Genny Gierke and her family had begun a program a few years ago that is dedicated towards hosting students from abroad. The program, known as the Labo International Exchange (LIE), is a student exchange course that gives incoming Japanese students the opportunity to learn more about American culture, language, and customs. The program is run through the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension.
Courses are conducted right in the family household in Chassell where students are provided with both food and shelter. The first Japanese student was given the chance to experience a one-month course in American culture and, according to the Gierke family, the experience worked out very well. Students from ages three to 18 are allowed to be admitted into the program to gain their knowledge and understanding of America.
The first student enjoyed her experiences with the family and the community. “It’s always really fun. The cultural differences are always neat to see,” she commented.
Hosting foreign exchange students has also given the family the opportunity to establish a long lasting friendship and travel to Japan at discounted rates. Gierke recently visited the country to see one of her previous students and said she really enjoyed having the chance to experience cultural differences in Japan. “It was really neat to see how our culture fit into Japanese life there.”
Students from Japan who were previous hosts of the Gierke family also came to visit. “I always really enjoyed it,” explains Gierke of her experiences. “It’s just like having a friend come visit for a while because you get to know the person so well, and you get to come see them and see them grow.”
Gierke’s family began the program when she was still in high school. Now a second year student at Michigan Tech, Gierke still enjoys aiding and tutoring foreign students who come to her home.
LIE hosts over 1,000 Japanese students in America every summer. Students are assigned to families with children of the same sex and age. Any family is eligible to sign up and become a host family. During stay, students are secured with full accident and health insurance. Students are to come with their own spending money while their hosts provide them with a three-day meal, a bed and room, and transportation.
Student exchange hosting programs are also held throughout the country by the Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI). Similar to LIE, CCI offers over 1000 exchange students to families with programs that range from a few weeks to 10 months. The major difference between the two would account for the broad range of foreign exchange students covered in CCI whereas LIE is limited to Japanese students. CCI does not compensate for families who take part in such a program. However, deductions of $50 per month are made on their tax returns for charitable work.
The state of Michigan is currently attempting to host 53 students according to 4-H Program Associate Carol Kreher. “In the past, we have one or two families. We like to have families with at least one youth around ages 12 to 18,” says Kreher.
For more information, email Carol Kreher at kreher@msu.edu or call the MSU Extension office at 482-5830. To learn more about the Labo International Exchange and/or the Center for Cultural Interchange, visit labo-exchange.com or cci-exchange.com.