Exchange student from Sweden
07-24-2011, 07:39 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: WV
Posts: 819
Originally Posted by dglvr
Originally Posted by olebat
We've hosted 18 exchange students. Seventeen of them were WONDERFUL. Each one, including #18, brought new joys into our home. Even though we selected students with family compatibility, once they got here, and involved with other students, they did less of the things we thought we'd share. However, we shared their new things with them, and learned even more. It's a life enriching experience. Enjoy.
I would like to get one from Australia but their school year is different than ours. I would have to get one in January (I think its Jan.) and they'd do a 1/2 year of one school year and be here all summer then to the first 1/2 of the next year. I have 2 spare bedrooms so I'm going to check into it further with my coordinator. Have you had one from Australia? I can't wait for Siri (from Sweden) to get here. I'm not sure when that will be yet. I'm getting excited. I have her on Facebook so its been fun chatting with her. We don't have other kids here so they are only children (besides my dogs) when they come. Norina (from Austria) enjoyed all the attention :thumbup:
Went to Germany last summer for the marriage of #7 son, and visited with several of our other "children", meeting our "grand children" for the first time. Have an opportunity to go to a conference in the Check Republic in two years, which will give us an opportunity to see several of the other "kids" and their families. Conference - great excuse for a tax deduction.
07-24-2011, 08:24 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Washington State summer, Sun City AZ winter
Posts: 701
I'm sure you will have a great time with your student. We had 3 Japanese students for a "home stay" program for 3 summers and we enjoyed getting to know them and taking them around Seattle to see the sights. Our son went over there under the same program when he was 15. He loved it.
07-24-2011, 09:48 AM
#33
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 4
This will be a great and rewarding experience for you and your family. As a former student coordinator for a Scandinavian exchange service I placed many students in our area for a school year. Almost all of the students and families had a great and rewarding experience.
Our family has hosted 2 Sweedish girls for a school year as wells as 2 Russians and one Costa Ricaian for 2 week periods. The Sweedish girls spoke excellent English as they take English startng in 3rd grade.
My best advice for you is keep your girl busy. Take her to as many places as you can and let her experience as much of America and our culutre. I live a small town of about 300 so we also had a 45 minute drive to a mall. As time went on doing things at school and with their friends was more imporant that shopping at the mall...especially since we were behind Eurpoe in fashion. (At least our local mall was.)
Good luck :)
Our family has hosted 2 Sweedish girls for a school year as wells as 2 Russians and one Costa Ricaian for 2 week periods. The Sweedish girls spoke excellent English as they take English startng in 3rd grade.
My best advice for you is keep your girl busy. Take her to as many places as you can and let her experience as much of America and our culutre. I live a small town of about 300 so we also had a 45 minute drive to a mall. As time went on doing things at school and with their friends was more imporant that shopping at the mall...especially since we were behind Eurpoe in fashion. (At least our local mall was.)
Good luck :)
07-24-2011, 09:56 AM
#34
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 3,807
Originally Posted by olebat
Originally Posted by dglvr
Originally Posted by olebat
We've hosted 18 exchange students. Seventeen of them were WONDERFUL. Each one, including #18, brought new joys into our home. Even though we selected students with family compatibility, once they got here, and involved with other students, they did less of the things we thought we'd share. However, we shared their new things with them, and learned even more. It's a life enriching experience. Enjoy.
I would like to get one from Australia but their school year is different than ours. I would have to get one in January (I think its Jan.) and they'd do a 1/2 year of one school year and be here all summer then to the first 1/2 of the next year. I have 2 spare bedrooms so I'm going to check into it further with my coordinator. Have you had one from Australia? I can't wait for Siri (from Sweden) to get here. I'm not sure when that will be yet. I'm getting excited. I have her on Facebook so its been fun chatting with her. We don't have other kids here so they are only children (besides my dogs) when they come. Norina (from Austria) enjoyed all the attention :thumbup:
Went to Germany last summer for the marriage of #7 son, and visited with several of our other "children", meeting our "grand children" for the first time. Have an opportunity to go to a conference in the Check Republic in two years, which will give us an opportunity to see several of the other "kids" and their families. Conference - great excuse for a tax deduction.
What fun. I've not been there but maybe someday. I'm in Washington State so it would be a loooong flight. Wish I could go with ya. :thumbup:
07-24-2011, 10:04 AM
#35
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 3,807
Originally Posted by Linda - K.
I'm sure you will have a great time with your student. We had 3 Japanese students for a "home stay" program for 3 summers and we enjoyed getting to know them and taking them around Seattle to see the sights. Our son went over there under the same program when he was 15. He loved it.
Are you going to do it again? My brother in law is the coordinator at Green River College in Kent. :thumbup:
07-24-2011, 10:11 AM
#36
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 3,807
Originally Posted by sewing grammie
This will be a great and rewarding experience for you and your family. As a former student coordinator for a Scandinavian exchange service I placed many students in our area for a school year. Almost all of the students and families had a great and rewarding experience.
Our family has hosted 2 Sweedish girls for a school year as wells as 2 Russians and one Costa Ricaian for 2 week periods. The Sweedish girls spoke excellent English as they take English startng in 3rd grade.
My best advice for you is keep your girl busy. Take her to as many places as you can and let her experience as much of America and our culutre. I live a small town of about 300 so we also had a 45 minute drive to a mall. As time went on doing things at school and with their friends was more imporant that shopping at the mall...especially since we were behind Eurpoe in fashion. (At least our local mall was.)
Good luck :)
Our family has hosted 2 Sweedish girls for a school year as wells as 2 Russians and one Costa Ricaian for 2 week periods. The Sweedish girls spoke excellent English as they take English startng in 3rd grade.
My best advice for you is keep your girl busy. Take her to as many places as you can and let her experience as much of America and our culutre. I live a small town of about 300 so we also had a 45 minute drive to a mall. As time went on doing things at school and with their friends was more imporant that shopping at the mall...especially since we were behind Eurpoe in fashion. (At least our local mall was.)
Good luck :)
07-24-2011, 02:26 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 675
I have a friend who is from Sweden. She lives near Stockholm. I met her on a message board years ago. She, along with her SO, came to vist us in 2003. She spoke good English, where he was more limited & required her to translate for him. They loved it here. They had visited Florida in the late 90's.
Knitting & crocheting are a big craft thing in Sweden. My friend doesn't sew, so no quilting. I taught her to make Dream Catchers while they were here.
Their country is small, about the size of Texas. Many do allot of water sports, trips on cruise ships, etc. They do 1-2 day cruises allot. When my friends came we had pre-chose things to see & do. Things they would never see at home, like take an Amish buggy ride, tour the Harley Davidson factory, etc. We toured as much of our state as we could in 9 days. We put 2600 miles on my car! We did do a down-day so they could get over the jet lag. Their flight here was a good 10 hours long.
Some foods they loved, while others they hated. I think her SO tried about every soda, juice, sports drink we have, LOL. He loved to try new things. Oh one thing to keep in mind.....we have words for things that are the same, but the thing is different. So before letting you student order food at a restaurant make sure she understands what it is she is ordering.
They mind the heat, so your student may require a fan or AC.
My friend brought us a book on the history of Sweden. They have a little red horse as part of their culture. You could maybe take that & use it in a quilt, placemats, ornament.
Info on the "Dala" horse:
http://www.svenskhyllningsfest.org/dala_horse.htm
http://itotd.com/articles/599/the-dalahaest/
Knitting & crocheting are a big craft thing in Sweden. My friend doesn't sew, so no quilting. I taught her to make Dream Catchers while they were here.
Their country is small, about the size of Texas. Many do allot of water sports, trips on cruise ships, etc. They do 1-2 day cruises allot. When my friends came we had pre-chose things to see & do. Things they would never see at home, like take an Amish buggy ride, tour the Harley Davidson factory, etc. We toured as much of our state as we could in 9 days. We put 2600 miles on my car! We did do a down-day so they could get over the jet lag. Their flight here was a good 10 hours long.
Some foods they loved, while others they hated. I think her SO tried about every soda, juice, sports drink we have, LOL. He loved to try new things. Oh one thing to keep in mind.....we have words for things that are the same, but the thing is different. So before letting you student order food at a restaurant make sure she understands what it is she is ordering.
They mind the heat, so your student may require a fan or AC.
My friend brought us a book on the history of Sweden. They have a little red horse as part of their culture. You could maybe take that & use it in a quilt, placemats, ornament.
Info on the "Dala" horse:
http://www.svenskhyllningsfest.org/dala_horse.htm
http://itotd.com/articles/599/the-dalahaest/
07-24-2011, 04:13 PM
#39
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 3,807
Originally Posted by Feather3
I have a friend who is from Sweden. She lives near Stockholm. I met her on a message board years ago. She, along with her SO, came to vist us in 2003. She spoke good English, where he was more limited & required her to translate for him. They loved it here. They had visited Florida in the late 90's.
Knitting & crocheting are a big craft thing in Sweden. My friend doesn't sew, so no quilting. I taught her to make Dream Catchers while they were here.
Their country is small, about the size of Texas. Many do allot of water sports, trips on cruise ships, etc. They do 1-2 day cruises allot. When my friends came we had pre-chose things to see & do. Things they would never see at home, like take an Amish buggy ride, tour the Harley Davidson factory, etc. We toured as much of our state as we could in 9 days. We put 2600 miles on my car! We did do a down-day so they could get over the jet lag. Their flight here was a good 10 hours long.
Some foods they loved, while others they hated. I think her SO tried about every soda, juice, sports drink we have, LOL. He loved to try new things. Oh one thing to keep in mind.....we have words for things that are the same, but the thing is different. So before letting you student order food at a restaurant make sure she understands what it is she is ordering.
They mind the heat, so your student may require a fan or AC.
My friend brought us a book on the history of Sweden. They have a little red horse as part of their culture. You could maybe take that & use it in a quilt, placemats, ornament.
Info on the "Dala" horse:
http://www.svenskhyllningsfest.org/dala_horse.htm
http://itotd.com/articles/599/the-dalahaest/
Knitting & crocheting are a big craft thing in Sweden. My friend doesn't sew, so no quilting. I taught her to make Dream Catchers while they were here.
Their country is small, about the size of Texas. Many do allot of water sports, trips on cruise ships, etc. They do 1-2 day cruises allot. When my friends came we had pre-chose things to see & do. Things they would never see at home, like take an Amish buggy ride, tour the Harley Davidson factory, etc. We toured as much of our state as we could in 9 days. We put 2600 miles on my car! We did do a down-day so they could get over the jet lag. Their flight here was a good 10 hours long.
Some foods they loved, while others they hated. I think her SO tried about every soda, juice, sports drink we have, LOL. He loved to try new things. Oh one thing to keep in mind.....we have words for things that are the same, but the thing is different. So before letting you student order food at a restaurant make sure she understands what it is she is ordering.
They mind the heat, so your student may require a fan or AC.
My friend brought us a book on the history of Sweden. They have a little red horse as part of their culture. You could maybe take that & use it in a quilt, placemats, ornament.
Info on the "Dala" horse:
http://www.svenskhyllningsfest.org/dala_horse.htm
http://itotd.com/articles/599/the-dalahaest/
My last exchange student took my Bargello American Flag so of course I better make another for Siri. Or wait so she can make her own. I just hope she wants to learn how. She said she did.
I hope she doesn't mind the lack of water here. There are seas of wheat fields. :shock:
Maybe I should come visit you. I'd love to see Amish country.
I helped a guy on a Harley a few years ago and beings I rode motorcycles he lived by the Harley factory and sent me all kinds
of stuff from there. That would be fun too. Sounds like you gave them quite the site seeing trip. Something they will always treasure. 10 hour flight to you will be 13 here. :?
Well thanks for taking the time for all the info and I'm going to go play around in all these wonderful sites.
Thanks and thanks to everyone posting and taking the time out to help me. I think I'll be well equiped now. :thumbup:
07-24-2011, 04:19 PM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Royse City Texas
Posts: 2,870
We have Norwegian friends and the prices for many things are much cheaper here now that there...that is why she wants the mall! They come here and stock up on as many things as they can carry home.
It sounds like you will have a lot fun together...that will be a great learning experience for both of you! ENJOY!
It sounds like you will have a lot fun together...that will be a great learning experience for both of you! ENJOY!
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