Thanksgiving host families needed

MOSES LAKE — Some area families might have an extra face or two around their dinner table come Thanksgiving.

Big Bend Community College's Japanese Agricultural Training program seeks families to play host for its 29 trainees.

"If possible, we would like the trainees to have the experience of spending Thanksgiving Day with families," said Susan Blackwell, lead English teacher for the program.

The program typically sends the trainees in pairs, and is looking for 10 to 12 host families, Blackwell said. Some have already been scheduled.

In the early days of the program, now in its 41st year, trainees lived with host families and had dinner with them every night, but Blackwell said that hasn't been possible for many years now.

"We just get them out as often as we can," she said. "It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving Day. If there is a family who would like to meet some trainees on another day, that's fine. We just want them to have the experience of visiting American homes, and speaking English with Americans."

The ideal host family is not afraid to speak with foreign visitors who speak English, but not fluently, Blackwell said.

"The best experience is just conversation, finding out what kind of lives American families live," she said. "If the adults work, if the children go to school. If there are games they like to play, or hobbies they want to show them. They're interested in anything."

Trainees and host families alike enjoy the experience, Blackwell said.

"American people find it very interesting to talk to these young men," she said. "They're all very polite, gracious and well-educated. They're interested in meeting and talking to people. They always have a good time, whatever they do."

Families interested in hosting a trainee should contact the program at the college by Nov. 20 at 509-793-2297. The trainees were in Moses Lake for six weeks in the summer, and returned Nov. 1. They remain until Dec. 13.