The Gift that Giving Brings

The spring of 2008, my daughter and I met a Local Coordinator from CIEE. We listened intently to the amazing relationships she had built with international high schools students traveling to America to learn about our culture and share theirs. CIEE youth typically are very dedicated students and have had years of English training, but want to master English, which will help them in future careers.

At a glance, we were captivated by the huge smiles of the photos our Local Coordinator showed us and eagerly called to say “YES…we want to be a host family!” That was the easy part…next was deciding which student. This process was hard-because we liked them all! Our Local Coordinator sent several bios of each student and we noticed a lovely girl from Recife, Brazil that was a ballet dancer. She liked dogs, came from a family with several brothers and sisters. She sounded perfect! Sofia, even her name sounded graceful!

We prepared a room with bright colors and the day came to greet Sofia at the airport. All I had was a photo, but it wasn’t needed. The most beautiful girl got off the plane and walked to the info desk, and I said “Sofia”…she turned and I smiled a huge sigh of relief saying “yes…it’s Sofia”.

Days turned into months and we had the most wonderful time together cooking or trying new foods at local eateries, bowling, or playing in the snow. We took Sofia to the usual Louisville high-spots and other activities like to a horse barn for a few riding lessons. She taught us to laugh louder, treasure each other, and enjoy the moment; as living here was like a movie to her.

Our lives were forever changed in such an unexpected and delightful way by simply opening our home and hearts to Sofia, someone we might never have met had the courage to leave her family to travel 18 hours to a new home and school in Kentucky for 10 months. She had never been to the U.S. or seen snow.

I now tell people I have two daughters; one in 9th grade at SOHS, and one who lives in Brazil!

The CIEE experience was such a gift that I signed up to be a CIEE Local Coordinator. My job is to assist host families select a student, get them prepared as to what to expect, deliver the student from the airport, and check in with the family and student to see that all is going smoothly. I am the Locaal Coordinator for two lovely girls from Spain and Thailand this year and have met so many students and host families in the process. Definitely a win-win!

I’d be delighted to share the joy!

Cindy James
macbuff@gmail.com

P.S. Sofia wrote me a note at the airport waiting for her plane to Brazil, that I want to share …”One of the best things about coming to this country so far away from home was that I actually found another home. I feel so happy for that and couldn’t ask God for anything else.”

- Sofia, Brazil, July 1, 2009