They call McDonald’s “MacDo” (pronounced “dough”). They can’t get enough of “Friends.” Football is a very big deal. They don’t do ketchup, but they want nothing more than to try an authentic American hamburger.
On July 8, World Exchange will be welcoming 87 French students, ages 15 to 17, to our area. They are looking forward to basking in all that is American: barbecues, baseball games, corn on the cob, pancakes with maple syrup. They want to show you pictures of their best friend and share what they’re studying in school (we’ll be welcoming a future musician, a vet, a judge, a landscape gardener, and even an astrophysicist!) They want to tell jokes and talk politics.
Sept. 11, 2001, has not deterred these teens one bit from wanting to experience a slice of what it is to be American. They are ready to hop on a plane and end up in the homes of complete strangers in order to better understand what we’re about.
Now we are looking to complete the other half of the equation. We need you to take a risk and open your home just for 19 days. We promise it will be like nothing you have ever tried before. You’ll very possibly create memories so funny and unforgettable that you’ll be traveling to France to visit your student just in order to make more.
As Benot Lemaux put it, “I will never forget me the times I had with my host family! The biking, watching “The Simpsons” in English, Susie in “Guys and Dolls,” John’s victory at baseball, Stew asking me all the time, ‘Where is my beret?’ I hope they write me and come visit with me in Montparnasse one coming day!”
Please, please, please don’t shut your door on this. It’s simply too much of a good time to miss out.
If you are interested in finding out the true meaning of “joie de vivre,” (the joy of life), call Rose in Manchester at (732) 408-9658 or the World Exchange main office at (800) 444-3924, or e-mail [email protected]. World Exchange is a nonprofit international/intercultural student exchange organization.
Rose Trafton Foor
regional coordinator
for World Exchange
Manchester
Tax increase does not appear to be saving Howell residents money
The recent letters to the editor praising the current Howell mayor and Township Council for their efforts to “finally cut spending and cut our taxes,” “find ways to cut more spending,” “reducing spending in local government” is not true.
Did they forget that in spite of the mayor and council’s efforts, the taxes are still going up 5 cents? Where are we saving?
If saving means an increase in taxes, then we would all be rich. As far as the comments concerning the protesters outside town hall, they were well within their rights to demonstrate. I was there and there was one incident of someone hitting the window with a sign. It stopped after that. I did not see any evidence of landscaping trampled on. There was no obscenities chanted.
Only the chanting of “save our jobs” or “Joe must go.” Maybe there were some outside people and special interest groups. Some of them probably were town employees or union representatives.
Their behavior was well within the norm and maybe it was just a case of the mayor and council’s special interest groups who write to this and other newspapers to “take the heat” off the mayor and council’s actions concerning the budget.
John Lebrio
Howell
Jackson resident appreciates support at a very difficult time
I would like to thank a very good friend of mine, Bernie Waugh, for going out of her way and doing a wonderful thing for me and my family. My name is Mary Reilly. I have two young children. My husband had passed away on Feb. 24 of cancer.
Bernie, along with the help of her family, friends and many others, put together a gift auction held May 1 at the Pop Warner hall in Jackson to benefit my family. Words cannot express my gratefulness.
The event was wonderful and everyone had a great time. I would like to thank Bernie, Robin, Adeline, Rosie, Anita, Kristi and everyone who helped with the auction. I would also like to thank everyone who came out and gave their support. Thank you to the vendors and businesses who contributed gifts. This is a great community.
Mary Reilly
Jackson