Yesterday (February 21st) was Ali's birthday, so I pulled out the photo albums and reminisced about my homestay student from Turkey. He was 16 and 17 in these pictures--full of life and laughter! He was also full of action and, just like the energizer bunny, he kept going, and going and.....

Here are my favorite memories of Ali from 1994 and 1995.

Making shish kabobs for the barbecue.

Roller blading on our quiet street.


Suited up for ice hockey.

Practicing at the ice rink.

Challenging Takashi (Japan) to a game of tennis.

Dwarfed by a Clydesdale at the county fair.

Lifting weights with my son and me!

Ali's just waiting--aaeeiiii--Mama's going down!

Ali and my son, Allen--both excellent cooks!

And here he is today! Still cooking--the famous Chef Ali!

With his wife and son. What a beautiful family!

Happy 31st Birthday, my dear 'son' from Turkey. You've done very well and your American 'Mom' is downright proud of you!

Guitar Virtuoso

We miss Ki-Bum. And, we miss his music--a lot!

You know how listening to your kid practicing the piano can start grating on your nerves after awhile? But you don't say anything, because you know that practice makes perfect? Well, we NEVER felt that way about Ki-Bum's guitar practicing! Ever! There was just something about his music that was relaxing and enjoyable. Always. Even when we'd heard the same song over and over again. I think it's because he's a virtuoso. One of the best. And, I really do mean that!

Ki-Bum was a student at a local college here (studying English) for one year, and then he applied and was accepted into the well-known, tough-to-get-into, Berklee College of Music in Boston! They sent a team all the way to Seattle to interview him and listen to him perform before he was even considered as a candidate for admission. I feel as proud of him as though he were my own flesh and blood son! So you can imagine his Korean parents are that proud of him too, and more!

After he finishes his degree, Ki-Bum plans to go back to South Korea and teach music and guitar in a college in Seoul. I have no doubts he'll be successful! He's a virtuoso, after all.

Missing the music, missing the man,

Love,

Homestay Mama

This video was taken in August, 2008, when Ki-Bum gave us our own personal concert before leaving for Berklee. Even the neighbors came out and stood on their decks to listen.

Move Over, Barak...

You're not the only person having an important celebration today! We've got a VIBP (very important birthday person) who deserves his 'day in the sun,' too!

Meet Ezra from Indonesia, one of my current homestay students. Ezra is one of us--born in the USA--when his parents were here as graduate students 17 years ago.

(8 candles: 1 candle = 10 years, plus 7 more--so as not to cover the birthday message. Smart, yah?)

Happy Birthday, Ezra!

May all your wishes come true!

God has blessed you with intelligence beyond your years. May he also bless you with a long, joy-filled, productive life.

Your parents are proud of you and so am I!

Love,

Homestay Mama

P.S. Esti, the chocolate mousse cake you ordered was just heavenly! We all thank you!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Omar's birthday. (Don't worry, Omar, I won't say how old you are!) Omar was my third homestay student back in 1992, and my first from Kuwait.

My dad, Max, my homestay student, Omar and my son, Allen

I remember the phone call from the placing agency when they told me my new student would be coming from the Middle East. At that time the only thing I knew about Kuwait was what had been reported in the evening news during the First Gulf War. To say I was apprehensive would be putting it mildly. I was more like scared to death! What in the world would I do—a single mother in America—if Omar should expect me to behave like the black-robed women in his country?

However, I always prayed before each new student arrived, so I figured God knew what he was doing by sending an Arab to my home. Wow! Was I in for a surprise!
A very pleasant surprise!

When he first arrived, Omar wanted to know by what name to address me. I offered my first name, but he shook his head. In his country it was disrespectful to call an older woman by her first name. A title was needed. And so, I became ‘Mrs. Sue.’

Omar was respectful and congenial—a cheerful young man with a beautiful smile. He was full of laughter and had a unique sense of humor! He was also a big tease, but I was clueless until one day during one of our conversations around the kitchen table. “Mrs. Sue,” he said, “you are too serious. You need to laugh more!” His statement left me stunned. I thought about it for the rest of the day!

I was the oldest of three daughters. My mother had been a school teacher and a strict disciplinarian. Quite naturally I inherited many of her traits. Now here was a young man from the other side of the globe telling me to lighten up!

Ahh, so that’s why God brought Omar into my home. God had a bunch of lessons for me to learn—the first being not to take myself, or life in general, so seriously. God wanted me to trust Him more. He wanted me to relax, to smile, to laugh and have fun. He knew Omar was the best person to deliver that message. He was right! Thank you, Omar!

Happy Birthday from your American Mom! May God bless you and your family with a wealth of laughter all the days of your life!

Still laughing and enjoying life.

Love,

Homestay Mama

Kimono, Size Large

I'm sorry I haven’t posted for awhile. I’ve been on a roll. A cleaning roll! In addition to cleaning the garage, I’ve been cleaning my house, my bedroom, my office, my laundry, my closets--there’s never an end to the cleaning that needs to be done around my place. Not that I’ve been such a slob. Au contraire. 2008 was just NOT a normal year for me! There was way too much going on in my life last year!

April—lost my job
May—broke my wrist
June—wrist in cast—not allowed to use it
July—had to have surgery on wrist
August—physical therapy on wrist
September—back in school again
October—Still in school
November—Finished Autumn Quarter at school—had guests for Turkey Dinner.
December—Remodeled the downstairs bathroom.
January '09—Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning and finally getting my life back on track! Hooray!

The pleasure of cleaning out closets and little-used drawers is finding things I’d forgotten about! Like these pictures from 2004. This is Yoshi, one of my former homestay students from Japan. (This photo was taken before my major kitchen remodel.)

Yoshi's parents came to visit in the Fall of 2004, and brought a Japanese kimono--the largest size they could find--for me.
There are many parts to a kimono.

The thongs (also size large) were about two sizes too small for my size 10 feet!

As long as I didn’t move, the kimono stayed shut. It was fun trying to look like a sweet, petite, Japanese woman for one evening!

I miss you, Yoshi! Come back and see me again!

Taking a break from the cleaning.

Love,

Homestay Mama