I haven't written in awhile, but felt the urge to put "hands to keyboard". I have started getting emails from EF Foundation containing the information about my student's homebound flights. This is a busy time of year in student exchange. The school year is winding down for our students that are here and we are busily gearing up to recruit good host families for the next year. Trying to get our students placed before the summer school being out phase starts.
Then the realization hit me that MY boy was going to be going home soon. I looked at my calendar .. 11 weeks left. Time has gone by so quickly. He's added a bit of height .. gained about 15lbs of muscle and matured quite a bit. I am so proud of him. He's learned a few life lessons while here. Some of them good (like when he puts his mind to it he is an A student) some of them not so good (people aren't always direct in saying "NO" and will string you along in an effort to be nice). He's learned that here in America as he put it "I have a chance to do and be anything." as long as you are hungry for it and put in the effort and time. He's learned resourcefulness and has learned to overcome his shyness about approaching people for what he needs.
I'm gonna miss him. I'm probably gonna cry when I have to take him to the airport. That's the thing about exchange. If it's done right with the right organization (heaven knows there are plenty to choose from) it's more than just housing a kid. They become your family.
Then the realization hit me that MY boy was going to be going home soon. I looked at my calendar .. 11 weeks left. Time has gone by so quickly. He's added a bit of height .. gained about 15lbs of muscle and matured quite a bit. I am so proud of him. He's learned a few life lessons while here. Some of them good (like when he puts his mind to it he is an A student) some of them not so good (people aren't always direct in saying "NO" and will string you along in an effort to be nice). He's learned that here in America as he put it "I have a chance to do and be anything." as long as you are hungry for it and put in the effort and time. He's learned resourcefulness and has learned to overcome his shyness about approaching people for what he needs.
I'm gonna miss him. I'm probably gonna cry when I have to take him to the airport. That's the thing about exchange. If it's done right with the right organization (heaven knows there are plenty to choose from) it's more than just housing a kid. They become your family.
