WHAT THEY TOOK AND WHAT THEY LEFT BEHIND: Saying farewell to my foreign workers and children

Yesterday, I put my “children” on a plane. And I doubt if I'll ever see them again.

Actually, they are someone else's children but were entrusted to Frank and me for the summer to be their American parents. We hosted two girls and two boys, J-1 visa students, from Moldova who must return to their university in Chisinau by mid-September.

In another column some day, I will describe the J-1 work permit that brings all those summer students to Destin from Europe and Asia. I will explain why I'm against the program, even though I love the kids who come.

But today's topic is what they took back home and what they left behind at my house.

They took with them hundreds of photographs of every imaginable scene in Destin (including our city streets, roads, and sidewalks) and so many souvenirs and gifts for folks back home, that the purchase of extra luggage became necessary.

One of the girls filled her suitcase with goodies, declaring American cookies and candy from Dollar General the best thing she'd ever eaten. They took with them an expanded English vocabulary and improved grammar usage since I'm a retired English teacher and stayed in the “teaching mode” all the time with them. They took new job skills and social skills, having worked for Winn-Dixie and Lawn Keepers Landscaping. The managers at both places provided them with a positive view of American business etiquette and practices. And for every kindness shown them by a local stranger, they took away an affirmative attitude about our nation's collective good heart.

They leave behind a number of things, like all my pots, pans, and utensils put up in the wrong place and the lights usually left on in their rooms. They left a higher water bill, exorbitant electric bill, and huge grocery expenses, which the modest amount of rent they paid didn't cover. They leave behind my poor confused laptop now programmed with Skype (whatever that is), Facebook, Hi 5, and several sites in Russian and Romanian. They also leave four bicycles in my garage.

But worst of all, they leave behind a home that is now way too quiet.

On a positive note, they leave my yard weeded and neatly mowed, and they leave a pared-down list of “to-do's” that has gone undone for years. The pool is sparkling, the cars washed, the carpet shampooed, and Cleopatra's grave pre-dug (since neither Frank nor I have the physical or emotional strength to do it when her time comes shortly.)

The boys leave behind a beautiful front yard garden with a tree bench so artfully done I've had people come by and take pictures of it. They leave both of us with colorful native tales, superstitions (bad luck to whistle in the kitchen), bits of their language, and boisterous music echoing through the house. One of the girls performed a folk dance in costume as after-dinner entertainment for my visiting in-laws. The other one cooked a Russian meal for them.

What a great night they left behind to remember.

Meanwhile, next door at my son and daughter-in-law's house, two young ladies from the Czech Republic were taking and leaving with them the same cultural exchange experiences. (He inherited the habit of picking up stray dogs and homeless foreign students.)

Please don't think we take them in to use as slave labor. All the household chores they did came from grateful hearts and not out of any expectation from us. In return, we just loved them.

In simpler terms, they left behind some wonderful memories and smiling photos for our album of summer children. They took with them a piece of our hearts.

And now for the wrap-up quotes:

“Spread love everywhere you go. First of all, in your own house … let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness” (Mother Teresa)

You never really leave a place or person you love. Part of them you take with you while you leave a part of yourself behind.” (Carl Sandburg)

Mary Ready of Destin is a twice-retired English teacher and long-time area resident. Her columns are published on Saturdays.