Maria

Last month we hosted an exchange student from the Basque country in Spain through the Summer In The USA program.   It was a last-minute decision in response to a request for a host family that was circulating on our home school co-op email list, but I’m so glad we decided to do it.  Maria was patient and sweet, and the girls immediately fell in love with her.  She had been to the states twice before and came as an intern since she was already 19 and out of high school (older than the average participants).   

The first two weeks were spent getting to know our family, then a week at Young Life camp, and then one last week with us before flying home.   We tried to pack as many new and interesting experiences as we could in such a short time.  We introduced her to oatmeal cookies, pumpkin pie, cranberries, blueberry pancakes, and other foods she hadn’t tried before, and she made us a traditional Basque Tortilla dish and a delicious pudding made from minced walnuts simmered in milk.  

We visited the Oregon Zoo, hiked to Latourell Falls and Larch Mountain, and drove to Seaside for the first time.  It reminded me of growing up in Avalon on Catalina Island, with all the souvenir shops, seafood, saltwater taffy, and tourists walking in the streets.

At the aquarium, the girls got to pick up starfish and hermit crabs, feed the sea lions, and see an octopus and stingray up close.  

We visited the library and saw the “reptile man” bring out exotic snakes, lizards, turtles, and a giant bullfrog that delighted the kids.

Katya, Megan and I took Maria and all our girls fishing at the Rainbow Trout Farm, which was a lot of fun.  Maria caught two that got away from her when they started flopping, but finished with the biggest catch of the day. 

 

Having an exchange student stay with us was a new experience, but a wonderful one for all of us, and I certainly hope to do it again.