Host Profile of Bruce and Brenda: "I wanted to pay that hospitality forward"
Meet Brenda and Bruce, who have been hosting new FIUTS students for 30 years!
For this month's entry in the host profile series, here's an interview with Bruce and Brenda, who have been hosting FIUTS students for about three decades!
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, November 2013. Women from front: Ksusha Temkina, Lena Tempkina, Brenda Donner (host). Men from front: Vladik Tempkin, Alexander (Sasha) Tempkin, Bruce Brewer (host)
Host Name: Brenda Donner and Bruce Brewer
Location: West Seattle
How long have you hosted students through FIUTS? Probably 30 years.
What countries have you hosted students from? Germany, Czech Republic, Scotland, France, China, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Latvia (first FIUTS student from that country!), Iran, Romania, Estonia, Russia
What made you decide to become a host? Brenda here: I grew up in Ohio and attended college in Louisiana. Friends would bring me to their homes on weekends or short holidays. When I moved to Washington State, I cold-called the UW to explain that I wanted to pay that hospitality forward, and was put through to FIUTS!
What’s your favorite local place to bring your host students? For eating: Spuds on Alki, and Spiros Pizza in West Seattle. For the view: Admiral viewpoint in West Seattle, and from the marina in Magnolia.
What’s your favorite activity to do with your host students? Taking them on 'The Grand Tour', as Bruce describes it. Walking or driving along Alki; exploring downtown Seattle (including all the underground corridors, such as from the Rainier Tower to the Convention Center); through Seattle Center and Queen Anne to the Kerry Park viewpoint; Capital Hill's view from the Asian Art Museum; Magnolia.
Has a host student ever cooked a dish from their home country to share with you? If so, what did they make? Yes! Turkish coffee most recently; Russian borscht, Irish potatoes
What's your favorite part of U.S. culture to share with your host students? Baseball!
What’s the best thing you’ve learned from your hosting experience? The planet is a lot smaller, and differences more minor, when you take the time to really get to know one another.
Have you stayed in touch with any of your host students long-term? Oh, yes! We attended Nuala Sheehan's wedding in Ireland in probably 1997; and we vacationed with Alexander Tempkin (aka Sasha; we hosted him in 1990) and his family in Puerto Vallarta in November, 2013; we Skype with our Estonian students who now live in England; we visited Christina, one of our German students, who is now married with a 4 year old and teaches in Zurich, etc.....
Thank you, Brenda and Bruce, for being a part of FIUTS! We are so grateful for everything you have contributed to the homestay program over many years.
If you're a FIUTS host and would like to be profiled in this blog, click here. Interested in becoming a host? Learn more about our Homestay and Friendship Programs here.
Past entries in the Host Profile Series
Host Profile of Katie & Scott: "Hosting is super fun"
Host Profile of Amy & Erik: "It's great to help a new student get situated in Seattle"