Azi's adventures... with Kyrgyz Translations by Google. (Азинин жоруктары ... Google Translations by Google менен.)

 

Azi's still here! We love this kid and what an adventure. Azi is making friends, enjoying school, and playing soccer like a star. Today, he took the bus for the first time. He got in front of the house to wait, and then came sprinting back up to the house: "I forgot my long pants." (He has a soccer match later this afternoon in Winthrop.) He gets to the bottom of the driveway again and waits until... he bolts back up: "I forgot my laptop." Who knew taking the Yellow School Bus in America could be so difficult? 

(Ази дагы эле ушул жерде! Биз бул баланы жакшы көрөбүз жана кандай укмуштуу окуя. Ази достошуп, мектептен ырахат алып, жылдыздай футбол ойноп жатат. Бүгүн ал биринчи жолу автобуска отурду. Ал үйдүн алдына келип күтүп турду, анан кайра чуркап келип: "Узун шымымды унутуп калдым". (Ал бүгүн түштөн кийин Винтропто футбол матчын өткөрөт.) Ал дагы жолдун түбүнө жетет жана кайра күтүп турат ... ал ноутбукту унутуп калды. Сары мектептин автобусун Америкага алып баруу ушунчалык кыйын экенин ким билген?)

Calmly walking to the bus stop

Here it comes! 

Off on the Yellow School Bus in America. 

I asked Azi if he'd like to do some paid work to help me out with the house. He agreed with great enthusiasm.  Naturally, he already does every-day chores like cleaning dishes, his room and bathroom, and cutting bushes. This work is different. In his home country, one of his outside jobs to raise money for this exchange program was to pick strawberries for about 80 cents per 5 quarts. Azi is a FLEX student (Future Leader Exchange Program sponsored by the US government), so he's here on scholarship with a monthly stipend. But who couldn't use a little more spending money?  

Let me tell you, this kid is a worker! My front steps were a disaster because of long periods in the sun and heavy snow. Azi scraped and removed tons of bad paint and then got the steps painted. What a fabulous job! 

(Мен Азиден үйгө жардам берүү үчүн акы төлөнүүчү жумуш жасоону каалаарын сурадым. Ал зор шыктануу менен макул болду. Албетте, ал буга чейин идиштерди, бөлмөсүн жана ванна бөлмөсүн тазалоо жана бадалдарды кесүү сыяктуу күнүмдүк жумуштарды аткарат. Бул иш башкача. Өз өлкөсүндө, бул алмашуу программасы үчүн акча табуу үчүн анын сырткы жумуштарынын бири 5 квартал үчүн болжол менен 80 центке чейин кулпунай терүү болгон. Ази FLEX студенти (АКШ өкмөтү тарабынан каржыланган Келечектеги Лидер алмашуу программасы), ошондуктан ал бул жерде стипендия менен ай сайын стипендия алат. Бирок ким дагы бир аз көбүрөөк акча корото алган жок?

Айта кетейин, бул бала жумушчу! Алдыңкы кадамдарым апаат болду, анткени узак убакыт күн астында жана калың карда. Ази тонналаган жаман боекторду сыйрып алып, анан тепкичтерди боёп алды. Кандай жомоктогудай жумуш!)

Talk about scraping paint! 

Bailey and Azi now have a special relationship. :-) Last night, Bailey jumped up on Azi's bed (his bed when no one's visiting) to take a nap.  Soon, Azi is cracking up with laughter... it seems Bailey had a bit of gas--in America it's often called "a fart." Oh good gosh, Bailey, don't you have any shame? 

(Бэйли менен Азинин азыр өзгөчө мамилеси бар. :-) Кечээ кечинде Бэйли Азинин керебетине (эч ким келбегенде анын керебети) секирип түштү. Көп өтпөй Ази күлкүсү келип жатат ... Бэйлинин газы бар окшойт-Америкада аны көбүнчө "фарт" деп коюшат. Ой, жакшы, Бейли, сенде уят жокпу?)

Oops! 

Check out Bailey's embarrassed face... :-) 

Posing for Mom, Dad, and sister.
Апам, атам жана эжем үчүн позалар.

Finally, Azi is sampling a variety of American foods. Some  of it is actually healthy:

(Акыр -аягы, Ази Американын түрдүү тамак -аштарынын үлгүсүн алууда. 

Кээ бирлери чындыгында дени сак:)

 

Beef quesadilla with salsa and sour cream

Homemade pizza with store-bought crusts

Beef pizza

A Maine special: beef hot dogs, beans, and brown bread. 

We're lucky to have such a thoughtful, polite young man in our home. I've hosted many exchange students, and Azi is a special young man. He's going to make a difference in our world. 

(Биздин үйдө ушундай ойлуу, адептүү жигит бар экенине биз бактылуубуз. Мен көптөгөн алмашуу студенттерин кабыл алдым, Ази өзгөчө жигит. Ал биздин дүйнөдө өзгөрүүлөрдү жасайт.)

Farewell Gabri....

Gabri and his host brother, Bailey

On Monday afternoon, Gabri headed off to his permanent family, Ashley and Mike DeRouche and their 3 kids.  I wrote the following to his parents, Federica and Giovanni: 

Greetings,

Yesterday, Gabri jumped in the car of his host mom and headed off to his new family. Immediately, they were heading to the oldest daughter's field hockey game at a high school one hour away. 

Living in an American family of 5 (!) will be an adventure for your son. He will get a wide range of experiences. As we say in America, I wish I could be a fly on the wall to watch his adventures. 

I wish you well. Thanks for sharing your son with us. 

Warm wishes, 

Rich

Later, I received thoughtful notes from his parents: 

Hi Rich,

I would like to thank you for everything and I hope we'll keep in touch because I feel you are a special person.

I think Gabri keep you in his heart 

I will follow your adventures with Bailey in your blog

A big hug for now

Fede

Hi Rich. 

No, WE are the ones who wish to thank YOU.

It's been an important month for Gabri, and you made it great for him. In fact, you made this whole experience POSSIBLE for him.

I've always had a sweet tooth for the things in life that are not for sale. The things you just can't buy, no matter how rich you may be.

And your ability to feel for these kids you'd never met before, and step in for them, is just one of thise precious, unbuyable things.

I hope we can still stay in contact and look forward to it.

Good luck finding a placement for Azi too, and fare well on your trip to California.

Big hug.

Gio

Especially kind words. Ciao, my friends. 

The next afternoon in the parking lot of the school, I saw Gabri and his host sister, a 9th grader, walk to Mike's truck. He caught a glimpse of me and broke into a big smile. I'm sure he's happy with his family. Later, I saw him play in a soccer match against Carrabec High School in Anson. The Italian boy played lights out in defeat. He had great energy and skill on the pitch.  

 

The Last Sunday: I'll call it "Junk Food Day."

Mystery Mountain, Rumford Point #153

 

At a soccer match last night, I met a former player who clued me into a new, local hike maintained by Inland Woods & Trails. Mystery Mountain overlooks the Androscoggin River, Sunday River, and the Whites. The trail has the same feel as Glassface ledges but isn't as steep. Today's cloudy day didn't make for the best views, but it sure was fun to take on this new trail. It's short, but entertaining and close to home.

  

Hike #150 of 2021 is a World Record (for us)!

 

Bailey and I took Whitecap's Yellow Trail up and connected onto the Orange Trail. We hiked steadily, but I did stop to take photos and say hello to different hikers, especially those who wanted to say hello to the friendly Berner. Half way down I realized we were on a good pace; that, and motivated by a couple of loud hikers and their music blaring from their iPhone, I decided to run the final mile. As a result, we beat our previous record for the past 6 months (or year?). Naturally, it's no big deal (except to me). In effect, Bailey is 80 years old and I'm pushing 70! Old men and their little wins. 

Happy Mushrooms

Mount Washington 

The Mahoosuc Mountain Range

You can see a tinge of fall in the trees. 

Earlier picture, but one I like from this year.