Aveson Home Stay Program welcomes Chinese students.

February, 2013 January 28 - February 8th Aveson Global Leadership Acadmey hosted 45 students and staff from China. ESL4Asia partnered with our school to bring these students, middle and high school age, to our community. The tour has Chinese students touring Washington D.C, Boston, New York and San Francisco for over a month. According to ESL4Asia representatives, it is the two weeks the students spend in Pasadena that is repeatedly noted as their favorite. It could be the Norton Simon Museum, or Old Town, or even the Apple Store. We visited all those places, as well as the Pasadena Museum of History, Eaton Canyon and The Rose Bowl. But I think it is the home stay aspect of the program that sets our community apart.

Aveson families, ASL and AGLA, stepped up to participate in the home stay program. Chinese youth spent 13 days as members of the Aveson family.

If you have not had a chance to participate in such a program I really can't explain how rewarding it is. Before the students arrived, I found myself wondering if I would be a good host, if I could handle the responsibilities, or if the home stay would be a burden on my family. As the two weeks came to an end my wife and our two kids found ourselves in tears as we said goodbye to our new friends/honorary family members.

We cooked "American" meals for them, including spaghetti and meatballs and the infamous breakfast burrito. We dined at Claim Jumper and Johnny Rockets, even went to "Chinese" in Arcadia. We visited the Santa Anita mall, marveled at the beauty of the Huntington and the Arboreteum and ate deep fried ice cream at the Santa Monica Pier. We played board games, Wii, played laser tag and visited Best Buy three times. Technology is a favorite of teenagers worldwide.

Our young visitors played piano for us, shared stories of their family and schooling, and even read bed time stories to our children.

During the day, Chinese students went to school along side Aveson students. The first week was Celebration of Learning week. Perhaps you were wondering why so many Chinese youth were celebrating alongside your children. One stand out moment was an ASL student presenting a project on the Great Wall of China to four Chinese visitors.

They were also able to participate in finalizing projects for the COL, Fitness class with Mr.Eric, electives, such as Cal Arts Sculpture and Yearbook at AGLA, and were given a tour of ASL by Ms. Carey's 4th and 5th graders.

Aveson will continue to build on this partnership with ESL4Asia. Ideas for a true exchange of students are being discussed, as well as future home stay opportunities.