Wednesday, August 31, 2011

My "Part Time" Job

Back in December of last year I accepted a part time job as a local coordinator for an exchange student program called CCI. I thought it would be a good way to make some extra money for our family and would be fun in the meantime. My responsibilities included the following:
  • Find and interview 11 volunteer host families for 10 students and one group leader from Spain
  • Create a host family directory for the families
  • Organize a schedule for the students during their 3 week stay
  • Arrange for 12 hours of English class a week (find a teacher and classroom)
  • Plan and take students on 6 half day activities and 3 full day theme park excursions
  • Organize a Greenheart Service Project
  • Arrange transportation for students
  • Hold a host family orientation
  • Hold a student orientation
  • Plan and carry out a welcome and farewell party
  • Handle any concerns or problems between host families and students
  • Handle any disciplinary problems
  • Handle any medical problems
  • Be on call 24/7 for 3 weeks
When presented with the responsibilities I didn't think it sounded too bad. Last year my mom and I had helped the local coordinator at the time to find host families and it wasn't too hard, so I expected a similar experience. In January I started looking for host families. I contacted all the families that had hosted in the past couple of years and didn't have a very good response. I started reaching out to everyone I knew from church , my tennis teams and in the community, still not much of a response. I was really surprised at how many people were so closed off to the idea of having an exchange student in their home. I love learning about new cultures and meeting new people. The students were coming for 3 weeks in July and I had a full schedule for them during the week, so the families wouldn't have to entertain them all day every day. But still I couldn't find families. Come March, when I only had 2 families signed up to host I started to panic. That is when my "part time" job became a "full time" job. I started looking at all different avenues for finding families. I posted an ad of Craigslist, I ran an ad in the paper, I tried getting into local schools, churches, local organizations, I posted fliers in gyms like the YMCA, I met with a local magazine editor an had an article run in the magazine, I offered to pay a few of the youth from church if they found any families who would host, I even went door to door. It consumed my every waking hour. With about 4 weeks left till the students arrived I still needed 7 families! It was really panic time. I don't think I have ever been so stressed in my life, there was definitely a lot of praying going on. Somehow in those last three weeks everything came together. Two families from church stepped up and volunteered to host. My friend Maren put me in touch with one of her long time friends who is a realtor, thinking she would have a lot of contacts. Well her friend ended up hosting, as well as one of her neighbors. Someone actually saw my posting on Craigslist and her family ended up hosting, someone I had been asking since January finally decided to host. I got a list of people who had hosted the long term program and one of the families on it wanted to host. It was amazing how everything came together. I was so happy and relieved. Somehow in the middle of finding all these families I arranged the rest of the program and tried to be a mom. I think that was one of the hardest parts was not being able to give my girls the attention that they needed. I could definitely see a difference in their attitudes and they were acting up a lot.

A few days prior to the students arrival I held the host family orientation. It went very well and I was very happy with the group of families I had gathered. Two days before the students arrived the girl who was going to host the group leader backed out of hosting. Panic once again. I actually had a family who called interested in hosting, but the group leader was allergic to cats and the family had a cat. I ended up doubling her up with a student at another host family home and it all worked out fine.

The students arrived on a Tuesday evening and everything was finally together and ready to go. All the families met up at the airport to greet the students. They were excited and nervous to be here. Our student who we chose to host was named Beatriz. She was such a sweetheart. Isabelle had been counting down for her arrival and connected with her right away. Isabelle was quite the trooper allowing Beatriz to have her room for 3 weeks. She loved going in there and showing Bea all of her toys and playing with her.


The day after the students arrived we had the Welcome Party at one of the host families' homes. It was a great way for everyone to get to know each other better and for the host families to start making friendships with other families. We grilled burgers and hot dogs, a true American meal.

Charles and some of the students (Beatriz, Lucia, Alejandra and Carolina)


After the dinner we roasted marshmallows. It was their first time doing that, so a fun new experience.



We had three theme park outings, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Sea World's Aquatica and Disney's Magic Kingdom. First stop was Islands of Adventure. The kids loved all the roller coasters and fortunately the lines weren't long at all so they went on them over and over. Around 4 or 5 it started pouring rain and didn't stop for the rest of the night. Everyone was soaked, but still wanted to stay till close. Even though it was the middle of the summer I couldn't stop shaking from being so cold from the rain. It was pretty miserable. Fortunately we had great weather on the other theme park days. When we went to Aquatica Kenzie and Laila joined us, so that was fun. For our Disney day I brought Isabelle with me. The students all took off and did their own thing and Isabelle and I had a great time just the two of us. It was definitely some much needed mother daughter time.




Harry Potter was by far the best ride I have ever gone on! It was the only one we had to really wait for, but it was pouring rain so we figured we might as well be standing in line. It was pretty incredible and worth the wait.



Coming to Florida the kids of course wanted to see alligators. We went down to the Black Hammock one day after English class. It is right on a big lake that is full of alligators. This is Bea checking out a gator. We only saw a couple baby gators in the the lake.


For the half day activities we went roller skating, to the outlet malls, to Cocoa Beach, to the Science Center, to a movie, and to Wekiva Springs. I think the students enjoyed most of the activities. They mainly just loved all being together.


For our Greenheart Service project we did a river cleanup at Wekiva Springs. We all went out in canoes with a net and garbage bags and picked up any trash we could find. It was a fun way to do service.


Bea and I were in a canoe together. Along the way we spotted one baby alligator.



After the service project we went over to the springs and went swimming. My mom met up with us there with my kiddos.



After 3 weeks of go, go, go we had a Farewell Party at my mom's house. Everyone had a blast swimming in the pool and I catered Macaroni Grill. Yummy! It was great how all the students really became great friends and had such a strong bond. Not only that, but the families all became very close. I couldn't have been happier with the group of families that I ended up with. Everyone was involved and the students all loved their homes.




The last morning- leaving for the airport. The last four days Lucia also stayed with us, her host family had a previously planned family vacation, so we got to have her with us. She was so great to have as well. We just absolutely loved having Beatriz stay with us and having Lucia with us those last few days.

Time for take-off

This was a great experience coordinating the program and hosting a student. I had no idea how much time it would involve when I "signed up" for the job. Nor did I know how completely exhausting it would be to go, go, go for 3 weeks with the students. I'm definitely not a teenager anymore! But it was great. It was such a feeling of relief when the students went through security and I was all done! I think all the students were great and I definitely miss them, but I was ready to be able to breathe again. The day they left we packed up and went on vacation for 2 weeks to the mountains. A great way to unwind and spend some much needed quality family time.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Our School Girl!


Isabelle had her first day of preschool today! She has been counting down for a long time and she was definitely ready. In July, Isabelle's teacher, Ms. Jodie, came and did a home visit. Isabelle loved her right from the start. I can already tell that she is going to be a wonderful teacher. She has been talking about Ms. Jodie and school ever since. A couple weeks ago I let Isabelle pick out a lunch box online. We had her name put on it and ordered it. She was very excited for her lunch box to come. Once it came she would carry it around everywhere. She has been so excited to take her lunch box to school with food in it. She has been telling me for a week what all she wanted me to put in it. This morning we packed her lunch and got all ready to go. Charles made a big breakfast to celebrate her first day of school and then he was able to go with me to drop Isabelle off for her first day. She was just glowing, she was so excited. I hope she keeps up her enthusiasm about school.


Isabelle is going to do 2 days a week this year, from 9-1 on Thursdays and Fridays. Next year for PreK she will do 4 days and then be full time the following year in Kindergarten. Isabelle is going to the Tuskawilla Presbyterian Preschool which conveniently is right across the street from our neighborhood. We are hoping that once the weather isn't so hot that we can just walk to school, which will be nice.


Walking into school.

I'm not sure how other preschools have their kids check in, but at Isabelle's school they find their name and picture on the front door and then put it in an envelope to show they are at school. I thought that was pretty cute.

After checking in Isabelle found her place at the table. Anya made herself at home too and started playing play doh with the kids. After a couple of minutes we figured we should leave. It did not even phase Isabelle that we were leaving. She gave me a half hug and kiss and then kept playing. As we were walking out Anya turned to Isabelle and said "Abelle, come on, let's go." She was a little sad when I told her Abelle (Isabelle) wasn't coming with us. Charles and I looked at each other and took a deep breathe when we left. There were no tears, but it was a little surreal that our first child is starting school. When I picked her up after school she was excited to to see me. When I asked her what she did at school all she had to say was that she ate lunch. I guess her lunch and lunch box was a hit! I had to pry more information out of her to find out about her day. We are so proud of our Isabelle and we know she is going to do so well in school this year.


Last Friday we had Isabelle's orientation. She was so excited to see Ms. Jodie again and to meet her new friends. Of course she found the dress ups right away and made herself well acquainted with the classroom and all the fun stuff to do.


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Season Finale!


Our final wedding of the season was for my cousin Jessa and her sweetheart Chris. Their wedding planning has been in the works for a year or so, so everything was perfect. They had the ceremony at their church in Vero and then had the reception at the Moorings Club. It was all beautiful and very classy. I got to play a duet of "The Lover's Waltz" with my cousin Lauren during the ceremony. I played the piano and Lauren played the violin. She had come to Orlando to practice with me and stayed overnight. The first few times we went through it it was terrible. I had never played a duet with a violin and I wasn't familiar with the song. We couldn't help but laugh at how bad it sounded. But we practiced for hours and hours and started coming together. When it came time for us to perform we somehow pulled it together and did our best yet. That was a relief to have that done and to have not butchered it during the ceremony.


Jessa with her parents.


Isabelle did a great job walking in...and then she crashed! But after a nice little nap she was good and ready for pictures and dancing!


The hubbies


One of my favorite pictures!



My beautiful flower girl!



Isabelle with her Tata Erin. Erin was a beautiful bridesmaid in Jessa's wedding.


Walking into the reception.

I loved the center pieces. They were stunning and smelled fantastic! The best part was that we got to take ours home!



Isabelle loves her new Tonton Marc!



My mom, Erin and Ma put together a wonderful bridal shower for Jessa prior to the wedding. There was lots of fun games, presents and of course yummy food.


Always a hit! Making wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses out of tissue paper.

Charles' mom was in town and got to join in the festivities!

We are so happy for Jessa and Chris and hope that they will continue to find so much joy and love in each other.