Gvantsa

After hosting several exchange students from both France and Spain during the summers we decided in 1997 we were ready for a little bit more. We were ready to try a semester student. We wanted someone from an area we knew nothing about. We looked at the paperwork and photos of many students and found a Russian girl we felt very drawn to.

We contacted the agency to see if she was still available. She was, so we chose her and made plans to have her come stay with us.

When she arrived we greeted her at the airport and immediately learned she spoke very little English. We brought her home and with the aid of a dictionary, started learning to communicate. Her English improved dramatically and in a very short time we were doing well at communicating. She seemed to enjoy having little brothers and a little sister (for of course my children were small at the time).

Gvantsa shared her life in Russia with us as we tried to share America with her. We became very attached to her and we still think of her frequently. When it came time for her to leave I'm not sure who cried more. I was sorry to have her go but I knew she must.

It has been a few years since I have heard from her. The last time I did she was in college and doing well. All I can hope is she remembers her time in America with good memories.