Why I Said Yes to Hosting: A 28-Time Host Dad Reflects on Time with Exchange Students

In this Q&A, an 81-year-old host father looks back on nearly four decades of welcoming international exchange students – and hosting his final participant. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) 

CIEE: Please introduce yourself. 

Dave Clark: My name is Dave Clark. I live in Wichita Falls, Texas. For years, I was director of community development for a few different cities. I retired from that. However, I still am working now part time as an executive director for the Housing Finance Corporation here. 

CIEE: How did you first get involved with CIEE, and how did you choose to work with CIEE? 

Clark: Well, there is a little more to the story. My very first exchange student was in 1985. And my wife and I were involved in exchange programs over the years. I will say that most of those were actually through the Rotary program.  

Sadly, my wife died nine years ago. And after that, my daughter said to me, ‘Why don't you host again?’ And I'm thinking, ‘Well, OK.’ And a friend of mine – Danny Croxson – was one of the local coordinators for CIEE. So Danny went through the process to get me approval to be a host again. And he had to seek out people that would understand that they'd be coming to live with a single individual.  

So that's how it got started. And then shortly thereafter came my first two boys from CIEE. 

CIEE: That’s great! And how long has it been since you came to CIEE as a host parent? 

Clark: I became a CIEE host parent in 2019. I ended up receiving two boys, one from Germany and one from Brazil. And there it began. 

CIEE: Have you always worked with two students at a time? 

Clark: Well, before, when my wife was with me, we would have one – moreso because it just was the way it was back then.  

So when I started with CIEE, I thought, ‘OK, for somebody to live with me, it would be better if there were two of them,’ so they could go upstairs and talk about what they didn't like about me. 

CIEE: (Laughs.) Oh, no! So before becoming a host parent, back in 1985, what concerns did you have about hosting? 

Clark: I do understand the commitment. And, actually, both of my kids have been exchange students. So I know about it from two sides. And I know what it takes to basically be their parent. You want to arrange things for them to do and to make them happy. And it's been great. 

CIEE: So when you went with CIEE back in 2019, did you connect with CIEE at all – maybe some issues had popped up with some of the students at any point? 

Clark: Along the way, there were a couple health issues – one of which was pretty scary. One of my boys ended up in the hospital overnight after having chest pains. And other things were just minor. So I was in communication with CIEE to check out some of the insurance circumstances. 

And then, when it came to travel arrangements, they needed to be approved, and I dealt with CIEE. 

But the other factor was that my local coordinator was a good friend, and he also hosted two boys. So the six of us did a lot of things together. We supported each other, so that was great. 

CIEE: How did becoming a host parent impact your life in a positive way? 

Clark: It impacts my life in a positive way because everyone has so much to learn from each other. I always thought it was fun to see the reactions of some of the people that had come from different countries to some of the things we do here. And I try to expose them to other things to just keep it more interesting. 

And of course, my family that is here became involved when my first two boys came. At the time, I had two granddaughters who were essentially their age – and the four of them got to be a lot of laughs together, which was great. 

CIEE: Do you have stories about some of their initial experiences? 

Clark: I was just smiling because of different cultures, different places. I remember when some of the boys came from Europe. When they come to my house, I sit them down and I say, ‘OK, you can say anything and this is your house. You can go in the refrigerator, you can do whatever, go wherever.’ 

You know, I've done other things with them, like going to the grocery store and telling them, ‘Go pick what you want’ – and they certainly do. 

And there are a lot of things that made me smile. One of my boys sang. He didn't realize it, but he sang all the time. I knew where he was in the house because he sang. And that made me laugh.  

CIEE: I love that. So as a host parent with CIEE, how do you see them grow – whether it's academically, personally, culturally – how do you see them grow over that time that they're with you? 

Clark: Well, happily, they've gotten involved in things. Many had expectations to be volunteers for things, and they did that. They took that seriously and learned a lot about America and what America does for people with that kind of experience. 

It was interesting what their thoughts were on school and how different things were. 

I tried to expose them to places where we are in Texas. Dallas/Fort Worth is not far away. Oklahoma City is not far away. I've taken them to San Antonio and to Austin. And, actually, with a couple of them, we went to California. So that was new for them – and they loved it. 

CIEE: Oh, I'm sure. So you might have just partially answered my next question. How has being a CIEE host parent allowed you and your students to give back to your community? 

Clark: Well, in my own background, my church is very active in helping people. We give away 200 jackets for people in the fall. And the boys were involved with helping distribute things, helping do things. It was giving them exposure to other people and realizing all the different circumstances that people live in. 

CIEE: My next question is about advice that you'd give: What would you say to a family if they're unsure or hesitant about the whole experience bringing someone into their home? 

Clark: Well, for me, having hosted 28 exchanges, I have been so lucky because I have never had a problem. And with all those people, they've been good people. It really has a lot to do with how a host family treats their exchange students. 

I think it's a wonderful experience, but you have to be serious. You know, it's got to be a good fit. 

CIEE: That's amazing that you've had with all those students so many good fits. 

Clark: All mine were great. I have one right now. I have a boy with me right now. 

CIEE: So I hear that the boy with you right now, this is your last student? 

Clark: Yes, it's my last. He's from Turkmenistan. And that's been really interesting because it's a very different culture. 

CIEE: So how are you feeling about this being your last student living with you? 

Clark: Well, I have loved it. I'm not young, and, you know, it's a little harder to do. I'm not as ambitious as I used to be, and I don't like driving as much as I used to like, and yet I want to give them the opportunities to see other cities and whatnot. 

CIEE: It must feel like the end of an era for you. 

Clark: It's funny, because I've been saying that every year for the last few years. All my friends and family laugh at me when they hear me say I'm not going to take any more. 

CIEE: I saw that picture of your wall with all the participants you've had. That's amazing. 

Clark: Yes, I have everybody's photo. And then, sometimes I get photos now and I put them together with their original photos. Since I've been in this so long, my second boy is a grandfather now. 

CIEE: Wow, that's crazy to think about! Do you keep in touch with a lot of these students? 

Clark: I keep in touch with most of them. And then the other wonderful thing is I have had the opportunity to go visit them at their homes, many of them. 

CIEE: Where have you gone? 

Clark: I've been to Japan and all over Europe. Last time I went to Europe, I had these big ambitions to see a lot of kids – and I just couldn't go everywhere. And I said to them, ‘I'm so sorry, I just can't get everywhere.’ So one flew from Berlin to Madrid to be with me, and another came from Belgium to Amsterdam. So that was really neat. 

CIEE: That must mean a lot to you that they're willing to do that and that they want to see you. 

Clark: Many of them have come back here, and that's been wonderful, too. One of them even came back and was an usher at my daughter's wedding. He came back from Sweden. 

CIEE: That's amazing how much they're part of your life. I love that. How would you describe the experience of being a host parent and welcoming a participant in your home – in one sentence, if you can? 

Clark: One sentence. ... It's been a wonderful experience. I've never had regrets. My kids have been great. They're intelligent kids. They've all done well. And I still enjoy talking to them as often as I can. And I want to know what's going on with them. It's been, quite honestly, one of the best things I've done in life. 

CIEE: That's really emotional to think about. 

Clark: It's been one of the best things I've done in my life. And I'm so glad my daughter said, ‘Why don't you host again?’ 

CIEE: So are your kids hosting at all, then? 

Clark: No, well, I guess I probably need to tell you, I'm 81 years old.  

CIEE: (Mouth drops.) 

Clark: So, that's partially why I'm not going to do it anymore. But my kids are not young, either. And my granddaughters are in their 20s, so we're not really in so much of a position to host. I'm the one that keeps hosting. 

CIEE: So in the last few weeks of hosting a student, what will you be doing? 

Clark: There's some things coming up. We'll be going to a baseball game in Dallas. My boy really has a thing about cars and there's an antique car museum in Fort Worth. I promised him we would go see that.  

CIEE: What is it like when your participants leave? What will it feel like after your current student leaves? 

Clark: It's so quiet. My house is a two-story house, and the family room is under the bedroom where the boys have stayed. And I've become very conscious of not hearing the footsteps above me. I really noticed that. It gets very quiet. 

CIEE: Is there anything else you'd like to add about your exchange experience over all these years? 

Clark: To have done it so many times and repeated, obviously, supports the idea that it was certainly worth doing. And I don't have regrets about a single person. They were wonderful people. They were fun. They made me laugh. Some of them cooked. Some of them were into sports. It's been an adventure. And for me, it's been one of the best things I've ever done. 

Just one exchange student could change your world. Learn how to become a host family – and start your own exchange student experience – with the CIEE BridgeUSA team.