Last Thursday, we went to Dick's Pizza in Mexico to celebrate the boys' one-month anniversary in America. We talked about the highlights of their exchange over the past 30 days and what's different in Rumford/Maine/America from what they had expected (e.g., the soccer team is better than I had described... everyone's friendly to Foreigns). Now, the days fall into a predictable pattern and a certain normalcy settles into our days in The Fid-- local dialect twists our town's name into 'Rumfid.' There's homework and laundry and William needs a haircut. So do I, but few people notice. Sonke has switched most of his classes and now takes Advanced Placement Calculus (ouch!). William's back is sore from last night's match; he'll see the athletic trainer today for some treatment. He often goes to sleep before 9pm. Along with the school meal, Sonke has a submarine sandwich from home that has hard salami and cheese while William has turkey and cheese. Neither boy likes vegetables but both seem to like the power bars I buy called Clif Energy Bars. The boys know that Bailey will have a meltdown at about 8pm and will want to play. He barks and barks and barks until one of us chases him around the house. Most times we end up on the floor with him rubbing his tummy. Bailey likes being part of the family--just one of the boys. On Monday mornings, the boys pack for their overnight with Connie and Ben. They know they'll have a great meal that night, good conversations, and that the Red Sox will be on television. Ben will threaten the kids with "No dessert for you!" Last night, the boys played in a match against rival Dirigo High School, just five miles away from Rumford. We won 7-0 with the younger players in the match for most of the second half. Connie and Ben were there to watch Sonke go one-on-one with the keeper and in a very composed way drive the ball deep into the net; he also headed the ball "almost" out of the keeper's hands to score. William is the steady, silent defender who roams the backfield with confidence. He's not flashy and would never bring attention to himself: he's a player's player and a coach's dream. So now we are well into month #2. All's well in "The Fid," and we all hope it's the same in your neck of the woods. |