MONROE - AFS international exchange students Krittpoom (Kashan) Damrongsit from Thailand and Karoline Kvilekval and Helle Hoygilt from Norway completed their year in Monroe and left on June 27 to return to their home country.
Kvilekval and Hoygilt arrived in Monroe in June of 2015, and Damrongsit arrived at the end of September. Curt and Kathryn Zastrow hosted Kvilekval, Jamie Larson and Stephani Hardy hosted Hoygilt, and the Larry and Mary Kloepping family hosted Damrongsit.
While in Monroe, the exchange students enjoyed many activities at school, with friends and with their families. In the fall, Hoygilt was on the volleyball team and Kvilekval was on the tennis team. In the spring, the girls played soccer.
Damrongsit joined the Monroe High School cheerleading squad for the basketball season and the baseball team in the spring. Although he had never played baseball, this was a personal goal and he enjoyed his time with his teammates. He batted once and, although he struck out, one of his teammates was able to steal a base. In addition to sports, Damrongsit participated in forensics and choir.
All three of the AFS exchange students, along with Ann-Marie Toschka from Germany, were in a first-semester foods class together. They attended homecoming and prom and gave presentations to area organizations. Kvilekval and Hoygilt shared their experience with the Monroe Sons of Norway. Both girls learned to cook lefse, a traditional Norwegian food, for the first time. The students traveled to different parts of the United States when they chose to take optional trips that are sanctioned by AFS. Hoygilt's Norwegian family surprised her by visiting Monroe during Easter vacation.
Local volunteers have sponsored AFS Intercultural Programs in Monroe since 1963. During this time, Monroe families have hosted 142 exchange students from 48 countries. Forty-eight Monroe students have traveled to 29 countries with the AFS Study Abroad program as well.
Monroe AFS volunteer Lisa Hendrickson is looking for families to host students coming to this area in August for the 2016-17 school year. There are many types of host families, from families with single parents, teenagers, young children or no children. AFS exchange students come with their own spending money, full health insurance, liaison support and cultural orientations throughout the year. Host families have the opportunity to choose a student who would be a good match for them. Time frames for hosting a student include a 10-month stay from August through June, a second semester stay or a six- to 12-week commitment at the beginning of the school year.
An AFS host family provides their student with: the opportunity to participate in the family's daily lives and events; the same care, support and comfort they would give another member of the family; a bed, not convertible or inflatable in nature - sharing a room with a sibling of the same gender close in age is fine; and three quality meals a day, including lunches and meals eaten as a family in restaurants.
Because the students arrive in August, there is a mid-July deadline to complete the hosting application process. Contact Lisa Hendrickson at lisahen3@gmail.com or at 608-558-0091 or go to http://www.afsusa.org for information and to start the hosting application process.
Kvilekval and Hoygilt arrived in Monroe in June of 2015, and Damrongsit arrived at the end of September. Curt and Kathryn Zastrow hosted Kvilekval, Jamie Larson and Stephani Hardy hosted Hoygilt, and the Larry and Mary Kloepping family hosted Damrongsit.
While in Monroe, the exchange students enjoyed many activities at school, with friends and with their families. In the fall, Hoygilt was on the volleyball team and Kvilekval was on the tennis team. In the spring, the girls played soccer.
Damrongsit joined the Monroe High School cheerleading squad for the basketball season and the baseball team in the spring. Although he had never played baseball, this was a personal goal and he enjoyed his time with his teammates. He batted once and, although he struck out, one of his teammates was able to steal a base. In addition to sports, Damrongsit participated in forensics and choir.
All three of the AFS exchange students, along with Ann-Marie Toschka from Germany, were in a first-semester foods class together. They attended homecoming and prom and gave presentations to area organizations. Kvilekval and Hoygilt shared their experience with the Monroe Sons of Norway. Both girls learned to cook lefse, a traditional Norwegian food, for the first time. The students traveled to different parts of the United States when they chose to take optional trips that are sanctioned by AFS. Hoygilt's Norwegian family surprised her by visiting Monroe during Easter vacation.
Local volunteers have sponsored AFS Intercultural Programs in Monroe since 1963. During this time, Monroe families have hosted 142 exchange students from 48 countries. Forty-eight Monroe students have traveled to 29 countries with the AFS Study Abroad program as well.
Monroe AFS volunteer Lisa Hendrickson is looking for families to host students coming to this area in August for the 2016-17 school year. There are many types of host families, from families with single parents, teenagers, young children or no children. AFS exchange students come with their own spending money, full health insurance, liaison support and cultural orientations throughout the year. Host families have the opportunity to choose a student who would be a good match for them. Time frames for hosting a student include a 10-month stay from August through June, a second semester stay or a six- to 12-week commitment at the beginning of the school year.
An AFS host family provides their student with: the opportunity to participate in the family's daily lives and events; the same care, support and comfort they would give another member of the family; a bed, not convertible or inflatable in nature - sharing a room with a sibling of the same gender close in age is fine; and three quality meals a day, including lunches and meals eaten as a family in restaurants.
Because the students arrive in August, there is a mid-July deadline to complete the hosting application process. Contact Lisa Hendrickson at lisahen3@gmail.com or at 608-558-0091 or go to http://www.afsusa.org for information and to start the hosting application process.
