The Judsons, Best Ever Hosts

It's been way too long without sharing some thorough information about my host family, the Judsons. I've been focusing on my observations and adventures, but no adventure has been more meaningful than getting to know six incredible people, from little Isabelle to my host-parents, Nina and Simon. They have all welcomed me into their family, and it's amazing how comfortable we all are with each other after only six weeks. I spend my days playing soccer, teaching, coaching, and sometimes traveling, but I've spent more time with the Judsons than all of those combined. It's the bonds that I form with my family here that will last the longest.

Sebastian

I also regret that I do not have nearly enough photos of us as a family. I'm quick to pull out my camera and snap a picture of anything interesting I see, but I've yet to get a photo of all of us together. It's a work in progress--I promise to get plenty of pictures, and the minute I get a family photo I will put it up on the blog. 

It takes the whole group to function. If someone is having a bad day, all of us pitch in a little bit to try to help out. This is a new experience for me, and certainly a learning one. Though Miranda and Sam are younger than me, there isn't such a big age gap. Sam has always been able to stand up for himself and roll with the big kids. Here, I often wonder if the Judson kids see me exclusively as an older brother, or if the big age gap makes the relationship different. I know that I've acted as both a friend and a role model for the kids, though it's always the most fun when we get to play and good around. 

With Alexander and Isabelle

I'm sure each of them see me differently, too. Luke (9) is easy to relate to. He's a lot like I was when I was younger: focused, compe-titive, in love with all things sports, hates being late.  I've helped coach Luke in baseball on and off the field, and it's always good to debate sports with him. As I mentioned in another post, he's a sports encyclopedia, and I sometimes have to admit to myself when we're talking Bundesliga: yes, he does know more than me. His biggest passion, though, might be pop music--I wouldn't be shocked if he grew up to be a DJ.

Isabelle (2) is also easy to entertain; I can show her a picture, play a song on my iPhone, or simply lift her up in the air and swing her around a bit, and she breaks into giggles. With Izzy there are a lot of why? questions, and it often seems like she's already asking the next question before she hears the answer to her first one. Izzy is content with daily cuddling on the couch or observing me while I'm typing on my computer. The big dinner time question is always whether or not she wants me to sit next to her--but often that changes minute to minute.

Luke

Sebastian (7) and Alex (4) can be so easy and fun for hours and hours, but eventually one of them hits a breaking point. I've found many useful tricks to get Alex to at least smile when he's been scolded for doing something naughty. When the goofy faces, gentle poke in the stomach, or the "Guess what I did today Alex?!" methods don't work, then we know it's probably time for a nap or bed. He's still so young, but I'm surprised every day when he comes up with a thought or figures out a puzzle that seems far beyond his years. What's great about Alex is that I can be goofy with him 99% of the time, but he really does understand when I'm trying to be serious and teach him something.

Sebastian kind of lives in his own world, which at the present may or may not be interfering with the one in which the rest of us live. Sebastian fits both the goofy approach that I bring to Alex and the "big boy" attitude I take with Luke. I sometimes forget that he is only seven, because he loves mixing it up with me and testing the limits. My favorite thing I've done with Sebastian so far was teaching him all fifty states. I brought a map with the state quarters imbedded in it as a gift, and Sebastian took to it--first identifying Massachusetts and a few other states. Simon made it a goal for him to learn the names and locations of all fifty states, so for a solid two weeks we studied the map together. I found it took him a while when I asked "Where's Arizona?" but when I pointed to a state and asked for the name, he almost always knew it immediately. 

Izzy sleeping--she loves her milk!

I've learned so much from each of the kids, because I don't often interact with children their age. But often my favorite part of the day is coming home after a soccer practice and talking with Nina and Simon while I eat my dinner. They come from very different backgrounds, and a lot of the conversation centers around worldly issues and topics. Simon has been everywhere, though he is very true to his British origins. I love hearing his perspective as a European compared to Nina's an an American who is completely adapted to the European way of life. I offer a third perspective as an educated but inexperienced high school graduate, and I try to soak it all in.

I don't want to try to sum up the Judson family or make any overarching judgements on my time with them so far, because while I know them so well already, I experience something new every day. They have all opened my eyes in so many different ways that it's hard to say in a word everything that I've learned. I think the little details and interactions are the best, and I'll continue to write about the Judsons as long as I'm here. I cannot say thank you enough to them for being such wonderful hosts.