the Wexler family

This is amazing. After arriving in Chicago O’Hare Airport we took an hour- long busride to WorldChicago were we met Lisa and all other program coordinators of the Chicago program. We got tons of papers and telephone cards (I have $5 credit to call home) and metro cards. Me and Greta live the farest away, so we have more metro cards. We have the CTA pass and the Metra zone F cards. We had a snack and the hostfamilies started to flow in. My heart was pumping and I was wondering, who’s gonna pick me up.

Lisa called my name and took me to the Wexler family, waiting down tthe hall. Ken and Suzanne (the parents) and the youngest daughter Alyssa were waiting for us. We had a little chat and then started to drive home. It took us about 45 minutes, without traffic. On our way Alyssa suggested that we could go to the „American mountains“ (rollercoasters) and to the cinema to see „Eclipse“ on our free time. Also to a Reneissance fair and maybe shopping. These plans sound awesome, especially the rollercoasters (ma tean Neti, et sa oled kade :D). The family lives in a suburb called Buffalo Grove. It seriously looks like the Wisteria line from Desperate Housewives, only two times bigger. It is just crazy, the neighbourhood is just so neat and wow, from the movies. Still getting used to it. The house is about three times bigger than mine, looks very pretty. I think you’ll hear more about the house and everything materialistic about my stay.’

But to the more inportant part, the family. Ken works at an office and does employment benefit councelling (I hope I got it right) and he’s interested (very, very) in photography, so he can teach me all about my new camera. (või siis meie kaamera, ema) He does that as a side work and as a hobby. And he’s great at it, they have pictures made by him all over the house! He is very helpful and kind. Suzanne work 15 hours a week in network marketing and volunteers as a home-less shelter director! She is the sweetest person I’ve met, really makes us feel like home with Greta and I could say all the good words about her. She even offered to do our laundry. Alyssa is 12 and she is very smart for her age. I’d say 12 year-olds in Estonia are never that cool.  She made a surprise cake for us, saying „Welcome Anna and Greta“. How sweet is that! And she lets us sleep at her room, while she stay’s at her sisters. Lauren is at a camp right now, she’ll be arriving on Monday and Jeff is coming home from Germany today. The family even has a table for exchange students at their house, thay have had many of those.

I could carry on and on and on and as you may have noticed, my posts have become more American in my expressions, at least it seems so to me. I’m smiling all the time and saying „sorry“ and „thank you“. I couldn’t be happier with my family and I try to keep you updated, but I also try to spend as much time with the family as possible and so I have a little time for blogging. Well, right now im taking the Metra with Greta and Ken, it takes an hour. And then we have a 25-minutes walk to the office.

I’m gonna finish now, or I won’t stop. Kallid Eestisse. Minul on tõesti kõik super hästi. Kodus räägin kõigest veel sada korda detailsemalt. Skaipida praegu ei jõua eriti, aga jätan teate, et millal tulen. Siis saan skaibis võib- olla pere ka näidata.