Monday, August 27, 2007

Reality....bites, albeit gently


Reality has intruded on the fantasy world in which the House of Meno exists. Em went back to school this morning, and the Mister back to work. And although my life doesn't change much with the advent of the regularly scheduled fall activities, i will miss having the two of them around. Except for when they piss me off.

Em has begun her senior year of high school. Ack! Senior year! Of High School! My Baby! I am both excited and scared for when she leaves home next year at about this time. Excited for the trips that the Mister and i will be able to take. Scared because she just a baby. How she will exist without her mama, i cannot imagine.

We have an exchange student from Japan here this week and through the weekend. It is difficult for me to fully imagine how strange this must be for her. But she is a trouper and just keeps on trying to speak with us. She understands quite a bit, but we must speak slowly. I admire her courage for coming at all.

She looks around at everything and says, "So big!" Our dishwasher, our car, our refrigerator, our house, even the cats. I can tell that she is not used to riding in a car because i keep having to remind her to put her seat belt on.

She cooked us a wonderful lunch yesterday and taught us how to roll tekka-maki sushi. Maybe i'll just keep her.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm coming over. I'm all packed anyway, so why not?

I've been wondering a lot about Em and Japan, as the daughter of Tony's co-worker left for Japan last week to begin a year of studying abroad.

Girlplustwo said...

i so love that you host and exchange student.

thailandchani said...

An exchange student! That's awesome! How interesting. Too bad she'll only be able to hang out for a week.


Peace,

~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com

flutter said...

she sounds awesome...and overwhelmed :)

Liv said...

I can tell that this experience will be one that all of you remember and talk about for ages. How cool!?

Stucco said...

How'd you manage an exchange student for only a week? I thought that was a semester-deal?

QT said...

De and I will be over shortly - and yes, how is it that the exchange student is only with you for such a short time?

meno said...

de, why not indeed? C'mon! A year? That's cool.

jen, and you would do it in a heartbeat too young lady!

chani, it is interesting. We had them when i was growing up and it was always really cool.

flutter, she is overwhelmed, but she is soldiering on. It's heartwarming.

stucco, i told them that after a week i would make her do all the housework. Okay, not really. There is a whole group of them that are here for 9 days. I dunno why.

qt, let's go hiking. I won't quit after a few miles. See above answer. :)

meno said...

and liv, i hope that our exchange student will talk about it forever too. We are trying to give her a really great experience.

Lynn said...

How is Em faring with having the exchange student at your house?

I have a few friend who's daughters either left for college last year, or have just left, this year. Each of my friends tells me that they were amazed at how much their daughters matured in their senior year of high school.

I can tell you from working at High Schools that I've observed the same phenomenon. Not that this information will make it any easier for you when Em leaves.

Anonymous said...

A senior. Wow. I'm amazed how fast it took my kids to get to 11 and 10, it must be shocking at the speed they get to senior in high school. An exchange student? How fun.

Barbara said...

So cool to get a sushi lesson!

Anonymous said...

That's a great experience, hosting an exchange student. Is she only in the US for a week or only with you for a week?

Marshamlow said...

I am so jealous of the exchange student, I miss Japan, hopefully our friends will come visit us. I am glad my daughter is only a junior, can't bear the thought.

Joan said...

I think hosting an exchange student (even for just a week) is a wonderful thing to do. Kudos to you! Oh...and when do we get our sushi lesson?

ms chica said...

Which scares you most, the thought of Em being so far away on her own, or the memories of what you did during your first year away alone?

Exchange students were the coolest part of high school and college.

Princess in Galoshes said...

We hosted an exchange student from Brazil for about two weeks. (When her real host family for the semester had to go on an unexpected, family emergency trip.)

She was sweet. But also reminded me that I dislike teenagers. Is it really all that different when they're your own?

Special K ~Toni said...

I would love to host an exchange student! That is great!

The boys went back yesterday- I miss them too! Don't tell anybody though!

sari said...

I think your exchange student experience sounds fun! I would host a student when the boys are older.

I can't believe my Five has started Kindergarten. Next thing I know he'll be applying for college, yikes!

meno said...

lynn, Em is doing well, they seem to be having fun together. I hope what you say is true about the maturing over this year.

my pool, it is shocking! How did this happen?

barbara, it was exciting to see how easy it was. I am inspired.

biodtl, She is only in the US for 9 days. Kind of odd, but that's how thay planned it.

marsha, oh you would do really well with a Japanese student!

Joan, we did it when i was in high school and it was always very cool. Maybe i'll post some sushi pictures. :)

ms. chica, excellent question. Both i think.

princess, no. so don't do it. They'll mess up your happy life. :)

toni, you may get a chance to be a host when your kids are older.

sari, it is fun. I hope she always has great memories of her visit. Kindergarten! Next he'll be driving!

Scott from Oregon said...

Meno-san wa

sukoshi

henna Americajin to omoimasu...

Dick said...

Yes that size thing. Friends who visited from Germany thought that of us. Too many clothes and who would ever buy aspirin tablets in bottles of 1000? Well, you know Costco!

Tink said...

I always wanted an exchange student! But then I found out that my parents would have to exchange me for him/her and then I wouldn't get the benefit of having a temporary new sibling at all! What a gyp.

Andrea Frazer said...

An exchange student. That is awesome. Perhaps you can have more when Em leaves for college? Man, that's got to be such a mix of emotions - the empty nest deal.

meno said...

scott, ummmm. yeah. I wish i knew what you said, bit i am sure it was cool.

dick, it's fun to look at it all withy different eyes. Em took her all around a Top Foods today. I thought her eyes were going to pop out.

tink, your parents were lying. Or maybe not.

mamap, it is awesome. We had kind of a communication breakthrough tonight and there was much giggling.

Anonymous said...

We just finished hosting a Japanese exchange student and I noticed the seatbelt thing too! He brought the most beautiful gifts. I was a little overwhelmed with them, to be honest, but we had a wonderful time. Will you host again?

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about the change when it's just you again. I've got that next week when Stumpy goes back to school. We haven't had an exchange student though. Wonderful as yours sounds, I don't think I could have coped this summer!

AC said...

They don't exactly exist with out their mamas...I am still hearing much more than I really need to about stuff, particularly the emotionally stressing stuff. I had to make a "deal" with my girl the other day - for each worry she shares she has to give me 2 good things. I haven't heard from her since...
no, thats a joke. I do have to remind her of the agreement though but its helping my anxiety level and I think she is noticing how many blessings she actually has.

H said...

Scott said he thought you might be a bit of a weird American. :-)
I did a nine month exchange in Japan with a lovely family but it was still very scary. Then I cried when I got told how tall I was and how big my nose was for the twelvetieth time by my homestay Grandma. Be sweet to her.

meno said...

sally, I would host again, but this will be Em's last year in high school, so i don't know if i'll get the chance.

platypus, you have had enough to deal with this summer. Maybe someday.

ac, i like that idea! It's always good to find a gentle way to remind them that they don't really have it that bad.

helena, thanks for the translation! I can't imagine what they would have made of me at 6'1". I will be sweet to our guest, although she makes it easy.

megabrooke said...

that must be so neat (for you and her!) to have an exchange student!

amusing said...

My mother revealed to me years later that when she dropped me off at college, that night she could't sleep and cried most of the night. Awwww.

I briefly forgot that "everything being big" here might include you too....

luckyzmom said...

How lucky for your exchange student to have gotten you to stay with.

Senior year of HS is scary for both. Did it three times: once me, once my daughter and once my son. The last time was the most difficult for me. I feel like you will fair better than I.

Lynnea said...

I just love you. I know she's not me and most likely she is struggling way more legitimately, so thank you for being patient with her and taking her in. You guys rock.

meno said...

brookem, it really is a lovely look at another life, in my own house.

amusing, i imagine i will cry too. I bet my mom did a dance of joy. I believe that i look pretty big to her, although she has been to polite to say anything.

luckyzmom, it seems to be working out well on both sides. :)
I am curious why you think i will fare better.

maggie, you would, and probably will, do it yourself someday. We had these students when i was a kid and it was very exciting.

Anonymous said...

oooh, keep that exchange student, for sure. offer her room and board for going to college in exchange for cooking occasional meals, LOL.

Mother of Invention said...

And if she is anything like the gr. 11-13 kids I taught in a high shcool for kids from Hong Kong and Malaysia,she is terribly polite and sincerely appreciative. Just delightful to be around. Our kids could learn a lot from them.

luckyzmom said...

I feel like you will fair better because you seem to be years ahead of where I was at the point in life you are now. I have a very high opinion of your emotional well being. Am I wrong :)

urban-urchin said...

How does Em get on with your exchange student?

Mignon said...

Wow. I'm the 40th commenter? I forgot what I was going to say about Japanese exchange students... uh... hm.

Oh! I can't wait to start getting exchange students. We had them ever since I was in junior high, and I feel like it's the closest thing you can get to international travel if you're stuck at Coweeman Junior High in Kelso. As I was.

Good for you. Fer sher keep her.