We had an exchange student from France. He was here for only four weeks but had a huge positive impact on our family. We keep in touch on facebook and 365. Great shot too BTW! :)
@thomastoth@pflaume@taffy@vankrey@rvwalker@mzzhope@jyokota@jaynspain@photofella Arigato to everyone! We had such a nice evening yesterday with the students making a presentation to us about the Fukishima prefecture, Japanese culture, manners, customs, and sights. Our exchange student then went to our daughter's band performance at a local high school, and then out for a dinner for steaks! She is so lovely, and Kira is having fun asking questions in Japanese and Akari is having fun asking and responding in English. There is something so wonderful about cultural exchange. This morning Akari said she would prefer I make her lunch for her (I gave her the option of the Student cafeteria menu too). I tried to make it "American" but our kids are more European or Asian with their lunches, so she had a ham and cheese sandwich on baguette with fresh fruit, Edamame, some "Pringles" chips, and a tiny chocolate bar. I couldn't resist, I had to send a note in her lunch box saying "I hope you are enjoying your day!"
Tonight, I'm cooking a home-made BBQ for the family (and my father will join us)-- good ole southern fare--BBQ ribs, corn on the cobb, tomato-cucumber-onion salad, brussel sprouts, and watermelon! Then we might roast some marshmallows too! It's gonna get messy.
We will only have her tomorrow for a full day and I'm already wishing she could stay another day. It's too fast!
@rvwalker I loved seeing your photos. What a wonderful relationship to have over the years. I do hope that Akari and our family can remain in contact for many years. Her visit is so short, but we are already in love with her. :)
@darylo -- she is SO lucky to stay with a foodie and get her lunch prepared! And you are so American -- complete with a nice note in the lunch! Have you ever seen Japanese Bento images? Our students are always fascinated with the bentos their home stay moms make for them. Such a short short visit!
@jyokota Oh, yes, I love the bento boxes and the care taken for presentation and health! Her lunch is in a bento box as we use them for our lunches (Kira started that habit last year, and I used to make rice balls each week for the lunches). I tried to make it more American with the small sandwich and using the compartments for the fruit and edamame (which my kids eat often at lunch too). I hope she likes it! I was personally glad she wanted me to make it for her. I gave her two extra dollars to purchase anything in the lunch line that might catch her eye too. :) The visit is tooooooooo short. And I'll cry when she leaves. She'll think I am such a weird bird. Already my family has done the hand symbol of "talking to much" when I was talking with everyone at the reception and delaying our departure to the band concert. hehe
@darylo -- oh, I miss the days when my daughter was young enough that two extra dollars was a treat! Very sweet. You can understand how our students and their host families feel when we say goodbye at the bullet train station after a week together! What's the family hand symbol -- sounds intriguing to me.
Tonight, I'm cooking a home-made BBQ for the family (and my father will join us)-- good ole southern fare--BBQ ribs, corn on the cobb, tomato-cucumber-onion salad, brussel sprouts, and watermelon! Then we might roast some marshmallows too! It's gonna get messy.
We will only have her tomorrow for a full day and I'm already wishing she could stay another day. It's too fast!