Hi. Miss me? I was appointed as our outgoing students’ coordinator last month. We held their interviews this weekend. We interviewed 30, and I think all but 3 will be accepted. In that month, I set a date, time, and location for interviews. I rounded up 35 people to interview the potentials, and a few other people to assist with registration. I had to set up an email list for the volunteers from scratch, and try to help our current students abroad. All without losing my sanity.
I’m out of the habit of writing now. I must start again. I’ve been answering emails from students around the world. This is a hard time of year for FESs. In the Southern Hemisphere, students are graduating, and they’re on Summer break. Up North, the days are short. Most students are homesick and a bit lost this time of year. If you know a FES, give her a hug.
I sent quick notes to my kids. One was watching the Macy’s parade on her laptop. Her family turned their webcam to the TV. Several shopped for traditional Thanksgiving ingredients to cook for their host families. In many places, that’s not an easy task. Some of the lucky ones went to group Thanksgiving dinners for FESs and expats. Last year, I had to buy a pyrex pie plate to make pumpkin pie. I brought the canned pumpkin with me to Bolivia. In the past, I’ve made chocolate chip cookies without a cookie sheet-we used some type of drip pan for the broiler. We’ve made brownies in iron skillets. They may not be pretty, but when you’re far from home, chocolate tastes GOOD.
Did you know that three year olds in England could be considered racist for not enjoying new foods?
From the article “This could include a child of as young as three who says “yuk” in response to being served unfamiliar foreign food.”
Oookay. Many questions come to mind.
- What’s the difference between ‘unfamiliar food’ and ‘unfamiliar foreign food’ to a small child?
- If Jan doesn’t like cilantro, is he being racist against South Americans, Asians, Europeans, or Africans?
- If Brittany doesn’t like peanut butter, is she racist against North Americans?
- Would a toddler know that french fries and french toast aren’t really French?
- If someone doesn’t like chicken with rice, is she a misanthrope?
- If Marc eats his burrito, salsa, chips, rice, and beans, but leaves the guacamole, is he just a little racist?
- Isn’t it bad manners to say ‘yuck’ even if you’re only 3?
That article was about the silliest thing I’ve read all week. I chose the bacon sandwich photo because everything is better with bacon. Ask most exchange students, they’ll agree. USA bacon is the best. Apparently, we cure it better here. Of course, frying instead of boiling helps.
Answer: Free Refills!
Questions: Best thing about the US is ___? What will you miss the most?
We had our final group discussion with the exchange students over the weekend. We talked about serious issues (reverse culture shock) and silly stuff like food.
I think we’re the only country in the world with free refills. The kids are always thrilled to discover they can drink as much soda as they want. OHMYGAWD, these kids love free refills. In many other countries, a serving size of pop is 8-ounces without refills. They also enjoy 59¢ gigunda cups of fountain soda from convenience stores.
What else do they adore? Taco Bell! Bacon! (We do have the best bacon in the world. P’s grandma used to boil bacon. ick.) Wendy’s Baconator and Frostys. Kraft macaroni & cheese. Peanut butter cheesecake. Pop-tarts. Pizza, cookies, and french fries for school lunch. Doughnuts. Did I mention Taco Bell? Most of the junk food they made fun of back in August. Chicken nuggets. Dairy Queen. Orbit Mint Mojito gum. Ranch dressing. Caesar salad. Brownies, Chocolate chip cookies. Cheese. Gatorade. Oreos.
I asked the kids how many of them went to a drive-thru and ate in the car before coming to the states. They all laughed. This year was the first time that most of the kids had used a drive-thru, but only one or two had eaten in the car. A FES said the first time his hostfamily went through the drive-thru, he sat with his bag an drink on his lap while the rest of the family ate in the car. They told him to go ahead and eat, but he waited until he returned home. He took a proper plate and glass out of the cupboard, and put his food and drink in them, sat down and ate. Now he looks back, and just laughs.
Not a one of them will miss the bread here.
I’m preparing the house for my trip. I’ve been cleaning. Yuck! I’ve grocery shopped, and washed all the blankets and comforters. I’ve filled the freezer for Husband with homemade Chili, Sloppy Joes, ham, scalloped potatoes, and That Mexican Stuff, a family favorite. Husband and our FES’s all enjoy eating this often. I made up the recipe, and it never had a name, so we just call it that Mexican stuff.
That Mexican Stuff
This recipe is forgiving, and I adjust quantities depending on what’s available in the pantry.
Ingredients: canned, drained black beans, cooked white rice, cooked corn, ground meat cooked with an undrained can of chopped tomatoes and jalapenos, (edit: cook the hamburger, drain it, then put the can of tomatoes in and stir.) lots of salsa, 1 block cream cheese cut into small pats, shredded queso blanco or any type of cheese. I use roughly equal amounts of beans and rice, and meat and corn, it always turns out well no matter the proportion. Use regular rice, as minute rice gets mushy. Use the cream cheese in the layer above the beans.
Layering: This can be layered in a roasting pan, or jumbled together in a crock pot. Husband prefers layers, the kids like it messy. Use the beans or rice for a base, then layer the rest, ending with salsa and then shredded cheese. You may need to add some water to the salsa, and poke holes in the dish so it doesn’t lay on top.
Cooking: bake uncovered at 350 until top is browned.
The dogs have a new gigunda bag of dog food, a few boxes of Scooby Snacks, and 6 huge rawhide bones. Husband is going to ask my father to come and visit with the dogs while he works. I’m home most of the day with them, and they’ll be evil lost for 10 hours alone. My dad likes the dogs, and he enjoys hanging out here. I can’t walk without the dogs trotting behind me. Every time I stand, they stand. I walk, they walk. I stop quickly, and they pile into me. It’s my entourage.
I’m saving cleaning off the kitchen table for last. Things go to our kitchen table, grow roots, and never leave. Whenever it’s cleared of everything, I take a photo for our former FES’s. Looks weird when it’s empty.
I have magic powers. Husband, I, and our cars are invisible. I can’t think of any other explanation for the many people that pull out from cross roads in front of us.
Husband and I ate a late lunch at a large, family owned restaurant today. After we finished, our waitress brought a box for leftovers, and disappeared. We waited and waited, and never saw her again. After 20 minutes, I asked the hostess to find her. SHE WENT HOME. Another waitress had to go find the bill. Husband and I heard them talking “But I don’t know what they had.” They found the bill, we paid and left. This is the second time in a month this has happened to us! The first time was also a late lunch-at Chili’s. The manager came to us, and insisted the meal was on him because we waited so long. We tried to argue that we didn’t expect a free meal, we wanted to pay.
We’ve never been dumped by servers before, to have it happen twice in a month is really weird. We joked that if it happens again, we’re just leaving. (too much residual Catholic guilt to really dine ‘n dash.)
So cute! One of our outbound students included this in her latest letter home. We’re finally getting to the stage where they no longer whisper about me and my being from another country, and some even talk to me…. I almost want to give cookies and chocolate for their progress but think it would only alienate me from the group again.
Filed under: Culture, Exchange Students | Tags: Culture, FES, Food, Home, Inbounds, Silly
FES may not puke, but he will at least roll his eyes. Feed FES any of the following: Wonder bread, unsweetened iced tea, Easy Cheese, root beer, Dr. Pepper, ginger ale, pickles, pumpkin pie, zucchini, sauerkraut, cole slaw, pretzels, peanut butter, marshmallow peeps, Boca burgers, sour cream, cranberry anything, stuffing, candied yams, sweet potatoes, or Kraft singles. (Did you notice most of Thanksgiving dinner is on the list?) Corn on the cob may be offensive to some students, as it may be considered animal feed, not for human consumption.
Then check the list again in May. See how many have become favorites.
It was great a few years ago when Heinz made blue, green, and purple ketchups. Other companies sold colored margarine and french fries. That was fun! We took the colored ketchups to all FES meetings and parties. The kids were appalled at ‘You Americans.’
How to make FES ecstatic: One word. BACON. (Husband writes: Especially the pre-cooked type you put in the microwave for 1 minute.)
Filed under: Culture, Exchange Students, hosting | Tags: Advice, Culture, FES, Food, hosting
I usually feed new students simply prepared meals; such as grilled meat, baked potatoes, rice, and green salads. All foods are unseasoned. I don’t put any dressing on the salad, and keep all ingredients separated. Watch your student to see what they enjoy. Some students are very polite, and will eat food even if they hate it. (This phase doesn’t last long.) I remember one poor Argentine eating chili. One bite of chili, a drink of water, a cracker, and another bite. He kept insisting he loved it, and we believed him.
It’s a good idea to take your student to a buffet, especially if he has limited English. You’ll get to see what your student likes, and you’ll find much to laugh and talk about at the buffet. Chileans don’t know what macaroni salad is, but they eat all the ingredients. They just don’t put it together. Many foods will be like macaroni salad to your student-familiar ingredients in a new way.
“Americans eat plastic food.” I’ve heard that from many exchange students. One Frenchman stated he only ate fresh vegetables, not plastic American ones. The host family pointed out their garden and told him the veggies were picked earlier that day. They still weren’t as tasty as French vegetables. A Brasilian said that pineapple juice wasn’t fresh if it wasn’t squeezed within a few hours. Who knew you could squeeze a pineapple? Many students are used to eating made-from-scratch meals daily…and they sit down as a family to eat those meals! Most of us don’t have the time to cook or eat together here.
The students don’t understand how expensive fresh fruits, vegetables, and baked goods are in the states. They marvel at the number of overweight people, but don’t know that it’s not cheap to eat a healthy diet. They don’t know that labor costs are very high. All they know is one lemon here is the price of 2 kilos at home. You don’t want to scare your student into not eating fresh produce, either. Raspberries are very expensive here most of the year. In parts of the world, pure raspberry juice sells along side orange, peach, and apple juices.
After the first few weeks, they’ll be shoveling in Taco Bell and McDonald’s.
- I don’t know of any other countries that have free soft drink refills. The kids really miss free refills when they return home.
- Expect to see creative uses for mayonnaisse, ketchup, and mustard.
- Not all countries eat 3 meals a day. Some countries have 4 or 5 daily meals.
- Lunch is the most important meal for many people.
- Fresh dairy products aren’t refrigerated everywhere. If you can’t find the butter, check the cupboard.
- Milk and cream sometimes come in aseptic cartons. The milk here will taste different.
- Ranch dressing is strictly American. Many students have only used olive oil and lemon juice.
- Mountain Dew, bacon, peanut butter, brownies, and Pop Tarts aren’t available worldwide.
- USA portions are HUGE compared to the rest of the world. A sandwich may only consist of one thin slice of ham, and a thin slice of cheese.
- Many of my students have their first drive-through meal in the USA.
- Expect lectures about ‘wasteful Americans’ from Europeans if you don’t recycle and compost as much as possible.
- The kids all agree on one fact. The USA has the worst bread in the entire world. When they reminisce about bread from home, they’ll have a far away, dreamy look. It is easier to find artisan bread now, but ‘it’s just not the same.’
- They hate our orange juice, too.
Filed under: Culture, Exchange Program, Exchange Students, hosting | Tags: Advice, Counselor, Culture, Family, FES, Food, hosting, ID, Language, Termination
ES Advisor/Counselor The advisor is the student’s guardian in the US. The advisor will enroll the student in school, speak regularly with the guidance office, and monitor grades. The ES advisor is an experienced volunteer The advisor helps you and the student to become a family. Please talk with the ES advisor often, at least weekly for the first month that the student lives with your family. Discuss the student’s progress and behavior. Don’t wait for small problems to grow larger. The ES may honestly not know why you are unhappy with him/her. The only thing many students know about living in America comes from TV and the movies, or previous exchange students. Please judge each student as an individual.
Food/Cooking Don’t assume the student knows how to cook or can even make a sandwich. Show your student where the food is kept and how to work the microwave, stove, toaster, etc. Ask the student what they typically have for each meal. Many countries eat later than us; have lunch as the largest meal, eat lunch-type foods for breakfast, etc. Tell the student what foods he may eat, and which are being saved for a later meal. Respect cultural differences-some foods we eat are not eaten in the ES’s home country. The student may not know the “American’ name for some foods. A cookbook with plenty of photos is a big help in the beginning. So is a trip to a large grocery store, so the student can choose familiar foods. Many students are used to most meals being made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Many have never eaten in a car
Early Return The student will be sent home immediately for several reasons. The student is not permitted to use or be around drugs. If someone is using drugs where the ES is, the student is expected to leave immediately leave or call for a ride home. The exchange students are not permitted to drive. Ever. The students cannot ride in a vehicle with someone that has been drinking. (But don’t scare the student. We had a student stay with us who would not get in the car if my husband had a beer with dinner when we dined out, unless I drove.) The student can’t be at a party where there is underage drinking. The ES is supposed to leave or call for a ride. The student is representing our program, his /her country, and your family. The ES is not to embarrass any of us. The decision to send a student home is a very serious one.
Changing Families If you’re happy, and the student is happy, we are happy. We strongly recommend leaving a student in place if the student and family wish to stay together. Everyone should have a ‘back-up’ family, just in case of problems. If you want the student to move, or the student wants to move, it’s also fine. We understand the student is here for one year, and we all want it to be the best year possible. Most counselors try to remain fluid. If the student moves, the Counselor must report the new family’s address and phone number within 10 days to the program Chairman, along with the reason why the student has moved. We must send the information to the State Department. The new host family’s Criminal Records check must be completed before the student moves.
Contact with Authorities If a student has any contact with legal authorities, including truancy officers, police, and juvenile court officials, you must notify the Assistant Chairman and Inbound Chairman immediately. This includes citations, summonses, and arrests.
Language Most students say ‘to learn English’ when we ask why they chose to come to the USA. Please assist your student in that goal. Don’t permit them to watch native language TV. Try to keep native language phone calls and IM chats to a minimum. Please don’t speak to them in their native language; it’s not a kindness. Please require them to speak English after the first month at all times. When other students visit, please remind them to speak English. We can tell the difference between students who speak English all the time, and students who continue to speak their native language.
Natural Family We have no rules for students communicating with their family. (Other than the phone call saying I arrived, and I’m fine). Some ES’s will feel comfortable calling home twice a year; others will talk almost daily. Some students become less homesick when they talk to their family or friends, the opposite is also true. Talk with your student if you detect a problem. The student’s family may wish to visit. We strongly recommend they wait until after 1/1. The student should have a chance to adjust to living here, and become proficient in English.
Termination Students may be terminated for a violation of the “4-D’s” Drinking, Drugs, Driving, and (serious) Dating. Students using drugs will be immediately terminated. Students may be terminated for other reasons, such as shoplifting, running away, physical violence, and school disciplinary problems.
Identification and Passports Please assist your student in obtaining a state ID card. The Ids are less than ten dollars, and may be purchased at a any Driver’s License Bureau. The student will need their Passport, DS-2019, and I-901.They should use the state ID card for identification purposes, and leave the passport and papers in a SAFE location. The only reason students need the passport during the year is if they travel outside the US.
Filed under: Culture, Exchange Students, Home | Tags: Culture, FES, Food, Home, Salty
The first time a student told me “Your salt isn’t very salty,” I thought WTF? Since then, several students from Europe and South America have said the same. They mean regular table salt, not even gourmet salt. And they are correct. We’ve tried many different salts, and they all taste different. I now have salt from France, Greece, Brazil, Chile, and Spain in the house.
PS: Our sugar isn’t as sweet, either.
