Virginia 4-H international exchange brings global learning home
When Katsuki Miyai arrived in Virginia last summer, he brought more than a suitcase — he brought recipes, culture, curiosity, and a willingness to experience something completely new.
For three weeks, he and 24 other Japanese students lived with Virginia families through the 4-H International Inbound Exchange Program, learning, laughing, and forming lasting bonds.
“Learn by doing” is a core philosophy of 4‑H, and families across the commonwealth embraced that idea by opening their homes — whether on farms full of animals or in busy urban neighborhoods — to international students.
In Hampton, Jara Clark and her two sons welcomed 14-year-old Miyai from Kagawa Prefecture, Japan’s smallest prefecture located on the northeast coast of Shikoku Island and discovered how meaningful hosting could be.
Commonalities create connection
Like many host families, Clark and her sons wondered how smoothly the transition would go. They soon discovered that shared interests — like visiting the zoo and getting ice cream — helped everyone settle in naturally.
“Katsuki loved to swim, so we made a point of going to the pool several times a week,” Clark said. “The easiest way to get comfortable is to do something everyone enjoys. You don’t even have to talk; you can just swim.”
Food also became a bridge between cultures. On the first night, they went out for udon noodles, one of Miyai’s favorites. Later, they cooked together with a family friend, learning Miyai’s techniques for making dumplings.
“He even brought his apron,” Clark said. “He’s a phenomenal young chef.”
Miyai brought the family a rolling pin and a scroll with his school’s noodle recipe. Clark and her sons were delighted to learn that the recipe required actually stepping on the dough to knead it.
Miyai described the whole experience as “fun,” and eye-opening in unexpected ways.
“Even familiar things felt new when I saw them with different people in a different place,” he said. “New people and new places opened up a whole new world.”
Despite initial concerns, Miyai said that the language barrier was easier to navigate than he expected.
“Even if you can’t speak English well, trying to communicate with enthusiasm will get you through,” he said. “You can use gestures and body language. I encourage everyone to give it a shot.”
Family growth
Clarks’ oldest son, Eli, joined 4-H in 2025, after exploring agriscience at the 4‑H Take‑Off! hosted by Virginia State University through Virginia Cooperative Extension. That led to junior camp, new friendships, and ultimately the chance for his family to host an exchange student.
Hosting Miyai reshaped the Clark household in unexpected ways.
“Eli became the middle child, and Katsuki was now my oldest,” Clark said. “That allowed my youngest, Nas, to step up and shine.”
Eager to connect across languages, Nas coded a small program that matched Japanese and English words.
For Clark, moments like that echoed her own childhood. When she was growing up in Ohio, her family hosted a 4-H exchange student from El Salvador.
“That experience inspired me to learn Spanish, and it has stayed with me ever since,” she said. “This kind of experience broadens communication skills, boosts intelligence, and extends your life. And as a parent, it gives me peace knowing my sons now have a family connection across the world.”
She said families don’t need a perfect setup or special experience to host an exchange student — just openness, curiosity, and a willingness to welcome someone new.
“I’m a single mother and was able to support three kids with help from my community,” she said. “There are so many free youth programs — my role was really just to make sure everyone was safe while I watched my kids grow from the experience.”
Connections and reflections
At a closing event for the program, held in August, host families and exchange students shared stories of concerts, tours, community outings, and visits with extended family — all examples of what 4‑H has always believed: learning by doing builds skills, confidence, and connections that last a lifetime.
When asked if her family would host an exchange student again, Clark didn’t hesitate.
“I’d absolutely do it again, especially if it was Katsuki,” she said. “Yes, it was stressful, but the joy outweighed it.”
Virginia 4-H is currently looking for host families for summer 2026. To learn more visit states4hexchange.org/. To support Virginia 4-H youth programming for Virginia Tech's annual Giving Day, which kicks off Feb. 18, 2026 at noon, make your gift at Virginia 4-H.
