Connection with MAST
Host
Program participant from the US to another country
First year involved with the program
1963
Number of years involved
62
State
Minnesota
Country
USA - United States of America
My parents, Edith and Russell Church, started with the MAST program in 1963 on the recommendation of friends who were also hosts. I feel very fortunate to have grown up with people from other countries living with us as part of our family. What an amazing education! It also gave us lots of people to visit. I took my first trip to Europe in 1976 with the daughter of the friends who got my parents started with MAST and in two and a half months of traveling we only had to stay in hotels 2 nights. In 1979, I had the privilege of being the first MAST student from Minnesota to go to Australia. I loved it there and only left when they wouldn't give me any more visa extensions. Fortunately, we have been able to go back for numerous visits and also have two MAST students there that we get to see.
On my way back from Australia, I stopped to visit MAST students in Denmark and one of them was good enough to get me jobs on two neighboring farms. I had always wanted to experience a Danish Christmas and that was one of the many highlights of my stay.
In 1976 I also met my future husband when he came to visit our MAST student. Ian Webster was a MAST student on a farm 15 miles from ours. After meeting up in other countries every two years, we decided we'd like to spend more time together and got married in 1982. After living on Ian's farm in England for 5 years, he very generously consented to move back to Minnesota and take over the management of our dairy herd. We continued the family tradition of hosting MAST students until we retired and our nephew took over the farm. Our son was fortunate to have the same experience as I did, growing up with people from other countries and getting to learn about their cultures. He also came with us on many trips to visit MAST students in their home countries.
Our family looked forward to attending International Night that the students put on during the winter quarter when they were at the U of MN and also the picnic get togethers with the students and host families. It was a nice opportunity to get to know the other host families and their students from that year. It was also fun to see the yearbook that the students put together each year while they were at the U of MN. We still have a large collection of them.
We also enjoyed hosting the sons of two MAST students and the opportunity to keep those strong family connections going. Ian and I were honored to be asked to serve on the Advisory Council and appreciated the chance to exchange ideas with the staff and other hosts.
MAST has been a life altering experience for so many people, including our family, and we hope it can continue for many years to come.
Dawn Church-Webster
