5/25/2007 - It Makes the World Smaller

Local student exchange coordinators looking for host families

by Natalie Shelton
KC Community News Staff Member

Over the past three years, the Bridgeman family of Liberty has been growing — and growing — and growing.

That’s because they have welcomed a foreign exchange student into their home for the past three years.

“We have their pictures on the wall just like we do with our own kids,” Kristine Bridgeman said. “We truly feel like they’re all a part of our family.”

Philine Ritter of Kiel, Germany, has been living since August 2006 with Kristine Bridgeman, her husband, Mark, and daughter, Sarah, through the AFS exchange program, formerly known as American Field Service. The Bridgemans also have an older son, David.

Ritter said when she was in Germany and first read the brochures about the program, she thought phrases like “it makes the world smaller” and “you’ll truly have a second home” sounded a bit corny.

“But then, when I got here, I learned it’s all really true,” said Ritter, who attends Liberty High School and is a member of the swim team and symphony orchestra. “I really do have a second family now.”

The Bridgemans decided to become a host family after reading a small blurb in the Liberty Tribune asking for volunteers.

“It struck a memory in my head of when I was in high school in Liberty,” Mark Bridgeman said. “I can still remember the names of exchange students I went to school with and the countries they were from, and also what great people they were.”

He asked daughter Sarah if she’d be interested.

“Together, we convinced Mom it was OK. I wanted us to host an Italian boy, but she shot that down for some reason,” Sarah said jokingly.

For the first year, they were a host family to a girl from Austria named Jani. Last year they hosted Sarah from Belgium.

The more time they spent as a host family, the more they wanted to devote time to AFS, Mark Bridgeman said. They’re now the liaisons for placing exchange students in the Liberty and Smithville school districts. They are also district representatives; in other words, the AFS students in Liberty and Smithville check in with them once a month to tell them how their experiences with their families are going.

More than 70 students from 20 different countries are in the Kansas City area this year through AFS, Kristine Bridgeman said.

Besides Philine, two other AFS students are in Liberty through the AFS program: Margherita Spinelli from Italy with the Sue and Bill Klco family, and Leah Juffermans from New Zealand with the Dave and Doris Egli family. Three other exchange students attend Liberty High School through other exchange services.

In their AFS volunteer roles, the Bridgemans are responsible for finding host families for the next academic year.

“We’re looking for people willing to open their homes and hearts,” Kristine Bridgeman said. “Obviously, there are other requirements, but that’s the most important. The program encompasses all family dynamics: singles, grandparents, couples with children, couples without. It’s a great opportunity to explore your world without having to leave your home.”

Republished with permission.