Auf Wiedersehen to Ines

We knew that today was the day that Ines had to go home but the hours just seemed to fly by so quickly. The departure time from the school was initially 11:00 however, it was changed to 3:00 the other day. This was good for us because we got to spend a little more time with Ines.
I remember reading the itinerary when we agreed to be a host family, and there were some comments on there about make sure you bring Kleenex to the farewell for all the tears. I remember thinking 17 days is not a very long time to get that attached to someone that you are going to be overly upset when they leave. BOY WAS I WRONG. Ines definitely worked her way into our hearts and our family.
It made me smile the other evening, Joe made steak and baked potatoes for supper. Before I left the table I said "thanks for supper hon, it was good". Then Jade and Joel both said "thanks Daddy for supper". Then a little voice said "thanks host daddy"! I thought Joe was going to burst. You should have seen the smile on his face when Ines said that. Joe made it his mission while Ines was here to make sure she had lots to eat and that she has food she liked. He sent cheese and crackers with her for part of her lunch one day, and quickly the Bacon Dipper cracker became a German favourite!!!!! I think their might be a couple of boxes tucked in Ines's suitcase!

Here is Ines (the bacon dippers) and Jae standing by the bus that is getting packed with all the luggage to take the German's to the airport.

I could not believe how hard today was. We got all of Ines bags packed and ready to go. We then piled in the car and went to Joel's school to bring him with us to the departure site. We jumped out of the car and got Ines's bags out of the trunk.....well then the tears started.

How could 17 days have gone by so fast. It was so hard to believe that we had only known this beautiful girl for 17 days and now she was on her way home.

I'm not sure if this was a school newspaper article or if this was an article in the Woodstock paper, but the Germans all had a copy of this when they got on the bus.

After the bus left the school and everyone had said their tearful goodbyes, we decided to follow the bus for a bit.

At one point we got up beside the bus, and one of the windows was open and we called out the window. Ines jumped up and yelled "that's my family!". (yep more tears then....)

I cannot say it enough.....we were so blessed to have Ines come and stay with us. We are certainly much more comfortable with knowing Jade will be staying with her when she makes the return trip to Germany. I am so glad we agreed to be a host family. This was definitely an adventure we will treasure forever.

Wir verfehlen Sie, Ines

(I hope that translated right....It's supposed to say "we miss you, Ines")

Chow for now,

Jacqui