Bipeds of Brookland: Jeremy Vera

Posted by Abbott Klar Real Estate on Friday, May 26th, 2017 at 8:50am

Bipeds of Brookland: Jeremy Vera
Jeremy Vera

 

Born in Buffalo. Moved back to Puerto Rico. Hopped around California and Arizona as a high-schooler. Took a college internship in South Africa, then a Peace Corps stint in Guatemala. Finally, in August 2008, a permanent job in Washington at the Latin American Youth Center.

 

Jeremy Vera’s journey to Brookland is the definition of multicultural.

 

And it continues now, where he and his partner, Brian, host high school foreign exchange students through the Ayusa program.

 

“When I was sixteen, I met my first foreign exchange student, who became one of my best friends,” Jeremy recalls. “I started seeking out foreign exchange students as friends because I thought they were so interesting. I had friends from Germany, Brazil, Italy. I always said that one day, I’d host an exchange student. So when I came to Brookland, I signed up to host.”

 

Jeremy’s first experience as a host was to Philipp, a German student, in 2009. After Philipp came Edgar (another German) from 2011 to 2012; from 2015 to 2016, there was Andy, from Thailand.

 

“We like to feel they’re part of us while they’re here,” Jeremy says. “They’re included in everything we do. Edgar went to North Carolina. Philipp went to Toronto. Andy went to Arkansas and Florida. It’s always the unexpected places – not New York City – they enjoy the most.”

 

Jeremy stays in touch with the students he and Brian host. Recently, Edgar surprised them with a visit; he’s just finished college and plans to get a Ph.D.

 

“Anyone with a spare bedroom can host,” Jeremy says. “It’s not about the financial reward. These students are going to be a part of your family if you allow them to be.”

Bipeds of Brookland: A weekly series introducing the people who make Brookland their home, one step at a time.
Article and photo by Zak Salih

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