What You Can Expect from Our Agency

The majority of the work of the agency occurs in the background where you cannot see it.  This does not mean that the agency isn't "doing anything for you", however.  The agency invests a great deal of its time and resources to ensure that it has sound contracts and good insurance so that it can weather any potential problems with stability.  The agency needs to remain compliant with the law and ever-evolving industry standards and parent, student, school and host expectations.  It also invests a great deal of its resources in communication and technology - this website and our form-fill paperwork is a good example.  Additionally, the agency must advertise for, find, approve and train appropriate host families for our students.

As far as students are concerned, the agency is responsible to help them prepare their paperwork for entry into our program, coach and help them through the visa process, gain their acceptance at one of our partnering schools, find and match them with an appropriate host family and ensure that they are prepared to come to America - and this is all before the student arrives.  Once in the U.S., the agency assumes responsibility for the student's wellbeing and liability.  Legal guardianship is the primary responsibility of the agency.  Our guardianship shields our partnering schools and host families from liablity stemming from student medical or legal issues and it ensures that the interests of the student and his/her natural parents are protected.  The insurances and contracts as well as the rules and policies MFSE puts in place provide this protection.  Additionally, the agency stands ready to interviene in student, school or host family crises.

If you experience a relatively problem-free placement in your host home and school you can expect to see an agency rep 3-4 times per school-year.  There will be periodic checkins with either you, your school counselor, your host parent or all three.  Checkins are usually by telephone or email unless you request a personal meeting due to problems you are facing.  The agency needs to know how things are going - especially if there are problems with your host family or school placement.  We need to know if you plan to travel independently, travel away from the host home for more than four days, participate in any of the activities we have deemed to be "high risk", if you have seen or will see a doctor, or, if you have missed three or more consecutive days of school.

What You Can Expect From Your Host Parents

Host families come in every variety and from every background here in the U.S.  Most of the schools partnering with MFSE are Christian schools and they require the agency to place students with church-going Christian host families.  Families that attend church regularly are likely to be involved in community activities and have extended relations with members of their communities.  In America, where people's ideas, thoughts about parenting, relationships and education, values and behaviors vary greatly, Christian faith implies specific expectations - it enables common understanding between people who might otherwise be very different.

Regardless of your host family's background, you can expect that every family will have its own hobbies and interests and its own rules, chores and routines.  Some families could possibly expect that you will be more independent than you are accustomed and might, for example, expect that you will launder your own clothing or prepare your own breakfast.  You will need to adapt to your host family's expectations, schedule and homelife.  American parents are likely to expect that you will follow the same rules and expectations they place upon their own children - especially if their children are still living at home.  Rules that are common here might seem a bit different or unusual at first.  But, remember, the laws here tend to be more restrictive and more stringently enforced than they are in some other places - especially laws concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs and medicines, internet crimes, hazing and race-based accusations, pornography and sexual relations, to name a few.  Agency rules and host parent rules are mostly aimed at protecting you from erring into true legal trouble.

Your host parents are American parents and, as such, they will have American expectations.  They will expect to learn to know and understand you and the way you think.  Truth in all circumstances is highly valued and vitally important if you want your host parents to view you as a young adult capable of making good decisions and controlling your own behavior.  You will receive understanding and compassion - not shame and disgrace from your host parents as long as you remain truthful with them.  After all, it takes a great deal of trust to open your home, your family and your heart to a student you have never met before - yet our host family will be extending this trust to you when they welcome you into their home and accept responsibility for your behavior and wellbeing in their home. 

American parents expect interaction and involvement with the students they are hosting.  If you isolate yourself in your bedroom and refuse to get to know them, your host family will begin to wonder why they are hosting you and whether the additional work of an additional student in their home is meaningful. 

Your host family will expect to know where you are and what you are doing when you aren't at home - this is common here for American kids, too and, actually, the agency requires them to know.  In most cases, they will gladly welcome your friends from school to come to their home.  American parents expect to get to know the friends of their children and will probably expect to get to know the friends of their exchange student also.  Here in the U.S. exceptional character is valued and expected.  There is a concept here known as American exceptionalism - it means that if you aren't exceptional, you can expect that your freedom will be taken away by those who believe that they are exceptional.

Your host family also accepts responsibility for your care.  They will provide you with a clean, safe home, your own bed, a place for your clothing and belongings, a desk or table for your homework.  There will be internet access available in your host home, although it is unusual for American teens to have computers in their bedrooms and this rule will probably apply to you - especially if your host family has children your age.  Your host family will take care of your day-to-day needs such as food and transportation.

Most of all, however, your host family will provide love.