Leon's Exchange Year Began on August 12th, 2015

We are the Foss Family, Pete, Kate, Charlie and Gino the dog! We are hosting our third exchange student in three years! On Wednesday, August 12th (Pete's birthday!), we welcomed Leon Wetzel to Wichita, Kansas!

We first met Leon and his family via Skype in late June, and had communicated just a few times via WhatsApp and email since then.  He finally arrived in Wichita after a long delay, and landed at the new Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport airport. We gathered at the Arrivals area, with many, many other host families! Leon told us that he was travelling with seven other exchange students, so we knew he was in good company and that they would stick together during the three hour delay in Dallas. There were a large number of host families and their extended families anxiously waiting their arrival. Once the plane arrived, it took a very long time for the kids to make it out to the arrivals area. It's hard to explain the feeling you have waiting for someone you don't know, who is going to live with you and your family for ten months. I cannot imagine what the exchange student's were feeling! People were having a hard time containing their excitement..

August 12, 2015

Pete and Charlie are seen below with the Welcome banner and patriotic balloons waiting for Leon! You can see the new Baggage Claim area in the background.

Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport

August 12, 2015
Wichita is called "The Air Capital of the World", since it is the birthplace
of Beechcraft, Stearman, Cessna and Learjet. Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport

August 12, 2015
Leon, Pete, Kate and Charlie pose for a picture that Wilma took for us.Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport

We took pictures, collected luggage, met Wilma, our CCI (Exchange program) Coordinator and then left to make the 14 mile drive home. We gave Leon a tour of our home, and introduced him to Gino, our beagle. It was late, and Pete's birthday. Leon quickly unpacked his suitcase and presented Pete, then Charlie and then me with lovely gifts from Switzerland.

August 12, 2015
Pete, Leon and Charlie discuss Swiss Army Knives.

August 13, 2015
Leon and Charlie in the Kapaun Mount Carmel section at McAllister's Restaurant.

Leon is enrolled as a junior at Kapaun Mount Carmel High School. His English is very good and we think he will do well there. He's adjusting to wearing a uniform, the Block Schedule, lockers, no phones in school, all the new people.....as with most exchange students, many people know your name and you don't know anybody's name.....it will come with time!

August 14, 2015
Leon and school counselor Mr Jim Flax. We selected Leons' classes with Mr Flax and Leon met many new people at his new high school.

August 16, 2015
Charlie and Leon appreciate the Dale Chihuly Confetti Chandelier
at the Wichita Art Museum  

August 15, 2015
Charlie and Leon pose under the Dale Chihuly Confetti Chandelier
at the Wichita Art Museum  

August 16, 2015
Sunday Lunch at Stearman Bar & Grill at the Benton Airport
Harley-Davidsons and planes in the background

August 20, 2015
First Day of School
Gino, Leon and Charlie

The uniforms are perfect for this first day only! Can you see that they are so excited to be wearing the uniforms, and to have their picture taken? I think I took 30 pictures that morning....and Gino was being feisty and wanted to play.

August 21, 2015
Elderslie Farm
Community Supported Agriculture Veggie Pick up

More on these in the next blog....

Everyone is getting along well. Charlie and Leon spent time playing tennis, XBoxOne games, and other stuff before we got busy preparing for the school year. We had birthdays to celebrate, cakes to bake, sports physical, school uniforms, school supplies, sports gear to buy, etc Now we're two weeks in to Leon's 10 month stay and 3 days in to the school year. All is well!