By Melissa Crump
Seven high school exchange students from Germany, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Spain gathered on Saturday, November 23 at the Weston’s family home to celebrate a holiday that is foreign to them. Thanksgiving isn’t something that any of these students have celebrated before.
Local high school exchange students gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving by creating dishes from their home country to share with each other during a holiday that is foreign to them.
International Student Exchange (ISE) is a non-profit organization that has been matching exchange students from around the world with volunteer host families for many years. These students are here on a J-1 educational visa to experience the typical American teenage life. Everything from new classes in school that aren’t offered in their home countries to sports they have never played before, to improving their English, and joining in on their host family’s day to day life. They go through quite the lengthy application process, which includes information about their home life, hobbies, academics, and English skills.
Miranda Russel, a local Area Representative, and I (the Regional Manager for ISE overseeing students in Nevada and Colorado) brainstormed, and Friendsgiving was just too fun of an activity to pass up! We asked each student to make a dish from their home country, as well as ask their host family for help in teaching them how to make a traditional American Thanksgiving dish. Amandine made both dinner and dessert Belgium waffles. Max made a German cake and baked macaroni. Ivan made a Spanish omelet and mashed potatoes. Miky made a Czech Potato Salad with his mom’s recipe, and dinner rolls. Anna made an Italian Eggplant dish similar to lasagna (but better!). Karla (Germany) and Elise (Belgium), who attend Eureka High School, brought French Fries, Cookies, and American Potato Salad. Did you know that French Fries don’t come from France?
The food was delectable, and each student did an amazing job! As a host family, we personally enjoyed watching our boys communicate with their parents, get recipes, struggle converting to cups and tablespoons with many laughs, and make food from home. It was also fun teaching them how to make American dishes, and seeing all of the kids get to know each other and joke around.
Hosting an exchange student truly is an amazing gift that we are able to grant these kids. They are as much of a blessing to us, as we hope to be to them. Miranda and I are looking forward to getting the kids together again in the coming winter months. If you’re interested in learning more about being a volunteer host family through International Student Exchange, please email cascades@iseusa.org. Spots are limited at White Pine High School.
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