Woke up at 9am, had cinnamon and pecan rolls. Yum! Strolled around while the AFS host parents had their session from 10-noon. Dropped my camera and the card doesn’t seem to work! Came home and helped back a carrot cake for visitors. Was told not to use the PC until Mr. Randy came over to check the “sick” PC. Damn angry by that. Getting very agitated and frustrated that my host mom can’t take critiques. Everything that’s right to her is right and can’t be wrong. Feel that it’s easier not to give any opinions -shutting up, ear in ear out is much easier. Sneeked and tried to use the internet but discovered that the password was changed. #$)(*&! Sheesh, she’s trying to “protect” me from being homesick? Not being able to use the net is making me homesick. Have to wait till Wed when Mr. Randy comes to check the PC. Darn it –6 days without the net? I feel disabled!
I have some clear recollections of this day. I remember sneaking up the stairs to the room to see if I could get on the internet –which wasn’t that easy because of dial-up. AFS discouraged excessive communication with home families from e-mail and chat to visits from family (which is not uncommon). The program did not want new relationships to be hindered by old ones back home (think teenager with love interest thousands of miles away). In 2002, technology wasn’t as wild as it is today. As far as I knew, none of my fellow exchange students had smart phone devices and there was no Facebook. Wireless wasn’t as common either. I think there is something to be said about discouraging the use of these devises, especially in today’s day and age. As someone who has her iPhone with her at all times, I imagine my experience would have been very different if it took place in 2012.
That said, I did think it was a bit unfair to try to cut off all electronic connection from home -with my mother not a boyfriend or girlfriend- and especially without communicating it before hand. It certainly exacerbated homesickness and brought out frustrations with my placement that were already high because of the high school situation.
