3/30/2008 - Host families sought for exchange students

By Bev Wax/Correspondent
Wicked Local Sherborn

Dover – For more than 20 years, families from Dover and Sherborn have hosted foreign exchange students from around the world in their homes as part of the American Field Service program. This month, plans are under way to match local families with students who will attend Dover-Sherborn High School next year.

Judith Grassia-Cranshaw has been the AFS faculty adviser at the school for almost six years. Having grown up in Sherborn, she participates because “It’s a good idea to bring the world to such a small community. It gives the students a new perspective of what’s out there.” On being a host family, she said, “Having a young person visit from somewhere else might make families do things a little differently … how they operate on a day-to-day basis. It’s a commitment, but an opportunity. I’ve found from talking with host families that it’s very rewarding.”

It’s not only an enriching experience for the families but for DSHS students as well. Tristan Waldron, AFS Club president, has been involved in the group since sophomore year. He said the kickoff weekend in the fall where all the MetroWest AFS students get together is a big hit with the kids. Students are also invited into classrooms to discuss their cultures. After that, Waldron steps back a little to give them a chance to make friends.

This year’s exchange students
It is easy to be friends with Pichaya-on Thanwandee from Thailand, nicknamed Honey, who is staying with Emily Scanlon, a Dover-Sherborn Middle School student, and her mother, Rose DiBartolo. She wants Americans to know that Thailand is “the land of smiles” and people are very friendly.

Honey, sweet and soft-spoken, was raised in Bangkok, “in an apartment in a city. Very noisy with traffic jams.” Quite different from where she is now. She had studied English for many years and for practice had many a conversation with her “Grandma.”

“My family wanted me to have the experience and wanted me to know about the language,” she said.

There are quite a number of other differences, but what stands out most is the sense of freedom in the U.S. versus that in her country. She said, “I like it here…” She added her host family is very, very nice, but jokingly laments the food has made her gain weight. Honey plays lacrosse for DSHS and used to play basketball in Thailand.

An AFS student from Italy, Mirco Valenza, is staying with DSHS students Jake, Emma and Scott Hershey and their parents, Judy and Mark. Although hesitant at first, the Hersheys’ mother said her children are now proud to have Mirco living with them, and that his English skills have improved dramatically. They are also happy to have a friend from Italy.

“It’s a great experience. It’s self-selecting, [AFS students] tend to be mature, good students” who are able to be away from family for a long period of time. She added it was also a fairly easy transition for Mirco because simply by having three teenagers in the house there was always something going on.

Hershey also gives credit to the DSHS for supporting the AFS program: “They welcome these kids. It’s extra work for the teachers and the guidance department. But the high school values it as a wonderful experience.”

In fact, while Wellesley High School has only one foreign exchange student, DSHS has three. A boy from Germany is visiting through another program, but is an active member of the AFS Club.

Waldron pointed out AFS students stay friends with local students long after their stay. DSHS has also been home to students from many countries, including China, Latvia, Argentina, Germany and Belgium.

“Students can reach out to other cultures. It’s a great way to communicate throughout the world within Dover-Sherborn through e-mail,” said Waldron. He has found “host families have a love for other cultures. They reach out and genuinely like having kids stay in their homes … they are open to other perspectives in the world.”

Prospective students and host families are required to complete an application before being matched. AFS has been creating study abroad opportunities for more than 60 years with the U.S. most recently hosting 2800 international students and teachers. Families are also able to host for one semester.

This article was originally published here.