Our first 3 kids

When I was growing up, our family always had other kids in the house… many, exchange students from overseas.  Shortly after Jrock and I bought our first house, I announced to him: “By the way, a 15 year old from the Philippines is moving in with us for a couple of months in September.”  His famously unsettled reply was “Do I have to talk to her?”

Pam was our first kid together, a perky, pink-wearing, GilmoreGirls-watching, giggling girl.  Both of us really enjoyed having her stay for the 5 months, with sleepovers and canoeing trips.  J even started watching Gilmore Girls with her!

Our second kid was a tall blond drink of water from Germany: Luca.  Luca, at 16, was an athletic couch potato whose wry humour kept us roaring with laughter.  I just loved talking with him.  He only lived in our house for 2 months, but visited us all the time… Luca was like a younger cheeky brother to me and both of us miss him terribly.

This past September Telles arrived from Brazil.  Another tall skinny kid… a little homesick, but with a cheerful non-stop smile.  Telles lived with us for 4 months, and now I can’t believe how much he’s grown and matured… from a quiet 15 year old to a confident 16 year old football star!

Jrock, now the biggest proponent of hosting exchange students, would tell you that having kids from another country in your home really enriches your life.  I would say that you extend your concept of family.  Probably the biggest benefit, other than having friends all around the world, is learning more about your own Canadian culture through someone else’s eyes.