Hiiiii I want to come pick you up at the airport. December 22nd right? I can't wait to see you!!!! <3 <3 <3 Love youuuu

Hi Chenny,

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP PICTURES!!! It just brightened my very boring day at work to look through all of them. AMAZING!! Im so glad you are doing so well and having such a great experience. I cant wait until our next i-m chat

Love always,

~Erin

P.S. my mom wanted me to tell you that she put out the candy dish and thinks of you everytime she looks at it :)

Hi twinny! I just caught up on your blogs and pictures! It seems like you are learning so much and are really being immersed in the development issues. Wonderful! I just wanted to leave you a note telling you how much I miss you! Stay safe and have fun :)

Love you,

Ashli

Just a note to say hi! Glad to hear all is going well. I just sent you an e-mail but thought I'd say hi on the message board, too. All is well here; we've enjoyed reading your notes (grandma and grandpa, too). Sounds like all is going well so far, and that you're having a great time and learning a lot. Take care!! Love ya!

Don't know how much new of the world you're getting - some interesting events: John McCain chose the governor of Alaska (a complete unknown), Sarah Palin as his VP candidate. She's a former sportscaster, attended 5 colleges before she finally graduated, was mayor of a small town for a couple of years and then governor for less than 2 years - also a hockey mom - sum total of her qualifications!!! She's very pretty and is causing quite a stir. His popularity went up and he rarely campaigns without her now because she's the one people want to see. Go figure.

Israel's new prime minister is a young woman - no take on her yet.

Hurricane devastated Texas, particularly Galvastan Island which was pretty much obliterated. Power out as far north as Ohio and won't be restored completely for up to 6 weeks. Grateful we live in the North.

Stock market tanked, and I mean really tanked!, in the last couple of days. Lehman brothers is bankrupt (big brokerage) and AIG (worlds largest insurance company) almost went belly up but Federal Researve printed a bunch of new money and "lent" it to AIG in an unprecedented bail out. Remember your macro - whenever we print money to deal with a crisis, we're in real trouble with inflation - horrible way to find out how those economic theories work in real life. (Our AIG stock has tanked too, but not to worry - we still have your tuition!!!)

An exciting couple of days in the world!

Check your e-mail please.

Hi chenny! I finally figured out how to view your blog and i loved reading it. I was laughing and smiling to myself the whole time (im at work in my very quiet office). Im so glad things are going so well! your sisi is ADORABLE. Take care of yourself and keep in touch *noggin* Love, ~Erin

Oh Jenny!!!! We miss you so much, not so much Keith but he really wants to meet you. He's Ashli's friend from Coloroda. Have you given your homestay gifts yet? Did they like them? Because we totally picked them out too. School is crazy/stressfully/good...our other roommate it nonexistant and we wish she was you. We're so glad you're having a fantastic time, it sounds like your dream come true. Cheers darling! Love: Michelle, Ashli....and Keith

Just a quick note. Enjoyed your blog entries. Sounds like the family stay started off on a good note. Enjoyed the photos. Maybe A. will try to call you at the 4:00 time during the week. Mom and I usually can't because we are at work. I think we will try Saturday or Sunday. Is the weather there somewhat like Montana? - from the jackets and terrain in one or two of your photos, we surmised that it might be.

It's Monday, Labor Day, and we're all missing you. Post soon with some pictures (even pictures of signs would do). Dad is taking David back to school at about 9; I'm going car shopping and then in to work for a few hours; then Annie and I have some SAT prep to do. Hurricane Gustaf is boring down for a direct hit on New Orleans by 11 a.m. today - Republican Convention all but cancelled as everyone holds their collective breath and hopes the levees hold. Evacuated 2 mil people (and 1 mil pets!).