FOF Youth Exchange 2007

Home at Last

2007-08-19T09:01:00.001-07:00

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!!

Sad Farewells

2007-08-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

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!

The Long, Open Weekend

2007-08-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Bowling and Mini-Golf

2007-08-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-08-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

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!

An Evening of Baseball

2007-08-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

Why does the youth exchange always have the hottest day of the year for going to the ballgame? At game time, it was 99 degrees Farenheit or 35 degrees Celcius ... we were sweating inside our ears!

But that did not dampen the spirit of our group. All German students in the exchange had a chance to get onto the field. Two boys sent first pitches screaming to the catcher, while 18 other students accompanied Peoria Chiefs baseball players to their positions on the field. And all received an authentic American baseball as a gift!

The Peoria Chiefs did not hold up their end of the bargain, as they lost the game. But the Friends of Friedrichshafen Youth Exchange was a winner with another example of the Great American Pastime!

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

2007-08-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

Every week, a Peoria car dealer creates a new television commercial to show that week's special sales. He also gives up part of that commercial to publicize a local event or organization. And while our students were here, he gave that time to our youth exchange!

Several of our students met at Jim McComb Chevrolet to "help" them film that week's commercial. None of the boys in the exchange could manage to get out of bed in time to be in the commercial. Too bad for them, but the girls' pretty faces made Peoria TVs look much nicer!

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jimmccombchevy

Paintball Commandos!

2007-08-07T14:55:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, several of our mild-mannered students turned into ruthless mercenaries on a mission! We took them to a local paintball facility where we ran through the woods, hid behind barricades, protected and attacked forts and castles ... and had a wonderful time!

While everyone came away a bit more bruised and very tired, it was unanimous that the event was extremely popular. Boys and girls alike enjoyed it!

Service Project

2007-08-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

On Saturday of this past weekend, we conducted the first Friends of Friedrichshafen Youth Exchange service project. The local building owned by Family House - a group that offers inexpensive housing for families facing a medical crisis - had overgrown landscaping. It once was beautiful, but was now bordering on uruly. FOF to the rescue!

Several of our students, along with their host parents, pitched in to pull weeds, trim bushes, clip vines and otherwise beautify the grounds. With so many hands pitching in, we were done in very short order!

Family House management as well as others familiar with the property commented that our efforts made a terrific improvement. One went so far as to say the grounds hadn't looked this good in five years!

We were more than happy to begin a new tradition in our youth exchange program. It is only right and fitting that we begin to give back to the communities that have made our terrific program possible. We look forward to next year's service project in Friedrichshafen!

A Peoria Journal Star reporter came to learn about our project and our exchange. Read the article for yourself.

Hot Sun, Cool Beach

2007-08-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

We had a perfect day for relaxing at Lake Bloomington, at the home of longtime program friends Wayne and Joyce Oberlander. They opened their lake home and their hearts to yet another group of exchange students, which they have been doing for decades. Swimming, floating, tubing, skiing, volleyball, bags, soccer, lots of good food and drink and just hanging out together on a beautiful day ... what more can we ask for?

This annual event is usually one of the students' favorite, and it did not take long for them to find fun in the water. Many of the students tried water skiing for the first time ... some succesful, others not so. Some of our German guests learned what "shucking corn" was all about! Still others competed in an unofficial diving contest. No matter where you looked, you saw everyone having great fun and we thank the Oberlanders for their generous support of the youth exchange.

A Day at the Museum

2007-08-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Lakeview Museum took our guests under their wing and entertained them for an afternoon. The students enjoyed he museum's many exhibits and displays of artwork and precious artifacts. They spent time being children again in the younger person's area. And Mindball served as a special focus of attention, where one person's brain waves makes a ball move against the brainwaves of his or her opponent. We are not yet sure if the person with the MOST brainwaves or the LEAST brainwaves won, but everyone had fun!

Sweet Home Chicago

2007-08-01T07:40:00.001-07:00

Tuesday took us to the Windy City, where the weather was sunny and HOT. But our students found the city to be very cool! It helped when one group arrived at the bus with a box full of tasty donuts!

We saw the city from its highest viewpoint, the top of the world famous Sears Tower. Many students commented how different the city looked from such a high perspective.

Next we visited the Planetarium and Buckingham Fountain. From these locations, students took outstanding photos of the city skyline. The views are truly amazing!

We then turned the students loose in the city (poor Chicago!) where they explored and shopped and ate and walked. Such freedom in one of the world's best cities is an exciting time.

Finally, we stopped for dinner near the Hard Rock Cafe, where several other restaurants can also be found: Rainforest Cafe, Portillo's, Ed Debevics, Rock & Roll McDonalds and more. We also found the Hard Rock Cafe store full of nearly 20 of our students shopping for souvenirs. A great way to end a perfect day in Chicago!

Big cars, big fun

2007-08-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

On Monday evening, we gathered at the home of the Skarvan family. They graciously offered to host our limousine scavenger hunt!

The students were divided into teams and given identical lists of clues that would lead them to many Peoria landmarks and stores. They had to take photos of their team members at each location. By the end of the time, the team that found the most locations won!

No prizes were given, but everyone had a great time. The students returned to the home for a pizza party and story telling of how well each had done.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Skarvans for hosting such a wonderful time!

Unser Umtausch auf Deutsch

2007-07-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our friends in Friedrichshafen's Peoria Club have sent a reporter! Actually, one of their chaperones is keeping everyone at home updated on our activities in their native language. See for yourself at http://www.peoria-club.de/html/austausch_2007.html

We welcomed them with open arms

2007-07-28T06:30:00.001-07:00

Last night, all host families and guests gathered to eat, to talk and to have a good time at the Youth Exchange Welcome Party. The party was held at a historic building on the banks of the Illinois River in Chillicothe, just north of Peoria.

Our group enjoyed a delicious American picnic of hot dogs, barbeque, pasta salad, cole slaw, potato chips, watermelon and Rice Krispie treats. And several families donated many, many drinks, desserts and veggie trays.

Everyone had very big smiles! The chaperones' thought that all of our students are happy with their host familes ... and their families are also very happy! Even though we have only been together for only two days, we think everyone will get along very well.

All students introduced themselves to the group. The German students shared a few of their first impressions of America and the US students shared something they had learned about their guest.

We have no official events this weekend, so it will be time for everyone to get to know each other better and explore the area. This year's exchange is off to a great start!

They are on the way!

2007-07-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

It was an early morning for our friends, full of excitement! And in a very short time, they will be here!! I have received many emails this week from some very excited host families. It's going to be a great experience for us all.

See more photos at http://www.peoria-club.de/html/abflug_in_fn.html

How to use this blog

2007-05-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Glad to see that some of you have begun using the blog. This is just a tip for using it.

Adding a COMMENT to a post (something someone wrote) is great! Just click on the picture of a pencil at the end of any post.

But if you want to POST (write) a new thought ... one that will appear on the main page for all to easily see ... click on NEW POST next to your name at the top of this page. If you were invited to register and you did, your name will appear at left, and you can add a NEW POST at any time.

At the next screen, you can add a PHOTO by clicking on the blue box (you will see it). To add a link to another place on the web (for instance, your MySpace page, a favorite YouTube video ... please only link to "appropriate" videos!), then click on the image of a chain on the next screen (again, you will see it). It's really pretty easy!

OK, 60 days and counting ... will it go by quickly or s...l...o...w...l...y??

We want to hear from you!

2007-05-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Friedrichshafen has created this space to share everything about this year's youth exchange with everyone. If you are a program student, host family, family who has sent a student to visit ... or if you're just interested in this program, feel free to post a comment or load a photo.

If you are keeping a separate web page or blog about this experience, please add a link to it. I'll start by adding links to the FOF 2006 Youth Exchange blog and the FOF 2005 Youth Exchange blog. The more the merrier!