Like I don't have enough varieties to try already (sigh). Count me in! Paul

you could go to the local salvation army thrift store and find them and sofa or a few chairs for next to nothing. I know at our local store thats what alot of the colege kids do to firnish the apartments they rent. often there are things there that are old, ugly and out of style or ar too hard to match to anything that they sit in the store so long the store prices them "Make Offer" and they will take 5 or 10 bucks maybe less. I don't see mattresses at thrifts but at walmart in the camping section one can get an inflatable mattress in queen size with a powered pump for $35 you could buy them some or tell them where to find it for purchase. your sub-letters could get many of the things they need for house keeping at thrift store

The thing that concerns me about your post is that deciding to take on the responsibility for someone else's child, a child who probably speaks English as a second language, etc, really shouldn't be a spur of the moment decision. It should be something you've given a great deal of thought to, and probably some months of planning--to make sure you have the appropriate space, you know about the program that they're involved with, you have touched base with their teachers to make sure everything goes smoothely for them, possibly your family would be taking some 'crash' language classes to help communicate with them. I just don't see getting involved last minute as being the way to go for the best experience for either your family or the visiting child. Make sure you've got all your bases covered and are truly ready to take in a person from another culture, who may have VERY different customs than your family does. If it is too late for this school year, why not consider getting involved with one of the programs where students come for a month or so during the summer. Dsis just had a little 14 year old Spanish girl (from Castille) for a month this past summer. If you plan on doing this next summer, you'll have time to get things in order, plan for some activities and trips, maybe learn something about your student's country and language in the meantime. I will say this, though.. Dsis told me that she really lucked out. Her student was lovely and well-behaved. But she got the best of the bunch, that most of the other families had major probles with the kids they took in (one got the surprise of a several thousand $$$ phone bill! among other things)

Thanks for the update. We hosted an exchange student from Italy when I was in high school, I was a sophomore and she was a senior. Initially there was a bit of jealousy on my part- but when I got over that we became more like sisters. We did not do much together socially, but got along well at home. I also was an exchange student to Germany the year after I finished high school. Homesickness is a big part of it, but having a caring and involved family helped me to overcome it. Letters from home were an important link, there was only snail mail, no e-mail or texts for instant communication. I think in some ways that helped me to assimilate to their way of life. Congratulations for taking in the 2 girls, I would bet that the cultural understanding and friendships that you gain will be well worth any expenses of having them with you. Best of luck-and please keep updated!