Schools

Swampscott Couple To Host International Adventure at Home

Mark and Irina Gibb will open their home to two students from either China or Spain this summer.

The couple decided that inviting two exchange students into their Swampscott home this summer was a good fit.

Mark Gibb, a General Electric engineer, has enjoyed friendships with international students and international employees throughout his life.

“One of my best friends is from Lebanon,” said the Swampscott High School and UMass graduate.

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His wife, Irina Gibb, came to America from the Republic of Belarus in Eastern Europe.

She said the main reason for inviting students into their home is they need a place to stay.

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Plus, she remembers how helpful it was when she arrived to the United States and people showed her around. She did not know the language.

Today she works as a visiting nurse, and looks forward to helping the two students who will stay at their home.

The students will be girls, high school freshmen.

As of last week, the Gibbs had yet to learn who will be staying with them, but they expect to find out the students' identity soon.

The girls will come from Spain or China, and spend a week at the end of July attending immersion classes in the English language at Endicott College in Beverly.

The students will attend history and English classes in the morning then join sightseeing and educational tours in the afternoon.

The students will spend the weekend and week nights with their host families.

The Gibbs look forward to learning about their guests’ culture and families.

The couple have not as of yet forged an itinerary of places to take the students. But a visit to a pizza parlor will be on the list, they said.

They hope to make lasting friendships with their guests

The Gibb couple learned about the EF Homestay program, a nonprofit organization which promotes international student exchange, while reading a brochure.

Host families are needed for 120 students who will visit the North Shore this summer.

There will be as many as 5,000 students staying with families across the United States.

The program’s goal is to introduce the students to American culture and to promote cultural awareness.

Families receive a stipend for hosting students. 

Students visiting the North Shore will be staying here during two sessions: July 20 - Aug. 8,  and Aug. 10 - Aug. 17. 

For more information on this program or to find out how you can become a host family you can call: 1-800-521-0083  

You can also log on to the EF website at www.ef.com or www.efhomestay.org or email Lt.usa@ef.com 

 


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