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I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/15/2008 9:27:50 PM
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MrsTracy72
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Sort of. We applied for an exchange student and things got a bit hairy for a while because the principal at our school didn't want the student since he was coming from someplace other than AFS, but after a lovely conversation with him today, he did approve my student. So have any of you ever done this before?
While this is a total first for me, my husband had an exchange student stay with him while he was in highschool and had a great time. Our student is a 16 year old boy from China. He has a very good understanding of English and seems sweet. I just don't know what I am going to say to him when I see him. But I can't wait!!!!
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 12:31:50 AM
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MrsDC
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First thing to say? "Hello!!!" :)
During our furlough last month, we spent a week with 4 Chinese girls who were touring the States. We had a fantastic time! The girls said that the hardest things they had to work through were #1 How fast everyone talks and #2 American Chinese food! ;^)
I hope you have a great time with your new son!!!
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 9:14:10 AM
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zoebob
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My parents have had many exchange students: at least 7. The still keep in touch with them all I think. Once is back in America married to a US soldier.
My dad also places exchange students in homes and is what they call an area rep. Do you have an orientation meeting with your representative to help give you tips and rules? Listen to their suggestions. Don't be afraid to go to him/her with any concerns. Remember that you are their parents while they are here.
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L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 10:21:27 AM
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MrsTracy72
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AFS is one of the companies that the students can come in through. Most of the schools around here accept the kids from that program and for some reason, the schools think that they are only allowed to accpet kids from that program, or just prefer to which either way is against the law. But that is all past and so within the next couple of weeks, he will be here.
Our case worker actually sits in front of us at church so we are going to see her often. I don't even know how we got to talking about it, but she asked me a few months ago if I would be interested, and I told her I would when we had a house that would fit another person. That was before we were even looking. But then this house came along, she brought his profile to church one day and he just seemed good. I don't know how to explain it, but just by his pic, it seemed right.
So this is going to be an experience. He is coming over with another girl from China and so at least on his flight it will be him and her. We are not sure if he is going to meet up with other kids along the way and fly in with them. But I know he is going to be tired when he gets here.
When my husband flew to China, he said the weirdest thing was that he saw the sun rise twice.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 12:35:05 PM
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VisitorinWaiting
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TRACY...YOU got me! I looked at the title, then glanced over to see who wrote it. I wish I had a picture of my face when I saw that it was you. LOL Not that it would be unusual for you to be pregnant with a child...just surprised, that's all. Then when I read it, I said, "Oh, she told me about that." I just didn't put 2 and 2 together...post more later.
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Hebrews 11:13,16 "...They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth...they were waiting for a better country, a heavenly country." (NCV)
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 4:17:14 PM
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MC4JC
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That is so cool - I've always wanted to be able to do something like that. As far as what to say when you meet? A simple "Welcome to (whatever state/town). We hope that your stay will offer both of us a lifelong friendship and we can learn from each other"
One of the members of our church got to have an exchange student (from Germany) - he was Chinese. And atheist! The entire church was praying for him to come to know God/Jesus. He did come to church and usually just sat there - no singing, etc.
He left for spring break to go home. When he returned home a few weeks after that (about a month before school ended)....he stood up in front of the church and told everyone that he had accepted Christ as his savior and wanted to be baptised before he went back home. The entire church gave him a standing ovation, clapping, hugging, etc.
Our prayers were answered :)
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 5:46:02 PM
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VisitorinWaiting
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Anyway, as I was saying...
I do have a friend who had an exchange student this past semester. If you'd like, I will ask her to email you, and she could give you some pointers. She's a really nice woman. Just let me know...
_____________________________
Hebrews 11:13,16 "...They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth...they were waiting for a better country, a heavenly country." (NCV)
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/16/2008 9:48:51 PM
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MrsTracy72
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LOL Hillary, obviously you didn't read the Vasoctomy Reversal thread. I can have kids but he can't. I always wanted 4 so I guess I get to see what it is like.
I do hope that his family is ok with us taking him to church because he is from China, but on his bio it says that he is not affiliated with any religion so that is better to me than them saying he is anything but Christian because I would feel guilty even taking him to church eventhough I know we are obligated to plant that seed.
His dad is in the army and while it is not our goal to get him to believe in Christ, it would be nice. But we cannot allow him to be baptised unless he get permission from his parents. He will be immersed in our church though. We have spiritual formation classes that go from middle school on up to the elderly and Sunday School before that. Since we participate in classes, he will be in class with kids his age, and I am going to be teaching Sunday School this year so if he wants to be in Choir, that is at the same time I teach so he can come with me in the mornings. I just told my husband about the Sunday School thing and it is kind of a deal because our church is about half an hour drive from home and we are already there from 9:15 til 12:15 and I will have to be there about 7:45. But I have been saying that when I have been in the church long enough to know what is what and feel comfortable, I was going to do something.
But his family does know that no matter what kind of family he gets placed with, he will attend church as often as they do, or if they do not attend church he won't. We have all of our rules and guidelines that we need to follow, and I intend on doing just that. I really don't want to anger his father.
Hillary, you can give my e:mail or myspace out. Just let me know who I am looking for so I can approve the message.
So anyway, now all I do is wait.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 3:12:46 PM
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zoebob
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My dad is a rep for ASSI and the kids are supposed to participate in activities with the family so if the host family goes to church every Sunday dthen the student does too. If they allow their teens to stay home then the student could too I suppose but if there is something the host parents would expect their own teens to do then the exchange student is expected to also
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L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 4:43:29 PM
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MrsTracy72
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The group we are working with is more like what Zoe mentioned. The kids are to blend into our families as if they are our own. From the way our case worker was talking, they even call you mom and dad, or at least some do.
We still need to go shopping for school supplies and I am not sure if I am going to get him a cell phone or not. We can get a pay as you go phone, or add him to our plan for only 10.00 a month. But then they make you stay under contract longer. Our rep said he should have a phone in case he finds himself in a postition he can't get out of or gets lost or something like that. I am thinking pre-paid just in case he decides to use it to call the entire world. At least he will be cut off at a certian limit. My son has a phone and is only allowed to use it in emergencies, to call me, or he has to ask for anything else.
My kids are excited because they think this is going to be one giant sleep over. I am sure that the novelty will wear off, but it is going to take a while for the girls, because they have more than a year's worth of plans for this kid.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 6:46:50 PM
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shadowspring
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More than a year's worth of plans-LOL! He should have a great time!
We got one of our students a Tracphone. It worked fine for her. I don't think we even added minutes to the original purchase (I paid for the phone and kept it when she left, she paid for minutes).
_____________________________
"Blessed is the man...whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by rivers of water..." from Psalm 1
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 8:22:08 PM
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MrsTracy72
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I have to find a phone that is going to have good reception and minutes that don't expire. Some make you buy more minutes every month in order to keep the phone number active. I think I am going to start with my provider and see what options they have for me. I have been with them for something like 9 years and a few conversions so they should be able to do something for me.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 8:25:58 PM
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zoebob
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my kids have a tracphone. I paid for 120 minutes up front and pay $4.95 a month to have service on. It's pay as you go and the minutes don't expire. It's only for emergencies.
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 8:30:13 PM
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MrsTracy72
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I will definately have to look at that then. That will have to be cheaper than what my phone company can do since his phone is only for emergencies and NOT for calling home.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 9:17:05 PM
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zoebob
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For calling home, the kids my dad places have to pay for their own calls and they are limited to a certain # barring emergency. THey are supposed to be bonding with their host family not holding on to mommy and calling her every day.
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/17/2008 9:23:56 PM
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MrsTracy72
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Ours aren't supposed to call home at first or regularly, but they are allowed to after they get used to being here. My caseworker always has kids and uses one of the 10 10 numbers and said that she got .03 a minute, and they are to pay for their own calls. That is also another way of discouraging them from calling too often. But in the end, it is up to us if we let them call or not.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/19/2008 5:47:27 AM
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nicole6598
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Wow, how exciting!! My sister in law had one in high school. The girl was from Japan, she spoke NO English though apart from "hello". It was so funny, I drove her to pick her up from the school and we didn't know what to say, we were like miming the whole time. She soon picked up some words, one of them was when my husband (who was only my bf at the time) walked out in a towel as he had forgotten his clothes and she waved her hand infront of her face and said "ooohhh he is hot!". LOL we laughed so hard.
The last night she was with them she gave her life to the Lord, MIL had already organised a Bible that was translated into her language, they get an email from her every now and again. I don't think she ever went to church in Japan though which is a shame, but she enjoyed our church and youth group.
You will have an awesome time!! how long is he staying with you for?
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Proud Aussie, Wife, Mother, Woman!
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/19/2008 9:12:17 AM
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MrsTracy72
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Thanks Nicole! He is going to be with us for the entire school year and go to our high school. So he and my son can walk to school together because the middle school and highschool are right next to eachother. I really can't wait and my kids are so excited.
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/20/2008 1:52:22 AM
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nicole6598
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Wow, that is a loooooonnnngggg time to be away from home!! Does he go back there at all in the school break or will his parents visit him?
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Proud Aussie, Wife, Mother, Woman!
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/20/2008 3:24:13 AM
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zoebob
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The organization my dad works for the kids are here from Mid-Aug through sometime in June. They never go home till the end and hte parents are discouraged from visiting and not in the first half at least.
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/20/2008 5:01:52 AM
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nicole6598
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Wow that's pretty rough IMO. I don't think I would want to send my child away for that long and not see them!
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/20/2008 9:09:27 AM
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Tinkerbell_
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Yes but it's an amazing opportunity for the student. My parents friends had a student from Russia back in the mid 90's and she was a doll.
If it were something my child really wanted to do then why not? They are with well screened families, and it's only a year. What a great way to learn about a new culture and language!
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RE: I'm going to be a mom!!!! - 8/20/2008 9:37:48 AM
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MrsTracy72
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quote:
ORIGINAL: zoebob
The organization my dad works for the kids are here from Mid-Aug through sometime in June. They never go home till the end and hte parents are discouraged from visiting and not in the first half at least.
That is exactly what the rules are for us too. The organization I am working with is Youth for Understanding.
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