ASSE, International Student Exchange, has more than a 60 year history of promoting international understanding through youth exchange programs. ASSE is a public benefit organization founded by the Swedish Ministry of Education. It conducts student exchange programs with over 50 countries on all continents and is among the most prominent student exchange programs. Over the years, ASSE has provided thousands of young students with the opportunity to learn about other countries and their culture in the best way possible, through living it as a part of a family.
Elizabeth Milby is the new ASSE International Student Exchange Program Area Coordinator for the state of Maryland. She was promoted to this position in November 2016. Foreign exchange has molded Elizabeth’s life from the time she was quite young.
Elizabeth’s mother is from Denmark. Her mother met and fell in love with her father and eventually moved to America to begin a new life. Her mother also fell in love with the way the American people embraced her and were willing to share their culture. She passed this love on to her children. Elizabeth spent the summer of her junior year of high school in Denmark. After graduating she again returned for a 2 year agricultural program. It was here the international learning experience really sank in and left an impression. In her words, “It was eye-opening. I fell in love with the culture and it changing my life forever.”
In 1988 Elizabeth joined ASSE as an Area Representative. Over the years, she and her husband Mark have been a host family to students from Russia, Denmark and Germany. Elizabeth firmly believes that educating ourselves about other cultures is imperative for both student and host family. A host family impacts that exchange student for a lifetime. As Elizabeth says, “The seeds of greatness are planted.” The international students have worked hard to earn a place in the ASSE exchange program. This is quite literally a dream come true experience for them to be a part of an American high school and feel included as a part of an American host family. She and her team of Maryland representatives are reaching out looking for other like-minded, passionate people eager to learn more about foreign exchange (be it as a representative, a host family or perhaps a student in junior or senior high school looking to go abroad).
By becoming a host family you are opening a door to change a life, you are providing basic things, a place to sleep with a bed, meals that you and your family enjoy, an open heart but most of all allowing yourself the opportunity to explore another culture! The connection that is made through the host family and the student is something that you cannot describe in words. Elizabeth shares, “Our exchange students often talk about how they stay in contact with their host families from the United States and our host families are always talking about the life events that their past students are going through.”
Are you interested? Do you have that passion to help make a difference? Are you the host family ready to open your hearts and home and help make a foreign exchange students dream a reality? Time is of the essence! Elizabeth and her team are waiting to lend a hand.
You can reach Elizabeth at 410-935-6964 or her email address is elizabeth@asse.com. Website at www.asse.com