Lyle Family Broadens Horizons By Regularly Hosting Exchange Students
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George and Lisa Lyle are bringing a bit of the world to Martinsville.
The Lyles and their two daughters have hosted students from Japan‚ Romania and South Korea over the past few years‚ welcoming them into their home and community. And it’s been a positive experience for all concerned.
“It’s been great for our girls‚” says Lisa Lyle‚ director of admissions at Carlisle School in Martinsville. “The exchange students are excellent role models.”
Daughters Hanna‚ 12‚ and Sally‚ 8‚ stay in touch with their international “sisters” via e-mail‚ Lyle says.
Andrea Sirb‚ now 20‚ from Romania‚ was their first exchange student in 2004-05. Hikari Terashita‚ now 19‚ from Japan‚ shared their home for two years‚ and Yona Park‚ now 18‚ from South Korea‚ spent the 2006-07 school year with the Lyles.
“The teenagers we’ve had in our house have been excellent students and just generally good citizens‚” says George Lyle‚ county attorney for Henry County and chairman of the board of trustees of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. “From a community standpoint‚ it’s good to bring in students from other countries. These are really good kids and they’ve participated in sports at school‚ volunteered out in the community‚ and participated in theater productions.”
Others have followed the Lyles’ example‚ including several colleagues at Carlisle School‚ a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade college-preparatory school and an International Baccalaureate World School.
Lisa Lyle says one of the best parts of hosting the students has been “learning about other cultures and sharing our culture.”
“Even though everybody’s culture and customs are different‚ they’re really so much the same‚” she says. “We live in a global world‚ and we’re all so connected now.”
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Ian Curcio
