Skip to main content

It was love at first sight, Host Families :)



I only knew what ‘Host Family’ was when I was in the process to departure for Arizona, USA. In my head I didn’t really understand what their role was until I communicated with my coordinator Megan Young. She introduced me and simply explained what I should expect from them. But for me, I had two so that confused me to the core hahahaha! The cool thing was I communicated with both them via email, so I was kind of used to them in a way. I knew who is who because we also exchanged pictures of their family and mine too. I remember their questionnaire asking what is it that I liked eating and I said JUNK FOOD. I had no time to eat healthy in America, I wanted to indulge in all the burgers that I have been seeing on the internet and Instagram.

The first family I met was Cindy and Scott Gemberling, like I mentioned in my previous blog post they picked me up the airport. Remember the HEAT? I was with them when I discovered that. After we left the airport we went to buy food, I said JUNK FOOD and Instagram food right? I had such a HUGE slice of pizza which I think I did not finish hahaha. I had the best time with the Gemberling Family all my lunch, dinner dates; movie dates and meeting their family on Christmas Day. I remember Cindy saying, “I thought you were quiet but I was wrong”, hahaha! I have a very innocent face. Our Wednesday dinner dates, and catching up sessions.



My second family Gary and Sharri Ward, fetched me at the Gemberling house. When I first saw them I remembered my grandparents that I left in South Africa. I felt at home instantly. We drove off to their home but first we had LUNCH more ‘JUNK FOOD’ for me hahaha. Warmly welcomed in their home, with their dog Paris. It was such a Blessing being amongst, we went to church together; lunch and dinner dates. Their grand daughter was my selfie partner, we took snapchat selfies together and videos; she was so entertaining.



Like I said in my Graduation speech, if it was possible I would’ve left a piece of my heart with each and one of them because they showed me so much love it was scary. I remember telling Megan that “Please don’t connect me with people that have too much love” and guess what? She did the total opposite. But I truly appreciated every big or small thing they did for me. For always being there for me. Making sure I am healthy, safe and happy. I shared so much with them just like they did with me. Leaving them was one of the hardest things I ever did in Arizona, and the way departure was so deep. They couldn’t even make it to the airport, but I don’t think I would’ve handled that well. They are family forever even though I don’t see them like I used to. Technology helped me so much to keep in touch and have catch up sessions with them and video call. I taught them WhatsApp, and now we communicate via WhatsApp even with the time zone slot, we now understand how and when to communicate. God Bless them for me till I meet them again. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Parents: Taking Sides :)

In continuation…. So here I was, just under 10 having to deal with a broken family that I still couldn’t stick together. You question your birth when you see your parents arguing. “Would they still be arguing if I wasn’t born”, these are actual normal questions more especially if you the only child and have no sibling to share the experience(s) with. It’s quite tricky, one minute I wanted siblings some days I didn’t. There is a saying I once heard “somethings should stay in the bedroom” and in this instinct, I WISH THAT HAPPENED. It was rather awkward at times because I had no idea what the argument was about, I think that’s why I always wanted to study Psychology (even though it didn’t happen) but I feel like I have psychology skills within me. I wanted to work around the human brain, to see and analyse how thoughts form in somebody’s mind. Where do you look when they suddenly throw tantrums at each other, smile? wave? Was I supposed to run to my mother? my father? What was ...
1 comment
Read more

I was not designed to give up :)

Imagine getting to grade 12 (Matric) and still not know what you want to study in Varsity, I think that’s one of the worst nightmare. It feels like your life is not in order, or you just feel pretty much useless. In grade 10, we had to choose subjects and I chose very random subjects; Accounting, Tourism and Life Science. They were not bad in grade 10, but I felt the Accounting pressure in grade 11 all I wanted to do was to QUIT accounting. By the end of grade 11, I had made up my mind that in grade 12, I will not carry on with Accounting no ways! I was given the opportunity to change Accounting for Business Studies. I enjoyed it, even though it was just for a year. During that year, 2009 I was really thinking about my future and what do I want to study in Varsity and I wanted to study Psychology. I wanted to be a Psychologist because I wanted to work with people’s mindset and to help people. I felt from my past, I knew that wild be an advantage. I had a fantastic opportunity to...
Post a Comment
Read more

A phone call that changed my life :)

“Don’t you want to Study abroad”? Is the question that changed EVERYTHING. I hesitated with my “YES” answer and honestly speaking I was not thinking clear about it at all but I left it all in God’s hands. It was 2014, I was introduced to Community College Initiative Program CCIP) funded by the Department of State. All I knew was that RAYAC (church organization for young adults in AME) was telling us about it. During that year we attended a workshop, which was explaining more about the program; all the requirements, what is needed etc. But we arrived very late, so I didn’t really get much information. Community College Initiative (CCI) Program is administered by the Community College Consortium. CCI candidates are nominated for participation by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy or the Fulbright Commission in eligible countries.   November 2015, same question “Don’t you want to Study abroad in America”? This time, my answer was totally different to the p...
Post a Comment
Read more