Forte Team Melissa Erlenbusch Area Director SD, IA ,IL and OH

2024-2025 student orientation held today

21 short days until time runs out. 21 short days for FIEA exchange students be chosen by a host family. 48 students remain dreaming of a Welcome Family to step up and say yes for only 6 to 8 weeks.
Here are just a few of our remaining students:
*Alexander-Germany-16-loves Basketball, Chess and Soccer

*Kolja-Germany-15- loves Football, Soccer and Tennis

*Maurice-Germany-15-loves Dance, Fitness Training and Soccer

*Laia-Spain-15- loves Athletics, Cheerleading, Hiking, Reading, and
Volleyball

*Nattanon-Thailand-16- Badminton, Running, Tennis and
Volleyball

*Jule-Germany-16-Board Game, Cheerleading, Gym and Tennis

*Claudia-Spain-15-Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Swimming and Volleyball

*Elanora-Italy-17-Athletics, Basketball and Ski

Please contact me today:
Melissa Erlenbusch
FIEA Area Director
P: 605-460-1763
E: [email protected]

As we move into Father’s Day weekend, I just want to thank all the father’s who host!
It’s one thing to be the rock and support for your personal family and another to take in, support, love and provide for an additional child. Our Host Dad’s are incredibly special people. The “superhero’s” of our programming. I remember the first time I convinced my husband we should host. He was not 100% on board but willing to try. As it turned out, the next year he was the one begging me to host! Hosting is life changing. Not just for the student but the host family as well. Thank you, to all the Dad’s out there making a young persons dream come true, and supporting the opportunity of a lifetime!

We still have students waiting for some more super dads and moms to step and say yes. Please contact me today for more info.
Melissa Erlenbusch
605. 460. 1764
[email protected]

Why Host with Us?

1. Enrichment: Immerse yourself in a world of diversity and broaden your horizons without leaving your doorstep. Experience new languages, traditions, and perspectives right in your own home.

2. Global Friendship: Forge bonds that transcend borders and last a lifetime. From sharing meals to exploring local landmarks, every moment together builds bridges of understanding and friendship.

3. Personal Growth: Embrace the opportunity for personal growth and learning. As you welcome a student into your family, you'll discover new insights about yourself and the world around you.

4.Support Every Step of the Way: Rest assured, you're not alone on this journey. Our dedicated team provides ongoing support and assistance to ensure a smooth and rewarding experience for both you and your student.

What are you waiting for? Contact us Today!

Each year dreams come true because of people just like you. Each year more students have an experience of a lifetime because of people like you. Each year culture reaches across the world because of people like you. Each year a young American child broadens their scope of acceptance because of people like you.
People like you open doors that have been previously shut. People like you have the ability to put a smile on a teenager's face that stretches around the globe. People like you step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves by offering simply a bed, some food, and some transportation. People like you open their homes to a high school foreign exchange student and make a dream a reality. People like you are making the world a better place to live.
Currently we have a number of students still waiting to find out who their host family or welcome family might be. Why don’t you be the person just like you and make a dream come true?
Attached is a host family application. You can also access it online at www.forteexchange.org. Have questions; let me know and I would be happy to set up a zoom for us to talk. I host 2 each year so I can answer all your questions and put all your fears at ease.
Remember dreams come true because of people like you.
Melissa Erlenbusch
C: 605-460-1763
E: [email protected]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=816986149683777&id=1558856156&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Stop please don't scroll past.
17 year old Hyunji from South Korea is watching her dream slowly fade.
Can you be her welcome family? That's only a 6 to 8 week commitment.
Read her story below and contact me today.

Hello, I am very pleased to tell you myself. I'm turned 17 years old this year. I am Hyunji who is living in Korea. I will be in the 11th grade this March. I live with my mother, father, one younger sister and one younger brother. My father works for a construction company and likes golf. I think he always works enthusiastically for the family. My mother runs a hotel. She is warm and kind to us and gives a lot of love all the time. My sister is 15 years old at the junior high school I attended. My sister also wanted to join this exchange student program and we both decided to go for it together. My younger brother goes to the elementary school I went to and is 12 years old. My family likes camping very much. Every time we camp, I feel very freshed and we have good time and it keeps our relationshp more bonded. My family likes camping very much. Since we were very young, my family went camping very often and traveling many times. The most memorable camp was the one that I went to the beach, but it was fun to play in the water and do fireworks with my family in the evening. Every time we camp, I feel very freshed and we have good time and it keeps our relationshp more bonded. Also, we like to go for walks and light picnics. Also, my family enjoys playing badminton and golf. My father, me, and younger brother play badminton, but I have never beaten him, so I have been trying steadily lately. I wish I beaten my father some day. And my parents and my younger sister learned golf, but I could not learn yet, so I want to learn golf if I have a chance in the near future.

I like to watch sports like baseball and basketball at the stadium. Because the sports I see directly in the stadium make me more immersed in the competition. I often went to the baseball stadium with my friends and enjoyed the game, ate and food sold in the stadium, and cheered to the music. It was so much fun. I really like it. My hobbies are listening to music, drawing pictures, reading books, taking a walk, and watching movies on Netflix. Taking a walk while listening to music makes me feel comfortable and can organize complex thoughts. I've been learning guitar lately! There's a song I want to play on the guitar, so I'm working hard even though it is very hard to play. But, I am going to try it until I will be able to play the song I want. I like new things. So I try to create new hobbies every time.

I like math and art the best in school. The reason why I like math is that when I look at the perfect solution process, the formulas and symbols written there look beautiful. Also, since the correct answer is determined, it is good that errors do not occur frequently when standing. I like art because it is beautiful that I can express my thoughts with beautiful paint. Also, I have a lively but cautious and realistic personality, and I express them frankly. I like to meet people and talk with them and listen to them, too.

I have wished that I could live in the US and study there. I want to learn a lot about the English language in the US. Also, I want to try experience the diverse culture and study how different the educational method of the United States is different from our courtry and what is learned. I want to meet many various friends. It would be very valuable moment because there will never be a chance here.

The reason why I applied for this exchange student program is because I have a goal of improving my English, but I hope that I will experience new things and learn while adapting to the U.S. for a year and grow up to be a better person myself.

Time is fading fast. With only 3 months left to go, we still have 38 dreams still waiting to come true. The longer you wait the less time you have to communicate and bond with a student before they arrive.

All you have to do is provide up to three meals a day, a bed for the student (they can share a bedroom) and most important your love and support.

All of our students arrive with insurance and spending money for expenses.

Contact me today to start our easy and painless process to get approved.

* Salomé is a 16 year old from France. She will be in the 11th grade. She enjoys Swimming, Dance, Ski, Horseback Riding, Tennis, Watching TV movies, Cooking, theater, scouts and going shopping

* Ana is a 15 year old from Brazil. She will be in the 11th grade. She enjoys Chess, Football, Guitar, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Handball, Photography, Cooking
and Muay thai (boxing)

* Atilla is a 16 year old from Hungary. He will be in the 11th grade. He enjoys Baseball, Fitness Training, Football, Ski, Soccer, Watching TV movies, Martial Arts, Gym and Swimming

* Klaudia is a 16 year old from Poland. She will be in the 11th grade. She is a vegetarian. And enjoys Dance, Fitness Training, Ice Skating, Snowboarding, Cooking and Reading

Contact me today!
Melissa Erlenbusch
Area Director
FIEA
605 460 1763
[email protected]

Fall 2023 students are coming in! Why not host and get to know them BEFORE they are here for the 2023 school year!

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇧🇷
👦 Otavio will be a sophomore. He enjoys reading, soccer, volleyball, basketball and drama

🇪🇸 Spain 🇪🇸
👧 Laura will be a Junior. She likes dance, drawing, hiking and reading

👦 Alvaro will be a Senior. He likes martial arts, fitness training, football and baseball

👧 Carla will be a sophomore. She likes dance, gymnastics, swimming, reading and ice skating.

👦 Daniel will be a Senior. He likes baseball, basketball, fitness training, martial arts and video games

🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇪
👦 Marvin will be a junior. He likes basketball

All students come with spending money as well as insurance!

Contact me today for more info!

Melissa Erlenbusch
Forte International Exchange Association
605-460-1763
[email protected]