The Chance for More Cross-Cultural Homestays: Specified 

With intercultural exchange as the goal, in late October, Head of Middle School Stephen Blan, Director of the Center for International Studies Chelsy Beninate and I took an exploratory trip to Metepec, Mexico, a town about 40 miles southwest of Mexico City. A few years ago, FWCD hosted students from CENCA, a school in Metepec. This particular trip was spent scouting out the prospects of our students staying with CENCA families and spending a couple of weeks in CENCA classes.

Having been an “exchange” student in Mexico myself during the summer between my eighth grade and ninth grade years, having had the challenging experience of being served calf’s liver for breakfast; struggling to use the bathroom where the toilet paper went in the trash; having continued to visit my Mexican family for decades after my six weeks in their small home, on their dirt road, in their 20,000-person town; and, most importantly, having emerged with an immense appreciation for the Mexican people, its beautiful volcanic mountains (well beyond the tourist-filled beaches ), its riches and its challenges, I am thrilled at the prospect of FWCD students returning to Mexico. 

Homestays are not new for us at FWCD. Our modern language teachers have led amazing programs from Canada to France to Spain over many years. I am thrilled we are adding more opportunities, and I will continue to dream of each and every FWCD graduate having had a true immersion experience outside of our culture.