Open Your Home, Open Their World: Become a host family today!
High School Exchange Student Host Families
Hosting an exchange student from Asahikawa, Japan, is a unique opportunity to share American culture while making a lasting impact on a young person's life. As a host family, your role is crucial in providing a welcoming environment, complete with room and board, and ensuring safe and reliable transportation to school and events.
Our past host families have found hosting a student incredibly rewarding and report enjoying a new appreciation for their own traditions by sharing them with someone who is experiencing them for the first time.
To ensure a smooth and enriching experience for both families and students, we have a thorough selection process. Prospective host parents undergo interviews and a police background check. Those chosen are asked to sign a contract committing to specific responsibilities and are given clear guidelines outlining student expectations and conduct.
Join us in this exciting cultural exchange and help foster a global connection right from your home. Your commitment could make a world of difference!
If this sounds like you, complete a host family application (list Veronica Kroesch for the “local coordinator” field) and send it to veronica.kroesch@bnsistercities.org
“Each student has been a joy to host and each day brings possibilities of new experiences for them in what is otherwise a routine day or event for us. Sharing our holiday traditions, especially those around Christmas, have been revitalized for our family as we are able to see them through the eyes of someone experiencing them either for the first time or in a new way.”
This year's Asahikawa to Bloomington/Normal trip will be from March 25th to April 4th 2025. Apply to be a host family today!!
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This year's Asahikawa to Bloomington/Normal trip will be from March 25th to April 4th 2025. Apply to be a host family today!! 〰️
Junior Ambassador Host Families
Families are needed each March for approximately one week to host a junior high student.
Host family duties include providing room and board, pick up and drop off of students for daily committee arranged activities, spending time with the student during the evenings and weekend, and attendance at the welcome and farewell parties.