The programs are fortunate enough to have repeat host families for the students. Now that I've met Virtudes, I see what a gift this is! I believe Virtudes said that she's had approx. 20 students in the last 10 years (she takes 2 at a time most years). She is truly gifted in sharing the Spanish language and culture with those students! Virtudes says she knows about two words in English. I know about two words in Spanish. She spoke Spanish with our family. Margaret translated lots and my other two children (Henry, 19--IU Sophomore; Rose, 15--high school Sophomore) are pretty competent with Spanish so they were understanding and communicating with Virtudes easily. But, what started to happen is that I started to understand what Virtudes was saying--the way she spoke, used her hands in conversation. It was very easy to see how she would set students at ease and help build their skills as the weeks pass, all in Spanish. What a gift to the Leon IUHPFL program!!!!
It was magical for Margaret to return to Leon--she was on a cloud of happiness to see her old "haunts" and especially to be with her "Mama"!
Thank you for the experience the program provided my daughter in 2016! My daughter, Rose, will be applying this year for what I know will be a summer filled with the same gift of language and life! (And I am a 1986 alum of the Krefeld program myself!)
IU Honors impacts people way beyond just the students themselves!