Welcome 2014-15 Students!!!

What a great year this will be!!

I am excited to have so many students near my own home again with all of those host families hosting for the first time!

I also have 3 families hosting again.

This is the Browns 5th time & the Bangerters and Diamonds 2nd time hosting.  I love working with families again and again!

This year also has 2 students who chose their own families.
*David spent 2 summers with his host family and decided to come for an entire year.
*Jimena came to the same host family that her sister was with 2 years ago. The host family spent a few weeks with Jimena and Paula's family in Spain after Paula was in their home.

I love the work I do and the connections across the globe I help make happen.

The kids that come are brave and smart and an inspiration to me and all they come in contact with.

So with that welcome my 2014-15 group! (some of them I do not have their airport pictures)

CETUSA Trips

Each year more and more students are going on the trips.  They have added new trips every year.

The trips are a great way for students to interact with each other and learn of the experiences they are having in other places in the country.

I always encourage the students to take advantage of the trips.

You can see how much fun they have!

Welcome Spring!!!

Utah is an amazing place to experience the birth of Spring.

Spanish Fork, UT is the home to the Krishna Temple of the Hindu faith.  The Indian culture welcomes Spring with the Holi Festival.   Exchange students have loved going to the festival and learning of how many cultures are celebrated in America.

(I will now copy the info from the festival web page http://www.colorfestival.com/about)

In India, the Festival of Colors (Holi) announces the arrival of spring and the passing of winter. The festival breathes an atmosphere of joy and love. People embrace each other in a spirit of reconciliation, forgiveness, and gratitude. Every nook and corner presents a colorful sight: young and old alike covered in color, singing, dancing, laughing together.

Exchange students have loved going to the festival and learning that many cultures are celebrated in America.

Welcome Dinner Miracle!

Trying to find a venue for 12 families was harder then I thought it would be.   I thought I had a building secured away and then I got bumped out for another even that was discovered had already been booked for that same night.

It took 3 months to find a new venue and it was only a week before the event!  My families were so amazing and so patient to find out where they would be going.  My thanks to Murray Library!

It turned out perfect!

This year is going to be amazing!!!

Welcome to Utah!!!

This year is going to be unbelievable!!  I have been fortunate enough to have placed 14 amazing kids with 12 equally amazing families!!

I have never placed this many before and I hope I can meet all their needs.

Already this has proved to be quite the task as trying to get photos at the airport of each family and student eluded me time and again.  One time the camera didn't actually take the pictures, another my camera died, another time I forgot it all together and then my phone died.  So until I can get pictures from those families I will wait to do my collage.

But here is who Utah welcomed this year!

BRAZIL

Thomas - Tonge Family - Roy,UT

CHINA

Yanwei (Amanda) - Lucas Family - Roy, UT

DENMARK

Sandra - Pedersen Family - West Jordan, UT
Simone - Biggers Family - Lehi, UT
Andreas - Lowry Family - Murray, UT

FINLAND

Ida - Miller-Owen Family - Cottonwood Heights, UT
Hanna - Simon Family - Saratoga Springs, UT
Inka - Our Family - Riverton, UT

GERMANY

Jesper - Smith Family - Riverton, UT
Eli - Tandiman Family - West Jordan, UT

NORWAY

Elise - Miller Family - Alpoine, UT

S. KOREA 

Sumin(Chloe) - Lucas Family - Roy, UT

SWEDEN

Beata - Wilcox Family - Spanish Fork ,UT

THAILAND

Natjeera(Lulu) - Miller Family - Alpine, UT
Boonyisa(Ploy) - Smith Family - West Valley, UT

Family Game Day

Fongo Bongo Games is a new store that opened near my home.  The owners have become good friends and I asked them if they would host a family game day for my host families.  They excitedly agreed.  It was a HUGE hit!!  I think I will do this every year!!

Education for Africa!!!

CETUSA is proud to be working with Explorius who has partnered with AiDucatius.

AiDucatius is involved in providing formal education to children in Ghana and Tanzania.

For each student from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland a child from Ghana or Tanzania will receive an education.

Please join us in this effort!