Forever Your Home
If you were to ask Debbi and Barry McReynolds about their kids, they will happily tell you about all 26 of them scattered across the globe. Since 2011, the couple have welcomed foreign exchange students in their home every single year to spend 10 months living in the United States. With biological kids moved out and in their early 30s, they have missed the energy that teenagers bring to their home. Now, the McReynolds’ host Nacho and Aiden, their latest guests from Spain and Germany.
Debbi works as an Academic Coordinator for Cultural Homestay International, a non-profit educational organization based out of California. She places foreign exchange students with host families in Russellville, Ky. and the greater Logan County area. Barry works as a math teacher and girls' soccer coach at Logan County High School where Nacho and Aiden go to school.
Debbi works as an Academic Coordinator for Cultural Homestay International, a non-profit educational organization based out of California. She places foreign exchange students with host families in Russellville, Ky. and the greater Logan County area. Barry works as a math teacher and girls' soccer coach at Logan County High School where Nacho and Aiden go to school.
Debbi McReynolds plays a digital game with her three grandchildren Reed, Annie, and Ava on the floor of her home in Russellville, Ky. During the day when Nacho and Aiden are at school, Debbi looks after her grandchildren. "I'll take the chaos all day, any day of the week," she said.
Aiden (left) and Nacho (right) enjoy a day off from school on spring break. Logan County High School had their spring break from April 1 to April 11.
A wall of memorabilia given to the McReynolds' by previous exchange students greets visitors in the entryway of their home. Items from China, Germany, Italy, and other countries are represented in their American suburban home.
Reed looks out the front door at a passing car from the McReynolds' home. All 26 exchange students have walked through the same door and into the McReynolds' growing family. "There's a difference in those relationships," Debbi said about her biological and her chosen kids, "but not a difference in the value of the love."
The boys spend their time in the United States like any other high schooler. In the fall, they played football. Debbi and Barry tried to attend every game. Nacho scored a touchdown, and Aiden scored a field goal at the only game they missed. Now, they are runners for the school’s track & field team.
Aiden runs a 100 meter sprint during practice at Logan County High School. Neither of the boys has done track & field before, but they wanted to give it a try while in the U.S.
Debbi and Barry attend a high school track meet where the boys competed in the 100 meter dash. They have never been to a track meet, and Nacho and Aiden have never competed in the sport. "They got smoked but I'm proud of them anyway," Debbi said.
Even with their age, Debbi and Barry have no plans to stop hosting exchange students any time soon. “There probably will be a time, but we can’t see that right now,” Debbi said. “We’ll know when we get there.” The couple will welcome Francesco and Mustafa, two new students from Italy and Turkey, in August 2025.
The Spain and Germany flags are flown outside of the McReynolds' home. This is a new tradition they started with Nacho and Aiden that they'll carry on with future exchange students.
The foreign exchange students do not meet each other before their stay in the U.S. aside from the occasional video call. The relationship between the students varies with each pair. "I think they'll be friends for life," Debbi said about Nacho and Aiden.
The McReynolds' enjoy a meal of Chinese hot pot at the dinner table Debbi inherited from her grandmother after she passed in 2003. All 26 exchange students have sat around the same table since the McReynolds' became a host family. "No matter what culture you come from, we all have dinner at a table every night," Debbi said.
At the end of the year, Nacho and Aiden will return to their countries with a key to the McReynolds’ home, just like every kid before them.
“If we ever change that lock, we’d have to have the new lock re-keyed, because there are keys in Australia, two or three in Italy, two or three in Spain, one in Germany, two in Belgium. I mean, they're all over,” Debbi said. It serves as a souvenir and as an invitation home if they ever find themselves back in Russellville, Ky.
“It’s symbolic that our home is forever your home,” Debbi said.
“If we ever change that lock, we’d have to have the new lock re-keyed, because there are keys in Australia, two or three in Italy, two or three in Spain, one in Germany, two in Belgium. I mean, they're all over,” Debbi said. It serves as a souvenir and as an invitation home if they ever find themselves back in Russellville, Ky.
“It’s symbolic that our home is forever your home,” Debbi said.
A previous exchange student told Debbi and Barry that, one of these days, he's going to surprise them by having dinner ready at their table when they come home one evening. "That would be a dream come true," Barry said.
