Welcome to the 2009 Youth Exchange Trip Site!
The historic Shore Acres Park Clubhouse was the setting for our official Welcome Party, nestled on the banks of the Illinois River in Chillicothe. Mr. Seliger of the German chaperones guaranteed we’d have great weather, and he delivered! Students and host families enjoyed the park (which includes a public pool, playground and Frisbee golf course) before the event got underway. Many thanks to the FOF volunteers who organized the location, food and program – particularly Sue Ramey who also had a sheet cake decorated in the FOF logo (see photos). Every family brought a dish to pass, and FOF provided delicious fried chicken, so there was no excuse for leaving this place hungry! The din of dozens of simultaneous conversations, highlighted with rounds of laughter, told us what we needed to know: this year’s exchange was off to a great start! Already, friendships were being formed and memories were being made. After dinner, the students shared some of these insights with us, as each pair had to introduce themselves to the gathering, and tell us something they have learned about each other. Many trivial and fun facts came out. We no know which girls like to shop the most (and which boys). We know which student has two guinea pigs as pets. We know which one loves fireworks. And we know at least one of them who is learning new, useful English phrases, such as, “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!” All great stuff. We even heard from a 1993 youth exchange participant, who is housing her nephew and his guest during this event. She shared what this experience has meant to her, how it has affected and improved her life, and hoped that it might mean the same to this year’s students. As the evening concluded and families slowly left, we overheard plans for get-togethers later in the week, anticipation of future program events, and the general buzz that always comes when the exchange really gets going. We have a great group of kids on board this year, and we cannot wait to see what the next few weeks will bring!
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