We had the opportunity to host these 2 12-year-old exchange students from Shanghai, China for a week. Addy LOVED them and was so sad the morning they were leaving, this is the picture I got.
They were darling "big sisters" to my girls and they spent every minute in their room from the time they got home from school until it was time for bed.
I did get a kick out of their "English" names, Shirley and Sherry. Something just felt weird calling a 12-year-old Shirley, but maybe that's just me.
We also had a minor incident where one of them didn't put the shower curtain inside the shower and we had some flooding in the bathroom which led to flooding in the basement. Forgot to show them that one detail.
I think they must have been told to "eat everything" because they did not leave the table until their plates were clean. I kept telling them they didn't have to eat it all, but they didn't budge.
Before they left, they wanted me to take them shopping for souvinirs for their family. Sherry wanted to get her Dad a hat, kind of a fadora-type. He said that America made the best hats, so we looked everywhere. Problem was, every single hat we found had a "Made in China" tag. Seriously?! I was kind of embarrassed after the 4th store. She settled on a Utah ball cap that was "Made in Vietnam" that was well-hidden so I don't think she saw it. So, some random Chinese man is walking around Shanghai with his "well-made American" Ute hat. Shame on us America. I'm sure the BYU hats were made here. :-)
They all look so happy..:)
ReplyDeleteI knew a few Shirleys in Taiwan too as well as some Deborahs and other more dated names. I always thought it was funny. I think with Shirley it is because it kind of sounds like Chinese words already. And that's hilarious about the made in China hats.
ReplyDeleteOh, and about the cleaning the plate thing--there is a tradition (at least in Taiwan) that if you don't clean your plate your future spouse will have a pock-marked face.
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