July 21, 2025
•
)
Karen and Frank (centre-right) surrounded by former exchange students
History of cultural exchange
President John F. Kennedy passed the Fulbright-Hays Act in 1961, an act designed to promote cultural exchange and foster understanding and diplomacy between the U.S. and other countries. In 1979, EF High School Exchange Year established one of the first international exchange programs in the country.
“We have five of our own children – three boys, two girls – eight grandchildren, 27 exchange children, and 16 exchange grandchildren.”
Karen Pessolano and her husband Frank were sitting in their home in a quiet corner of Pennsylvania as we spoke over video call, framed by a wall of family photographs. Some were of their own children, but many feature the students who have passed through their living room on EF exchange years.
After becoming a host family for EF High School Exchange Year in 1997, Karen and Frank have rewritten the definition of “family”, welcoming almost 30 teenagers from Europe into their home.
Since then, they have stayed in contact with almost every one of them, and even had over a dozen return for their daughter’s wedding. One family, one home, and a ripple of impact covering the globe.
And it started with one fortunate conversation.
Across EF, hosts allow our travelers to experience another country and culture in a deep, authentic way.
At EF High School Exchange Year, thousands of families welcome students from across the world to the U.S. As they experience an American high school year, students make friends for life, join sports teams, and even go to prom.
But it isn’t just the students who experience transformative moments. Host families – including their own children – are impacted by a myriad of cultures that pass through their homes as students live with them for often an entire year.
In 1997, Italian student Alessandra was at the start of that life-changing high school exchange journey but, in Karen's words, "she wasn't quite clicking" with her first host family, who were friends of the Pessolanos.
)
Karen (center) and Frank (far right) with students on one of their European visits. Alessandra (far left) was their first exchange student.
EF works hard to ensure students are matched with the right host family, but – as in life – it doesn't always work the first time. “Alessandra wasn’t totally settling in there", Karen said. “We met up with them one day and Frank – who studied in Italy for 13 years – walked up to Alessandra and started talking to her. It was then we learned about becoming a host family with EF and Alessandra became our first host student.”
Frank remembers that conversation well, reflecting:
“When I went to study in Italy, I was 17, just like the kids we host. I felt it was a way to pay back the opportunity I had to someone seeking a similar experience. Alessandra and I could relate well."
From then on, it became less about simply hosting students to facilitate their exchange year, and more about making them feel part of the family. And for some students their time with the Pessolanos came at the right time in their lives.
In 2011, Einar Bardal was shot during a terrorist attack in Oslo, where 77 people died and over 300 were injured. While he recovered, Einar never gave up on his plans to go on an EF exchange year to the U.S.
It turned out to be exactly what he needed to feel like himself again. Frank and Karen welcomed Einar into their home and treated him like one of their own children.
Top: Einar (front, left) with the Pessolanos during his exchange year.
Bottom left: Einar with Karen on one of their recent reunions.
Bottom right: Frank and Karen's daughter surrounded by friends, including many former exchange students.
"I don’t think it can be overstated how incredibly welcoming they are”, Einar said, reflecting on his experience. “From day one I felt like any other kid again – even helping out with chores like the other kids. For a year I’d had people worrying about me, but with Frank and Karen I felt like a regular 17-year-old again.”
Einar has since become like a son to Karen and Frank, even turning up on their doorstep unannounced as a Christmas present for Karen one year, and visiting them almost annually since his stay.
“They still feel like my family. They are some of the best people I know. They had a huge impact on me, and still do. I am so grateful to them and what they do.”
At the heart of every EF High School Exchange experience is the opportunity to build understanding between cultures, and hosts are a crucial part of that.
Vici Schardt, from Germany, was an exchange student with Frank and Karen almost 20 years ago. For her, the big moments like prom or Thanksgiving were special, but it was the smaller moments that made her exchange year with Frank and Karen so memorable. Playing games in the basement with their children, getting ice cream late at night, helping each other with homework – memories that resonate to this day.
In particular, Vici found living so closely with her hosts taught her empathy and tolerance, enjoying the exchange of beliefs and ideas.
“Being so welcomed into a family is super amazing”, Vici said, her voice catching with emotion. “Usually, you only know your own family but living with another family who treats you like their own, who helps you understand different points of view, is powerful. It helps me today with raising my own kids.”
)
)
)
)
)
A lasting memory: Frank and Karen's former exchange students compiled a photo album to celebrate the impact they had on their lives.
Vici – alongside many other of the exchange students hosted by Frank and Karen – are in one shared WhatsApp group, and she has even met many of them at dinners the couple organize when they visit Europe.
“It’s amazing to be connected to all these people”, Vici said. “Frank and Karen make everyone feel so special, and to be joined in that way with all these other people is very meaningful. Even though I never met some of those other students when I was on exchange, you still feel part of a big family.”
Frank and Karen are just one example of how host families can have a life-changing impact on the people they host. They have provided the space for dozens of students to discover a new culture, as well as learn more about themselves. For them, knowing they’ve opened the minds of so many students has kept their door open all these years.
Frank said it best when reflecting on the past 30 years:
“Our door is always open, our students are always welcome, because this is also their home. We’ve connected with so many kids and their families – who now also welcome us to their home. That, for me, is the true meaning of cultural exchange.”
27
students hosted by Frank and Karen
1997
Frank and Karen started hosting
More impact stories