This past summer a friend told us about hosting foreign exchange students. My sister and her family have hosted in the past and really enjoyed their experience. We have not had the room or the ability to host until now. After talking about the opportunity with each other and the kids, we thought we would start the process and look into it.
The Man of the House and I looked at this opportunity the same way we did fostering. Once we know that the kids are coming they are ours. They are part of our family and we love them the same as our own kids. We joke and laugh and cry with them the same as we do our kids. They ARE our kids.
Over the 18 plus yeas of marriage The Man of the House and Croppermom have at one time or another parented ELEVEN children. We have no plans of stopping now. We enjoy our kids too much. Watching them experience American culture for the first time is so much fun. The see it all with fresh new eyes.
Once we decided this was what we were being called to do, we had our interview, filled out the papers and were picking our student with in a week. And we were so blessed with our new Korean daughter. Ba bo houng, joined our family in August of 2010. She came to us ready to try just about any new adventure. She fit is so well with our family.
Her only real bump along the way was finding school a bit more challenging than she expected as far as her English skills were concerned. Yet she has succeeded with great pride and accomplishment. Each time she brought me a progress reports or report cards I would just look at her, laugh and say "well I am going to have to ground you AGAIN. You are not studying enough. Your grades are all 97 and above!" I think her lowest grade has been a 90 and that was in her English class. Well duh English is not her first language. If it were literature and essay writing in Korean she would be fine.
Ba bo houng is an accomplished piano player. She joined the jazz band at school and has had so much fun with all they do. She went to Florida and preformed at Disney. They spent the whole week there enjoying Disney and they preformed a total of 3 times.
Ba bo houng is an accomplished piano player. She joined the jazz band at school and has had so much fun with all they do. She went to Florida and preformed at Disney. They spent the whole week there enjoying Disney and they preformed a total of 3 times.
We truly miss Bo bo houng. We are so proud of her as she has gone back home and even after missing a year and having to play catch up she is still NUMBER 2 in her class! She has worked really hard and has qualified to attend a special school for students who's grades are exceptional.
Thaly joined up in January 2011 for one semester. Our Brazilian daughter was another blessing. She is shy but once you get to know her she is funny, sweet, and so much fun. She is interested in fashion. She is always wanting to go shopping. She can shop me into the ground! But I must admit she always goes for the sale racks. She will look at everything more than once and find the best deal.
She went along to help with the equipment when the band went to Disney. She had a great time. Thaly has decided to stay one more semester, however we have already picked our kiddos for the 2011-20212 year. We can only have 2 at a time. She can't stay with us! I am so bummed. She will be living close with in 5-7 minutes but still not with us, so sad!
She went along to help with the equipment when the band went to Disney. She had a great time. Thaly has decided to stay one more semester, however we have already picked our kiddos for the 2011-20212 year. We can only have 2 at a time. She can't stay with us! I am so bummed. She will be living close with in 5-7 minutes but still not with us, so sad!
Our new sister is from Thailand. We will call her “Megan" here one the blog She is 15, she enjoys taking pictures and spending time with friends. The really cool part is she is a Girl Guide in Thailand. She really is looking forward to continuing her Scouting experience in the US. Megan has joined the marching band and will play the piano for the jazz band as well. This fall has kept her hopping all the time. It is winding down and she has had a good time but getting tired. The new year has brought Girl Scout Cookie Sales, which is another totally new experience for her
