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WESTON, Conn. Gaitrie Bos said Alejandro ran upstairs to her husband and talked about everything he had done that day. "I said to my husband, 'He's one of ours already.'"
Alejandra is a student from Spain who is staying with the Boses through the Education First Educational Homestay Program. The Bos family has extended an open invitation to Alejandro to come back and visit whenever he wants.
"He's a super kid. He's a very nice teenager, and he speaks English very well," said Bos. Alejandro arrived June 24 and will leave July 26. Bos first learned about the EF Program through the Norfield Church. Families canceled at the last minute so Bos, who had previously hosted a student through the Fresh Air Fund, offered to open her home to a student.
Alejandro has taught Gaitrie's children to count in Spanish as well as some other basic words. When Bos told the program director that she doesn't speak Spanish, the director said, "Fantastic he's here to practice his English," Bos said.
From noon to about 5 p.m. each day, the students embark on an activity related to American culture. One afternoon, Alejandro visited New York City. Instead of coming home with the group, he met up with Roger Bos, who works in the city. "Alejandro wanted to see Time Square at night and take in the sights," said Gaitrie.
This summer, EF is bringing students from Spain, Germany and Hong Kong to stay with families in the Weston area. Host families can be anyone willing to open his or her door to a student. Students must be provided with breakfast, bagged lunch and dinner, and they need a bed for sleeping. Host families must also provide transportation to Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Westport. To host an international student, the family must fill out an application with two references and provide an in-home interview with an EF staff member.
Host families are still needed for this summer. To sign up, visit the Education First website or call 203-216-7829.
Have you hosted an international student? Send your story and pictures to shenry@thedailyweston.
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