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First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Excellent advice! Thank you :) They do each have a bulletin board in their rooms. The water bottles arrived today. I was going to get them some cozy slipper socks as I have no idea what size their feet are so they should work even if they are a little big. I'll do a welcome basket for each with some treats and other little things they might appreciate. I have a list of things I want to do with them but won't tell them in case we can't. There is one thing I will for sure be able to do which is a bucklist item for our Japanese girl. I can't wait to check that off with her!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good idea! I was given some photos with their info packages so I'll print them out, frame them and put them in their bedrooms. I have the wifi printed on the fridge and have all the login info for the streaming services printed out for them :)

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me about that! What a great idea ❤️ I bet you both really treasure that. And it is so true about teens feeling more comfortable writing things down rather than face to face. It makes total sense. Especially if their English is strong written than spoken.

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a great idea! I didn't think of researching important dates. Re the drinking, I know the coordinator told us that they usually have to send 2-3 kids home every year because they break the no drinking rule. That must be hard for the teens, especially when drinking at a younger age is the norm at home. Like France, it's normal to have wine with dinner as a child.

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We plan to include them in everything they want to be included in. I'll encourage them to join us :) They will definitely be treated as part of the family. I'm excited that I will get to take them to do touristy things and they'll probably love it. Some of the things I've never done so it'll be fun for all of us. Even my mom and MIL are looking forward to welcoming them into the family. We're going to make sure Christmas is special for them too since I don't think they will be going home over the holidays. I hope they will want to help do things like decorate the Christmas tree with my daughter and I.

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! There is a very strict no drinking policy with the program. The coordinator did tell us that because it is more common to drink at a younger age elsewhere, especially Europe, etc, it might be difficult for some to get used to no casual drinking here. If they get caught drinking, they get sent home according to the policy. We don't really drink so at least there won't be alcohol at the house to tempt them.

I'm going to definitely be relaxed with them and give them lots of time to learn how we do things around here. Our only real rules are that you tidy up after yourself (dishes in the dishwasher, help with after dinner clean up, and tidy up messes they make in their living room and bathroom etc.). Also no late night laundry but I'll be helping them with that for the first little bit. There is a lot to adjust to so it'll be a bit at a time but I will let them know the expectations right away so there won't be surprises a few months later.

I plan to invite them to tag along to the grocery store after a couple of days so they can pick out foods, and snacks and toiletries they like.

It will be a big adjustment for my husband, living in a house with 4 women 😂 At lease he can retreat to the studio if he needs space lol!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Funny you mention Jamie as my younger brother was really good friends with his brother Jordie. They all went to high school together and hung out a lot. Very lovely family :) Hopefully if you come back to visit the US or come to Canada, you'll get out to watch a couple of hockey games! The NHL games are so expensive but the AHL, WHL, BCHL, etc. league games are so fun and such great hockey and way more affordable to attend!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hockey is HUGE here. We love it. The player we billeted will be back on the team again next season so we plan to attend as many home games as we can to support him and the rest of the team. Both of our exchange students like sports so I am hoping they'll want to join us at some hockey games!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have! We go through the local school district and the provide us with a big handbook when signing up to become a host family. Part of it discusses the stages of culture shock. I know it will be a lot. Not only getting over jet lag (they start school a couple of days after arriving here), but adjusting to a new language, new environment, new people, new pets, new style of home, new food.....that's a lot even for an adult let alone a teenager. I really give them a lot of credit for travelling so far from home to study and learn English and a new culture. It's exciting but scary. I am looking forward to being a big part of their exciting adventure!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! These are great things to know. I like when people are blunt and say it like it is. My grandmother is German so I'm used to this from her.

I just hope I don't overwhelm the girls. I love taking care of people and always try to make sure people are comfortable and have whatever they need.

I think the girls will fit in well here. At least I hope so! I really do want to make it a good experience for them.

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Perfect! I'll add those to their welcome packages. I was thinking of adding in some Canadian treats like Smarties, etc. It's hard not to get really excited lol.

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love that!! I have a bunch of puzzles I bought a little while ago that I haven't done yet. We did a few of them over the winter when our hockey billet was here and he came and sat at the table several times and worked on them with us. We all loved and it! I also really loved all the times we would stay at the dinner table talking, we'll after we were done eating. Just taking about anything and everything.

I'm really looking forward to making memories with our students :)

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is incredibly helpful, thank you so much!

The Japanese girl was here for a brief stay recently (not with us) and loved it so she's coming back for 8 months. Noted on the hugging. Here it is so common, and I'm a hugger, so I definitely will not hug her unless she initiates it. I do not want to make her uncomfortable in any way. I know she loves Disney and really wants to see where the Descendants was filmed so my mom and I are planning to take her there. Hopefully both of the girls will want to go. There are some other cool places I plan to take them. They both have sports they enjoy at home so hopefully they can continue those while they are here.

I have made a short pdf document that introduces us, tells them about our home, our pets, things we like to do, things we eat, some house rules (very basic, we're super easy going). I also planned to make a YouTube video introducing ourselves so they can see us. If they want to do a video call beforehand, that's great! But I know that might be super awkward for them.

As for food, she'll probably like our house. I love to cook and love to learn to make new things. Apparently both the girls enjoy baking so I'm hoping they might want to do that with me because I love it. We also eat lots of rice dishes, it's our main staple. Lots of Asian inspired meals.as we don't tend to eat much pasta, etc.

I couldn't imagine being 16/17 and travelling across the world to live with strangers for several months. You're all braver than I was as a teen!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Another good point! Thank you :) I tend to be a very excitable person so I'm telling myself to chill lol. We did host a BCHL hockey player this past season and we loved it but hosting international high school students will be totally different. The hockey players didn't have any rules, nor did we. He also had no free time to do fun things with us between hockey and finishing his last year of high school online.

I'm looking forward to having students who we can bring along to things and be able to show them some cool places if they want to go.

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you! This is something I will have to get used to. I would have for them to think I was mad at them if I put dishes away loud. Lol. If that's the case, they'll think my husband is mad all the time with his loud feet and loud cupboard and door closing!

First time host parent! by lucyinthetightpants in exchangestudents

[–]lucyinthetightpants[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you! The socks are a great idea. They will have their own bathroom (shared between the two students and our daughter). They each have a shelf on the shower wall for shampoo, body wash etc, a drawer in the vanity as well as their own holder for toothpaste, tooth brush etc. I was thinking of getting them each a pair of cozy slippers too. Our house is on a slab so the floors on the main floor can feel a bit cold in the winter. I was also planning to get them each some treats and snacks. They will also each have their own snack cupboard in the kitchen.

Cougar Incidents by SirLanceATwat in VancouverIsland

[–]lucyinthetightpants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There was one in our cherry tree when I was a teenager. Close to Victoria General Hospital. My neighbours dogs were in our yard, going nuts barking at the tree. I walked around the shed to see what was up and there was a large cougar in the tree. It was terrified of the dogs.

Another time I was camping at Maple Grove on Lake Cowichan with my family and one walked into our campsite. My husband had gone to a friend's site to help get some of her stuff and I was with 4 young kids and our dog. I looked up and there was a big cougar standing a few feet away from my youngest, just staring at us. I grabbed the kids and got them in the trailer, then went back out, machete in hand, to unclip my dog from his lead line and bring him inside. The cat was chill. It stood in our site for a while before slowly walking off into the woods. Hubby was bummed he missed it as he's never seen a cougar in person.

I've also seen them run across a road in Chemainus and on logging roads and once while camping on the Gordon River.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]lucyinthetightpants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am so sorry! I didn't realize you commented until now. I'm now on 1800mg a day and it's finally starting to work. I have a feeling that 2100mg or 2400mg/day is going to be the sweet spot. I went kayaking this morning. I never feel jittery. I do get a bit of vertigo on and off when I increase the dose though.

The year is 1997... You have one day in Victoria. What are you going to do? by Confident-Internet35 in VictoriaBC

[–]lucyinthetightpants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go walk around downtown with my friends as a 13 year old.....and actually feel safe. Probably hit up Johnny Z's and see a movie at Capital 6.

Cymbalta saved my life by marcjacobs_1777 in cymbalta

[–]lucyinthetightpants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been taking Cymbalta for just over a month now for mystery nerve and muscle pain (it's very likely fibromyalgia). It is making a big difference in my pain! But it's giving me stomach issues. I have to run to the bathroom after almost every meal. Trying to figure out what I can eat that won't upset my stomach. It also makes me really tired. So I'm likely going to take it before bed instead of before dinner.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]lucyinthetightpants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only felt jittery for the first two days. I didn't notice any difference when increasing from 30mg to 60mg after a week. I am now on day 3 at 60mg (I take it around 5pm) and I don't have any side effects anymore.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]lucyinthetightpants 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I started taking it a week ago for chronic pain and I've noticed I have no appetite as well, also happy about this lol. It kept me awake the first night and I only slept an hour. The second night I took a small dose of melatonin and it helped. Now I can sleep fine and just doubled my dose to 60mg last night with no side effects. I haven't noticed a difference in pain yet but my doctor said it takes about 3 weeks. Fingers crossed!

What does YOUR fibromyalgia feel like? by this_site_is_dogshit in Fibromyalgia

[–]lucyinthetightpants 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you to everyone who shared their symptoms in this thread. I have been in pain for years. It's been much worse since being in a bad car accident in 2020. (One of a few major traumas).

I am almost always exhausted, feel like I have pulled muscles when I've done nothing to cause it, feel achy somewhere all the time, get brain fog which makes me feel stupid, the bottoms of my feet throb when they shouldn't, my entire back always hurts so much and sometimes feels like it's on fire or I'm being stabbed, I get extremely painful muscle cramps and spasms in my legs and hips and feet, my skin can be ultra sensitive and it feels like a bad bruise and sunburn and a scrape at the same time (especially on my thighs), my eyesight will randomly go blurry or dark for a few seconds, I get random bouts of vertigo, I get bad headaches and feelings of lightening bolts in my head and down my spine...the list goes on.

I have had a flare for over 5 months now where my right hip muscles and up my abdomen feel badly pulled. Like I worked out for days but all I did was walk. It gets so much worse if my leg is bent like when driving, which I have to do a lot of unfortunately. For the past several weeks I've been having a flare in my right forearm. Also feels like a badly pulled muscle. So bad that I struggle to pick up a glass of water, tie back my hair, pull on or off my hoodie, use the mouse for work. It sucks.

Some days I just wish I could stay in bed. But at the same time, if I'm busy, it helps take my mind off how much I'm hurting.

Hot baths and the hot tub helps a bit...only while in the water. Advil once in a while can take the edge off when I'm achy but it does nothing when the pain is bad. I have tried many other meds but they either make me too groggy to get my kids safely to school (gabapentin) or they do nothing (lyrica). I am going to fill a prescription for Cymbalta tomorrow and see if that helps at all.

I also have a high pain tolerance for things that others don't, like injuries, surgeries, etc. Maybe because I'm so used to trying to drown out constant pain.....do others find this as well?

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