Hosting Taiwanese Students

Well, our week with the two girls from Taiwan is over.  It was fun and we learned a lot but I think we're all exhausted from the extra activities -- and the HEAT!  We found out about this opportunity through the missions director at our church.  Another church member is connected with a missionary in Taiwan who provides summer camps for students to come to America -- an English immersion program.  The students arrived Monday night at 10:30.  Tuesday and Thursday mornings they had English class at 9, followed by Culture Club where they had a chance to teach our students about their language and culture. 

Tuesday afternoon we were on our own so we went to the post office, library, book store, Coach store, and ate Mexican food -- their first!  Pool party that night.  Hamburgers on the grill.  We were going to drive up Mt. Diablo but it was CLOSED because of extremely high fire danger.  (I think it was 111 degrees that day!!!)  So we drove over the Berkely hills & showed them the houses built on the fault line.  lol...

Wednesday was a field trip to SF.  All the kids met at the BART station, rode the train in, did some shopping at the mall, rode the trolley, went to the Fisherman's Wharf, lunch at In 'n Out, walked on the Golden Gate Bridge, rode a bus back to the BART station, then came back home.  They didn't seem tired at all when we picked them up.  

Then it was game night at our house.  These girls went off by themselves to plan their own Jelly Belly flavors (some went to the factory on Tuesday).

Thursday night they had a program, did some traditional dances, snacks, and crafts.  Lots of motion & all my photos turned out like this:

Here's one where I caught them being still for a second.

Yummy snacks - tea with dried fish:

Chinese writing turned into tattoos by the end of the evening:

It was a great experience.  If you ever get a chance to host students it will be an experience you'll never forget.  (4 teenage girls in a house with one shower is also an experience to remember... lol)