After 32 years, Sliema couple closes door to foreign students

The postman popped his head through the front door of Maria and Louis Risso's home in Sliema and handed them the mail with his regular greeting.

"Oh, how lovely. We just received a Christmas card from one of the German students we hosted 10 years ago," Mrs Risso said ripping open the envelope in delight.

Foreign students have been an integral part of the Rissos' life for the past 32 years, when they first applied to become a host family for NSTS students coming to learn English in Malta.

Now the couple's home is unusually quiet after they took the hard decision to stop accepting students to take care of one another instead.

It was about 1972 when Mrs Risso was leafing through The Times and spotted an advert for host families. Her two sons had just left the island within the space of a month and she felt the house was a bit empty despite the lively spirit of her two daughters.

"I come from a family of 13 siblings, so I'm used to the clamour that comes with a big family. The idea of having students really attracted me so I persuaded my husband to start taking them in," she said.

The students soon became an extension of their family and Mrs Risso, 75, and her 81-year-old husband said they would miss the international flavour in their home.

Francis Stivala, NSTS director of the English Language Institute, said hosting was a fruitful experience because it served to bring globalisation in the microcosm of the home.

NSTS started the concept of host families for students studying English in 1964 and Mr Stivala praised families liked the Rissos who took in the students and made them feel part of the family.

"These first host families established Malta as an English language learning destination with their warm hospitality and dedication," he said. "Many students have told us they found a second mother in their host family."

Sadly, however, the Maltese hospitality was waning and money was sometimes coming before dedicating time and energy to the foreign students. "A degree of intolerance has replaced hospitality," he said.

NSTS this year welcomed about 4,500 foreign students but saw a slight decline in the number of Italian visitors.

"Malta does not offer so much variety and the teachers accompanying the students often need a change of scene. However, we are expecting a return of Italian students this summer," he added.