Local Coordinator Spotlight - Miranda Paul

Quest’s local coordinators are invaluable to us, as they play a crucial role in shaping our students’ experiences here in the U.S. They also happen to be a bunch of smart, caring, engaged people with a wide variety of interests and stories to tell. This new column will feature interviews with local coordinators from around the country. We’re kicking off our first interview with Miranda Paul from Wisconsin, who happens to be a host mom, too.

Quest: Why did you want to become a Quest local coordinator?

Miranda: Well, I was asked to be one -- both by the national Quest office and my local coordinator (I was hosting at the time). Neither of them knew that the other one mentioned the idea to me. But they seemed confident I was the right person for the job, and I said yes!

Quest: In addition to acting as a Quest coordinator, this is also your second year hosting a Quest student. Can you tell us about your family’s experience hosting?

Miranda: Actually, I'm glad that I became a host first and then a coordinator. Hosting is a challenging, but rewarding experience. Since my husband and I have young kids, it was a new experience to have a teenage boy in the house! And for our student, who doesn't have any siblings, it was a new experience for him as well!

Quest: What has been the most challenging part of working with international students?

Miranda: Communication. Not necessarily the language barrier (although that's often an issue), but the cultural adjustment of when to communicate, how to communicate, and what happens when there is lack of communication or miscommunication.  Even though I check in with my students every month (or more), a lot can happen in the course of a day or week if a student or parent doesn't check in.  Then things seem to "snowball."

Quest: What’s been most surprising?

Miranda: To have semester students like their stay so much they want to extend!

Quest: Most rewarding?

Miranda: When you see a host family and exchange student bond so well that you have an inkling that relationship will last long beyond the program!
 

Quest: What have you learned from your experiences working with international students, both as a host mom and local coordinator?

Miranda: How much there is to learn about other cultures, and how much is unknown (or misrepresented) about American culture!  I've also learned a lot of mediation skills, I think!

Quest: What advice would you give to new local coordinators?

Miranda: Communicate often, and make sure to do it in a variety of ways. Some students or host families prefer email, text messages, in-person or phone. Find out the way in which they are the most comfortable sharing information and speaking openly so that you can keep lines of communication open.

Quest: What do you do when you’re not “at” Quest?

Miranda: I'm a children's book author and an English teacher.

Interested in learning more about Miranda's children's books? Check out her website here.

Rebecca Troeger