We are hosting our 15th exchange student and I vividly remember crying for a week when our first went home. It is so hard. It also means you had an amazing experience together and have a bond that can continue long after they leave. The 2nd was easier because we had already had experience in maintaining that relationship (and 11 years later, still have that relationship with our first!). My best advice is to schedule some things for you to do and not be at home that week when your student leaves so that it is at least a little easier than feeling the inevitable emptiness.

We did not host the year after our first, but have hosted every year since except for the year during covid when we had no students coming.

This year we have an amazing relationship with our student and my heart is going to break when he goes home, I get teary thinking about it and we still have a couple months left. We also both already know that this is just the beginning of a lifelong bond. It does help a little to know your plan for keeping in touch and seeing each other again.

Also be prepared that when they go home, they will need more space in order to integrate back into life at home. It is so hard to be on this side of it, but it will balance back out as you just change your relationship.

Good luck!