This is the third year that my family has had the pleasure to host an exchange student from China. We really look forward to it each summer. It’s like adding a sister or brother to the family.

At first, we feel anxious and excited, but we try not to overwhelm our new friend with our enthusiasm and let her adjust to my family as we all try to greet her at once. By the second or third day, we have all settled in and she is communicating very well with us.

Both of our students from the last two years (Chen Chen and Nancy) have enjoyed the experience of a larger family. We have three kids. In China, the families usually have only one child.

My older girls, Elizabeth and Katherine, join the students during some of the lessons and share their experiences with the Chinese students as they learn about birthday parties, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving and Independence Day.

In the evenings, we share dinner and learn what our student’s family usually eats. I am always surprised at how willing the exchange students are to try new foods. I know that my own children would be much less willing. Our spaghetti dinner has been a favorite of both exchange students.

My son is too young to help the exchange students much, but he loves making new friends and the students love playing with him like he was their little brother.

When the weekend arrives, we head out to visit some of the beautiful sights around Puget Sound. Two favorites have been a ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle after visiting my parents and my in-laws, and a picnic at Snoqualmie Falls.

I take the kids shopping with me. It’s a good chance for them to compare differences and similarities between Chinese and American grocery stores, department stores, outlet stores and the mall. We try to find some nice souvenirs of their visit to the U.S., but end up laughing at how many items we find that say “Made in China.”

They are happy to pitch in with my children in helping around the house. My own children are more willing than usual to lend a hand while our exchange student is visiting.

Before we know it, the three weeks are almost over and it is time to say goodbye. E-mail has made it easy for the students to keep in touch, both with their families in China while they are here and sending notes back to us after they return home. The house feels empty after our student leaves, but we are already planning what we will do next time we can host an exchange student.

We became a host family with Northwest International Student Exchange in 2006 because hosting an exchange student has always sounded like a good experience to me. It has been better than that. It has been great.

In July, Chinese exchange students (ages 13 to 16) will be visiting the area. Northwest International Student Exchange needs families willing to host students for three weeks during this visit. Twenty-six students and two teachers from Chengdu China, Sichuan, are arriving July 9 to experience American culture firsthand and improve their English language skills. All students have been studying English for at least two years before joining this exchange program. The students attend classes Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Education Center of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Covington. This is not a religious program. The rest of their stay is spent with host families, involved in a reciprocal cultural exchange experience by participating in family activities and outings.

I hope you will consider hosting a student or teacher. It has been a wonderful experience for me and my family. For more information, contact me at (425) 413-6782 or (206) 550-6878.