Meet Our Staff

In February there were three people in our family, me Ruth, (Mum) Ken (Dad) and Nicola our 15-year-old daughter but within two weeks Derek Cheung, an EF student from Hong King was part of the scene. Within five months, Alex Frei EF student from Switzerland had joined Derek and on October on my 60th birthday, Lizeth EF student from Colombia, Selidi EF student from Mexico, Andres EF student from Chile, Naoko EF student from Japan, Derek Alex and Nicola our daughter were making me a meal in my house, some of them singing happy birthday to me in Spanish!!!

It has been a multi cultural experience to say the least so far but a lot of laughs, particularly with the language… Derek saying…”that is soil”.. referring to my dessert…meaning “sour”….and a learning curve for us all with maybe one of two issues to sort out between us……..it can’t be plain sailing all the time of course.

Rules and boundaries set, we have worked together getting to know each other and understanding the different cultures and backgrounds from which we all originate. Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Switzerland and Hong Kong now certainly have more meaningful interests than they did a few months ago and not in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine they actually be altogether in our home- International Experience with a capital IE!!.

Alex is not keen on onions, loves plums and hates walking, Derek loves raw fish and always beats Ken at chess, Andres enjoys playing on Nicola’s drum, Selidi, Naoko and Nicola enjoy boisterous football whilst Lizeth loves learning about astronomy and we have arranged for her to view a telescope in the garden of our friend and attend the “Stars Gazers” meetings ……..and although not actually living with me, I went with Lizeth as a “go-between” introduction to the Astronomy group and sat enthralled….. although both of us not entirely quite understanding the enthusiastic renderings of the monoculed Patrick Moore via DVD!!

Our family has quite an active, interesting zest for life, enjoy sport and are actively involved in a lively evangelical church with an equally lively youth involvement so we are getting used to having two students who tend to laze around, pounding their laptops, who are horrified to even contemplate going with Ken and I for an early morning swim in the local pool (indoors of course)…….as Derek says…. I will be swimming in my dreams!!! Yes, it is all about living together with someone else who maybe does not totally share your ideals although the EF does endeavor to locate students with host families of similar interests and tastes. Ken, Nicola and I are all musicians and very involved with music and our “once” dining room is now home to 6 guitars, saxophone, trumpet, drum kit, keyboard, organ, piano, violin, djembi drums etc so it worked out really well to welcome Derek; pianist, Alex; guitarist and singer and Andres; drummer to our home. Naoko has a lovely voice and Nicola harmonises with her beautifully so it has added dimension to our family musical experience!

It is also about trying new cuisine and although we always had rice dishes in our weekly menus, we were pleased when Derek brought us a rice cooker back from Hong Kong to improve our Chinese cookery and we love the Swiss chocolate sent in parcels from Alex’s parents in Switzerland. Derek and Alex and even Andres have tried their hand at cooking and it works really well as whoever cooks the meal doesn’t wash up although the disappointment for the students has been the fact that our kitchen does not house a dishwasher… that is them!!!

As a “family” we have enjoyed scrabble with incredible words supplied by Alex…trying his hand at Italian, “Testa” …sorry Alex but no that is not a word!! Buying in a Take-Away after supporting Alex at a concert…got dressed up for a Beatles Concert… and The Hogg family invited up on to the stage…. I must admit we did all look pretty colorful in our “hired costumes…..Derek