Mary and Martin MacKenzie always wanted to have a large family. “Twenty would have been nice,” says Mary. They are more than halfway there, but their “daughters” are from all parts of the world.

The MacKenzies are home stay hosts for international students at Hillcrest High School in Hamilton. The idea was sown eight years ago when their only child, Rachel, now 23, was a teenager. “We wanted her to experience ‘sisterhood’,” says Mary. So they offered to host a student from China. Since then they have hosted students every year, up to three at a time. Currently, they have Ravipa, known as “Beam” from Thailand, Nancy from Taiwan and Shiori from Japan.

The girls are Year 12 and 13 students. They come for a year; sometimes longer. The first student Fiona, stayed on to train as a nurse and do post-graduate studies. She still lives in Hamilton and hopes to open her own restaurant.

Mary says when the girls first arrive they are often shy. Some have limited English. They encourage the girls to call them ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’ and the girls refer to each other as ‘sisters.’ “It takes them around six months before they start dreaming in English.”

They have hosted students from Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Taiwan and Switzerland, and support can continue after their stay ends. This year, Martin attended the college graduation in Tokyo of their first Japanese student. “Her mother told me the girl’s natural father had not bothered to attend.”

Organisation and planning is essential to ensure life runs smoothly. There are rosters for chores; meals – a fusion of cultures - are planned at the start of the week. Mary is a Health and Nutrition teacher at Hillcrest High School; Martin is the caretaker at Patricia Avenue School, for students with special needs.

Meal times can be noisy with a mass of giggling, grammar correction and shared stories. After dinner the girls like to play board games. Martin says they get along well. “And they bring youth and energy into our lives.”

The MacKenzies say it is hard to say goodbye at the end of each stay. Their house is filled with mementos from other countries. A plaque above the dining table says, “The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.” The last word comes from “Beam”: “It is very warm and happy in this home,” she says, with a smile that matches her nickname.

www.hillcrest-high.school.nz