Meeting My Host Family

Now I say family, but actually I have a single parent placement, so I only have a host mom.

It was 3 am when I had to get up to catch the bus to go to the airport. Luckily I had packed my suitcase the night before, just like everyone got advised to do. So all I had to do is hop in the shower and get dressed, or so I thought…

My nail polish was all chipped so I had to re-do it. Normally, I am not too picky about it but hey, I am about to meet the woman I am going to live with for ten months! I have got to make a good first impression. And here I was painting my nails in the middle of the night…

very little space!

Everybody was on time and we got on the bus. There were three students of the Dutch group on my ride to the airport. After saying goodbye to Louise and Menno, I carried on with Marit as we had our flight to Atlanta together. It was a quick flight, no problems what so ever and I was able to write some more blogs. Before we knew it, we landed in Georgia and we were at the gate waiting for the flight to our host families. Marit and I were waiting together and although we were on different flights, our gates were very close to each other.

& Marit

We had a waiting time of two hours, so basically we were bored. There was no wifi so we didn’t really know what to do (what is happing to the world?!). When boarding began it was a relief. I said goodbye to the girl who I had been spending the last hours with and took a deep breath. Just one more flight and I would be home.

It is strange that I already thought of the place as my home. I had never been there but I feel so at home in The United States that only place that I knew would be anywhere near a home was just a few hours away.

When I stepped into the plane I was surprised. It was so small and it the interior looked so old! How was that plane ever going to get all of the passengers to Missouri? And safely too!

I didn’t know what to do. I was putting my life in the hands of the pilot who was supposed to make the plane fly to my destination, and I didn’t know how that was ever going to happen. So, I did what every non-religious person does when they are really desperate: pray. I was going to the Bible Belt after all…

Awkward bathroom check

Well, a couple of hours, and a makeup session, later I landed safely on Missouri ground. If that was because we had a good pilot or because there actually is a God, I am not sure but I am thankful to both.

I rushed into the restrooms as soon as I got out of the aircraft. Again, meeting my host mom so I needed to look as good as I could after a three-hour flight!

Welcome to Springfield!

When I walked towards baggage claim, I saw a blonde woman standing with a whiteboard. I don’t even know why but I immediately said hi to her while I was still walking and she asked me if I was Naomi. Well I sure am and this must be my host mom as she knew my name! The woman was just as beautiful as she was in the picture and she looked so young for having so many grandchildren! She gave me a hug as a way of welcoming me and started talking about a bunch of stuff right away! I can’t even remember what we were talking about, I was so overwhelmed and I was just answering her questions on automatic pilot, not registering what I was saying.

After not even thirty minutes she told me that I reminded her so much of her granddaughter Lauren, who was moving away to go to college. The soon to be freshmen became our topic of conversation for a while and my new host mom talked so highly of her that I felt honoured that I reminded her of Lauren.

Lara, Evan and some weirdo

Because she had to go back to work, my host mom brought me to my Ayusa representative, Christine, to spend the day with her. Together with her husband Gary, we went to pick up some medicine for her son Evan which was followed by picking up Lara, their own exchange student from Germany.

We were all crammed together in Christine’s car, on our way to her grandparents. Lara, Evan and I were having fun taking silly pictures and just talking about our home countries and there differences. When we arrived at their house the elderly couple asked the both of us girls a lot of questions and then showed us how they used to keep cows on the land and explained a whole bunch of other things to us. When it was time to leave we said our goodbyes and we were back on the road.

baby shower decorations

Lara and I had both been up for a good sixteen hours and of course we were getting tired. Everything is so different and it is a lot to take in, constantly meeting new people and trying to adjust as soon as possible wears you out. But we didn’t have time to be tired! Next on the planning was a baby shower!

Duck swimming in a bowl: casual

It is strange going to a baby shower from someone you have never met but it was so much fun. Typical American party, the ones you see on television! And everything was pink. So cool. We didn’t stay there for long, we were all tired so we basically just ate their food and then left. Apparently that is normal here, although I had a bit of a hard time taking in that people really do not mind strangers barging in, eating your food, taking pictures of the decoration and then leaving…

We went back to Christine’s house and just chilled there for a bit before my host mom came to pick me up at 11 pm. I was so tired that I had to try my hardest to stay awake and answer my host mom’s questions. Luckily the car ride was not too long and I could go to bed right away.

It sure was some first day!

Bring on the rest of the year!  

Much love,

Naomi