OUR STUDENTS HAVE ARRIVED



As our students arrived, we greeted them with open arms at the airport!

 



Yuhang (left) and George (third from left), the first students to arrive,
 are met by their host dads and brothers

 

Mico from China and her host mom Deborah (Deborah had an emergency
and couldn't make it to the airport so the pic was taken in her living room.)

 

From left to right, Kylie from South Korea, host mom Allen,
Khem from Thailand, and Local Coordinator Kelly

 

Lisa (with flag) from Germany with her host family. The Pride's are also hosting Zoe, from Spain




Khatia from the Republic of Georgia and her host family

 

Sophie with her host mom and host brothers



Yehia from Lebanon (center) with host dad and Vepa from Turkmenistan

Oak from Thailand with host mom, sister and brother

 Sebastian from Germany with his host mom and dad

 

Kamilla from Norway with host dad and sisters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR FINAL GET TOGETHER

We had our farewell party at the lovely lake house of Keely and Peter Kurth on May 17 on beautiful Smith Lake.  It was definitely worth the drive (and in several cases getting lost)! The Kurth's place is awesome!  Peter took us on a lake excursion on their pontoon boat and the kids had a blast swimming and jumping into the water from their two story deck. Some of the boys enjoyed a lively game of basketball.  Kelly made a poster with photos of things we've done together over the past 10 months and everyone was able to take the photos they wanted at the end of the party.  Rachel, who does our Facebook page, made CDs for everyone highlighting the year for everyone as well.  The food was great and we all had a wonderful time.  It's hard to believe the program year is almost over!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

JPII Graduation Party

Seven exchange students will graduate from John Paul II Catholic High school this month.  To honor their accomplishment we had a party at a local restaurant on May 12.  Each student received a specially designed tee-shirt and certificate and shared funny JPII stories and their college plans.  The graduates' baby pictures were displayed at the party and everyone had fun trying to guess who was who!



Jim congratulates Yiyang



Group enjoys one another's company during dinner 

Each student received a certificate with his/her baby and graduation pictures



K cheers for a fellow student

 




TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM TO SEE CIVIL RIGHTS SITES

A small group -- Jim, Timo, Jinsung and Jinuk --  traveled to Birmingham on Saturday, May 3 to see some of the city's Civil Rights sites. We started out with a program at the 16th Street Baptist Church, site of a KKK bombing that killed 4 black girls in September, 1963, during the peak of the Civil Rights movement.  Next we toured the Civil Rights Institute, a museum focusing on the Civil Rights movement in Alabama, and we finished up the day with a visit to Vulcan Park atop Red Mountain with a panoramic view of the city.  We had lunch at Rojo's and we highly recommend it.

CIEE STUDENTS WASH CARS FOR A GOOD CAUSE

A group of CIEE students, host sibs and friends got together Saturday to wash cars for a good cause.  Organized by Local Coordinator, Kelly Merritt, the event raised $202 for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.  Kelly, host mom Elaine Swanson, and Jim Powers brought lunch for the kids.

SPRING IS THE SEASON FOR PROMS!

Fee and her date Brandon before the Lincoln County High School Prom

Timo & his friend Brena on their way to the New Century Prom

Giuli dressed for the Grissom Prom with exchange sister Lee

Giuli and K head for the JPII Prom

 

FUN-FILLED WEEKEND IN ATLANTA

CIEE students Faby, Kristy, Giuli, Melanie, Jinsung, K and Jinuk, and Faby's host dad, Mark, and host sister, Randi, joined Jim for a fun-filled weekend in Atlanta April 12 & 13.  We spent all day Saturday at Six Flags over Georgia and toured World of Coca Cola and CNN World Headquarters on Sunday.  The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time!  The JP2 choir was in Atlanta at the same time for a choral competition and we got to see them receive a first-place award at a ceremony held at Six Flags Saturday afternoon.



The Ninja at Six Flags

Jinsung & Jinuk get ready to ride the Superman

Lee and Kristy (bottom left) at JP2 choral competition. Can you see Min Jeong?  Wow!  Look at that trophy!

The kids pose in from of coke bottle art before we enter World of Coca Cola

Assembly line at World of Coca Cola

Jinsung & Jinuk cut up at World of Coca Cola

The whole group at a CNN news desk

Jim & the kids outside CNN World Headquarters