I suppose wanting to write about this particular subject is what pushed me... EF Foundation for Foreign Study! EF is a worldwide, non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging cultural awareness through international education and exchange. It not only says this on their website (www.effoundation.org)... they actually DO 'encourage cultural awareness' 24/7 ~ 365 days a year!
I have been a 'member' of this foundation since 2003, when my then 17 year old daughter ran into the house after practice at her high school asking if we could "pleeeeaaaasssseeee host an exchange student". I answered back with a nervous, but happy "Of course!" and that was the beginning of a fantastic journey! 2 weeks after my daughter came to me, we welcomed Carmen from Germany into our home and to this day... she is part of our family! A few years later, Mons from Sweden joined our family and the following year... Rasmus from Denmark and Pier from Italy.
Each year that we hosted these kids, it was in addition to our own 3 children. It certainly made life interesting, eventful and worth while! While hosting Carmen, our house was filled with girls... teenage girls! Not only the 3 at home, but each of their friends. This brought additional shoes, clothes, make-up, all night giggling, the aroma of perfume lightly traveling after them as they left the house, parties and... yep, BOYS!
It was a very trying time for Eric, but the tables turned years later when we hosted Mons, then Rasmus and Pier together the following year. The house was now filled with stinky socks, cleats and uniforms, Thursday AND Friday night football games, soccer games, track meets, fights to do their chores, the rumbles of XBox games on Hi-Def, amplified speakers and the pungent smell of cologne that stayed long after the boys left for the night.
There were many trips to the ER for cactus wounds, football injuries, concussions, sprains and cuts for both the boys and there were language barriers and additional help with homework. The wonderful thing is... we wouldn't trade one second of it!! I am proud to say we are parents of 3 American children and 4 European children!
I worked as an IEC (International Exchange Coordinator) for a very short period of time and realized... that's just not for me. I have become friends with a few of the IEC's and RC's (Regional Coordinator) and hold a high respect for each of them! This is not an easy or well paid job to have, yet they devote every extra minute of their lives to this program so that students (our kids) have an opportunity to experience other cultures. Not only the students that travel to the U.S., but the families as well. My son traveled to Europe after graduating high school and would have never had this opportunity without EF! EF did not sponsor it, but it is through them that we met our 4 other family members, and the family that comes with them. He traveled to Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Germany and everywhere he went, he felt he was with family.
Even though being an IEC was not for me, due to other work obligations, I still wanted to remain involved, so I have been the Airport Supervisor for AZ for 3 years now. Basically, I meet the students arriving, leaving or just travelling through Phoenix Sky Harbor airport to make sure they get to their destination safely. Some of the kids overnight at our house on their way to Northern Arizona and leave a lasting impression of enthusiasm and and excitement of what the year holds for them, others say no more than 10 words as the nervousness and fear of making a mistake in speaking English overtakes them. Either way... we remember each and every one of them and I am proud to be a 'member' of this organization!
til my next post... jlk
There were many trips to the ER for cactus wounds, football injuries, concussions, sprains and cuts for both the boys and there were language barriers and additional help with homework. The wonderful thing is... we wouldn't trade one second of it!! I am proud to say we are parents of 3 American children and 4 European children!
I worked as an IEC (International Exchange Coordinator) for a very short period of time and realized... that's just not for me. I have become friends with a few of the IEC's and RC's (Regional Coordinator) and hold a high respect for each of them! This is not an easy or well paid job to have, yet they devote every extra minute of their lives to this program so that students (our kids) have an opportunity to experience other cultures. Not only the students that travel to the U.S., but the families as well. My son traveled to Europe after graduating high school and would have never had this opportunity without EF! EF did not sponsor it, but it is through them that we met our 4 other family members, and the family that comes with them. He traveled to Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Germany and everywhere he went, he felt he was with family.
Even though being an IEC was not for me, due to other work obligations, I still wanted to remain involved, so I have been the Airport Supervisor for AZ for 3 years now. Basically, I meet the students arriving, leaving or just travelling through Phoenix Sky Harbor airport to make sure they get to their destination safely. Some of the kids overnight at our house on their way to Northern Arizona and leave a lasting impression of enthusiasm and and excitement of what the year holds for them, others say no more than 10 words as the nervousness and fear of making a mistake in speaking English overtakes them. Either way... we remember each and every one of them and I am proud to be a 'member' of this organization!
til my next post... jlk
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