exchange program

Ever since my younger sister and I moved out before my sophomore year of college, there have been exchange students at my parents house. I think my mom was going to miss the excitement of having a houseful of people and didn't want to lose two people at once. She grew up in a house with two brothers and five sisters. Her own home had all seven of us when everyone was home. Even though we are all now done with high school and pretty well out of the house, dad and her continue to volunteer to be host parents. Here is a rundown of who we have had. 

Christoph-from germany, same age as my younger brother, now in med school at germany. Was here when my sophomore year of college, 02-03

Mark- from germany, year older than my youngest brother. Is from a small farm in germany, here in 03-04

Taras-was from kazakhstan, only here about a month after some of my sisters friends complained about him 

Christine Abbis-girl from brazil, was here when I was teaching in 06-07. 

Samuel-boy from germany, was here in 07-08, my youngest sister's senior year

Luka-boy from germany, was here in 2009, started at Turpin, moved here after his host family decided to get a divorce. 

As you may have ascertained my parents are pretty good humanitarians for taking so many exchange students in over the years. I still contend that I had no idea that the first student was ever even coming until a day or two before he got here. I was working construction all that summer and didn't get all the family news. I just found out at dinner one day when mom started talking about where he was going to be staying at in the house.