Why I Said Yes to Hosting: To a New Family Member – and to Nutella

In this Q&A, a Buffalo‑based host mom opens up about what it was like to welcome an exchange student during a season of change for her family. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) 

CIEE: Please introduce yourself. 

Kari Smistek: My name is Kari. I am a paramedic in Buffalo, New York. We’re hosting our third exchange student, and our first through CIEE. Her name is Ines, and we love her a lot. 

CIEE: Why did you decide to host a student? 

Smistek: We got asked by a friend and thought, ‘Why not? Let's do it!’ Our older daughter did a summer study abroad program with CIEE in 2024, and it was a really wonderful experience. So we decided to go for it again, and here we are. 

CIEE: What made you want to host after seeing that experience? 

Smistek: Travel has always been something that's important to us, getting our kids out into the world and seeing and meeting other new people. 

We love teenagers – we've always had kids in the home – and we live in a really fun spot in Buffalo that I think opened up a lot for exploration and meeting kind people. 

CIEE: That's wonderful. And so how long have you served as a CIEE BridgeUSA host parent? 

Smistek: Ines came to us in late August and she's been with us since then. 

CIEE: It seems like you have a very demanding profession. How do you manage your work/life balance? 

Smistek: We do our best. It's like any other family: You just add one more kid to the mix. It gets hectic sometimes, but it doesn’t really disrupt anything. We just fold them into our routine. 

CIEE: Sounds like you found a dynamic that works for you! 

Smistek: We do fun things on times that we do have off and do little day trips. We've been to New York City a few times because my older daughter lives there. And Ines has really loved doing that. 

CIEE: So before you made that decision to become a host parent with CIEE BridgeUSA, what concerns did you have about hosting and how were those concerns addressed? 

Smistek: In terms of concerns, the last two exchanges that we did were through a local Rotary program – and they are right here (in Buffalo). 

I was worried with CIEE that maybe that wouldn't happen because it is bigger, and I didn't know who was available here in the city of Buffalo. But we had a really great support system from CIEE, pretty much from the beginning. Anytime I reached out to anyone for any little questions here and there, they've always been quickly addressed with friendly and helpful answers. I've met a lot of people through CIEE recently that have been really amazing. 

CIEE: So before Ines arrived, how did CIEE prepare and support you in those moments? 

Smistek: Ines' placement was a bit more on the quick end. But CIEE handled pretty much everything. They set us up with all the paperwork, her physical, and things like that. It just seemed like she would when she showed up, she was ready to be here. 

CIEE: How has being a CIEE BridgeUSA host parent impacted your family and daily life in a positive way? 

Smistek: So it’s really just such a positive experience. 

My older daughter left for college in August and I was worried about my younger daughter being in this house as an only child. And Ines came right in and filled the role of another sibling. 

You really do get another family member, as cheesy as that sounds, but you really do. 

CIEE: Would you say there's been a favorite positive experience? 

Smistek: Honestly, I think it really is just the simple things. Ines has really funny stories and we love hearing about her life. 

She loves to share about her friends. She loves to share stories about what she does at home. And just our everyday dinners, where we get to reconnect at the end of the day. 

Life is busy, but at the end of the day, we come together to talk, laugh, and share stories. 

CIEE: There are all these small things you don't think about probably when you first want to host, but those are the things that really make an impact. 

Smistek: I think so, too. I think it seems overwhelming at the thought of hosting – and then when you just break it down, it really is just having another family member join your family. And then that kind of stress goes away. 

CIEE: I love that perspective. So in your experience, how do you think this could help participants like her grow academically or personally or culturally? 

Smistek: I think this is absolutely life-changing for them. 

In the beginning, there's maybe a month or two of settling in, getting used to routines and getting used to how the house works and how different families work. 

I mean, she came amazing, obviously, but she's growing, really putting herself out there, meeting new friends, and doing things that she didn't originally want to do. So it’s about the adaptability and learning to kind of roll with the punches. It’s changing a routine you're comfortable with and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. 

CIEE: Do you feel like you've seen growth in her in these months since August? 

Smistek: Oh, absolutely. I think she's opening up and taking on a lot more experiences than she thought she would. 

CIEE: Out of curiosity, do you think you also have become more of a yes person and opened yourself up more to in turn by seeing that change in her? 

Smistek: I've always been a yes person across the board, but if you ask my younger daughter, she would say I've become even more of one. 

I think it’s made us slow down a bit and enjoy things more. Even small things – like taking our time at the store or trying new foods – feel more intentional when you’re experiencing them with someone new.  

We even have Nutella in the house now, which is normally not what we would do. My daughter said, ‘Mom, you bought Nutella?!’ 

CIEE: You spoke about this a little bit earlier, just about Buffalo and your experience hosting in that community specifically. How do you feel having your student has helped you give back to your community more? 

Smistek: Buffalo is a place where people generally just give back to the community. Everyone's pretty wonderful and nice here. 

I actually did just recently become a local coordinator for CIEE. So that's super exciting. A lot of people don't know about these programs. A lot of people don't know what they encompass and what they involve. That's how we're giving back at this point. 

CIEE: What would you say – and this is a good one for you since you're a local coordinator now – but what would you say to a family considering becoming a CIEE BridgeUSA host parent, but are feeling unsure or hesitant? 

Smistek: I think it's a totally normal feeling to be a bit hesitant. 

I was worried about a change in dynamic in a negative way – maybe differing personalities to a point where we wouldn't get along. But I think CIEE does a really good job of finding kids who are interested in this and that want to do this experience. 

If you're anxious or nervous or hesitant about hosting, reach out to another family member who has done it. I would be happy to talk with anyone explaining our situation! 

These students do come with their own ideas and plans and their own money. They are teenagers who are very self-sufficient. And we're just here to kind of support and welcome them into your family. It's not as complicated as people think it is. 

CIEE: So to end here, how would you describe the experience of being a CIEE BridgeUSA host parent and welcoming a participant into your home? 

Smistek: Honestly, in one sentence, I would say that hosting an exchange student through CIEE is life-changing in the most positive ways, because you get to have a new family member and they are family for the rest of your lives. 

CIEE: That's perfect. 

Smistek: It's a lifetime relationship. It's beyond those months you host. I think that being able to visit them one day or they come back – it's such a special lifelong relationship. 

CIEE: I think that's perfectly said. 

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.