We are all the same: An Education is Diversity

As I pointed out in my last blog post, blogs make you transparent.  And there are so many people (and I mean people I know, not like I am going viral) reading this that it is making is more difficult to be transparent. And by that I mean I feel bad for Finn.  I made a promise to my fans!  Still, a slight disclaimer: Although this blog is the whole truth, the whole truth is not this blog.

As I also pointed out in my last blog post, studying culture and diversity should be just as much about finding out what is the same as it is focusing on everything that is different.  I have been studying the host kid and have a list of things that are the same:

1. German students dress like American students (skinny jeans and visible underwear.  Will sagging ever go out of style? I mean, tight-rolling our jeans did, and that took skill)

2. I would like to take number 2 to point out that I made blog notes so I would remember all of my wonderful thoughts, but my husband is addicted to cleaning and now I cannot find those notes.  And although he read the last post, I think it was a fluke and he will not read this one.

3. They use your water pressure.  Sunday morning while the host kid slept, I had the privilege of taking a shower while no one else in the house was showering in other bathrooms.  I had forgotten what water pressure was.  It does make you appreciate the little things.

4. German students are addicted to social media.  The host kid is always on Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat (and I know what that is used for!)  I'm totally going to sound like a grownup when I say this but, it's wonder that iPhone hasn't grown into the skin on his palm and become a permanent fixture. (although when I brought this up he pointed out that I was ALWAYS on my iphone, texting, tweeting, pinning, and yes, I now have whatsapp.  I told him to mind his own business.  I AM A GROWNUP!  The irony was not lost on either of us.)

5. They love to watch and make silly videos.  Which is really something we can all bond over, especially if the videos involve stupid stunts, fire and no words.

So as you see, there are transverse similarities that cross an entire ocean (I just learned that transverse is an adjective.  Totally almost used it as a verb.)

The other big similarity is the responsibility and pride I feel. I mean, Finn is the first teenager I have had living in my house, but I did teach for a lot of years and I know that when my students failed, I felt responsible, and when my students succeeded, I was bursting at the seams with pride.

I am a perfectionist, especially when it comes to people.  Whether it is bonus daughter or host son, I want them to feel happy, healthy and as far away from negative feelings as possible.  I know that failure helps us grow; I just want to do the best possible job when it comes to the two of them.  Or any kid for that matter.  I want to provide the best opportunities in the best possible environment.  The 9 year old is easy.  She tells me what she wants even if I don't want to know.  But the 17 year old is more difficult to read, which is true of teenagers everywhere.  But teenagers are like toddlers in the fact that if they are hungry or tired, you can tell by their mood.  I have been a nervous wreck these last 2 weeks trying to make sure we are doing everything we can for the host kid.  I know sometimes I over do, but that is another similarity between moms and kids across continents.

But I can also tell you that when he came home with all As (and by come home I mean we logged into his account and looked up his grades.  It's 2015.  Kids don't "bring home" grades.  They leave them in the cloud), I was beaming with pride.  4 tests in one week? All As.  Doesn't really under the language?  Not a problem.  (The comparison of school systems in each country is another blog post...)

In conclusion, we are all the same: proud, annoyed, worried, annoyed, responsible... annoyed.  I will go over the top to be the best bonus mom and host mom.  With Google by my side, nothing can stop me.  Don't try to tell me to calm down or back down or relax.  Google and I know what is best for our children.  And the Brit, too.  He's there.  I mean here.  #parenting

UPDATE: I found my notes.  They were... I can't remember.  But German students also like Eminem and Oreos and say that like all foods but will quickly make you a list of foods they refuse to eat.  In my memory the notes were way better than that...