Okay, So I Never Got Around To Joining the Peace Corps

Back in 1965 when I was 18, joining the Peace Corps was high on my to-do list. Four years later I took the road most traveled: got a diploma, got a job, got a husband. That was a lifetime ago, but throughout that lifetime I was frequently connected to people from other countries. Some were neighbors, students, colleagues, administrators, restaurant owners, and Mohammed, the sales guy from Sears who helped me pick out the electric range that would serve me well.

So I never got around to joining the Peace Corps and going to East Africa. Instead, I found myself semi-retired, teaching part-time at a community college, married to husband number two for almost 25 years, and living in a 4 bedroom 3 bath condo with Charlie, a rescued poodle with a deadpan personality, and Jake, a large lab-like submissive gentle giant who loves bananas.

I started reading about homestay when I was on the Internet exploring options for travel accommodations. Gee, if we ever did decide to travel somewhere, maybe we could be homestay guests. That certainly sounded like a more interesting and authentic way to visit France...or Italy...or Costa Rica. Within a matter of minutes, however, I learned that homestay in the U.S. is something many international students and visiting professors take an interest in because it helps them improve their English language skills and eases their adjustment to American culture.

Well, one click led to another and I ordered Cheryl Verstrate's book Homestay 101 for Hosts from Amazon.com. After reading the book I thought, "We could do that. We have an extra bedroom. We're both educators and interested in people from other cultures. Hmmmmm."

Then, what did I see posted on Craigslist, but a request for a homestay experience right here in Columbia, Missouri. So I spoke with hubby, George, who gave the okay to contact the young man. We met Meshari, a nice young man from Saudi Arabia, and exchanged several emails. We didn't make any final plans with him, so I put a post on homestayfinder.com, and within just a day or two I received an email from Gahee, a student from South Korea. She said she was already in Columbia studying English and wanted to live with an American family. Ok...one room ready and two potential homestay guests. George had the simple solution. We have two spare bedrooms, so if both want to try homestay with us, why not?

That was November 2009. This is March 2010, and we've been enjoying the company of both Meshari and Gahee since early January. I approached them both with the idea of creating a blog and both said it would be fine. The four of us find it difficult to believe that we live in Columbia, Missouri, home of the University of Missouri, Columbia College, Stephens College, and we have a vibrant population of students who attend the Columbia location for Moberly Area Community College......and there isn't a homestay coordinator or organization in town????!!!!

So...with this blog I'll do some catch up on what our little adventures have been to date and then I'll continue to share our experiences. It's our hope--Meshari's, Gahee's, George's and mine-- that perhaps others in our community--or elsewhere--will become interested in creating homestay adventures of their own.