Christine Bee
  • Forest
  • WWMFD
  • Little things
  • Fun

About hosting James

6/1/2015

0 Comments

 
In one of my networking meetups Bea, a life coach, mentioned hosting exchange students on a regular basis and how it opened all kinds of experiences and worlds to her. I felt very inspired and envious and thought that if we could move our office we could host guests in our downstairs bedroom. It has a nice bathroom is a little separate from our bedrooms, but too far to use it for our kids. So, hosting. We could have someone live with us. Bringing the great stuff about traveling and meeting new people, ideas and adventure right into our house without having to pack up and go anywhere. Great!

A couple of days later I got an email asking for families to host a soccer coach for a week. There was need for this in 2 days. We were not ready yet. The room wasn't set up as a guest room yet and I didn't have the energy to do so. I contacted the person asking for host families but made it clear we weren't ready yet, but interested. Another day passed and I got another a little more urgent email that it would be really great if we could host the next day. Husband was in. 'Sure, we like to help.' So we got our act together, cleaned up in no time, put a make-shift bed together, our spare mattress on top and waited.

Late at night, past the kids bed time, he finally arrived. James. Friendly, young dude from the UK. Moving around with the soccer circus for a while. We quickly learnt he is the perfect house guest. He reads good night stories to the kids. Enjoys every meal we offer, is always polite and also very funny with a bit of normal quirkiness to not make it too awkward. We enjoy taking him along to the beach or dinner. We took the water taxi and walked back (missed the return boat). Met some of his friends. He plays soccer in the alley with the kids. We as a family act a little more civil being around someone else. More polite. Less exaggerating. He is social but not overly. He feeds on Raisin Bran and whole milk. He does stuff outside the house and comes back. He helped grab a ladder to catch a swarm of bees and watched the kids for a night out. No need to entertain or please. Overall, he just blends in perfectly.

I think he enjoys staying with us, too as 1 week became 2 weeks and 2 weeks became 4. :-) We feel honored he still isn't sick of us. Now he is traveling again and it feels strange to see the guest room empty. He will come 'home' soon before he will take off for a longer time. I am excited to hear about his adventures and his future. I can't imagine having missed out on the opportunity to bring him into our lives for a bit and excited who will come next if we keep our door open. 

And, thanks Bea for your inspiration!
Picture























James at the Bee Fest with Sarah and Tim

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Optimistic, curious, human bee. 

    Picture

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    December 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    December 2011
    August 2011
    December 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009
    August 2009
    May 2009
    March 2009
    November 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    August 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    December 2006
    May 2006
    April 2006
    August 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    February 2005
    January 2005
    December 2004
    July 2004
    June 2003
    October 2002
    June 2002
    May 2002
    February 2002
    December 2001
    October 2000
    August 2000
    July 2000
    June 2000
    May 2000
    February 2000
    December 1999
    November 1999
    October 1999
    September 1999
    July 1999
    May 1999
    December 1998
    September 1998
    May 1998
    March 1998
    January 1998
    December 1997
    August 1997
    May 1997
    March 1997
    February 1997

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Forest
  • WWMFD
  • Little things
  • Fun