What a welcome sight to see the entourage of yellow t-shirts coming down the escalator! Our sons were waiting with a big welcome sign for Michel Dayana, and she immediately walked to the sign and greeted each of us with a hug. She said that she was not nervous to be embarking on this adventure, but that she was "filled with hope" on the airplane for all that the summer vacation might offer.
We asked if she prefers going by her full name, Michel Dayana, or if she prefers one name over the other. She said she really does not have any preference. Perhaps as she feels more comfortable with us, she'll make those preferences known. For now, we'll use Michel because it's simpler and it's what the kids have been telling friends and neighbors for weeks. If she lets us know otherwise, you'll see a shift in this blog as well!
The car ride home went smoothly. She does not ride in a car very often at home. Seat belts were new to her, but once she was buckled in, we were on our way. She answered lots of questions during the half-hour drive home. Mike and the boys practiced some Spanish (Mike more than Andrew, our nine-year-old, and Andrew more than Matthew, our six-year-old). Michel Dayana said that she has studied English in school, and she seems eager to practice the words she knows. I spoke Spanish with her, since it was easiest and most natural for both of us, but I'm guessing she'll be picking up a lot of English this summer.
By the end of the car ride, Michel was looking awfully sleepy, but she was still a good sport with our excited boys. We learned that she lives in the city with four other kids in her foster home. She likes sports (soccer, basketball) and dolls. She does not know how to swim but is looking forward to her first swimming lessons next week!
We gave her the house tour when we got home and showed her the calendar of events for the month. She loves our two outdoor cats, calling them "beautiful" in English. She also seems comfortable with our yellow Labrador Retriever, petting her and giving her treats. She described her room as "divine." She was all smiles when opening the care package sent from my childhood best friend, stocked with a journal, pens, and water toys. (Thank you, Jen! You're the best!)
After a long day of travel and so many new experiences, Michel was tired and eager to get to bed. She got ready on her own, but had a little trouble falling asleep. She snuggled with me in the family room for a while, then we tried a CD of Spanish lullabies that did the trick. Thank you, Jaci Velasquez!
Tomorrow we will jump into the local Fourth of July festivities. (Okay, make that later today...it's awfully late here!) She seems ready for new experiences and is especially eager to try new foods. I promised her birthday cake, since my birthday is July 4th. I'm hoping HyVee still makes my favorite - black forest cake! I can't wait to see her face at the parade and fireworks tomorrow.
What a great blog post! Perhaps Mike and the boys will show her what "American Football" is all about :-)
ReplyDeleteBryan