Make Real Friendships with Local Americans

Ilaria struggled for several months before she was referred to IFI. Soon after hearing about it, she was invited to the home of Xia, a staff member of IFI. Ilaria remembers walking into the house and noticing a map hung on the wall. Xia explained that the countries were marked for every student that had visited her home. Italy had not yet been scratched off. When Xia asked Ilaria to do the honors, Ilaria said it was the first time she felt safe. “I felt like I could trust these people and ask them for whatever I needed.”

Upon arrival, Daniel was picked up from the airport and dropped off at the home of IFI volunteers who hosted him while he settled in. During his stay, they treated him like their own son. They ate together. They took him back and forth to the campus. They gathered enough furniture for his entire apartment and helped move it to the unfurnished space. Later they even stopped by to deliver pots and pans! Their care for him led Daniel to exclaim, “This is the definition of a miracle!”

Thank you for giving us the chance to enjoy the holiday with an American family. Jay picked us up and took us to his house. We had some delicious food and had a chat with each other. We will participate in this event again. We felt very good because we celebrated the holiday with a family who gave us a lot of love. It was really a great experience. Thank you!