Oxford resident Martha VanBlerk is becoming an internationally-known mother.
She’s already taken care of a German boy and now she’s awaiting the arrival of a girl from Thailand.
VanBlerk and her kin serve as host family in Youth for Understanding (YFU), a foreign exchange student program.
YFU is an educational experience that includes learning how to live in a new culture and community with a new family. Exchange students become members of the family and share responsibility for the daily chores of typical American teenagers.
‘It is good for the kids,? said VanBlerk. ‘They learn how to live with others. They are used to their families and teenagers are set in their ways.?
YFU students are here for an entire academic year beginning in August. They must be proficient in the English language and have good grades.
The VanBlerks became involved in the YFU program after receiving a flyer at church.
‘They were looking for host families and we’ve always wanted to do it,? said VanBlerk.
They contacted the organization and hosted their first exchange student, Christoph Schabarum, a boy from Germany, during the 2007-08 school year.
‘It was a good experience. You learn a lot about yourself and your exchange student. I enjoyed it,? she said about the time he stayed with them. ‘It was challenging, too. It is not so easy. You have a child from a different family, a different country.?
She remembered when Schabarum arrived he was quiet and reserved.
‘He came from a very sheltered life and so I think when he went back he had matured a lot and was a lot more confident in every way,? she said adding he didn’t know how touse the post office or buy clothes.
VanBlerk understood everything was new for the visiting student and was happy to guide him along the way.
‘We are from South Africa so I am used to different cultures and differences,? she explained. ‘I knew how it was for me when I got here and getting used to everything so I understood in a way what he was going to go through.?
Their second exchange student, Narunya, will arrive from Thailand in August. They have been keeping in touch via e-mail.
‘She seems like a nice, fun girl,? VanBlerk has noticed. ‘I hope it will be a great experience for her.?
YFU students range from 15-18 years old and attend high school. They study American government, U.S. history, and social studies, plus their choice of three other classes.
‘They can pick something they can enjoy,? VanBlerk said adding they can be fun classes.
Host families are required to provide a room to sleep, three meals a day and a place to study. Each student has their own health insurance and their parents pay for everything else.
Every month, the students receive money from their homeland and if they need more, they can call their real parents, especially if they want to go to concerts or go to the movies.
‘We never did that ? we paid,? said VanBlerk explaining they viewed their exchange student as a part of the family.
Exchange student scan also take trips, but they must be approved by YFU and their parents back home.
The VanBlerks took their German student, Christoph, to Frankenmuth during Oktoberfest and to Georgia to experience Southern culture.
YFU has different meetings the student attends and events like apple picking and Halloween they can go to and meet different students involved in the program.
Host families step into the parent role by going to teacher conferences, signing permission slips, and making decisions.
VanBlerk plans to host students as long as she can and has become an area representative for students in Lake Orion and Rochester.
Every month, she contacts them to make sure they are doing all right.
‘There is constant communication,? she said. ‘If you have problems, you contact your area rep and they will try to solve your problems.?
Families interested in hosting exchange students are encouraged to contact Renee Guzanek, Oxford Area Representative for YFU, to start the process.
VanBlerk said it wasn’t a long process after they let the organization know they were interested.
After completing the application, an area representative interviews the prospective host family. YFU performs background checks on all potential host family.
Once approved, the family receives an e-mail indicating whether they will receive a boy or girl.
‘That is the best e-mail,? VanBlerk said.
Two other Oxford families will be hosting girls for the 2009-10 school year including Signe from Denmark and Lucca from Germany.
The new school year is still months away, and the opportunity to host an exchange student is available.
For more information, please call Guzanek at (248)-628-5357, the YFU District Office at 1-866-493-8872 or visit www.yfu-usa.
‘It’s a great opportunity to show other people how we live here,? said Van Blerk. ‘You make friends for life.?