EVANSDALE - Carlos Aguero Rossi could read and write English when he started at East High School 31 years ago as an exchange student from Venezuela.

But he did not speak a word of the language.

"When he first came, he couldn't even say 'hello' to the teacher," said June Frahm, whose family hosted Rossi during the second part of his senior year.

It took three months before Rossi was conversant in English, for which he largely credits his teacher and peers in Spanish class. Rossi remembers "a lot of translation" rather than conversation in the class.

Learning to speak English changed his life.

"When I went back, I went (to college) to be a high school teacher with a major in English," said Rossi, who has been visiting his American "parents" Alfred and June Frahm for the past month along with his cousin, Elbano Rossi. During that time, Carlos Rossi also connected with East High friends, particularly at his 30-year class reunion in Waterloo.

"I will always divide my life (between) before coming to the States and after coming to the States," said Rossi, who has visited the Frahm family three other times in the years since he was a student at East during the 1976-77 school year.

The 49-year-old credits his experiences with the Frahms and as a student at East for the direction his life has taken. Rossi earned a doctorate and is now an education professor at the Pedagogical University of Venezuela in Barquisimeto. He has spoken on topics like creativity and innovation in education at conferences around the world.

The Frahms, who are both in their 80s, hosted foreign exchange students for a decade in the same Evansdale home where they still live. The couple got started after their youngest daughter, Paula, spent five months living in Germany with relatives (although not through an exchange program, because she didn't speak the language).

"I had one from Sweden once (who) was a lemon," said June Frahm. "I've had nothing but South Americans since and wouldn't have anything but South Americans."

She and her husband have taken four trips over the years to visit those former students in their own countries, attending important ceremonies like graduations and weddings.

"It's been an experience that I would recommend to anyone if they go their half of the way," she said. "You get out of your experience what you put into it."

Mary Lou Ungs of Readlyn called hosting an exchange student "a wonderful experience." She places exchange students with area families for the organization Educational Resource Development Trust/Share.

Hosts have to fill out detailed application forms and go through a background check as the organization works to ensure the hosts meet their qualifications and find a good fit. Ungs said they can be single or married people, with or without children of their own at home. Students are fully insured and bring their own spending money, although hosts will see other increased costs of adding a person to their family.

"It's basically someone who has the space and can feed them for a year," said Ungs. "If you would take your family out for dinner, they're part of your family.

"That's the important thing: You have to be willing to make them a part of your family," she said.

The students' English skills can vary greatly, but the organization rates their abilities in advance for the family. Ungs is in contact with each student and family at least once a month to make sure everyone is getting along.

Students sign a contract and are expected to follow rules set out in it along with regarding their hosts as parents. At school, they are required to take history or government classes in order to learn about the U.S.

"In our program, you have to maintain at least a C average," said Ungs. However, students usually receive a certificate of attendance rather than high school credit. "As an organization, we don't really promise them a diploma because that's not what it's really about."

When Rossi came as an exchange student, he was able to count his credits and graduate from East. He had the chance to become an exchange student after winning a contest on American history, geography and the English language. While Rossi didn't choose where to live, he wanted a change from the tropical weather of Venezuela.

"I wanted to go to a place where they have four seasons," he told contest organizers, "and they told me that place was Iowa."

"He's been a very good representative from his country and for his country," said June Frahm.

As a teenager, Rossi dreamed of working as an ambassador for Venezuela.

"So, in a way that is what I ended up," he said.

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.

{M3GET INVOLVED

{M3Following are two organizations to contact for more information about hosting a foreign student through an exchange program.

- Educational Resource Development Trust/Share! at (800) 321-3738 or www.erdtshare.org.

- Youth for Understanding at (800) 833-6243 or www.yfu-usa.org.