Bethany member seeks host families for BHS students
By Carolyn Hart
Spring means lots of things, including the time to look for new host families for AFS (formerly American Field Service) to provide homes for international students coming to the US for a year in our schools. AFS was founded after World War I when returning ambulance drivers (many conscientious objectors) founded the organization "to prevent future conflicts by promoting understanding among nations." It has grown since that time to include both inbound and outbound programs.
As many of you know, I've hosted a number of students, and I can attest to the benefits to the students (because I still hear from them about all the things they've accomplished) and to the host families (new friends, new foods, new experiences hearing about their home countries and seeing the US from another perspective). Your part? provide a home for an international student for about nine months while they attend BHS. What will you receive? the satisfaction of representing the US and its culture to an international student, a great way to "travel" without ever leaving home...and lifetime memories. It's the most fun you can have that's legal! Got questions? Think about it, and feel free to contact me (Carolyn Hart at ) or our local AFS liaison, Linda Sohlberg ( ).