So, I've been reading a lot of blogs & orkut stuff from former AFSers (Americans Abroad and students to the USA) and it's been fun, kind of using them as a prompt to reminese about my time in AFS. So here goes ...

My family first hosted an exchange student with Jesus Monroy. He was from a church-sponsored program, YES (Youth Exchange Service,) and we were very fortunate that he fit in so well, as we never saw his liasions again! We had so little information to begin with, that we were thinking La Paz = Bolivia, and it wasn't until he handed mom an ashtray with the Aztec calendar on it, that we realized he was from La Paz, MEXICO! LOL

Jesus was mainly with Jim, roomed with him, went to school with him, etc. He was, yet another, brother for me! And, yes, I'll admit to it now, a bit of a crush! Jesus was with us for six months, and then he returned home. We tried to stay in contact, I wrote to his sister Bethy a few times, but as I was taking French at the time, and she wrote in Spanish, and we would have teachers translate the letters - not the most efficient form of communication. I've tried to find Jesus online, but, so far, nothing.

Then, one of the brothers friends hosted an AFS student and these two girls (Marilyn, and can't remember AFSer's name) got along so well! They truly had a fantastic experience. I thought it was pretty cool, but, no way could I do something like that - live away from home for a year. But, I could host a student, and finally get a sister! So, in 1977, we applied and hosted Isabella Lacerda, from Porto Alegre, Brasil. Since, by this time the brothers had all moved out to college, we didn't share a room. Wonder if that might have made a difference? Don't know. Isabella was more open, more Brasilian, than my little Long Beach-mind could handle at times. And, I don't think she was in it for a sister-type relationship like I saw with Marilyn. Then again, when Marilyn went on her AFS trip abroad, she had a very difficult time. She had to change families and just had troubles. She might have had such a perfect experience with her AFS sister that, expecting something similar, and not getting it, must have been very difficult.

Well, when Isabella arrived, I was still pretty shy and sure there was no way I'd live away from mom and dad - even though I was planning on going to Colorado for college! I guess I figured I'd be able to handle it then. Ha!
But, after hearing the AFS returnees speak at all the AFS functions we went to, and seeing how open and alive they were, I guess I got the itch!

How wonderful! I've just started a blog - so now I can add all my randomness here. I'm trying out blogspot, because I am finding a lot of Peace Corp volunteers in Paraguay use it. I've got "Asunción" and "Paraguay" on my google alerts - and, in addition to news, I get a lot of blogs that mention either of those. I've since found a few AFSers as well as the aforementioned PCVers.
Reading about their experiences has made me homesick/nostalgic for my AFS year - as well as my twenties! Not that I want to go back - I just remember when it seemed like you could do anything you wanted - and not really have to worry about the consequences. Like how will my decisions affect my family. Which, of course, they do - but it's different when it's parents/siblings vs spouse/children, y'know?
Well - this is a just a start - it's getting late and we're heading up to Seattle tomorrow to meet an Orkut friend (for the 1st time) and pick up some stuff that she has brought from my family in Asunción for me and my family here.
I'll explain all this in another blog - family. It's incredible.