[Twinkletoes]

Even though we are considered "over the hill" by some, my husband and I decided to open our smallish home to a foreign exchange student this school year.

I combed through lots and lots of profiles and viewed the pictures students had posted of themselves and their friends & families. Part of the application process for them was to hand-write in just 15 minutes a little about themselves and why they wanted to come to the USA. They have to have at least a "B" average in school, be a Jr. or Sr. and have good English-speaking skills.

I wanted a girl. I can't remember where the first one was from, but it turned out that she was already taken. Same with the 2nd & 3rd choices. Another girl seemed like a good match, but she wanted a "sister" in her new temporary home (we're empty-nesters) Then we found Mari from Norway. We had to be interviewed by someone from the agency, who came and took some pictures of our house. (It hasn't been that clean since!!!)

A couple of weeks later we were approved, so I joined her Facebook page and wrote her an email. She wrote back the next day. Then I wrote a really LONG email and she wrote an equally LONG one back! We are both very chatty & adventurous, and I think we will get along together just fine.

Even my DH is excited! He has planned seemingly dozens of weekend trips for her to see the National Parks and other points of interest here in Utah and in neighboring states. We are all so excited! She has been in the Boston area for just over a week at an orientation camp with the other exchange students. We pick her up this Saturday morning!!!

I've already told our grown children that the guest room belongs to Mari during the coming months. They and their famlies will have to sleep in the office on the futon and air mattress.

My teenaged Sunday School class is so excited about her arrival. I've arranged for some of the the girls to spend a day with Mari while I work the first week. I am just a p/t worker at Justice Court, but am required to be there full-time for our new computer program training for 3 days. Ugh.

The following week she and I will travel to Vegas (baby!) where we have tickets to see Phantom (she's only ever seen the movie and loves it). The hottest weather she's ever experienced is 80 degrees!!! I hope we don't both melt! Vegas is 5 hours from here and I've never driven there alone. Yikes! Yes, we have a GPS, thank goodness!

Just had to share! I welcome any advice from my NT friends. And yes, we have made some rules so that she will become part of the family, rather than remain a pampered guest. Mari is to be in charge of cleaning her bedroom and bathroom (which is also the main bathroom) and share in a little light housekeeping.

Speaking of housekeeping, I need to finish cleaning the fridge and clean the bathrooms! Only 3 more days and she'll be here!

[Kitty]

Sounds like such fun! I hope you enjoy having her at your home.

[SallyC]

How exciting....have a blast..