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Spanish Students Need Host Families In July

Spanish students, from left, Cosme Altuna, Pablo Arsuaga and Ion Oleaga and

their American host siblings Scott Jacobson (rear), Kendall Zimmerman, Andrew

Zimmerman and Kate Zimmerman enjoyed time together last summer. - Courtesy

Alison Martens

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

The foreign language classes of Newtown High School, Newtown Middle School,

and Southbury's Rochambeau Middle School recently welcomed guest speaker

Alison Martens to present a "Host Student From Spain" program that is to take

place next July.

Mrs Martens is the regional coordinator for Across The World Intercultural

Association, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to uniting people and

their cultures. Last year ATW successfully coordinated the visit of over 150

English language students from Spain to Connecticut, and is again seeking

local host families for this year's program.

Mrs Martens and her associate Kathy Weiser have already secured 32 host

families in the area this year, but additional homes to accommodate another 18

students are still needed.

"The level of excitement regarding the arrival of our guests has been

tremendous," Mrs Martens said.

"Our local families are truly coming together to bring cultural diversity to

life, and offer their family a positive learning experience in their own

home," she said.

The Zimmerman and Jackson families, both of Sandy Hook, hosted Pablo Arsuaga

and Cosme Altuna last year. Both families enjoyed their experiences so much

that they will be hosting the same two students again this year.

"Hosting Pablo was a wonderful time for our family, and our neighbor's family,

the Jacksons," recalls Carol Zimmerman, the mother of Kate, age 18, Kendall,

age 13, and Andrew, age 9.

"It really put into focus a lot of the activities that we do as a family, and

we enjoyed re-experiencing these activities from Pablo's perspective. My

children will probably always be friends with Pablo, and they envision

themselves going to Spain someday to visit his home," said Carol.

"Seventeen families from my group will be hosting again this year, and three

American children are going to Spain with ATW in August," Mrs Martens added.

"Many families strongly bonded with their Spanish guest because ATW and I work

diligently to match students with host families that have common interests,"

she said.

Mrs Martens invites all families, with or without children, to come forward

and participate in what has proven to be a well structured and successful

program.

The Spanish students are age 12 to 18 years, have been studying English for

many years and are fully insured. A private bedroom is not required. Students

are matched to each family according to their interests and request for gender

and age.

An American and a Spanish group leader will live in the community and will be

available to the host families on a 24-hour basis, to organize day trips and

respond to any family needs that may arise.

Mrs Martens further emphasized to the high school and middle school students

that working adults of host families need not worry about potential

interruption in their busy schedules to entertain their Spanish guests. When

adults are at work the student is allowed to stay home with host siblings, or

may visit another nearby host family.

ATW also organizes several bus trips to major sites such as New York City,

Boston, and Riverside Park. Bus pick-up sites will be centrally located in

Newtown, Southbury, New Milford, and Danbury.

American host family members are welcome to go along on these trips at low

group rates. Family plans, however, take priority, so that the Spanish

students may miss planned activities to allow them to travel with families on

vacation.

A meeting is scheduled in early June, where families will receive their

student information, including candid photos and a personal letter in which

the student describes him/herself. Host families, therefore, have the

opportunity to make contact with the student by mail and/or by phone to give

them an early welcome.

All student expenses are pre-paid and they will come with additional spending

money. All that is asked of an American family is to take the student into

their home and heart, and treat the student as one more family member.

Anyone interested in learning more about hosting a student from Spain this

July must contact Alison Martens or Kathy Weiser by Sunday, May 25, at

860/868-9429 or 800/498-1550.