Sunday, August 19, 2007

Home at Last







Transatlantic flight is only romantic in books and movies. In real life, it is hard! Time zone changes, cramped airplane cabins and noisy people nearby can make life tough on a traveling person.

But when you're going home to a hearty welcome, the blood quickens and the heart warms to thoughts of familiar faces. Such was the greeting awaiting our guests when they at last touched down on native soil. You can see how excited everyone was to have back their sons, daughters and friends. The greetings were so fast, the camera could not keep up!

While their absence saddens us, we know they are happy to be back with family. And now that they have "extended family" in the US, we hope to see them all again soon.

In just under one year!!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Sad Farewells













All good things must come to an end, and so does our time together. A gloomy day mirrored our moods as we had to say goodbye to our new friends. There were firm handshakes and big smiles ... long hugs and teary eyes ... laughter and crying and wishes for a safe journey home.

Until we meet again ... next year in Germany!

Our Final Event








It's impossible! How can three weeks be up already? We've been so busy, and the students have had so much fun, time has just FLOWN BY!

This was the message we heard over and over again at the Farewell Party. Both parents and students alike all sang the same song. It was hard to believe our time together was nearing an end, but the smiles on everyone's faces told us that this was another wildly successful experience for all.

We gathered together for one more meal. All of the students posed for one last photo. Then, our guest students told us of their impressions of America ("long, straight streets," "tall buildings," and "great shopping" among them). Finally, we asked the American students to relate the funniest times they shared. They would lose their meaning if we tried to describe them ... so just look at the lights in their eyes as they told their stories. It says it all!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

The Long, Open Weekend





During our exchange, the organizers always leave one weekend completely open. With at least four days without official events, host families can take their guests to special places throughout the region, even out of state. Perhaps they will visit other family members. Perhaps they will visit a special site.

But perhaps they will stay around the Peoria area and just spend more time together having fun. A local water park has been a favorite gathering place for students nearly every day.

Whether they stay local or travel far, the main point is for our guests and hosts to spend more time together having fun and forming new friendships that we hope will last for years.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Bowling and Mini-Golf












On a fine summer afternoon, we met at Mt. Hawley Bowl to enjoy a few hours of bowling and miniature golf. We required nearly half of the bowling alley to get most of us on the lanes. At the same time, several chose to golf first, where the many twists, turns, rocks and castles kept everyone trying hard.

While everyone seemed to be having a good time, it did not really matter WHAT we were doing. As long as we were together, all students - guests and hosts alike - enjoyed being together and having fun.

Peoria Tastes Good!






After our visit to the mayor of Peoria, our guests and their host students were treated by the city to the Taste of Peoria. This is an event in which restaurants from all over our city erect booths and offer their tastiest samples for purchase. Our group received free entry and a handful of "Taste Bucks" to spend as they wish!

The food was delicious, the riverfront was pretty and the crowd in a good mood to enjoy it all. Bands performed on two stages, so there was music in the air to go along with the tempting smells. Some of our group also went up in a hot air balloon to get a bird's-eye view of the festivities.

Time with the Mayor







As an official delegation from our German sister city, our guests are always warmly welcomed by Peoria's mayor. And this year, Mayor Jim Ardis did not disappoint.

It was easy to see that the time he spent in Friedrichshafen last May, followed by hosting a large contingent of adult and student guests last September -- all part of a celebration of the 30-year anniversary of our cities' relationship -- had made a lasting impact on this mayor. He holds a warm spot in his heart for the citizens and the city of Friedrichshafen.

That warm spot in his heart will be considerably warmer, after one of our visiting students presented his honor with a bottle of German schapps! A colleague of the mayor's educated him on the finer points of this fine beverage, and one student made sure to help in the mayor's continued schooling!