FA Boarding Space

All of the students who live with us are between 15 and 18 years of age, but don't let their chronological age fool you. At one moment they can appear so adult like with a very disciplined attitude towards studying and adult like courage as they travel around the world, but then almost out of nowhere they are teasing each other, poking each other or playing some childhood game with laughter that is reminiscent of young children.

So it was no surprise, that after dinner last night the six students who were with us (Won, Diana, Felipe, Hae-Jin, Gun, and Seulki) decided to explore our "Let's Find Waldo" series of books, which were new to them. The picture above has all six of them crowded around our kitchen table exploring three different Waldo books simultaneously. It wasn't long before the six of them broke off into three pairs with each pair having their own book and competing who could find Waldo first. Every few minutes shouting would erupt as someone found Waldo and then laughter at where they found him. They would not appreciate my using the word "cute" to describe their behavior, but that's exactly what it was.

While in many, many ways these students are mature young adults once in awhile you get a glimpse into the fact that in some ways they are still children at heart, which is good for us to remember.

On Thursday morning I went to the airport to pick-up a new Academy student, Luo Mengli (Diana) from China. She will begin her studies at the Academy at the beginning of next semester, which starts on January 20th.

Since Diana arrived a little early Dottie and I will host her until her host family is ready for her sometime in the next few days, although we would love to keep her. She is a wonderful, bright, cheerful and respectul student. Our girls (and Felipe) are enjoying her tremdously. At times we wish our home were larger - with 3 regular boarding students, Felipe here for a semester, periodic visits from boarding student's parents, our own 7 children coming to visit along with grandchildren even our 6 bedroom home can become a bit crowded - but we enjoy all of it!

In the picture on top (left to right): Seulki, Diana, Won and Hae-Jin. In the picture to the left Diana and HaeJin are poised in front of a 12 foot snow bank.

Seulki, Hae-Jin and Felipe went home for Christmas break to visit with their families, but Won decided to stay here with us as we celebrated Christmas with our children and grandchildren.

In the picture above Won is working with three of our grandchildren Grace, Caius and Julie on an art project. In the picture below our youngest son David, an electrical engineer for Raytheon is helping Julia with her paper dolls. Jayme and her husband Dave also made it home. Jayme is expecting their first child in April. Ellen and her husband John brought 4 of our grandchildren home for Christmas. Stephen, Tim, John and Anne and their spouses didn't make it home this Christmas, but we enjoyed long phone calls with all of them.

Two days before Christmas I received an unexpected call from the parents of one of our boarding students who expressed a desire to visit the Academy and their son. I told them they were most welcome and asked them when they would like to come. They said, "we will be there in 20 minutes." I immediately dropped what I was doing and made preparations to leave for the Academy. About one-half mile from the Academy I got another phone call saying they were at the Academy and standing in front of the Academy's Santa display. As I pulled into the Academy I saw both husband and wife standing in about a foot and half of snow with all their suitcases in hand and a taxi cab pulling away.

After formal greetings had been exchanged I asked them what their plans were for the evening and they indicated they were going to sleep in the dorm where their son was staying. After informing them that this might not be the best place for a husband and wife to sleep they indicated they could stay at the Dover Hotel (Dover-Foxcroft has no hotel!!). With few other alternatives in Dover-Foxcroft two days before Christmas I invited them to stay with Dottie and I in our home. They indicated this wouldn't be necessary and they would sleep on the floor in the dorm; however, I insisted and they recluctantly joined our family was we continued to prepare for Christmas.

One of our own girls, Won made them a Korean dinner while we went and picked up their son from the dorm and together the family had a beautiful Korean meal and a wonderful time visiting with each other. While Won took care of our special guests Dottie and I left for an engagement for which we had a commitment.

The next day I gave our guest a tour of the Academy and spoke about their son's academic progress. Twenty-four hours after their unexpected arrival we said good-bye and wished them well. While their visit came at an inconvenient time both Dottie and I agreed that we were happy to help this family see their son on Christmas and feel a bit more comfortable about where their son was attending school - almost 14,300 miles from home.

Tomorrow morning I leave at 3:30 A.M. with Seulki to meet the first "leg" of her flight out of Bangor International Airport and back to Korea. In fact, most of the boarding students at Foxcroft Academy head home during Christmas break to see their families. Next week our Hae-Jin and Felipe head back to Korea and Brazil, while Won will stay with us for Christmas, which we will enjoy.