newsletter-jennie-fouts-january-2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Cultural Homestay International
January 2012
From Jennie’s desk..
Dear CHI Participants,
I love hearing about the activities
you are all involved with.
Especially volunteering together
to help those in
need. Lending a hand
where needed, giving of
yourself, your time, your
energy and smiles… all
help you be a better
person and help those
who need it.
*Some of you have
joined volunteer and
cultural awareness clubs
at your schools -
I applaud you!
*Some of you wrapped
gifts for others, cleaned
yards, helped at a food
bank, helped Santa and
more - I applaud you!
*Others are joining every
family activity and now
have a strong relationship
with your host family.
Some of the activities
you are doing, may not
be your first choice and
may be something new
for you; yet you have
made others happy and you
are growing and maturing into
a young adult - I applaud you!
*Swim team, Wrestling, Football,
School Radio, Drama,
trimming the roses :) riding
horses, snow skiing, sharing
your culture and holiday traditions..
You are taking advantage
of what this program
offers by ‘joining’,
‘participating’, and ‘being
active’. Love your life, make
fun happen for yourself and
others!
No matter what holidays you
are celebrating… have fun,
learn, teach, experience newness,
jump in, offer ideas,
don’t wait to be entertained…
ENTERTAIN! Your family will
welcome your thoughts on
what you can all do to have a
fun.
“You’re not in Kansas anymore”
you’re in America… it’s
not like home… that’s the
point!
HAVE FUN - BE SAFE - JOIN IN
– TALK - SHARE– LAUGH -
CRY - TRY SOMETHING NEW -
TRY ANOTHER SOMETHING
NEW - JOIN YOUR HOST FAMI-
LIES ACTIVITIES - INVITE
YOUR FRIENDS TO YOUR
HOME - THIS IS YOUR YEAR -
GO - GO - GO!!!
Henning/Germany
Yumeko/Japan
Friend and Marta /Spain
Washington & Oregon Students in Seattle
Maximilian/Germany; Samuel/Slovokia; Santa (of
course); Vittorio(Italy); and Peter(Slovakia
Host brother, Alan/France
& Ryunosuke/Japan
Inside this issue:
A Day in Seattle Washington 2
Happy New Year note 3
Where we’ve been 4 / 5
Alaska 6
Fall & Spring students 7
South Carolina 8 / 9
Birthdays 10
Sharing Cultures 11

Zi Chun (Charlotte)/China, and friend
Yuriko/Japan; Bruna/Brazil; Yumeko/Japan
As has been the tradition of both the South West Washington
and Northern Washington CHI groups for years,
together the students spent the day in downtown Seattle
and went to dinner at the Spaghetti factory before
returning home. As always, new friends were made,
conversations shared, and those who met in September,
(or for a few, who’d met before leaving their home country)
caught up on all that’s new in their lives. It was a
great day (with NO rain!) and a wonderful way to start
off the holiday season
Page 2

Many companies are started by a
person who has the vision of a
dream. CHI’s founder’s, Tom and
Lilka are of a very rare few that
continue to follow their dream for
a lifetime. It is because of their
hardwork and their commitment
that we as families, AC’s and students
have the opportunity to
share, to host, and to grow
through CHI. I wanted to share
their note for the New Year..
Thank you Tom and Lilka for all
you do.
There is something wonderful about each and every New Year holiday. It gives us an opportunity
to look back, take stock, change things, make a new start, look forward. Out with the old, in with
the new. It is a holiday marked with optimism and rebirth. It offers a new chance, a new beginning,
a new way, a new you. It can also reaffirm that you are OK, that things are working as they
should, that you are on the right track…
Lilka and I know that all of you are unusual, high beings, - already functioning on a true cultural
and international level. Your extraordinary work, hosting and student participation is reflected in
the prestige CHI enjoys throughout the world. While 2013 will no doubt present us with many
challenges, we know we will overcome them because our foundation is rock solid
and unshakable Let’s not forget that 2013 will also bring us lots of joy, excitement and satisfaction.
CHI Mission is to help make our world a kinder, more peaceful place through people-to-people
exchange. Keeping this goal in sight, working together, we will go forward in 2013, - through
thick and thin, through sleet and snow – and, to be sure, through many, many sunny days, as
well.
Wishing you and your families all the best in the New Year,
Tom and Lilka
CHI Founders
January 1, 2013
Happy new year! Page 3

Florence(Flossie)/
Australia and
Marta/Spain with
their host moms
and sisters took a
short trip to the city
of Forks to see
where TWILIGHT
originated. On the
way back, they
ferried to Seattle
on New Years Eve
just before the start
of the festivities.
GREAT TRIP and
Great idea!
In Oregon, fellow exchange student and
Bruna/Brazil love the first snowfall.
VOLUNTEERING! A group of students work to make
dreams come true on Christmas at Santa’s Workshop
Joris, Henning and Victoria/Germany;
Emilie/Denmark; Dung Quoc/Vietnam; Tulga Mongolia
Seriously, it’s a
GUM WALL!
Kinda gross,
very cool and
only in Seattle.
Peter/Germany
I want to slide a
huge THANK YOU in
here to the families
students and AC’s
that have sent me
pictures, comments
and let me swipe
great stuff off your
facebooks. I enjoy
reading your posts
and watching you go
through these
months a lot. Sharing
your ups AND
your downs is priceless.
~ Lori
Dung Quoc
“Trans”/Vietnam
with Santa

Borja/Spain helps coach soccer for the little guys.
Washington weather in January: 20 - 40 degrees Fahrenheit with lots
of RAIN!
Yuriko/Japan
AC Karen; friend; Julia/Poland;
Victoria/Germany; AC Erin and
Henning/Germany
Joris/Germany
This is truly the
picture of a
‘champ’ not only
did he clean it,
but he let me
use this picture
too! THANKS!
Victoria/Germany and friend
Marta/Spain - in red pants.

...and in Alaska,
Lena/Germany and friends
Blanca/Spain host sisters & friends
Guglielmo/Italy
Because we associate cold weather
with Alaska, I thought I’d share their
regular January temperatures in Anchorage,
Kenai and Soldotna.
The average temperature in January is
between 8 and 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
That’s –8 and –5 for all of you Celsius
fans. That’s cold!
It might be Oh So
COLD there, but this
picture is really
pretty.
Thanks Lena !

So sad to see you go…..
The fall 5 month students are leaving, where did the time go?
Florence (Flossie) from Australia attended Castle Rock High School,
Washington. She had a nice time, met friends and did lots of shopping. Among her adventures,
she saw where Twilight originated and on her last adventure, she broke her
arm snowboarding. I hope you keep in touch!
Anna (Theresa) from Germany was a student at Monroe High School, Washington. Theresa
and her host family made a surprise trip to California over the holidays.
Benjamin from Belgium was a great addition to Lakes High School, Washington
. Although he had to return home in late December, he did have a great time
while here. Attending school dances, participating in sports and making new
friends all are part of a positive experience.
Yodira from Mexico attended Palmetto Scholars Academy, South Carolina.
Yodira has been a great part of her host family and school. When asked what she
might miss most: OREOS!
As the spring students arrive…
Welcome to Amercia!
Jessica from Australia will be going to Bremerton High School in Washington.
Charlotte from Germany will attend Hanahan High School in South Carolina.
Laura from Germany will be a student in the Whale Branch High School, South Carolina
Maria from Italy will be going to Whale Branch High School, South Carolina
Greer from New Zealand will be studying in RB Stall High School, South Carolina.

The South Carolina Group in Charleston, where the sun is always shining!
Get your group together and send
your pictures to Lori and Jennie!
This newsletter is fun to see, great
to share and happens because
YOU send us the snaps and the
facts! Lbrothers3@aol.com &
chijennie@chinet.org
AC Merle;
Debroslawa/Poland;
AC Denise
& Ting Ting/China

Dobroslawa (Debbie)/Poland
Bread lessons! Ting Ting/China, Host mom Denise and
Dobroslawa/Poland
Adriana/Spain and friend
Host sister and Teomara/Mexico
Elisabetta/Italy, 2 friends and Angela/Italy at
the skate palace
Angela/Italy and friend in Ohio at the Smuckers factory

Juliette/Belgium
They said that christmas
would be the most difficult
time of the year for an exchange
student. Well for me it
was the most wonderful! An
amazing host family, a lot of
snow, ice skating, hot drinks,
first ski experience and a new
year in Washington! I will never
forget that Christmas ♥ —
in Canada.
Elisabetta (Eli)/Italy
Blanca/Spain
(in black)
Yodira/Mexico
Benjamin/Belgium
Anna(Theresa)/Germany
Happy Birthday!
Maximilian/Germany 12/1
Elisabetta/Italy 12/2
Guglielmo/Italy 12/8
Bastian/Belgium 12/10
Blanca/Spain 12/13
Benjamin/Belgium 12/20
Anna (Theresa)/Germany 12/27
Yodira Hernandez Ruiz/Mexico 1/8
Kanchanawadee/Thailand 2/1
Guglielmo/Italy
Maximilian/Germany
What can you share with your host family?
Two students from South Carolina recently shared traditions from
Italy and Thailand, and had a great time while teaching their families
and friends something new. I think too often we forget to ask about
what traditions are important to you in your country, and miss the
chance to learn something new! Take the time to share and explain
something from your country. The memories you make will be
priceless! ~Lori
Upcoming global holidays:
February 10th ~ Chinese New Year
February 24th ~Lantern Festival (China)
March 20th ~ Spring Equinox
May 5th ~ Childrens Day
May 13th ~ Ascention Day

LOI KRATHONG takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In
the western calendar this usually falls in November. Thank you to Kanchanawadee/Thailand for sharing this.
Loi means 'to float', while krathong refers to a usually lotus-shaped container which floats on the water. Krathong has no other meaning
in Thai besides these decorative floats, so Loi Krathong is very hard to translate, requiring a word describing what a Krathong looks
like such as Floating Crown, Floating Boat, Floating Decoration. The traditional krathong are made of the layers of the trunk of a banana
tree or a spider lily plant. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate after a
few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk krathong are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are sometimes banned, as
they pollute the rivers and may take years to decompose. A krathong is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, incense
sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch
their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect
to the water spirits.
Loi Krathong is often claimed to have
been begun in the Sukhothai by a court
lady named Nopphamat. However, it is
now known that the Nopphamat tale
comes from a poem written in the early
Bangkok period.is . [1] According to H.M.
King Rama IV, writing in 1863, it was a
Brahmanical festival that adapted by
Thai Buddhists in Thailand to honor Buddha,
Prince Siddhartha Gautama. The
candle venerates the Buddha with light,
while the krathong's floating symbolizes
letting go of all one's hatred, anger, and
defilements. People sometime cut their
fingernails or hair and placed the clippings
on the krathong as a symbol of
letting go of negative thoughts. However,
many ordinary Thai use the krathong to
thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae
Khongkha
ITALIAN EPIPHANY: In popular folklore witch Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the
Epiphany to fill their socks with candy and presents if they are good or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad.
In many poorer parts of Italy and in particular rural Sicily, a stick in a stocking was placed instead of coal. Being a
good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping meant the sweeping
away of the problems of the year. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few
morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana. [3]
From AC Merle in SC: We had a good time this afternoon at the Epiphany Celebration we held in honor of Angela's tradition in
Italy. Unfortunately, rain prohibited us from having a bonfire outside; so we just burned the traditional paper witch, Befana,
at my house in the fireplace! Kanchanawadee/Thailand and her host family attended, as well as a friend of Angela's who is
an exchange student in the Rotary program, Camille from Belgium.
The making of the witch…
Angela/Italy in South Carolina

HOST AN EXCHANGE
STUDENT. ASK US
HOW!
chijennie@chinet.org
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On the web in color!
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