Most girls have a sister that takes their clothes and fights them for the bathroom in the morning, but I never had this. I grew up with a brother four years older than me. So the bathroom was never occupied when I needed it. Of course, that was before Jade moved in.

When I was in high school, my family decided to go through the process of hosting an exchange student. We had our house evaluated, making sure it was a safe place for another kid to stay. The program we were using specifically warned us not to host a French student, mainly because their culture is so different. Apparently, past French students who went through this program didn't work out so well. Despite these warnings, we proceeded in our efforts to host a French student. We waited months for someone to come through the system. Finally when a student matched with us; my family was ecstatic. We wanted to learn all we could about the 16-year-old girl that was about to become a part of our family.

Jade, a girl from France, was on her way to America to live with us. I was so nervous to meet her, but also really excited. The program told me that it would be hard at first. I would have to be patient and understanding as she would be spending a lot of time with me. My mom picked Jade up from the airport a day before school started. When I met her for the first time, I gave her a big hug and smiled a lot. I could tell she was not used to this kind of greeting. Jade was terrified and did not quite understand everything we were saying. The language barrier was really tough. I remember laying in bed and thinking how was I going to be able to do this. I thought it was going to be easier than it turned out; I felt awful for making that assumption. Things weren't clicking for Jade right away. It went on like this for three months. Then finally, something changed.

Jade could tell that I did not fully accept her living in the house. And I knew that I should have been nicer and more welcoming, but something just felt weird. I am a very stubborn person, I thought that I could handle the change; the reality was that I couldn't. It wasn't until Jade and I had a very deep conversation, that our attitudes about each other changed. I had gone through a traumatic event before she came to live with us. I opened up to her with all the problems I was dealing with. In return, she opened up to me about her life in France. After that conversation, we became instantly closer. We went everywhere together, always laughing. I had finally found my sister. For the last seven months that she lived with us, she showed me what true friendship was. I have never met anyone else like Jade in my life. And let me tell you, those seven months went by way too fast. We were constantly doing something. For the most part, we were happy together, but it wasn’t always sunshine and happiness. We argued like actual sisters and because of this I learned what real compromise was. Sometimes we argued about the dumbest things. Yes, Jade, I know you took some of my clothes back to France. Secretly I knew that Jade would have to leave at some point, but it always seemed so far away. I never really prepared myself for when she would have to go back home. I never wanted that time to come, so I ignored it. Unlike myself, Jade was always counting down. She would say things like “We have to go do something, I only have three months left.” Even then it didn't hit me that she was really leaving. In my head, she would never get on the plane, and she would stay with us forever, but of course that didn't happen.

Everyone talks about heartbreak by love interests, saying it’s like your heart is being ripped from your chest. My question is, have you ever had your heart broken by your own sister? I have; it was horrible. My heart broke for the very first time when Jade got on that plane. My heart literally could not take the pain. I almost believed that she would just turn around and come back home with me. I remember seeing her head bobbing between people, walking away. Then she stopped and looked back, making sure we were still there and then a final wave. With that, she was gone. The fact that my sister was going back to her other family completely broke my heart. It took two days before it really sunk in. Over the next month, I went through many tissues. I had lost my sister across the ocean, 4,000 miles away.

Now, Jade and I stay in contact through social media. We know we’re going to see each other sooner rather than later. I'm amazed how she's impacted my life in so many ways. A simple application to be a host family led to a friendship and sisterhood that I am forever grateful for. Even through the rough times, it was an experience that will never be forgotten. My advice, if you have the chance to host an international student, do it. You never know the experiences and memories that will come with it.

Thank you, Jade, for all your support, friendship, advice, and sisterly love that you gave me. I still miss you every day.