Exchange student turns out to be just what family needed

By: 
Monika Spaulding, Digital Editor

Taking a chance and inviting a foreign person to come live with your family can be an intimidating thought.

However, the persistence of Kristine Shetler’s husband, Daniel, resulted in the family having an experience far better than they could have imagined.

Last summer, he showed her a list of eight kids that were looking for host families to be exchange students for this school year. Kristine said Daniel asked her to pick two out of the list and they would look at them closer and decide from there. She picked two and they were the same two he had picked. Then he asked her to narrow it down to one and she did and it was the same student he had selected. Gabi.

Gabi is from Brazil and after they learned more about her, they knew she would be the perfect fit for their family.

The Shetlers have three children: two girls and a boy. Their oldest daughter graduated from West Washington High School in 2017 and they were anxious to fill that void in their home.

“I felt tugged at the heart to do this,” said Kristine, who admits she was pretty reluctant at first.

Gabi arrived two days before the start of school. Her brother came to the United States two years ago through the exchange program and had a wonderful time. In fact, he is now attending college in Missouri. Gabi couldn’t wait for her own experience.

She said she is “living the American dream” in Washington County. She lives in a large city in Brazil, so she has enjoyed the slower pace of life since arriving in Southern Indiana. She also attends a private school and said WWHS is bigger than the school she graduated from in Brazil.

“It’s so country, but I really like it!” she said. “And the school is so different!”

Kristine said they often laugh at the things that Gabi gets excited about because they are usually things that her children take for granted or don’t think are that great. One being the school bus.

“She was so excited to get to ride a school bus!” she said.

“It’s my American dream!” laughed Gabi. 

“Everything I watch on TV at home is American. I love American movies.”

The things she sees in the movies are becoming a reality for her in the US. Things like riding school buses and going through a car wash.

In addition to wants and expectations of life in the United States, Gabi has also had the opportunity to do some unique things with the family. Hoosiers Help was started in response to the hurricane in Texas. The Shetler family was one of many that collected items and took them to Texas. Gabi loved taking the road trip and the experience.

“She has really helped open my eyes to what people take for granted,” said Kristine, adding that she has experienced so much with their family.

They went to Florida for Christmas, visited French Lick Resort and she went to Tennessee Christian Teen Convention (TCTC) in Gatlinburg.

She loved attending football and basketball games this year and has been involved in many activities at the school. She had the opportunity to cheer, play basketball and play softball for WWHS this year.

“She was up for trying it all!” laughed Kristine. “They all love her at school.”

“And I love them!” added Gabi.

In the city she is from, she has a lot of restrictions for safety reasons. Being able to participate in school activities and play on teams has been a great experience for her.

“Here, I can be free,” she said. “I have to be careful in the city I am from. I can go out with my friends and not have to worry. I have to worry about my safety at home.”

At home, she attended school from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. When she wasn’t at school she was at home. She said on the weekends she would go to the beach with friends and family.

Gabi said she hopes to move to the United States one day.

Kristine said she has seen many changes in Gabi since she arrived, but the biggest has been her improvement in speaking English.

“Her English was a little rough at first!” said Kristine. “But within four or five weeks, she had it!”

Another adjustment was the Shetler’s second oldest daughter, Taylor, getting used to another girl around her age moving into their home.

“It was weird at first,” admitted Taylor, adding that it took them about a month or so to warm up to each other. “But I love Gabi!”

Kristine said she feels it was meant to be for Gabi to come along when she did. She filled a void in their house that was missing.

Now, they are preparing for another change when Gabi heads back to her country after graduation.

“I know we will end up hosting a student again, but not yet,” said Kristine. “The experience with Gabi has just been so great.”

The Shetlers know that not all host families have the experience they have had and they are very grateful.

“It’s just been so great and we plan to stay in touch with Gabi and her family.”

Kristine encourages anyone considering hosting an exchange student to contact Sara Russell with International Student Exchange.

“Sara is great!” she said. “She communicates with us and she goes above and beyond. Any questions we have had, she’s been on it!”

She said ISE gave them a profile and biography on Gabi to learn more about her. They also received one on her parents to know where she is coming from.

“Just be open minded and don’t get discouraged about whether they know English or not!” said Kristine. “Really, that should be the least of your concerns, they are here to learn.” 

Russell said there is no compensation for hosting, but there is a monthly tax write off.  To be a host family one must pass a background check, allow the student to have a bed and they can share a room if they are the same sex and within five years of the same age.  The students bring at least $300 per month extra.  They pay for all their own needs and school supplies. They require a desk or quiet place to study and to eat three meals daily.  

“That is all that is required,” said Russell. “These students come to see real American life and don’t expect to live in wealthy homes.  They are looking for people who want to learn from one another about the culture here and in these other countries.  It has been really eye opening to work with these kids because I wasn’t raised in a diverse city.”

For more information, call Russell at 812-620-9828 or email russellsara2014@gmail.com. To learn more about ISE visit www.iseusa.org.

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