Dear Parents of Term in Asia students,
We have you on our minds this week for several reasons.
This is a season of the year when most families spend time together, but this year Carol and I get the privilege of spending the days with your children, and all you can do is miss them. The stronger and deeper the traditions you have, the more you miss them, we're sure. If they had stayed on campus this year, they would be coming home now after final exams, reclaiming their own beds, looking for food in the refrigerator, and telling you stories about first semester. You'll have to wait another month for all of that. For many of you, Christmas will have a vacancy in it; and for you Hmong families, the Hmong New Year has probably felt a little lonely having your daughter so far away. We think all of you parents and family members have done the right thing to let your children participate in this wonderful semester, but we know you miss them.
Carol and I wish you could have heard them this past Thursday at their oral final exam. (Laura's mom did hear them!) We think you would have been both impressed and proud. They demonstrated that they have made friends with the Thai language. When we think back to how much they knew at the beginning of October (nothing!) and compare it to what we heard Thursday, it is really quite remarkable.
We had our thank-you dinner for host families on Sunday. Saying good-bye to families here also makes all of us think about our families at home. We have been treated well here, and we will miss Thailand, but that doesn't mean we don't miss home. So please know that while you are missing someone here, that someone is missing you too.
We plan to do our best to observe Christmas as kind of a "traveling family" here. It is probably a good thing for all of us to celebrate Christmas outside the US, just to remember that Christmas belongs to the world, not only to America, just as the love of God belongs to all. May your Christmas be both merry and meaningful.
Bruce and Carol
We have you on our minds this week for several reasons.
This is a season of the year when most families spend time together, but this year Carol and I get the privilege of spending the days with your children, and all you can do is miss them. The stronger and deeper the traditions you have, the more you miss them, we're sure. If they had stayed on campus this year, they would be coming home now after final exams, reclaiming their own beds, looking for food in the refrigerator, and telling you stories about first semester. You'll have to wait another month for all of that. For many of you, Christmas will have a vacancy in it; and for you Hmong families, the Hmong New Year has probably felt a little lonely having your daughter so far away. We think all of you parents and family members have done the right thing to let your children participate in this wonderful semester, but we know you miss them.
Carol and I wish you could have heard them this past Thursday at their oral final exam. (Laura's mom did hear them!) We think you would have been both impressed and proud. They demonstrated that they have made friends with the Thai language. When we think back to how much they knew at the beginning of October (nothing!) and compare it to what we heard Thursday, it is really quite remarkable.
We had our thank-you dinner for host families on Sunday. Saying good-bye to families here also makes all of us think about our families at home. We have been treated well here, and we will miss Thailand, but that doesn't mean we don't miss home. So please know that while you are missing someone here, that someone is missing you too.
We plan to do our best to observe Christmas as kind of a "traveling family" here. It is probably a good thing for all of us to celebrate Christmas outside the US, just to remember that Christmas belongs to the world, not only to America, just as the love of God belongs to all. May your Christmas be both merry and meaningful.
Bruce and Carol