Student Exchange From an Insider's Perspective: Studying Abroad with a Host Family

I recently sat down with Peg TenHoopen, Vice President for the Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA), an international student exchange program. Peg and I talked about the different facets of student exchange as well as what she sees as the future of this growing industry.

Peg first became interested in student exchange in 1981 when she was approached to host a student from Brazil. Peg and her family took Eduardo into their home and into their hearts. They would later host more students from Brazil as well as students from Yugoslavia and many other countries. In 1985, Peg and her husband made a trip to Brazil to see Eduardo and other students they had hosted. These students and their families welcomed Peg and her husband into their homes and treated them as family. Peg recalls how much they learned about Brazil and it's different communities by staying in homes versus a hotel. This visit inspired Peg and her husband to commit even more to student exchange.

In 1986, Peg and her family were preparing for their kids to go to college. Financially it was not feasible for them to host a student, so Peg continued her involvement by signing up as a Community Coordinator. Although different agencies have different titles for these community liaisons, these are individuals who are committed to finding and screening host families, and supervising the students throughout their stay. Peg served as a Community Coordinator for two years and was then promoted to Manager. Two years later she became a Regional Director and is now Vice President of the Academic Year Program for CETUSA.