Mohawk Valley Rotary Club welcomed back past exchange student Maximilian König. Maximilian traveled to the United States in June from Germany to visit with his host family Mindy Barstein. Maximilian lived with Mindy and her family while studying at Ilion High School five years ago.
He continues to stay in touch with Mohawk Valley Rotary Club and his host family as well as the many friends he made while living in the Mohawk Valley.
Maximilian recently spoke at a club meeting and said, “He will always visit his host family, keep in touch with them, and has the best memories of his time in the Mohawk Valley.”
Barstein also spoke during the meeting and said, “Max is a third son to me, and a best friend to my two sons and daughter, the experience of being a host family is immeasurable.”
The Mohawk Valley Rotary Club is looking for host families for a student for the 2017-2018 school year. Exchange students arrive in August and stay through the end of June. As a host family, you will be responsible for room and board for the student, supporting and guiding your exchange student through the cultural adjustment and overseeing schoolwork.
Generally, you will treat this exchange student just as you would your own child. Rotary differs from many international exchange programs in that our students generally live with two or three families during their exchange year. This gives the student a more well-rounded experience in a culture, having experienced family life from multiple perspectives. It is also less of a commitment for host families; the typical length of stay is about three to four months instead of a full year.
The Rotary exchange student will have a Rotary counselor from the Mohawk Valley Rotary club. The student’s Rotary counselor will work with you to ensure that the exchange student has a safe and enjoyable time in your home. For more information on becoming a host family please contact the Mohawk Valley Rotary Club Youth Exchange Officer at eenea@herkimercounty.org or 315-867-1552.