Christmas is almost here. As in any country Christmas is a big deal. And stressful. Already our calendar is booked beyond what seems do-able. Apart from all the Christmas parties there is also all the activities we need to do ... and have fun doing it!
My sewing project is almost done. I finished the calendar for her a long time ago and my sons is done too. My daughters is in danger of not getting done. I am working day and night to get it done - it is not looking good. My husband knows how important it is to my daughter and me that is gets done before December 1st. so for the first time ever he volunteered himself and her to wrap the gifts that go on the calendar so I could sew. Last night was the wrap Christmas calendar gifts night. My husband wrapped the ones for our son and she wrapped 24 little gifts for her host sister. I will post pictures once all of them are done and full of presents.
I love the extra pair of hands. I don't expect her to work all the time but when she helps out to make stressful times a bit less stressful it is just wonderful to have an exchange student. So reason number 8 to have an exchange student.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Parenting
I don't know what exactly I expected when we signed up for an exchange student. The thing I most surprised about it the parenting involved.
Like reminding her that she needs to do her homework, keeping track of her schedule and reminding her when there is something she has to do, waking her up in the morning when she slept in ... again. At this point (3 months into her stay) I sort of figured that some things I don't need to say anymore.
One of my friends says that her son is always just landed - meaning that everything comes as a bit as a surprise to him. She is the same in some ways. The learning curve is a surprise too - after (wrongly) assuming that the bus would come at a certain time one would think one would check next time?
I didn't expect to parent like this not at this age!
Like reminding her that she needs to do her homework, keeping track of her schedule and reminding her when there is something she has to do, waking her up in the morning when she slept in ... again. At this point (3 months into her stay) I sort of figured that some things I don't need to say anymore.
One of my friends says that her son is always just landed - meaning that everything comes as a bit as a surprise to him. She is the same in some ways. The learning curve is a surprise too - after (wrongly) assuming that the bus would come at a certain time one would think one would check next time?
I didn't expect to parent like this not at this age!
Friday, November 2, 2012
School
How important is school during exchange? I was brought up on the notion that school is a priviledge and it is always important to do well in school.
During my year in Muskegon I was bored beyond belief. Being a senior in high school in the states is just not the same level as being a student in second year in a danish high school. Very quickly I realized just how little I had to do and still maintain a GPA over 3.5. I didn't have much trouble with the language nor the academic level that was taught so I could pretty much slack off in most classes. The only two classes where I couldn't slack was my hostmothers class (British lit) and Calculus. My hostmother knew that I could do better and required that I did as much as possible and calculus was actually at the same level as at home (and I would be able to use it at home).
By not even trying too hard I still managed to land in the top 10 in my class.
The story for my student is however very different. Not only is almost everything done in a different language but the level is also college level for her and she needs the credits to able to skip junior year at home and still graduate with her classmates at home.
Another thing she has to learn is that school is different than in the states (I know stating the obvious). But here we learn and understand but there they memorize and forget ... well somethings sticks ...
We were talking about the American election the other day and she was baffled about how much we care about who ends up in the whitehouse. And she was aslo baffled about how much everybody here knows about politics. That reminded me of the standard answer to my questions about different issues in Muskegon; "I don't know - we haven't covered that in school yet."
I remember my second year in the danish highschool - it was tough! And I did a lot of homework. She says she does her homework and the only class she has real troubles in is in physics but I don't see her studying that much ... and does it matter if she doesn't?
During my year in Muskegon I was bored beyond belief. Being a senior in high school in the states is just not the same level as being a student in second year in a danish high school. Very quickly I realized just how little I had to do and still maintain a GPA over 3.5. I didn't have much trouble with the language nor the academic level that was taught so I could pretty much slack off in most classes. The only two classes where I couldn't slack was my hostmothers class (British lit) and Calculus. My hostmother knew that I could do better and required that I did as much as possible and calculus was actually at the same level as at home (and I would be able to use it at home).
By not even trying too hard I still managed to land in the top 10 in my class.
The story for my student is however very different. Not only is almost everything done in a different language but the level is also college level for her and she needs the credits to able to skip junior year at home and still graduate with her classmates at home.
Another thing she has to learn is that school is different than in the states (I know stating the obvious). But here we learn and understand but there they memorize and forget ... well somethings sticks ...
We were talking about the American election the other day and she was baffled about how much we care about who ends up in the whitehouse. And she was aslo baffled about how much everybody here knows about politics. That reminded me of the standard answer to my questions about different issues in Muskegon; "I don't know - we haven't covered that in school yet."
I remember my second year in the danish highschool - it was tough! And I did a lot of homework. She says she does her homework and the only class she has real troubles in is in physics but I don't see her studying that much ... and does it matter if she doesn't?
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Reason number 9 for having an exchange student
Friday we went to tivoli for the big halloween display. We had a great day - the three kids each got a ride-bracelet so they could try all the rides. I gladly paid to get out of getting on every roller coaster and carousel. She loves amusement parks and I have to admit I am getting to old for rides now - I get motion sickness just from looking at things that go around and around and up and down.
The big payoff in the investment came after dinner - pizza, very good pizza and plenty of it. The small kids wanted to try one last ride - pirate ships that goes around and up and down. While the parents was trying to remember why that last piece was a good idea she got on the pirate ships with the twins.
Reason number 9 for having an exchange student.
The big payoff in the investment came after dinner - pizza, very good pizza and plenty of it. The small kids wanted to try one last ride - pirate ships that goes around and up and down. While the parents was trying to remember why that last piece was a good idea she got on the pirate ships with the twins.
Reason number 9 for having an exchange student.
Reason number 10 for having an exchange student
Reason number 10 for having an exchange student is the opportunity educate her in the danish candy "must try's".
First of all - candy from Bonbon - Bonbon candy came out in the 90's where they found a niche in candy with gross names: Dog farts, seagull droppings, rotten fish, big boobs, dirty diapers are among the most famous.
Next are "flødeboller": A waffle bottom topped with a sweet foam covered in chocolate.
Sunday we tried chocolate frogs with a caramel filling and a mint filling:
Next up are chocolate turtles: Dark chocolate with a caramel AND mint filling!
What we have to do in the name of international exchange!!
First of all - candy from Bonbon - Bonbon candy came out in the 90's where they found a niche in candy with gross names: Dog farts, seagull droppings, rotten fish, big boobs, dirty diapers are among the most famous.
Next are "flødeboller": A waffle bottom topped with a sweet foam covered in chocolate.
Sunday we tried chocolate frogs with a caramel filling and a mint filling:
Next up are chocolate turtles: Dark chocolate with a caramel AND mint filling!
What we have to do in the name of international exchange!!
Taking care of another mothers child
I am in awe of anybody who takes the leap of faith and send their child across the world to live with a family of strangers for a year.
I am thankful that I have been given the privilege to help her grow as a person and learn important lessons about herself this year.
I am thankful for the opportunity to give a young girl the experience that I once had
I am thankful to take part in a global effort to understanding between cultures.
I am thankful to witness the transformation that takes place when cultural exchange takes effect
I am glad to experience the exchange experience from another angle
I love international exchange!
I am thankful that I have been given the privilege to help her grow as a person and learn important lessons about herself this year.
I am thankful for the opportunity to give a young girl the experience that I once had
I am thankful to take part in a global effort to understanding between cultures.
I am thankful to witness the transformation that takes place when cultural exchange takes effect
I am glad to experience the exchange experience from another angle
I love international exchange!
Going out?
Being 16 in Denmark is not easy - being a teenager in any country is not easy I can imagine. Being a 16 year old american teenager in Denmark is certainly a challenge. She comes from a small town in North Dakota with less than 2000 inhabitants so it is safe to assume that everybody knows everybody and it is fairly safe to be almost anywhere. Even though we too live in a small town most of all activities takes place in Køge, Solrød or Copenhagen. It is important to know where to go and where not to go in order to be safe.
One of the big issues we have had has been going out. We think it is important to socialize with her fellow classmates and the way that is done in a danish school is parties and hanging out with classmates. We have talked at length about safety and checking in with us on a regular basis and it is hard to get through to her that we need to know where she is, who she is with and when she is going home. When we talk to her she understands, but doing it seems to slip her mind a lot once she leaves the door.
When my own kids reach 16 I will know what kind of people they are, what they are capable of and they will know how to act when they are going out. I don't her like that yet. I can't restrict all access to social activities and I can't wait to get to know her well enough to trust she knows what she is doing because then the year is gone. So how can I help her have a good year as an exchange student and keep her safe at the same time?
After a few trials and errors I think we have a good system in place. She texts us when she reaches her destination and when she leaves wherever she is. If we don't hear from her we will start texting and calling - both her and the people she is with. We also had to learn to remember to ask about all the details before she leaves.
Luckily she has many friends and they are very good at taking care of her. They make sure that she is not alone at any time at night and we are confident that she is safe when she is with them and she has now understood that she never should be alone on the street at night and we can sleep peacefully. Although it does seem like we have regressed a bit - three short years ago we sighed and thought no more kids waking us op in the middle of night. The only difference now is that the we not only wake up we also have to start the car and pick her up somewhere :).
Lessons learned
- we know what kind of parents we will be with our kids once they hit 16
- thank god for cellphones - what did our own parents do when we were younger?
- keeping the lines of communication open between you and the student or child is the key.
One of the big issues we have had has been going out. We think it is important to socialize with her fellow classmates and the way that is done in a danish school is parties and hanging out with classmates. We have talked at length about safety and checking in with us on a regular basis and it is hard to get through to her that we need to know where she is, who she is with and when she is going home. When we talk to her she understands, but doing it seems to slip her mind a lot once she leaves the door.
When my own kids reach 16 I will know what kind of people they are, what they are capable of and they will know how to act when they are going out. I don't her like that yet. I can't restrict all access to social activities and I can't wait to get to know her well enough to trust she knows what she is doing because then the year is gone. So how can I help her have a good year as an exchange student and keep her safe at the same time?
After a few trials and errors I think we have a good system in place. She texts us when she reaches her destination and when she leaves wherever she is. If we don't hear from her we will start texting and calling - both her and the people she is with. We also had to learn to remember to ask about all the details before she leaves.
Luckily she has many friends and they are very good at taking care of her. They make sure that she is not alone at any time at night and we are confident that she is safe when she is with them and she has now understood that she never should be alone on the street at night and we can sleep peacefully. Although it does seem like we have regressed a bit - three short years ago we sighed and thought no more kids waking us op in the middle of night. The only difference now is that the we not only wake up we also have to start the car and pick her up somewhere :).
Lessons learned
- we know what kind of parents we will be with our kids once they hit 16
- thank god for cellphones - what did our own parents do when we were younger?
- keeping the lines of communication open between you and the student or child is the key.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)