When a bus packed with 33 international students pulled up to Eastside Baptist Church, July 17, the driver excitedly honked the horn. A group of host families waiting in the parking lot were just as enthusiastic. They held decorated signs with the names of their students and cheered as the students filed off the bus.
The students — all from China — are part of Educational First’s Homestay Program. Since 1979, the non-profit has arranged escorted group travel for more than 140,000 international students. In the United States, the program operates in Florida, California, New York and Washington.
In Plant City, the students already have begun to experience all the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World has to offer. They also attend school at Eastside Baptist Church.
For the host families, the experience is one they will never forget.
The Ours family is hosting two students for the first time. They were among the families excitedly awaiting the arrival of their students, Chen Kexuan, 14, and Wang Qiushui, 16. Both from China, their names translate to Cayla and Margaret.
The Ours couldn’t wait to take the girls for 10 days, to their home off Knights Griffin Road.
Sharon and Greg Ours first heard about the program when a leader from the school came to their church, Bethany Baptist, to recruit host families.
“We thought it sounded really wonderful,” Sharon said. “And we have the two best students.”
Sitting around a dining-room table, Cayla and Margaret blush and giggle when Sharon compliments them. The girls have just gotten home from dinner after a 10-hour school day.
Although they are tired, they don’t seem to mind the length of their day. In China, Margaret goes to school from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cayla goes even longer, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The girls are excited to be part of the program, which emphasizes language and American culture.
“Our English speaking is improving, and (we are) learning a lot of American lifestyle and culture,” Cayla said.
Cayla and Margaret haven’t been the only ones learning on their trip.
“We’ve really learned a lot from them,” Greg said. “They’ve been the inspiration of two of my sales meetings. … We take for granted a lot of things here in America.”
Program Leader Suzy Stone agrees. She hosted three boys, two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old.
“It’s so interesting to learn from them,” Stone said.
The students don’t spend all day with their heads buried in books. After their studies in the morning, the students enjoy a variety of field trips to experience American culture firsthand. So far, they have gone to the beach and toured, via boat, a small island off the coast. There, they saw people fishing and dolphins.
On their first day in town, the students went to the Florida Aquarium, where they got to touch a starfish.
“Margaret loves animals,” Sharon said. “She’s our animal-lover of the bunch.”
Margaret also got the chance to pet a parrot at Busch Gardens. Sharon and Greg, along with their two children, Vinny, 24, and Haley, 18, took a family trip to the amusement park.
After the bird show, Margaret went to talk to the trainer, who let her touch the exotic animal.
“We saw a lot of animals,” Cayla said.
The kangaroo exhibit was Cayla’s favorite. However, the girls opted not to ride the roller coasters.
The girls also got to see a lot of local sites. The Ours took them to Fred’s Southern Kitchen. They also took the girls to church for the first time. They loved the music but aren’t accustomed to religious services.
Cayla’s grandmother is Buddhist, and the family goes to temple once a year, for the new year. Margaret’s family doesn’t go to temple at all.
One night, the girls made blueberry muffins and strawberry cookies for a family gathering the Ours hosted.
“American food is different for us,” Cayla said.
Their favorite food so far has been peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches they take to school every day.
The Ours originally were supposed to host one male student. But Sharon wanted a girl, so she could bond with Haley. When the program was short on host families, the Ours were asked to take two girls.
Cayla and Margaret didn’t know each other before the trip. In addition to bonding with their host families, they also have become quick friends.
“She’s cute,” Margaret said of Cayla.
“She’s friendly and smart,” Cayla said back.
Although Margaret will be too old for the program next year, the Ours have invited Cayla back to their home, along with her younger sister. The girls leave July 28, for a week in New York, and then depart Aug. 5, for China.
“I would encourage the program to other families,” Sharon said. “It’s not only an experience for the girls, but (also) they have taught us so much.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
WANT TO BECOME A HOST?
Educational First’s Homestay Program is in need of host families every summer. A group of Chinese students will return in July 2014, to Eastside Baptist Church.
Host families must be able to provide a bed, meals and transportation to the school.
Contact Program Leader Suzy Stone, (813) 763-5346 or suzy.stone.ef@gmail.com, or Site Director Kelli Chestnut, (863) 944-1235.
For more information, visit efhomestay.org.
EASTSIDE TRADITION
Eastside Baptist Church has a school that has received a group of Chinese students for the past two summers.
Last year, the church hosted students from ages 9 to 12. This year, the students are older — 13 to 17.
