17 Days to Departure

Last Sunday we had a lot of fun at a dinner hosted by the parents of one of the other Vashon Island exchange students, Andy. The food was great as was the company. The weather was perfect for picnicking and as I gazed out over the trees and Puget Sound towards the layers of Olympic mountains I for one, couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Everybody is a little worried about one thing or another and all the kids (5 were there) are so excited and seem ready, emotionally at least, to be gone. Andy's host family (in Italy) had sent him digital pictures of themselves. Everyone crowded around to see what they looked like (they are younger than his real parents). Like a lot of the families that host, they have a son who will be gone while they have Andy living with them. He will have a younger 'host brother' who is the adopted son of his host parents. This younger brother was originally from Alabama but they must have adopted him as a very young child because he speaks no English. Two of the AFS students left for their countries (Argentina and Brazil) on Tuesday. The boy going to Argentina did not have an assigned host family yet! A third AFS student has mono and will be delayed in going to Argentina for 6 weeks. That is certainly a major disappointment for him. Chloe's mom is concerned about getting through the gate at the airport to say final good-byes. She told us that minors are allowed one person to go to the gate with them. I am hoping that AR does not think I am callous but I would rather say good-bye once than go through the gate and get all weepy a second time.
Tues. Wed. and Thurs. we went to Vancouver CA. That is such a beautiful city with so much to do. On the 'spur of the moment' we decided to join a tour of the UBC campus which we liked a lot. While it is huge (43,000 students I think) it is well planned with everything within reasonable distance. If a student has a passion for swimming this would be the place to go; it has both an outdoor and indoor Olympic sized pool that are beautiful. This marks campus #6 that Anna Rae has visited. We also saw some astounding fireworks on English Bay Wed. night, put on by the country of Spain.
Every year fireworks companies have a competition in Vancouver. This is the first time we saw one. The newspaper said about 125,000 people came to see the display and I can believe it. I was glad the hotel was within walking distance.
Today I dropped off a checklist/form for AnnaRae's Dr. to complete so that she can participate in crew while in France if she wants.
Now I just wish she would start packing so we can see what needs to be weeded out or sent later.