Aunt Clyo, Tech-Savvy 90-Year-Old!

Here’s a lady who puts me to shame! She’s a tech-savvy, 90-year-old great-grandma! Yes, you read that right! She just turned 90 a week before Christmas.

Aunt Clyo sends me e-mails, attaches pictures, and reads my blog regularly! I can only hope to be as savant when I’m her age!

Her son took this picture a couple of weeks ago. I’d say she’s the smartest, most chic 90-year-old I've ever known. Here's an excerpt from her latest e-mail:

"I am doing really well for my age and enjoy so many things. The days fly by much too quickly for me. I am a night person and usually manage to make it to bed between 1:00 AM and 2 AM each morning as there is always one more thing I want to finish or do. I enjoy all my e-mail friends so much, keeps me busy each evening until around 10 PM and than I listen to a Vernon Magee sermon on radio from 10:30 PM until 11:00 PM. After that is my reading time as I usually read one or two new books a week. I like the non-fiction books and throw in a few fiction ones also. It all keeps this old brain of mine active. I do not watch very much TV but catch the news while I have breakfast here in my apartment."

In her words she’s “90 years young!” Attitude—that’s half her success right there; the rest is an abundance of good genes.

Love you, Aunt Clyo! I want to be like you when I grow up!

Chapter 4: Strangers At My Door

From Amazing Journey, Amazing Grace

Getting rejected by the homestay coordinators at all three universities in Seattle left me very disappointed. I tried not to fret, but in spite of my efforts to remain calm, I felt my anxiety level rising. I tried not to worry about my dwindling bank account.

A few weeks later, my sister’s son, who had recently moved to our area, came over for Saturday lunch. It was good to see him again and we lingered at the kitchen table, visiting well into the afternoon. The doorbell interrupted our conversation. Who could that be? I wasn’t expecting anyone.

Two women I had never seen before stood on the porch. “We’re not Avon ladies,” they assured me. “We are helping the homestay coordinator at the English Language Institute in Seattle and wondered if you would be interested in hosting a student from Japan.

Amazing! I had all but given up on the idea of hosting international students, and now here were two strangers at my front door asking me to consider it! I’m sure my mouth hung open with surprise! Finally I found my voice and said, “Why yes. Yes, I am interested. But how did you know? How did you get my address?”

“We didn’t,” they replied. “We only know the family up at the end of the block who told us the families on this street are all very nice people. So we are going door-to-door in hopes of finding enough families to help us, because we have 25 Japanese students coming next week and we are desperate for families to house them!”
[note to reader: the neighbor they knew at the end of the block was not the same neighbor who had suggested I look into hosting!]

“Please come in,” I invited. I showed them my available room and they were ecstatic. I forced myself to remain calm. I didn’t want to get my hopes up yet. I figured they would have the same problem with the long bus commute as had the three university homestay coordinators, so I leveled with them. “I applied to become a host family at all three universities in Seattle,” I said, “but they all rejected me because of the long bus commute.”

“Oh, but our school is a private language school and it’s conveniently located in downtown Seattle. We know there is an express commuter bus from here to downtown and the commute is only 45 minutes!”

Wow! I could be a host mother after all! I exhaled with relief. “Oh, God,” I prayed silently, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart!”

My first student was Motoi, a high school English teacher. He knew English well, but wanted the opportunity to ‘speak with the natives,’ learn the culture and take pictures of America. He wanted to improve his teaching of English in his classroom in Japan.

Motoi was a delight! He was eager to talk, eager to experience our food, our culture, our city, and eager to share his country in return. The month passed all too quickly! Hosting was enjoyable! I was hooked! I was ready for more!





Motoi had never been this close to a racoon before.











Now, what do you think? Was it coincidence that brought those two strangers to my door? A mere chance? A stroke of good luck? The perfect alignment of the stars? A lucky fluke?

To be continued.

Chapter 3: On Being a Host Family

From Amazing Journey; Amazing Grace

Facing singleness after 25 years of marriage was scary. I had no idea where this strange, new adventure would lead me, but I knew God was with me and I clung to him for dear life!

Not long after my husband left, our son, Allen, came back home to live. We both had emotional wounds that needed to heal. It helped us to heal together.

The greater Seattle area is not noted for being a cheap place to live, and even though I was earning more at work and my son was contributing toward his expenses at home, it wasn’t quite enough.

One of my neighbors suggested becoming a host family for international students. I’d never heard of such a thing. “It’s not quite the same as exchange students,” he explained. “Homestay students pay to live with a host family while they attend school in the USA.” It sounded interesting. Allen liked the idea, too. I had an extra bedroom—why not give it a try?

I got busy and contacted the international student offices in Seattle’s three major universities. I was full of questions. Could a single mom qualify as a host family? What was the remuneration for hosting? How were students selected and matched to host families?

I learned that each school had a homestay coordinator who would visit my home, meet my son and me and learn more about each of us--did we do drugs? Or have a criminal record? We needed to “pass inspection” before becoming a host family. I wasn't worried.

I also learned that:
The student must have a private room with a window, bed, closet, chest of drawers, desk and a chair. They could share a bathroom with the family.

Check.

Food was to be provided for all 3 meals; the student could make his own breakfast and lunch, but the host family should make his dinner.

Check.

There should be a bus stop within a reasonable walking distance from the home.

Check.

The student could only make one transfer between buses.

Check.

The entire commute from home to school must be under an hour.

Uh-Oh!

Back in 1992, the buses from outside Seattle's city limits weren’t that accommodating. The entire commute from my home to each of the universities was easily an hour or more. "I'm sorry," each homestay coordinator said. "You live too far away." And they rejected my application! There I was--up against the proverbial brick wall!

“Oh God,” I prayed, “I thought hosting students was a good idea, but I guess not. So, I’ll wait for a word from you, but please hurry, because I’m running low on money, and quite frankly, I don’t know what to do.”

Just a simple, straightforward prayer, but God heard and answered in a most unusual way!

To be continued.

I Should Practice What I Preach!

I often encourage my friends with these verses:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” Philippians 4:6,7 (Living Bible)

My homestay students like to kick back and relax with their friends on Friday evenings. It’s the one night they don’t have to worry about any homework due the next day. Last night none of them were home for dinner, so I decided to visit my friends, Mitra and Esmaeil, who moved to the USA from Iran many years ago. I love Mitra’s cooking, so going to their house for dinner is an absolute treat. We had such a good time last night that I didn’t get home until midnight!

As I pulled into the driveway I could see that my students’ bedroom lights were out—not surprising since I didn’t expect them back until 1:00 a.m. (I don’t impose curfews on them, but I do ask when they expect to be home.)

1:00 a.m.: Everyone’s home except Toshi.
2:00 a.m.: Surely he’s on his way.
3:00 a.m.: Where is he?
I considered calling him, but didn’t want to be a ‘hovering mother’ and embarrass him in front of his friends.

I finally drifted into a fitful sleep--my subconscious working overtime fabricating a reason for why Toshi was so late! Suddenly there they were—Toshi and his friends—and all of them with glazed-over, bloodshot eyes! I recognized that look! This was illegal, and they were all under-age! I was upset and faced them squarely--ready to give them ‘heck.’ And then I woke up!

My heart pounded in my chest. It’s not often I have a dream so real! I got out of bed and tip-toed down the hall to Toshi’s room, quietly opening the door. Streetlight filtered through the blinds and I could see his form under the covers. Had he just come home? But no, his breathing was slow and rhythmic, and the light in the entryway was still on--good indications he'd been there awhile. Hmmm.

So this morning I casually asked him when he had gotten home last night. “Oh, about 9:00 p.m.,”he said. “I was so tired I just went straight to bed!” He had been there the whole evening! He started chuckling when I told him my dream. “My friends don’t even smoke,” he said.

So there you have it. The only person losing sleep had been me! I had worried needlessly--had worried myself right into a nightmare. I should have known better. I should have prayed, relaxed and gone to sleep. I should have practiced what I preach!

Hoping I learned my lesson this time,

Love,

Homestay Mama

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!

Sunshine On My Shoulders

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy* #1

So, we headed for the mountains! #2
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry*It was eye-squinting-bright outside today!

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely* (Ezra, Indonesia)So, we hiked down for a closer look. (Toshi, Japan)
Sunshine almost always makes me high* #3

It was an exhillarating day! #4

Enjoying the sunshine while we can! (cuz it's usually raining in Seattle!)

Love,

Homestay Mama

*Sunshine on My Shoulders by John Denver

#Photos 1-4 by Toshi

What is a Homestay Mama?

Robynn from Robynn's Ravings stopped by yesterday and wanted to know exactly what a Homestay Mama is. But before I answer her question, I just want to say thanks for stopping by, Robynn. I'm glad I met you via blog land which is almost as good as meeting you in person. I will be visiting you again--I like your humor--and I hope you will visit me again as well.
Now, to answer your question--

English is the trade language of the world and students from other countries have an advantage of finding an excellent job in their own country if they have studied English abroad or have earned a college degree from a university in an English speaking country such as the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, etc.

America is a very popular destination for international students. Washington state is especially strong in the number of colleges that recruit and welcome international students. The greater Seattle area is home to many colleges/universities that have ESL (English as a Second Language) programs. Most international students have learned a little English in their home country, but find they need additional training in English in order to compete with native English college students when pursuing their undergraduate degrees here.

When these international students arrive, some choose to live in the college dorm, or a private apartment, but a large number prefer to live with an American family. These students are called 'homestay' students. The advantages of living with an American family are many. They learn English faster; they learn first hand about American culture; and, they develop friendships that may last a lifetime.

There are advantages for the host family as well. The family learns about the countries, cultures and religions of their students; they make lasting friendships; and, they get paid for hosting the students.

I chose the name 'Homestay Mama' because in a sense I become my homestay students' 'Mom' while they are here in America. Sometimes I even act as their guardian when they're under 18 years of age. I chose 'Home to the World' as my blog name because that is literally what my home has become--a home in America for students from all around the world--Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Eretria, Turkey, Germany, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia.

I realize that not everyone can open their home to a stranger, especially a stranger from a different country, but I find it very rewarding. I am happiest when my home is full of young, energetic, international college-age students. I love talking with them. I love helping them with their English. I love learning about their countries, cultures, religions. I love tasting their foods and sometimes even learning how to cook their recipes. I love staying in touch with them after they have graduated, gone back to their countries, gotten jobs and started families of their own.

Why does being a homestay mama work for me? Because my God-given personality and gift of hospitality come tailor-made from our Creator, Himself! It's really quite awesome when you think about it!

Finding joy in the journey,

Love,

Homestay Mama