Their second familia

Valeria Toledo Benavente spent the last month in Tracy with the Janine and Jim Vandendriessche family. Photo / Per Peterson

Jeanine Vandendriessche must think she has known her most recent visitor her whole life. And in some ways, she has.

She is no stranger to hosting exchange students — she and her husband, Jim, have had three since 1991. And they all have something very special in common.

Last week, Valeria Toledo Benavente, a 17-year-old from Guatemala, wrapped up her month-long visit to Tracy

“I wanted to visit them because they took care of my mom, my uncle and my aunt when they were exchange students,” Valeria said.