I am with the San Diego AFS area team, and I am usually the volunteer who sends them off. So I have to bring my emotional crowbar to the end-of-stay event and pry parents and siblings away from the exchange students. Done it for a dozen years and I know how hard it is. But the experience lasts a lifetime, as you obviously have learned.
I was an AFS student 38 years ago, and the memories are as fresh as ever.
Hosting exchange students is an example of how people come and go in our daily lives. That it’s relatively short and intense makes the “go-ing” part harder. For most of our relationships we don’t get a departure date ahead of time. Maybe that’s good. Maybe not.
Luckily, our sons and daughters abroad (with the exception of one) are still a regular part of our lives.
Clay Myers-Bowman 
Reblogged this on Norbert Haupt and commented:
Stumbled upon an AFS host parent’s blog here!
Thanks Norbert!
I am with the San Diego AFS area team, and I am usually the volunteer who sends them off. So I have to bring my emotional crowbar to the end-of-stay event and pry parents and siblings away from the exchange students. Done it for a dozen years and I know how hard it is. But the experience lasts a lifetime, as you obviously have learned.
I was an AFS student 38 years ago, and the memories are as fresh as ever.
The one thing that gets better: we’re more deliberate about finding ways to keep our exchange students in our lives.
I completely agree….
Hosting exchange students is an example of how people come and go in our daily lives. That it’s relatively short and intense makes the “go-ing” part harder. For most of our relationships we don’t get a departure date ahead of time. Maybe that’s good. Maybe not.
Luckily, our sons and daughters abroad (with the exception of one) are still a regular part of our lives.
This I can relate to!
As a host parent or exchange student?