far north as Malone, as far west as Auburn and as far east as Herkimer.”
Allison:”Last year we were credited with 24 students, 12 north of Watertown.”
Bob:”We had students from Italy, Austria, Denmark, Brazil, Bolivia, China and Japan.
“Last year there were eight AFS students in Canton. We could find no host families this year.”
WHAT ARE HOST FAMILIES EXPECTED TO DO?
Bob:”The committment is to be a loving, supportive family. When they walk through the door we tell them there is enough love here for everyone and you don’t have to earn it. The two other main requirements are the ability to talk to each other and listen.”
Allison:”We all sit around the table after we are done eating and talk about their country.”
Bob:”It’s a chance to visit a foreign country and a foreign culture every day. The cultures are so interesting. If you host Europeans you already know the culture. But the Asian cultures are so different.”
Allison:”It’s hard to let them leave.”
Bob:”We have had so many positive experiences. We have never had a ‘When are they going home?’”
DO YOU PLAN TO HOST MORE AFS EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE?
Bob:”We are not hosting anyone this year. We took a year off. But I think we will be hosting next year.”
This article was originally published here.
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