Enjoying the Experience Again of Cross-cultural Communication

 My husband and I are so enjoying the experience of communicating with someone that speaks English as a second language. It makes you realize how much you take for granted! It makes remember how difficult it was when I was trying to learn another language and live in the host country. My hubby says I need to slow my speech down but that is a bit difficult. Cherry's range and knowledge of English vocabulary is really excellent but sometimes I find myself having  to rethink a sentence because the think I am saying is quite colloquial and is not easily explained!

Here is our first picture together when she arrived! She looked great considering she'd just traveled half way around  the world and her body clock was completely upside down! What a trooper.

Becoming a Parent to a Foreign Exchange Student

Since my vacation, my husband and I finally decided that we would actually host a foreign exchange student. We had been talking with PAX a foreign exchange organization about this. They sent us bio's on high school students from around  the world. We narrowed it down to about 15 and then narrowed it further until we have 3 candidates. Once we had more information  on them we asked for our first, 2nd and third choice. Then the student had the ability to learn about us and choose whether the student wanted to live in the  area and be a part of our family. The student said yes. We were sort of on pins and needles because throughout the process the student could say no. Also, all background checks and things  had to be clear, verbal interviews with those that knew us had to be positive. There is never any guarentee!

We have chosen and been chosen by a student from China.Getting ready was really fun. We e-mailed back and forth about her likes and dislikes about many things but especiall for colors for her room. In the end we had her pickout her bedding for her room. We have discussed food likes and dislikes. She is easy going and is not picky. She experiments and then tells us what she thinks. What is really fun is that she will tell us what she likes whether it is food, programs or other topics. My personal experience with some Asian cultures is that their culture is such that they may not tell you what they think out of politeness. Of course there may always be levels of sharing of what one thinks in all cultures, including my own. It usually depends on the feeling  of saftey, or care for another's feelings. 

Our student is a delight and a real joy to have in our home. She studies hard but has lots of fun with friends. The students in our public school have been so open and inviting to her. I cannot say enough about the students in Colby, KS. I  worried about her coming to a small town environment where we have limited exposure to ethnic differences. We have some, but not like a big city. The youth are really terrific! She was invited to go shopping the first weekend after school started with some girls, she has been invited to go eat out with some students several times, she has been nicely recruited off the bleachers (where we were sitting during the first scrimmage of the football season) to join a group to watch the match and also be involved in activities. Three other ladies and Cherry got ready for the Homecoming dance. She has studdy-buddies and friends galore! Kudos to the Colby youth!

She has been here a full month now and we already see how she has livened up our lives and home! We are glad that Cherry has come to be with us for the school year! Thanks to her parents for trusting us!