Suddenly they found themselves staring at a British patrol. The startled soldiers trained their guns on Roddy's car. That's something a child should not have to grow up with. The experience prompted him to learn more about the Troubles. Most host families have children of their own, though not all.
Every effort is made to accommodate the host families' requests regarding age and sex.
The Philadelphia-area committee has been especially successful. Twenty-one children visited the region last year, and the group hopes to bring more than 30 this summer. Apparently, these kids can be quite endearing. Dearbhaile, whose father is in prison, got along famously with Buck's four daughters, and everyone else in their South Philadelphia neighborhood. The Wildwood boardwalk was like nothing she'd ever seen.