The Caporossi Family

AFS Exchange Students bring culture; siblings to only child

The Caporossi Family
of Willoughby, OH

"Becoming involved with AFS since 2000 has been wonderful and probably in my experience, as a host sister, one of the best things my family has ever decided to do. My family decided to host because I am an only child and I have always wanted a "sister." We, as a family, also wanted to expand our global horizons and learn about others people's cultures/customs. Since 2000, we have hosted five wonderful girls from Norway, Germany, Chile, Sweden, and now Italy in 2010, became liaisons to other exchange students in between hosting, or were a local volunteer family spreading the word about AFS.

"Each one of the girls we have hosted hold a very special place in our hearts for each are so different and unique in their own way. We love telling them about the USA, taking them on trips, and learning about them as well and their customs.

"I believe you appreciate the USA so much more as a family and as an individual as well. Throughout the year, you love seeing them blossom in your home,your community, and school. It is so interesting to see the US through their "eyes" and their perspective on our country in the beginning of their year, during, and at the end.

"As a host family,we also have been very fortunate to go visit each of them in their countries and they have been wonderful opportunities that you wish you could do all over again so easily. We even went to our first girl's wedding in Norway in 2009.We are looking forward to visiting our Italian student and her family sometime, hopefully in the near future. Interestingly enough, our Italian student's twin sister is here in the US as well in Wisconsin on the AFS program. It truly is a small world!

"AFS and hosting makes you realize how close your family becomes, through good times and hardships, how much you learn about yourself, how your AFS son (or daughter in our case) truly becomes a part of your family, and how much smaller the world really is. You bring so much world peace between the Partner country and the USA and do truly become "global" without leaving home!

"If you do have an opportunity to host, please do so. It is something your family and you as an individual will enjoy so much that when your AFSer leaves, your heart breaks, and you will have that never ending bond of love and friendship that can prove to last 10 plus years, like our family."

- Katherine Caporossi, host sibling

• Find out more about countries from which we host.
• Find out how to apply to host an AFS Exchange Student.