Hello.
Thank you very much for you respond, your point of view and the encouragement to try it this way. I also think, and not only because I did it myself, when I was 20,that living in another country with another family for a while is a special experience one will never forget.

Hello. Your posting "caught my eye" because I have a good friend whose teen son has participated in foreign exchange programs, and he's spent time in Germany as well as Mexico. The family has also hosted other students in return, and they have found the experiences to be quite positive overall. Their son intends to be a linguistics/international business major in college, and so it's been an excellent way for him to learn more, even at a young age.

The reason I'm mentioning this is because I would encourage other families to consider your request...I don't live in California, but I hope that your daughter is able to have her dreams come true. You might also like to mention this in the High School Parents Group at community.greatschools.net/groups/11529