Our Staff

Ryoko Nabeshima is originally from Japan. She was a homestay student in Kentucky when she was in high school. Later she returned to the US to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Communication from SUNY-Buffalo. She has lived in Seattle since 2000 and has worked at ABODE since 2001. She became the Owner and Director of ABODE in January 2005.

Maria Shaughnessy grew up in Tacoma and has lived in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. She married in 1968 and has three children and five grandchildren. She also has been a homestay host for many international students since 1990 and has been managing the ABODE Tacoma office since July 2002.

Sal Nacion grew up in Hawaii and has lived in many cities around the US. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Washington and has been hosting students since 2000.