– My youngest daughter asked if I really wanted a 16-year-old in the house again. “You didn’t much like me when i was 16….” My answer, the expted: “I loved you but I didn’t like it when you stayed out until 2:00 and I didn’t know where you were!” “One time.” “More than one time…” and the discussion continues.
The great culture shock came at the host family orientation.
Do we live in a police state? I just found out there’s a curfew in St Paul!
And that kids get long long long lists of supplies they have to buy before school begins.
And that most American parents (apparently?) want to talk first to the parents of the a high school friend their high school child will visit the home. I cannot even imagine the looks & groans if I had suggested to my youngest daughter’s friends that I needed to talk to their parents before Arielah could go to their house.
And that American parents apparently have bedtimes for their high school teens! I might have said, “It’s about time you went to sleep” if they were up late, but I cannot imagine setting a bedtime. What do you do if they don’t go to bed by the set bedtime?
I guess Luisa and I will both learn. I only hope she isn’t disappointed at possibly not having a typical American home life, whatever that is.
