Benefits to Hosting an Exchange Student

Firsthand exposure to another culture and language is just one of the many rewards to hosting an exchange student. Noble students who have hosted have made strides not only in their language abilities, but also in their overall knowledge and awareness of the world around them. Obviously, there are many positive effects from this experience, but below are specific benefits for hosting families:

Host Parent's Comment

"I think it is very special," said Bros. "I am the very first Chinese exchange student." He was riding to school on the first day with great anticipation. He had arrived the week before and we had been to the beach, the rocky coast and shown him a little of what Maine had to offer. He however had been anxiously awaiting for the day when he would attend school with American students. That sense of excitement, joy and anticipation is the way that Bros approached each new activity and experience and it has given our family many smiles along the way. He's climbed mountains, took the kids trick-or-treating, and sometimes enjoyed the snow. Bros came with a strong sense of family and immediately adopted all of my extended family and asks if they are coming to major family events. He cooked traditional dishes at my son's birthday party and coaxed "Gram" to come to visit when she wasn't sure that she wanted to make the drive. It has been a pleasure and an honor to share this year with Bros and my whole family has benefited from it. By Ms. Fitzgerald

Noble Exchange Trips

Throughout the year, exchange students and their host siblings will enjoy various short excursions. Most of these trips are offered at no cost to anyone and are usually local.

Reciprocal Exchange Opportunity

The goal of Noble Exchange is to provide affordable exchange opportunities for Noble students. If a Noble student hosts an exchange student and if he/she is accepted into the program as an exchange student, he/she does not have to pay any fees to the program. The Noble student only has to secure his/her own airfare and spending money.

Voucher Program

If the Noble student cannot host a student in his/her home but still would like to be an exchange student, the Noble student can find a replacement family to host instead of his/her own family. The hosting family must agree to transfer their hosting voucher to the Noble student at the time when the family applies to become a host family. The host family must sign an agreement to transfer their voucher to the Noble student at that time or the voucher will be invalid and the transfer will not take place.

The Noble Exchange Family

As part of the Noble Exchange Program, your family will be one of a group of families in the community, all encountering the same types of situations unique to the hosting experience. As such, these families provide a natural support group for one another, not only in the sharing of family issues and questions, but also in the physical convenience of living near other program participants. Special dinners are arranged, for example, as well as carpooling arrangements with other parents. These are just some of the advantages of being a part of Noble Exchange.

Host Family Obligations

Financial

The exchange student's family back home is solely responsible for his/her financial well being. This includes any expenses incurred for medical issues that are not covered by insurance, any unforeseen expenditures, as well as any other personal expenses. If, for some reason, the student and his/her parents are unable to support the student financially, at any time, it is the responsibility of Noble Exchange to see to the student's financial means and contact the family in the student's home country. If the need arose, Noble Exchange would cover any necessary expenses and seek financial reimbursement from the parents directly. You, as host parents, have absolutely no obligation to cover any of the student's personal expenses that are incurred during his/her time here.

Meals

The host family will provide the student with any meals eaten at home. When the entire family goes out to a restaurant, if the parents plan to pay the bill, then it would be appropriate to also pay for the exchange student's meal. In other words, treat your exchange student as you would your own child. So, if you all plan to go out to a restaurant and you expect your child to pay for his/her own meal, you should expect the same of your exchange student. Lunch is provided during the school day by the program.

Special Family Trips/Events

For the most part, if your family plans a trip that is taken by the entire family (Walt Disney World, for example), the exchange student should contribute his/her own share of the cost. Especially when these trips are costly! It is not the host family's responsibility to pay the entire trip for the exchange student.