Star Student of the Month, Marieke

With the holidays on top of us now, I wanted to drop you a note to let you know how fabulous our hosting experience is turning out to be.  I had expectations of what I wanted all of us to get from this experience, but I had no idea we would be developing what I think will be a lifelong friendship-not only with our host-daughter, Mareike, but with her family as well.

Mareike is a friendly and loving girl from Germany.  She came to America so very well prepared for her experience.  She tries everything!  She wanted to play "American Football", and so played on the high school's senior "Powder-Puff" team.  She will be starting winter track next.  She fits into our family so well.  She has a great sense of humor and a wonderful sensitivity about her.  She quickly adapted to our sarcastic sense of humor, and uses it well.  There is very little that is lost in translation.  She is open to weekend  excursions, going to the mall, or flopping on the couch to watch TV.  

All of the girls play around and tease each other as if they had been together their whole life.  Currently we are learning about German Christmas traditions.  Her mother sent her favorite children's Christmas book and she is translating it on cards for us so we can enjoy it as well.  And, she is learning some American traditions as well.  She has a new stocking hung by the chimney with care, and a fresh new copy of Clement C. Moore's, The Night Before Christmas.  She is also waiting patiently for her chance to sit on Santa's lap!

I mentioned that we are developing a friendship with her family as well.  I try to stay in contact with her mother at least weekly.  I know that if one of my daughters was somewhere far away with people I didn't know I would want to know what was going on!  Teenagers aren't the best at staying in touch, so I try to keep her mother updated and send some pictures occasionally too.  I am so excited to meet these people, who are so far away in miles, but so near and dear to my heart.

Mareike says often that she knows she got the best host family.  We feel the same way about Mareike as well.  We got the best friend, sister, daughter.  I know we picked her ourselves, but we did good!

I can't say enough about this whole experience without mentioning our representative, Tracy Coker.  She has been so easy to work with and friendly to talk to.  I never feel like I am being a bother, and she is so quick to answer any questions I email her with.

So, thanks Ayusa.  Thanks for doing such a fantastic job and giving not only the kids, but the host families too, such a great experience.