BUNA, Texas — Five international students will be starting the new school year in Southeast Texas and organizers from the International Student Exchange (ISE) want to bring even more into the region.
150 international students are currently on ISE's waiting list for this upcoming school year, and the organization says that they want to bring up to 25 of the students to Southeast Texas but need more host families.
Alex Gutierrez Sorribas is one of the lucky students who got to make the trip this year, fresh off the plane from Spain he is eager to meet his classmates at Buna High School.
"I got to Texas two days ago, and I've already visited my new high school," said Alex. "They were playing this volleyball game, and everyone wanted to meet me and everyone was so nice."
This fall Alex is immersing himself in the American high school experience.
"I wanted to come to the US because I thought it would be a very cool experience. You know, being more independent, learning more about the culture," said Alex.
Jeremy and Amanda Page are serving as Alex's host family, and this is their third consecutive year hosting an exchange student.
"Last year we had two boys from Italy and Spain. We learned a lot about their culture and just getting to have fun as we taught them about American Culture," said Amanda Page.
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The Pages say that it is a fulfilling experience to host young students from abroad.
"We don't have children of our own, we've struggled with infertility. So this gives us a chance to be parents to teenagers and help them and fill our home with laughter and joy," said Amanda Page.
This year Alex is looking forward to playing basketball.
"As a dad your always wanna be that sports dad. So I get to be that sports dad and be proud of being at a sporting event with other parents," said Jeremy Page. "Now I can be like oh my kids on the court, he's on the football field you know? Not just there watching someone else's kid. I'm watching my kid."
Amanda White works with ISE, and she is still hoping to to place at least 25 more students in homes across Southeast Texas. She says the financial commitment is minimal.
"They come with insurance, they come with their own money. So we try to not burden our families as much as possible, but we do want them to feel like they're part of the family," said White.
Host families must pass a background check, provide a bed, and three meals a day for their students.
You can find more information on the program here or you can contact Amanda White at (409)-377-0068.