Congratulations Nacel Open Door Star, Kristen Thomas!
Nacel Open Door (NOD) is excited to introduce one of our amazing international student exchange host parents and NOD Star, Kristen Thomas of Pennsylvania! Kristen has hosted several times through NOD’s Short-Term Program, welcoming students from around the world into her family’s home. For three weeks this summer she opened her doors once again to Maria from Spain and Solene from France, adding another meaningful chapter to her family’s hosting journey.
“Hosting is simply wonderful, and it’s that easy,” Kristen said. “You gain an extended family you never knew you needed.” Her children look forward to it every year, and this summer they couldn’t wait to show the Maria and Solene what life in their hometown is like.
And once they arrived, the fun began immediately!
Each student took a turn cooking a favorite meal from home and served it not just to Kristen and her children, but also their host grandparents. One evening, they all celebrated “Christmas in July,” complete with decorations, holiday movies, and mugs of hot cocoa, giving the girls a full American-style holiday experience. They also explored the area, like their day trip into Philadelphia to see the LOVE Park, and they spent their evenings having fun together doing things like board games, having
popsicles on the porch, and face masks before bed.
Even with all the activities and adventures, what stands out most to
Kristen are the conversations. “During the day we get to see America and learn some of their language,” Kristen said. “But at night when the day is done and we are watching movies or TV I get to learn about what they do.” And those talks are some of Kristen’s favorite things to with her students.
Over the years, Kristen and her family have celebrated birthdays, holidays, and milestones with former students from across the ocean, and almost every student has returned for a visit, even if it’s just stopping by for a quick stay. “I never expected to continue relationships or keep in touch prior to my first student. Now, I can’t imagine life without them.”
Hosting, she explained, has become part of her family’s way of life. Her children have grown up with exchange students in their lives, and she believes they are more resilient, appreciative, and accepting because of it. “[Hosting] was simply the piece of our family puzzle we didn’t know we were missing,” she said.
For anyone considering hosting, Kristen’s advice is simple: don’t be scared. “It seems scary, having a stranger come into your home and have to ‘entertain’ for 3 weeks, but the truth is, it’s not like that at all,” she said. “America is so new to them, they enjoy the grocery store, the trip to the gas station…seeing the wonder in their eyes, every event we do is like Christmas morning to them and they appreciate it all.”
Thank you, Kristen, for being a NOD star and standout U.S. Ambassador! Nacel Open Door is grateful to Kristen and all our host families who welcome our students into their homes and make our international student exchanges work so well! To learn more about being a Host Family or Local Representative, visit www.nacelopendoor.org/get-involved.
