I don’t know whether they're coming or going!
By Fleur
@Fleura (30433)
United Kingdom
July 20, 2019 4:31am CST
At the moment we are the ‘host family’ for some language students. We did have four staying with us, but one was only here for three weeks so for the last week we are down to three. Today is their last Saturday so I thought it would be a nice little treat to make waffles for breakfast.
The problem is that I never know exactly who is doing what – they are not very forthcoming with their plans. I did know that they are all going out today on day trips organised by the language school. So I got up early to get their breakfast and lunches ready.
I mixed up some waffle mix and got the waffle maker heating. The Spanish student appeared and I asked if he’d like waffles (there are other breakfast options on the table if they prefer) and he said yes, so I gave him the first batch. All good so far!
I asked if he’d seen anyone else yet, and he told me the French boy was just waking up. So I cooked some more waffles ready for him. But then when he came down he said he didn’t want breakfast, he just grabbed some lunch and rushed off.
The waffles were on a plate going cold, so after waiting a while longer with no-one appearing I ate one of them myself. Then the Vietnamese boy came in. I asked if he’d like waffles and he said yes, so I started cooking some fresh ones. He quickly ate the one that was ready and then, without waiting for the fresh ones or even getting any lunch, he said ‘I go now!’ and rushed out!
Honestly, I am trying to be a friendly host and welcome them as part of the family, but it hasn’t always been easy! Luckily at that point Little One appeared and was happy to eat the waffles!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2019.
8 people like this
9 responses
@Fleura (30433)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 19
Those look nice. I also enjoy things like that, I'm not keen on cereals. I think the main thing is that the students are given a very busy schedule so by now they are very tired and not at all keen on getting up in the morning, which doesn't leave much time for anything!
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 19
OH lordy a house full. I would sit them all down with a planner and tell them they need to fill in when they are in when they are out and when they would like breakfast or lunches packed or not. You will get more organised for the next time. It is great fun isn't it. I am surprised you have a child from Vietnam seeing it is a communist country. He must be from a well to do family!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 19
@Fleura Good lord quite a daunting thing to come to a strange country on your own at 15. Did you have to meet them at the airport? I am quite organised with this sort of thing as I used to organise between 30-45 children to come over to the UK every year including organising their flights, visas, coach trips and time table and made sure each family had a copy so that there were no surprises. I did it for ten years so had it off to a T. Another thing I learnt was always allow an extra half hour grace at the start of the day and the end as there would always be someone late. Trust me I am a pro.
We also do a sort of personal mini calendar at home so we know where we all are meant to be and what we are supposed to be doing. It works quite well for us! You are probably already doing something like this, one child at football, one child at dancing lessons, next day one at band practice the other at netball! It is just you running around making sure you get the kids where they are supposed to be and then picking them up when they are finished! 
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30433)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 19
@garymarsh6 Obviously I should be coming to you for tips! We have done this once before but that was 8 years ago! What organisation were you doing this for?
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@Fleura (30433)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 19
Yes, after they leave we are all going to sit down together and decide whether the experience was worth it, both financially and emotionally! Another time I will set rules at the start - that they have to tell us in advance whether they will be in for dinner, for example. On the whole they are nice boys and I guess pretty normal for 15-year-olds. They each travelled over here on their own, which from Vietnam must be one hell of a trip.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
21 Jul 19
i'd 'lways thought 'bout 'xchange students 'n how folks integrated 'nto their families. seems kind'a sad to read that basically yer jest a place to slumber? they seem to've no respect'n regards to tellin' ya 'f their plans.
so glad the lil 'un showed'n helped eat all 'f yer efforts.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
21 Jul 19
@Fleura i reckon so? i dunno, i'd need a few rules fer such a task.
1 person likes this
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
20 Jul 19
How was your family appointed as a host family?
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30433)
• United Kingdom
20 Jul 19
I met someone from the language school, who was in a supermarket handing out leaflets asking for host families. I said we might be interested so they sent a representative round to meet the family and look at our house. They approved of everything so that was basically it, apart from a check that I don't have a criminal record.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16764)
• China
20 Jul 19
They should have told you in advance when they got up next morning and what they did next day ! It is hard to satisfy those students who come from different countries.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471601)
• Switzerland
20 Jul 19
I know it must be hard, young people are not always very cooperative. I remember when my niece told me about her experience in a British family with other students. She told me she felt sorry for the woman who was so kind to cook for them, but they were always in a hurry to go out.1 person likes this
