COUNTRY MUSIC CITY USA

Mary and I traveled to Nashville, the birthplace of country music, on November 17, with five Alabama students, Fadi from Lebanon, Bermet from Kyrgyzstan, Arailm from Kazakhstan, Po-heng from Taiwan and Del from Mongolia, to spend a fun-filled day with two CIEE students and LC's from Tennessee. It was awesome! First, we toured the Lego exhibit at the beautiful Nashville Public Library in downtown Nashville, toured the historic Ryman Auditorium, birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry, strolled through downtown and  the Riverfront with abundant country music venues where we had lunch. We rounded out the day with visits to Opry Mills, a shopping mall with hundreds of stores and the Opryland Hotel, all decked out for Christmas.

HALLOWEEN PARTY SPOOKY

Host parents Monica Isper and William Hensley hosted a Halloween party at their beautiful home. Monica, who is a professional event player, went all out with decorations and food.  Everyone had a great time.

Fadi in traditional Lebanese clothing poses for a picture
with Mary & Jim before leaving for party

Host & hostess William & Monica

Left to right, Michaelle, Lisa & Giulia from Italy (note bloody wallpaper!)

Many witches attended

Host parents Pete & Edina Pelletier as Cruella & pup

Ghostly guests prepare to dine

Monica's spooktacular dessert table

Sinister paper products

CATHEDRAL CAVERNS

On Sunday, October 7, we toured the magnificent Cathedral Caverns, located a short distance from Huntsville.  One of the most beautiful caves in America, Cathedral Caverns has the largest entrance of any cave in the world. After the caverns, we enjoyed a traditional home-cooked southern meal at Mimi's Country Kitchen in Grant.

HUNTSVILLE HIGHLIGHTS

CIEE students from Tennessee joined us in Huntsville on October 6 to see some of what our city has to offer. We started out at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center where we enjoyed the exhibits, simulators, an IMAX movie and lunch at the Mars Cafe. Next, we visited the Huntsville Botanical Garden, a world-class garden which includes one of the biggest butterfly houses in the country. We rounded out the day with a visit to Bridge Street Town Center, an upscale outdoor shopping mall with lots of shops and restaurants, a movie theater and a Westin Hotel. The kids headed straight for H & M!

Saturn V

Space Shot

Group outside Space Center

Group inside Space Center

Group in IMAX Theater

Students on climbing wall

Group outside Botanical Garden

Group in Butterfly House

Student in Butterfly House

Bridge Street Town Center

IFEST A HUGE SUCCESS

On Saturday, we had a CIEE booth at iFest, a local university's annual international festival. Thanks to the hard work of my students, we received 17 host family leads for next year. YOU GUYS ARE ASESOME!!!! Here's a couple of pix of our booth.

KAYAKING ON THE ELK RIVER

On Saturday, September 8, five of us from Huntsville, met five CIEE folks from Tennessee for an afternoon of kayaking on the Elk River. We all had a great time!

Preparing to launch

Fun on the river

Yong on looking back

The weather was warm and sunny

Fadi catches on

Group shot after we leave the river

Fadi and Yong on the ride hope after an afternoon of kayaking

WELCOME PARTY

Monica Isper and William Hensley hosted the CIEE welcome party at their lovely lakeside home with a sparkling pool. Monica is an event planner and went all out. She is also from Brazil and recruited two of her Brazilian friends and their American husbands to host this year. Thank you, Monica!!

Monica Isper (right) with some of her Brazilian friends
including host mom Edina Pelletier (second from left).
Both families are hosting two girls.

Lavish dessert table greeted guests at the entered the home
The party had a patriotic theme.

Guys enjoy corn hole poolside

Girls enjoying the pool

Miguel from Spain surrounded by girls (he looks happy)

FAREWELL PARTY

The Switzer Family hosted the Farewell Party at their beauitiful home as they had the welcome party. With their sweeping yard, sparkling pool, basketball hoops and outdoor kitchen, they have the perfect place for a party. Everyone enjoyed swimming, visiting with one another, playing basketball and corn hole and of course the delicious food!

Chowin down

Host Gary Switzer with his granddaughter 

Hostess Faith Switzer (right) with Mary Powers and Rod Merritt

Shootin some hoops

Fun in the pool

Posing for a pic