Exchange

Tonight at 5:30 we went to Glencoe to attend the student exchange orientation.  It was basically a mandatory recap of all the information we had already received in our handbooks and during our home visit before Teresa arrived.  For me, it was a time to scope out the other parents and students, to see how our experiences might be similar and different.

Some families repeat what they say to their student numerous times before being understood.  That almost never happens to us with Teresa.  Some of the families were very focused on rules and creating more rules.  That really has not been an issue because we have been on the same wavelength with Teresa.  Some families were quiet.  We were not.  We all seemed somewhat new to the process.  There were only four families there, including us.

While in Glencoe we shared the experience of visiting the animal sanctuary with Teresa. She seemed to enjoy it as much as Aden does.  Then we came home and she shared videos of Austrian country music and Austrian folk music and dance with us.  I love seeing Aden get interested in these things.  A few days ago he said that he was asked on the first day of school where he wants to visit, and he said Austria because Teresa is from there.

The kids are also getting more bold with one another, declining an invitation to do something with the other here or there, disagreeing about a viewpoint now and then...  It will be intersting to see where that leads.

Tomorrow Teresa is going to the Renaissance Festival and then spending the night with a student  from Germany.  Aden is having a sleepover.  Dave is at Hay Days in the metro.  Life has been on fast-forward lately, but I look forward to it settling down and all of us having some time to relax also!