Why Host an Exchange Student

For me, the real question is "Why not?!"  But since everyone isn't quite as adventurous in opening their home to complete strangers as this former foster family is, I'll attempt to convince you that this is a good idea!

If you homeschool, you know that Education is a Life, and an Atmosphere.  Who and what comes into your home can rock your world!  Think of how much you and your children can learn from having a.) a teenager in the house, b.) dinner with someone from another culture...nearly every day, and c.) seeing your own town, state and country with new eyes.  Think of all the special conversations you could have!

If you have an only child, you know that a bit of extra effort is required to have that "sibling experience".  How nice it is to have a built-in friend at home!  Someone to hang out with, to hit the town with, to show around school, to do the whole "senior year" adventure together?  Awesome.

If you don't homeschool or have an only child, why would you host?  Still the same reasons, actually. Expand your worldview, enjoy foods and stories from other cultures, enjoy a new son or daughter, or sibling.  Love more.  Laugh more.  Do more.

If you don't have children at all?  Can you host?  Should you?  Yes!  Hosting is great for empty-nesters who want to feel more a part of the community again.  Hosting can be a wonderful parenting experience for those who never had their own children.

These teens, ages 15-18, are thoroughly vetted and safe to have in your home.  Their English has to meet a certain standard to get into the EF High School Exchange Year program.

So, give it some thought!  I can help connect you to someone in your area (within the USA) who works with EF and see if this is right for your family.

Clash of Kingdoms by Dyer and Tobey

Clash of Kingdoms: What the Bible Says About Russia, ISIS, Iran and the End Times was written by Charles Dyer and Mark Tobey, has a foreword by Dr. David Jeremiah and was just published this year (2017).  It is an "essential guide to what scripture foretells about current events in the middle east", a good presentation of the basics of what is to come.

I found Clash of Kingdoms interesting and informative.  The first half of the book goes over the past and current events of the nations that are relevant to Bible prophesies, and I admit I wasn't enthralled.  But then, the Bible verses and explanations in the second half made all sorts of fascinating connections between Biblical past, recent past, present and future.  I learned much about the Middle East, as well as Russia.  Connections were drawn from ancient Babylon and Rome straight into the future.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more about Bible prophesy in general, as well as those interested in the end times, the second coming of Christ, Armageddon and more.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Too Much Noise

I am sensitive to noise, especially high-pitched continuous noises (some vacuums), or very repetitive noises (typing, mouse clicking, pencil tapping).  I seem unable to tune them out.  Fluorescent lights have always bothered me, things that beep bother me, and television commercials (why are they so annoying?  and louder than the show itself??).  Then there is the sound of other people eating, which I  can't stand when I'm not eating.  Especially crunchy foods.  Why do these things irritate me?

Then.  11 years ago.

On the plus side, I can hear the mouse in the house and know to put out traps.  On the negative side, the mouse in the house wakes me up in the middle of the night if he comes in my room to chew on something. *shivers*  I used to think it was just a mom thing - someone needs to hear the baby getting restless in the next room, right?  But now, I think there is more to it than that.

There is a scientific term for this hearing sensitivity that makes it feel more legitimate.  Have you heard of it?  Misophonia

So, in order to survive my afternoon "quiet time" - when I'm trying to read or concentrate on something between homeschooling and evening activities - I need to block out as much sound as possible when I'm indoors*.   (For some reason, when I'm outdoors, noises don't bother me, unless a big truck goes down the highway nearby.  There's no mouse clicking, pencil typing or lights out by the pond, so that could be it.  I also think the earth grounds me, and is calming to all my senses, and I like the sounds of birds and squirrels.)  My quiet time comes when my son gets his own computer time, so that's when the incessant clicking starts.  Yeah, its not a very big house, so I can hear it from anywhere.  We recently got some noise-cancelling headphones and my husband put batteries in them and stuck them on my head one day when I was getting irritated.  It did help some, and when I hooked them up to my phone for an audiobook, it was even better.  Hooray!

Now.  Actually, about 15 months ago.

Have you tried noise-cancelling headphones?  What's your favorite brand?  I have trouble finding anything that's comfortable enough, and I despise ear buds of all kinds because they hurt.

I know I usually write about my son's sensory issues, but its time I admit that I have some of my own!  My husband does, too, so all together we make an interesting bunch.

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

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