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.

WE WELCOME A NEW STUDENT AND HOST FAMILY!

Jinuk, from South Korea, has been attending JPII for a year and a half now but was not with an exchange organization until November 25 when he became a CIEE student and moved in with the McCoy Family. The McCoy's hosted Tim, a boy from China, three years ago who is now attending the University of Illinois and came to visit them for Thanksgiving.

Jinuk from South Korea

 

The McCoy family (from left to right: Will, Ryan, Bill, Lori and Mary Beth

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT CHRISTMAS CHARITIES YEAR ROUND

On November 19, several CIIE students, host parents and local coordinators sorted non-perishable food items to be used to provide Christmas dinners for needy families in the area.  Together we sorted 4,762 items.  Wow!!


Group poses for a picture after a job well done

 



 

LC & host mom Kelly works with Melanie and Faby, both from Germany



Kristy from Hong Kong works with her host mom, Alexis

Timo from Germany and Jinuk and K, both from South Korea, are a team



Meridian, host sister, works with Fasai and Bow, both from Thailand





 

Vivan from China works with host mom Keely

 



 

A WEEKEND OF FUN!

 

CIEE students, LCs and host families from the Chattanooga area and Wetumka, Alabama joined our group on October 26 and 27 to visit attractions in and around Huntsville.  On Saturday, we spent several hours at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, visited Huntsville's historic district for a self-guided walking tour and then went to the mall for shopping and dinner.  Sunday, we toured nearby Cathedral Caverns.


Group picture and U.S. Space & Rocket Center



Timo, from Germany, and Phllip, from South Korea, wait to ride Space Shot (do they look nervous?)

 

Timo and Phillip in the air (do they look a little more relaxed?)




Group picture in front of Pre-Civil War Church in Histoirc District

 

 

Group picture and entrance to Cathedral Caverns



On the Cathedral Caverns tour

 

International Festival

Several of our students and host families visited the International Festival at UAH on Saturday, September 28.  Sijia Li, a former CIEE student who is currently attending UAH, organized the Chinese booth which was one of the most innovative booths at the festival.  In addtion to a wide variety of displays, volunteers demonstrated making Chinese dumplings.  Here Timo and Felicia, both from Germany, pose at the German booth.  Don't worry, Fee's beer stein is empty!

 
 
 

WE HAD A BLAST AT THE WELCOME POOL PARTY!!

 

 



The pool party was a big success! Thanks Deborah for hosting it for the third year in a row. Your place is perfect. The students and host families enjoyed traditional American picnic foods -- hamburgers, hot dogs, and a variety of delicious side dishes brought by the host families. Students - we will be asking you to bring dishes from your home countries to the Christmas Party on December 7, so be thinking about what you might like to prepare.

 

Everyone poses by the pool



The students pose by the pool



 






The boys master the art of grilling



The feast begins