OUR DAY IN CHATTANOOGA WAS GREAT FUN

On March 15, fifteen CIEE exchange students and host family members from the Huntsville area spent the day in Chattanooga with the Chattanooga cluster.  We took a riverboat ride on the Southern Belle which featured a delicious lunch buffet.  Following the riverboat we visited the world famous Tennessee Aquarium.  Finally, everyone had three hours to explore downtown Chattanooga with its shops, restaurants and galleries.  We all had a great time!




Jinsung, K, Jim, Giuli, Kristy & Bow about to board the riverboat









 

WELCOME JINSUNG!!!

On March 1, Jinsung from South Korea joined the CIEE family.  He is living with the Powers so Timo from Germany has a new brother!  He will be graduating from John Paul II Catholic High School in May and wants to attend art school in the U.S. next year.  Here's his JP2 graduation picture.

PLAYING IN THE SNOW

SNOW IN THE DEEP SOUTH??!!  On February 13 we had an unusual snow.  Everyone got a day off from school and enjoyed playing in the snow.

Jinuk from South Korea making a snowman with his host sister Mary Beth

Timo from Germany spent hours building this awesome snowman

ASIAN NEW YEAR PARTY AT THE POWERS'

On February  1, we had an Asian New Year party at our house and almost 50 people came.  It was a lot of fun.  We enjoyed delicious food that everyone brought to share, played games, had a toast to the Lunar New Year and just enjoyed one another's company.  Some of the students even played a game of soccer on our back deck!

FUN IN GATLINBURG

In January, we joined the Chattanooga cluster for a weekend of fun in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  We visited some of the local attractions, went ice skating and skiing, and enjoyed the indoor/outdoor heated pool at our hotel.

German boys ham it up at Aquarium of the Smokies

Students being silly on aerial tram taking them up to the ski resort

Students riding chair lift

Timo from Germany pauses long enough for a photo

Students take a break to wish happy birthday to Jinuk from South Korea (with his thumbs-up)








GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY

After school on January 9, several CIEE students, LCs, and host parents participated in an activity to learn about national and local government in the U.S.  We started with a meeting at Congressman Mo Brooks Huntsville office.  The Congressman's local staff gave us an overview of how the federal government operates and took questions from the students.  Touching on a number of topics currently in the news, including recent revelations about the surveillance activities of the NSA and the rolling out of Obamacare, we had a very tought provoking discussion.  Next, we traveled to city hall and had a brief meeting with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and had an opportunity to get a group picture with the Mayor.  Finally, we attended a Huntsville City Council meeting at which the president of the City Council presented each of the students with official certificates signed by the Mayor and each of the Council members.




Congressman staffers answer student question



Mayor Battle (center) and Councilman Showers (left) pose with students

Mayor has a discussion with the students



Students wait for City Council meeting to be called to order

Each student was presented with an official certificate

CIEE CHRISTMAS PARTY GREAT FUN

On December 7, Kelly and Rod Merritt hosted the CIEE Christmas party and it was awesome!  Kelly and Rod are hosting Melanie, from Germany, and Kelly is also a local coordinator.  The students all brought dishes from their home countries which were delicious.  We also played Dirty Santa and sang Christmas carols accompanied by Faby, from Germany, on her guitar.  One of the highlights of the party was the CIEE Christmas tree Kelly decorated with individualized Christmas ornaments for each of the exchange students.