Recently I was in a financial crisis, along with most of America. I own two houses, a nice comfortable and manageable home, and a super-size home of nearly 3000 square feet. The super-size one was being sold, the buyers were living in the house, however the intended buyers bailed and I was forced to foreclose on them. As usual, the worse that could happen was descending. Forced to make two house payments for 6 months, or lose my properties. Talk about a financial burden, among all the other financial losses, recent job loss and no child support. After making dual house payments, no bites on the super-size house, I had to think quickly. While I had the super-size house on the market, I still had to pay for the utilities and pool man, (I say pool man, he is nowhere near hot or young, but he does great pool cleaning service, so he is not a pool boy). My daughter Gabby (matured and acts more like my mother than my daughter is my emotional supporter) was brainstorming for ideas. Gabby’s maturity is a result of her experiencing everything I have personally gone through. Gabby suggested we move back to the large home, after we realize the comfort home could easily rented out vs. the large home.
One of the many reasons we tried to sell this home is while it is a nice sized home, the cost to maintain this home is twice the amount of an average sized home. This home has two of everything two water heaters, a/c units, three bathrooms, in ground swimming pool etc., the electricity bill alone could be a car payment.
Within a week of brainstorming, we moved into the large home. Thinking of the financial issues and the empty rooms we would still have, Gabby came up with the idea of a foreign exchange student program. Gabby mentioned one of her friend’s mothers was in the program and absolutely loved it. Honestly, I was a bet leery, as most foreign exchange students are male, and I have an all-female household. On the other hand, this could be beneficial to us, we would have company, the house would not be empty, and the financial piece is not bad. Remember, it is hard being away from your home and country, and we as a family could fill that void.
After researching the foreign exchange student program and a family interview/home visit, within days I had a call from a student I was told was the perfect fit with my family. He was anxious to meet and his English was not so good. Many foreign exchange students come to the U.S. to practice and learn English, as well as my student. My student, I shall refer to as Son. As a host family, you address your student as either son or daughter. Your family essentially becomes the student’s family. Within minutes of meeting us, we could tell we were a perfect fit. I became a mother to a 24-year-old son, who is naïve to the American Ways. I will describe him as an Enrique Iglesias want to be with a heavy accent, shy, and silly and does not think it is relevant or obvious he is from another country. Yeah right, I have to disagree about that.
Remember I have two daughters at home, my Gina who is 19, I refer to, as my little Courtney Love, is very much a free spirit, and we on occasion clash. I love all my daughters, but as some mothers know being a mother is challenging. My Gina worries me. Gina loves to party and have fun. Then I think we were all once 19 and loving life. My Gabby is soft spoken, hospitable, and shy. Again, my emotional supporter and in fact Gabby and I do everything together. I believe Gabby is getting tired of me. When necessary both my daughters will advise me when I am wrong. So two teen daughters’ and now the Enrique Want to Be, oh lord our household will never will be the same.
In addition, I now have a roommate, whom I should call Deb, 55 years of age, never married nor has children. She is quiet, very much a dog lover, and a professional editor who once worked for the city’s newspaper.
In my writings, I hope to fill you with our household day-to-day drama and craziness that occurs. Honestly there is never ever a dull moment in this household which I can describe as Jersey Shore meets It’s Hot in San Antonio...
