Welcoming a new family member

In 1981, a 14-year-old south American student Frank came to a family in Pennsylvania to attend 8^th  grade for a semester in an US school.  Our three boys were much younger, but were thrilled to have an older boy in the house.  His parents wanted him to improve his English, be independent and sample American education and culture.  Homesickness was the only negative aspect.

Helping a bright young man expand his horizons

Fortunately, the boys in the neighborhood readily accepted him.   He did enjoy going to school here.  And he genuinely bonded with our family.  He bought his first video game while staying with us. He saw his first professional baseball game as well. He took his first canoe ride in whitewater. And, over these 30 years he has stayed in touch with us.  Email has certainly made it easier, but the first ten years were telephone calls. Despite repeated invitations to visit his family or attend his sister’s “sweet sixteen” birthday, time and distance made this impractical.

A Friendship that lasts a lifetime

So, as we take a trip to Florida, our homestay boy from 1981 will be the man meeting us in Miami in 2016 –

It will not be a strange meeting.  Frank is now a father of four; having seen the pictures and videos of his kids growing up, talking and emailing, have kept us connected despite the years.  The upcoming reunion is more than I could have imagined decades ago……. Homestays can last a lifetime!

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