Can you tell us what it is like to host and American student?

It is really a fantastic experience a really enriching experience for everybody in the family.  It is always easy and very enjoyable. 

Would you be willing to host a student with a physical disability or a learning disability?

I wouldn’t mind at all its just that I think the flats in Barcelona are not at all prepared to house somebody with a physical disability.  Starting with the stairs that would be thinking especially about the wheelchair people other than that I cannot think of any other inconveniences. 

Can you tell us a couple stories about your girls?

One of them is just visiting now she went down to the supermarket to get some groceries.  We are in contact, we talk to each other very regularly and we send presents to each other photos and keep up with each others lives.  And sometimes my girls, most of them, come back within a year basically and for a holiday and to stay with me in my other spare bedroom for friends.  They go to places that they didn’t manage to visit while here for the 3 or 4 months they were here.

Most of them get their parents to visit and we have a great time going outside of Barcelona to the mountains together and sometimes we even stay overnight.  I organize some sort of cottage somewhere we can have a closer look at the countryside and area.

Have you had students with special needs such as medications or food allergies?

I can’t think of that being a problem or anyone having a problem with that really.  Although Spanish people are not very used to cooking for vegans.  They are getting their heads around vegetarians but vegan is now kind of like collapses them or worries them too much. 

If someone came to you with a food allergy would you be willing to change the way you cook?

If for example somebody with a food allergy came to stay with us that wouldn’t be a problem at all to adjust our cooking to that or our food shopping for that. And thinking about medications again that wouldn’t be a problem either as long as it’s very clear where we have to buy new stuff.

And there are pharmacies around?

There are pharmacies everywhere and hospitals are everywhere as well where you can go at any time of the day or night.  In fact I’ve got two at five minute distance that is quite normal. 

How would you work with ISA for a student that had a psychological disorder?

First of all we would have to make sure that we would know who to call through ISA, have their numbers at home.  In fact I have had people with psychological disorders in my family and it doesn’t frighten me.  That would be quite easy.  In a crisis, previous to this student’s arrival, we had organized who to ask for help. 

The close relationship between the ISA directors and families and we are always in contact.  Often they phone once every other night to see if things are going well whether there are any comments to make or just to make sure that we all are very happy.  So that is essential but in a way taken for granted because it has always worked. 

Why should a student study abroad?

It is a fascinating experience for anybody from any country and its life changing to everybody.  I’ve seen both American and British students coming to Spain and for us and myself as well because I went to study English in England so I think its something essential for anybodies education.

What would you tell someone that was disabled to study abroad?

I would tell them to read about the other countries customs and ways about communicating to each other.  For example Spanish people are very direct and very loud and sometimes can come across as abrupt and even rude.  I would really encourage them to make sure they get used to that idea so they don’t get intimidated although I have never seen in any of my five or six students that I have had already have never really been intimidated not even on the first day.  The getting command of the language inst that essential because everybody is very keen on talking to people in the streets and they are always more than willing to help and actually walk you to the place and give you all the information and even more than you might have wanted to get from them.  We are not so keen on fast food or ready made food so they might find that we make to many stews for their liking and to many casseroles.