By Faith Morse, Greenheart Regional Director & Host Mom
Things I’ve learned while hosting (in this case, in just one conversation):
- Indonesian buildings don’t have 4th floors.
- There are no monkeys in Poland.
- Monkeys have a predilection for getting into trash cans.
- If you pee in the woods, you must spit on it…
- Exchange students are a special kind of bright and brave people.
If this seems like a weird list… And I’ll admit after rereading it, it does. I’ll tell you that I have learned a LOT more than this while hosting, but this enlightenment, in particular, all came from the same conversation in just one night, at my dinner table in Maine.
An Odd Conversation
Imagine your typical setting, not quite Norman Rockwell but good food, my husband (an engineer by trade), myself, and the two girls we hosted. That year it was…you may have guessed: Indonesia and Poland. We were chit-chatting over dessert and talking about how our day went, and the conversation took a sudden left turn.
I say, “That’s lucky,” about something; now I don’t even remember what, but it’s not important to the story. The conversation pivots to the number 13 and how in some cases in the US it’s considered an unlucky number, and some buildings are built without a 13th floor as a result. Ellen, from Indonesia, says, “We don’t have 4th floors in any building in my country.” Basia, from Poland, asks, “Why?” – Okay, we do employ Mr. Google at this point, and did you know that the Chinese word for 4 sounds very much like the word for death? Indonesian culture being influenced by Chinese—did you realize that? Okay, the question was asked and answered! Who wants to live on the death floor?!!
I say, “What else don’t I know about Indonesia?” and the next three bullets on the list are quickly born. Ellen offers, “Monkeys love to take the lids off of trash cans and wreak havoc with the contents,” which apparently is a frustration to all of Indonesia. Basia comments, “Well, we don’t have that problem.” With wide eyes, Ellen replied, “Really? How do you keep the monkeys out of your trash?” Amid much laughter we brought Ellen up to speed on what animals live in central Europe (so she learned something too). There are, just for the purpose of clarity here, no monkeys running free peeling the lids off garbage cans in Poland.
“Well…” Ellen paused. “You know that if you pee in the forest, you have to spit on it, right?” Instantly eager to know more, as a person who has in fact peed in the forest on occasion, I asked, “Really, WHY?!” Ellen responded, “Well, if you don’t, the ghost will follow you home, of course.” And there it is, my friends, my excuse for hosting. I learn interesting things I would NEVER have known if I hadn’t hosted! I also have learned over and over again what wonderful, bright, and brave new people are coming next in this world we live in. They make me laugh (cue the monkeys in Poland), they make me hope, and they will make you do the same if you let them. Happy NEW Year! Do something bright and brave—like my wonderful kids—and you will learn something too, I promise!
Want to know more about lessons learned in hosting? Read Faith’s latest story here.
Are you ready to open your heart and home by hosting an international high school student (or two!) Visit HostWithGreenheart.org to meet students for the upcoming season, and apply today to host!