When you make the decision to take in an exchange student, you’re giving them a unique experience they’ll never forget. Exchange students are literally children and should be treated as well as your own. They should be integrated into every aspect of a family’s life. So, when a Georgia exchange host decided to go on a trip up the East Coast without their exchange student, the internet responded appropriately. They aren’t too fond of this woman’s decision to leave the student out of family life, or her reasons for doing it.
The Solis Fam (@solisfamilyhosts) posted a TikTok video explaining their upcoming trip to Boston. They decided, for the extent of the trip, they are not taking their exchange student along. Why? Well, they want a familial experience with their children, but not with the exchange student, Anesa. The mom of the Solis family explains that their daughter is taking a trip to Massachusetts for a taekwondo competition because she worked really hard for it. At first, they figured they would take Anesa along. Their reasoning was because she never saw Boston and “I always like to let our exchange students see as much as I possibly can.” But, they decided in the end that this was a thing they would do as a family – and Anesa wasn’t included in that.
The mom of the Solis family goes on to say, “I don’t want to ever put my kids or exchange students in a position where they feel like things are taken away from them.” She also explains she wants to “be there by myself to support her.” Apparently, Anesa being an exchange student means that she isn’t considered ‘part of the family.’ That really goes against the codes we use to dictate what exchange students get to do with their exchange families.
It kind of sounds a little like the Solis Fam believes Anesa is a burden to them in this situation. She clearly states about her own daughter, “I want her to be the main focus. I don’t want there to be any attention taken away from her. And I think that’s such a big part of hosting an exchange student that people don’t talk about… When you have kids, you have to make sure that you’re still giving them your undivided attention as well.” Then why host an exchange student? This was a commitment they made. Now they aren’t following through on what could be an important life experience for the student, Anesa. Afraid that her daughter will feel like she isn’t the “center of attention,” they apparently already made their decision.
However, TikTokers don’t agree with their decision on this one. One commenter stated, “Yikes. And Boston is a quintessential US history city for the exchange student. I hope this student can get into a new home that actually understands the program.” Another person said, “There’s nothing worse than being thousands of kilometers away from your family and having to stay with a family that doesn’t treat you like you are one of them.” I’m sure Anesa will feel very hurt by their decision. Anesa doesn’t need to be treated like somebody who is just ‘in the way’ when it comes to this family. Hopefully, they see that and have a change of heart.
