our french girl

When my neighbor from France asked me to send out an email to the neighborhood looking for a family to host a French exchange student, I didn't consider volunteering since all my kids took Spanish, but I always wanted to host an exchange student and the opportunity had never presented itself.  So when the email didn't produce any responses, it's probably not surprising that I decided to go for it.  I figured well the point of it is that she wants the "American experience" which includes speaking English, so even though we do not speak a word of French, Emma from Paris spent a week with us in LBI which fell during the July 4th holiday, so I would say it could not get much more American than that!!  When I picked her up from the previous family who hosted her, they told me she was quiet and didn't speak much so I was a little worried.  But after an hour with her, I was pleasantly surprised by her English, she was immediately part of the family and she enjoyed a whirlwind week at the Jersey shore!  Here are some of my "Emma highlights"

 - After knowing Emma for 10 minutes, I ask her "do you like boys?" and maybe she thinks I'm crazy but she cracks up laughing and we were off to a good start!

 - Emma is my best mozzarella chopper!

 - Tom teaches Emma his rules - the 3 "B"s - no booze, no boys, no bongs!  She loves this and repeats it all week.

 - Tommy asks Emma many questions about France and the boys across the street think Tommy is very strong and they ask him for workout advice!

- Emma tries to teach us to speak French and I am the worst, but I try the hardest.

- Sunset dinners, mussels, clams, burgers, fish, steak, salads!

- Fireworks on the beach by Jonathan on July 4th!

- Emma tries some American "S'mores" and they are delicious!

- Emma does NOT love Six Flags but tries El Toro and Nitro after I beg her to try!

- I give Emma a good night hug every night because she is so far from home.

- Ryan makes Emma nutella banana crepes - yummy!!

- Emma is my shopping buddy - grocery store and other stores!

- COSTO is so American and SO BIG!  Lots of food samples to try and a big chocolate cake for Jonathan's birthday!!

- Emma brings us delicious chocolates that we eat like crazy, dish towels with Paris on them which I love - and coffee mugs I use every day!

- Little "dance party' on the bay beach on July 4th!  Celebrating America!

- Emma, Juli and Kristen like to watch the hot lifeguards doing push ups!

- Riding the big beach bikes to stores!

- Emma and JuliAnn do the 'polar plunge' into the cold ocean.

- I start to cry saying goodbye to Emma - I will miss my little hazel-eyed french daughter!