Dear future student:
Welcome to this new and exciting experience! My name is Maria, I am 71 years young and have two adult daughters. Most of the time I live alone, with the company of my international students as they come and go. My oldest daughter Yanina, now 33 years old, lives with her husband Jack and my 5 year-old grandson Jack Jack. She works as a secretary and comes visit me on the week
ends when she’s free. My younger daughter Magali, is 31, a high school teacher and a graduate student at FSU. Since she has very little free time, I am helping take care of her 14 year-old Chihuahua named Beta. Beta may bark at you if she doesn’t know you, but after just a few minutes she will be sweet and like for you to pet her or cuddle. Magali works nearby but lives about 35 minutes away, so sometimes she stays here for the night to be closer to work and to spend time with me. Usually we like to get together as a family to have dinner or just to spend time together. My home is large and I like to think it’s in a great location. It’s near a Target shopping plaza, close to many restaurants, a couple of grocery stores and pharmacies, and less than 15 minutes to your new school. I will take you to school every day. I will also show you the bus routes in case you like more independence, like to try a new experience, or for rare circumstances when our times don’t coincide. I will also provide you with a home-cooked meal for dinner every day. Eating a balanced meal is important, so expect all types of food; vegetables, salads, pastas, meats, beans, and rice, just to name a few. I also like to learn about your favorite meals and maybe one day you can show me how to prepare it for you, that way you can also feel more at home too. I only ask that each student clean-up after themselves by washing their own dish. On occasion I will have no problem washing everyone’s dishes as circumstances arise. In your new home, every room has a closet and a personal desk. You will not be asked to share a room, unless previously arranged. There are two bathrooms available for use by all students. Internet is available throughout the house. There is a washer and dryer available, but normally I do the laundry throughout the week. This helps me conserve water and make sure that everyone gets a chance to have their clothes cleaned on time. You will be responsible for folding and putting your own clothes away, so that every student does so according to their preference. I hope you come with an interest to experience South Florida, as we will visit local tourist destinations, the beach, the malls, and other activities. Also, in the past, international students have asked if we could have get-togethers or if their friends/family could visit. The answer is always yes, so long as it is appropriate for the time of day or the week, and whether
The thing to keep in mind is that we are here to learn from each other. We will share many nice experiences together. Come with an open mind, willingness to communicate, and a positive attitude to make this your temporary home. As things come-up, please don’t be shy and let me know if there’s anything I can do to make things more comfortable for you. I look forward to meeting you and the adventures ahead!
