8/21/16 I'm still not sure if we will be able to send David to France this year and honestly it might be better to make him wait one more year until he can get a job and pay for more of it. Part of this program is the opportunity to host a French student for three weeks in the Spring next year. I know it isn't quite a full foreign exchange student, but I think it fulfills the spirit of what I want to do. So no matter if David does the trip or not, we can host someone.
9/23/16 For the life of me, I can't get Madame Veal to email me back about the students coming to stay. I will try one more time.
11/28/16 She never got back to me about the French student coming in the Spring. I think I even contacted her twice about it. Not meant to be.
1/31/17 Got a text from David the other day about hosting a student from France in April. Hello! I already said I would do it. His French teacher is a poor communicator. Now I have to depend on David to be the go between and he is not always the most reliable source of information either.
2/5/17 Looks like we are actually a go for hosting a student in April from France. They are only here for a couple of weeks, but I think that will count for hosting an exchange student. Funny thing is I am most concerned about whether I have to actually pack a lunch for the kid. I don't even do that for my kids.
2/12/17 Here is our info sheet about hosting our student. I'm excited about coming up with some activities. More planning. Yay!!!
HOSTING A FRENCH STUDENT
The student you will be hosting is a high school student who has never traveled to the US. It is therefore important that you reach out to them as soon as possible to get to know them and help them feel welcome and prepared. We will be providing information on how to contact your student very soon, including an email address and potentially a skype ID so you can see them and speak with them via the internet.
During your exchanges with your French student, be sure to discuss the following :
· Anything they may be nervous about
· What a typical day looks like in your family (what time you wake up, how you get to school, what happens after school).
Wednesday, April 19
· Be at the airport at 3:30 to welcome your student.
· Dinner at home is best.
Thursday, April 20
· Bring French student with you to school by 8am.
· The French student will go to class with you all morning and have lunch with you.
· Go to your normal schedule. Retrieve your student at 3:20pm from room 161.
· Grocery shopping in the evening.
Friday, April 21
· Bring French student to STEM by 7:45am.
· French students going to the Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods.
· Pick up at STEM at 5:30pm.
· Evening event with family.
Saturday, April 22 & Sunday April 23
· Weekend events with student with family.
Monday, April 24
· Bring the French student to STEM by 8am
· They will go to class with you all morning, and go to lunch with you.
· Pick up from STEM at 4:00pm
Tuesday, April 25
· Bring your French student to STEM by 8am
· Full day excursion Golden and Red Rocks.
· Pick up from STEM at 4:00pm
Wednesday, April 26
· The French student will attend school with you ALL day today
Thursday, April 27
· Bring the French student to STEM with you by 8am
· Full day excursion planned for them downtown Denver
· Pick up from STEM at 4:00pm
Friday, April 28
· Pack a few snacks for the student’s travels
· Be at DIA by 6:45
9/9/17 We totally should have written this stuff down when Max was here. He was great. His English was not great, but it was way better than some of the other French kids on the trip. I was happy to have him. Honestly I don't even know if he went by Max. I think he may have gone by Maximilian, but I just couldn't bring myself to calm him that. It sounded way too formal. He was as skinny as a rail and he said the typical French Uh all the time, but it was endearing and fun. I think a week to 10 days is enough to have a foreign exchange student and I have a new respect for Chuck and Sheila who did it for a semester at a time. It did cost us quite a bit of money, but it wouldn't have to. I took him to a trampoline park and Boondocks and a movie and to do Airsoft. It was fun to have him do some new experiences. I'm sure he thought we were crazy Americans.
