Tag Archives: International

By Guy Thompson In June of 2012, I was sitting in my doctor’s office in Shipshewana, Ind., having my blood drawn for some basic tests to make sure everything was as it should be within my blood. It was a painless procedure, but as the blood slipped into the vial, I was transported back twentyContinue reading “Chapter 1: Introduction to IFYE”

Or how I discovered the cure for jetlag By Guy Thompson It was more than 30 years ago that I passed out, and all I could hear upon coming back into consciousness was everyone speaking German. Frantic German. Concerned German. Very German German. It was the third time I had ever passed out (and theContinue reading “Chapter 2: I’m the Fool You Expected”

Or how to learn to drive, again By Guy Thompson I had been in Germany for just over 24 hours. I was on my own and wished I had packed a lot lighter as I struggled to pull my luggage off the train while others waited around me. I was glad I hadn’t learned anyContinue reading “Chapter 3: Oh, I Was Shocked, Alright”

Or how do you drink wine? By Guy Thompson How long does it take to become part of a family? It’s a question that most of us don’t normally contemplate, as we grow up in a family and are a part of it from day one. Exchange students can often look back and see whenContinue reading “Chapter 4: Moving Day”

Or Why I Won’t Get a Plum-Colored Porsche. Ever. by Guy Thompson It sounded like cannon fire. There was a deep BOOM. I’m pretty sure windows rattled.  True, I didn’t have a lot of experience around cannons, but it definitely sounded like something made a very loud BOOM.  It was the second evening at familyContinue reading “Chapter 5: Time to Get Working”

Or how history likes to pounce on you by Guy Thompson “Time is a train/Makes the future the past.” — Zoo Station, U2 It may or not have been an accident that the song “Zoo Station,” from the album Achtung Baby, was playing on my Sony Walkman cassette player (Hey, this was 1992 and thatContinue reading “Chapter 6: Achtung, Baby!”

Or how to play cards in German by Guy Thompson I made a mistake.  No one in the room was going to call me out on it, perhaps out of politeness or maybe out of embarrassment on my behalf, but I had clearly made a mistake, and I had been in the Glüßing-Lüerßen household forContinue reading “Chapter 7: Tea Time”

Or how do I convince you I still don’t like beer? By Guy Thompson There is a very odd gap in my memory at this point in time. I left the Glüßing-Lüerßens on Sept. 17. It would be Oct. 10 before I would write in my journal again. Hence the memory gap and why thisContinue reading “Chapter 8: The bells! The Bells!”

Or how one word tripped me up for 30 years by Guy Thompson Editor’s Note: The last couple of chapters are going to be slightly shorter than the others. This isn’t because I didn’t have fun or enjoy my time with the final two families or didn’t do anything of interest. Quite the opposite, I’dContinue reading “Chapter 9: Island Living”