We had an exchange student once. I know that sounds like we had a puppy once but to say that an exchange student lived with us would be to imply that he purposefully chose to reside in our home with our family. That is not at all the case.
Oddly it seems like it’s the most impulsive decisions that have the most profound effects. We hadn’t planned on having an exchange student, the subject never even came up. We were not part of the host family program meaning no one had chosen us, trained us or approved us. Our son just brought this boy home one day and said “Can we keep him?” Our son is wonderfully unceremonious and spontaneous. He’s also very kind and astute. Noticing that this boy (Phil) was miserable in his assigned household our son, without hesitation assured Phil that our family would be a much better fit. Dinner that evening was thrown together at the speed of light while Phil’s program sponsor contacted his parents in Switzerland, flew around our house to assure himself that we were at least moderately capable and relatively sane, then installed Phil and his belongings into the upstairs bedroom where they remained until graduation.
In the beginning I don’t think Phil “got” us, we were constantly entangled in good-natured misunderstandings. There was of course the language barrier. Phil’s English was more than adequate but we spoke only rudimentary words and phrases in his language, leftovers from a 2-year stint in Germany 20 years earlier. That made for a lot of hilarious and sometimes circular verbal exchanges. Phil’s temperament was so much like our son’s, laid-back and nonchalant, that it was only natural to feel that he was a member of our family. I’m not so sure our instant parenting went over as well as we would have liked. Phil was a Yankees fan. I made it very clear that no one had ever worn a Yankees hat in our house, nor would they. He asked my wife to cut his hair once. Note that I said once. She was not a hair cutting enthusiast and clearly the outcome was a little more drastic than he intended. He was totally fixated on hard-core hip-hop music. We didn’t own any but we politely pretended to listen, Phil quickly caught on. Our compulsively organized daughter insisted that whether or not you had shoes on your feet or your teeth were brushed you would leave early for school. This resulted in some pretty noticeable eye-rolling on our daughter’s part as Phil had to return home for his shoes more than once.
For every misunderstanding there was a lesson. We had a lot of light bulb moments during that year and fifteen years later we fondly recall every one of them. Having an exchange student taught us patience far beyond the basic acceptance and self-control that you develop simply by being a parent. It taught us tolerance, when numerous attempts to reshape Phil’s taste in music were spectacularly unsuccessful. When all in the same weekend our daughter was married, our son left for college, and Phil returned home to Switzerland, we learned in one wrenching heartbeat about letting go. But I think the most amusing, memorable, and possibly even the most important lesson Phil taught us was about “GOOD chocolate”. To this day we are incurable chocolate snobs. Though he assured us that GOOD chocolate does not exist in the U.S., I think Phil would be proud that because of what we learned from him, our quest will never end.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Bill Salvatore is a member of Heroes Home Advantage, a cash back program for Real Estate buyers and sellers. The program honors Veterans and Active Military Members, Fire Fighters and First Responders, EMTs and Emergency Medical Personnel, Nurses, and Teachers. Through the Heroes Home Advantage program, Realtors give a portion of their commission back to the hero in the form of assistance with closing costs.
Bill is also President of the Phoenix Chapter of VAREP, Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals. VAREP is focused on education and employment, making real estate transactions smoother and easier for Veterans and Military Personnel, and instructing other real estate related professionals in the best procedures for dealing with these transactions. VAREP is a nationwide non-profit organization with an impressive presence in the Phoenix area.
In founding AZVHV, Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans, Bill has spread his dedication to Veterans and Military throughout the real estate industry. An increasing number of local professionals have joined Bill in offering discounts to these heroes, not only when buying or selling a home but in all aspects of homeownership. AZVHV has developed a wide range of services and is gaining momentum every year. Membership is free. Bill’s only requirements are that businesses be legitimate and willing to offer a discount on their services to Veterans and Military Members.
Bill Salvatore is a licensed REALTOR® and owner of Realty Executives East Valley, 1166 E Warner Rd. Suite 117, Gilbert AZ, 85296. Bill can be reached by Direct Phone: 602-999-0952. E-Mail: golfarizona@cox.net. Web: www.yourValleyProperty.com.
Helpful web sites and blogs: www.AZVHV.wordpress.com / www.cashbackforheroes.wordpress.com / www.VAREP.wordpress.com
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
