FALLS VILLAGE — The the home of Andrea and Tim Downs was crowded Sunday afternoon, March 26.
Gugu Mpungose from South Africa was there, chatting with Patricia Chery from Portugal.
Meanwhile, Mumyn Aiuba from Mozambique tended to the fireplace, a smart move as it allowed him to be next to it.
The international contingent was from AFS Intercultural Programs, an international organization that sponsors youth exchange programs.
The Downs family has been involved since 2009, and has sponsored 29 students.
So when AFS wanted to officially thank Region One and Housatonic Valley Regional High School for 72 years of successful cooperation, the Downs home was a logical place to meet.
Mpungose is in charge of students from South Africa and Mozambique who come to the U.S., and Chery lives in the U.S. and supervises AFS programs in the eastern half of the country.
The two AFS representatives posed with Region One Superintendent Lisa Carter and Region One Board of Education chair Pat Mechare with a plaque from AFS recognizing the high school.
Mpungose said she spent a day shadowing Aiuba around the high school. Aiuba is currently staying with the Downs.
She said she was particularly impressed with the HVRHS cafeteria, which is adorned with the flags of all the countries represented by exchange students who have spent a year at the school.
Andrea Downs said her family has hosted 29 students since 2009, and she keeps in touch with all of them.
She also noted that for much of that time, the Downs home only had one bathroom.
The bathroom schedule was arranged according to who was slowest, and was ruthlessly enforced by her daughter Lydia.
“She’d say ‘If you’re not out in five minutes I’m coming in,’ said Andrea Downs.
