Shannon Portales of Blue Ball has been hosting exchange students through SHARE! High School Exchange Program/Educational Resource Development Trust (ERDT) for several years, and she appreciates the relationships she has developed with high school students from other countries. "I keep in touch with all the students we have hosted," said Portales, SHARE! exchange program coordinator.

Tim Duellberg from Germany was the 10th student to stay in the Portaleses' home. He arrived in August of 2022 and only left for home in late June of 2023. Javier Heredia de Leon from Spain is due to arrive in her home in August.

Portales pointed out that SHARE! has enjoyed support from the ELANCO School District (ESD). "We had eight (students in ESD) last year," said Portales, who noted she can take three more students in ESD for the 2023-24 school year. "Garden Spot High School (GSHS) really appreciates the value (of SHARE!)," she noted, adding that at the 2023 GSHS graduation ceremony, principal Matt Sanger said that he feels student exchange programs are beneficial to the student body and the community.

According to Portales, hosting is not difficult. "Host families are asked to provide basic room and board in a welcoming home where the student can be comfortable," she said. "Students come with their own medical insurance and funds to cover personal expenses or extracurricular things." Portales noted that a private room for the student is not a requirement. "They don't have to have their own bedroom," she noted, adding that some of her family's best experiences occurred when her oldest son shared a room with another student. Portales added that host families run the gamut from those who have small children to those who have no children living at home.

SHARE! regional administrator Brenda Hornberger and her husband, Gary, have been hosting for more than 30 years. "This year, they hosted the daughter of a girl they had hosted (years ago)," said Portales. "They have maintained a relationship with her mother."

While host families are welcome to organize activities with their exchange student, the regional office in Bowmansville offers several trips and other experiences. "We try to do one activity per month," reported Portales, who noted that activities are optional for students. "We go to New York (City) around Christmas, Philadelphia in the fall, and (Washington), D.C. in the spring. This year, we did a second trip to New York City in the spring to bike through Central Park." Portales said that a fall harvest experience, which she often hosts, includes carving pumpkins and creating and trying traditional autumn treats such as making candy apples. "When they arrive in August, the first activity might be kayaking at French Creek," she said.

Earlier this year, Portales visited Spain and Paris and spent time with the exchange students she knew from the program. "The hospitality was incredible. It was amazing," she recalled, adding, "(Hosting a student) is for anybody who has a sense of adventure and willingness to share their lives."

Readers who would like more information may visit http://www.sharenortheast.org.