Week #30 - Through a stranger's eyes

This week our first of several visitors arrived on the farm. Susanna from Finland has come to stay for three weeks as part of a 4-H exchange program. She is here to learn about agriculture in Canada to supplement her studies at home. On Friday, we will welcome Yuki from Japan as well.

Having visitors from afar is not new for our family. It is a yearly tradition that has greatly enriched our lives and grown our network of friends around the world. As farmers, leaving the farm can be tricky so we bring the world to us! Hosting has given us so many wonderful experiences and knowledge that we otherwise would not have experienced.

While often one thinks about the benefits of travelling to a foreign country, one shouldn't ignore the gifts that come with hosting a traveler! 

• See our world through the eyes of a stranger - we often take our home, family life, or country for granted. The reactions of our visitors often illustrate and clarify just how rare, precious and/or appreciated what we have is in the eyes of others. 
• Become a tourist again - Hosting visitors from afar means we spend time re-discovering our province and country. Creating wonderful memories and learning experiences for both us and our visitors. 
• Learn a bit of a new language, culture or traditions first hand - The appreciation of a culture or country is deepened significantly when we get the chance to talk and explore directly from our visitors. 
• Create a global network - Our children have grown up knowing people from all over the world. Each exchange has created lasting relationships that endure well after the visit. I like to think that should we finally launch on our world tour that we have many friends around the world to visit on our way! 

These reasons and many more cause us to open our home and hearts to people from all over the world each year. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it.