The Reunion

Saturday, August 21, we had our reunion!

It also happened to be Evan's birthday...17 years old!

Nice glasses, Evan!

It was great to see so many make it... Steve said he thought only about 5 didn't make it!

Megan was there...Liliana, Kayla, Camille, Hannah, and Riley were there...Chad, who is already signed up for South Pacific Adventure (yeah!) and Gabe were there...

Chris wore his tuxedo...and Billy was there...oh, there's Chad again!Sebastian, Carrie, and Rae were listening to Sav tell a story...

Rae, Genevieve, and Sarah were listening too...
We had a potluck and about 1 p.m., we lined up to eat... Steve, Chad's dad, was letting the alumni go first...

I didn't take as many photos as I normally would since I brought one of my grandsons with me...Emerson! However, after we ate, I tried to get around to get some group shots. Gabe, Sebastian (who is also signed up for South Pacific Adventure (Yeah!) along with his sister), Chad, Megan, Sarah and Katie were catching up on their summer...Soran didn't really want me to take her picture. She sort of avoided the camera in Europe...and she was avoided it here...so I just ...sort of took a picture of her...from the side...

Liliana may have been talking to Grace....who got a little lost trying to find this small little town...
Liliana was getting some directions from Roxana, Billy, Chris and Hannah... (that may not be true!)...

We had some of our wonderful parents here...and even some of our wonderful grandparents!While the alumni were catching up with their friends, some took advantage of the quiet to check their email...

Riley's dad and Steve were talking about...well, I have no idea...

and because it was Evan's birthday...his 17th birthday, his Mom brought a cake so we could all sing and share it with him!

More of our parents were watching their kids singing Happy Birthday to Evan...
I had to tackle my little man and put him in his stroller so I could eat...so we could eat...he was a live wire, loving to run and explore the square...Now this is Riley's German-sister...the sister in the family where he stayed for his home stay. His mom was talking to her about life in northern California...Peter's grandparents enjoyed watching him with all his new friends...

Gabe, Sebastian, Chad, Camille, Katie, Grace, Danielle, Cori, Kayla, Evan, Megan, & Riley
Julie and Katie...a HUGE thank you to both of these ladies for organizing our reunion! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Riley with his German-brother...who is actually going to stay in North America and go to school in Vancouver!

Gabe, Hannah, Camille, Grace, Roxana, Genevieve, Megan, Sebastian, Carrie, Chris, Riley's German-brother, Riley, and Kayla...

I didn't get photos of everyone...but like I said, I had a little man I was chasing around... a little 15 month old little guy!

I hope everyone enjoyed the reunion, I know I did. I had a couple of alumni tell me we should have a reunion at least once a year...even twice!

What a summer this has been!

July 7th...We come home!

It's great to travel...but it's always good to be back home!

We had a leisurely morning...we had gotten up earlier than we needed...but Bjorn came back from taking the Texas group and said we didn't need to leave as early as originally planned. We had a great breakfast, and then just relaxed awhile...then we were off.

Jeanette and Bjorn were with us until we went through security at the Zurich airport...it was sad to tell them good-bye. They have both been incredible...so easy to get along with...so much fun... and they did an excellent job!

Our flight home started with a flight to London...then we changed planes and headed to SFO. Our flight from London to SFO was 11:05 hours...after only being 9+ hours going over. When we arrived at home, it was still going to be July 7 and still be mid-day...so a lot of the group tried to get some sleep. Many hadn't slept much, if any, the night before....

Poor Kaycee...she definitely had a long day. Once we landed at SFO and got her baggage and mine, we had to make a dash to the Delta terminal and get her on another plane for L.A.
Megan was one of many who used the eyemask furnished by the airline...it definitely helped with sleeping!

On international flights, everyone has their own TV screen. You can watch movies (many to choose from), TV shows, news...you can listen to all types of music...and you can watch the flight...it will tell you how long we've been in the air and how long we have to go...it tells you the outside temperature (how can a plane fly when it's -67 degrees Farhenheit???), etc. A lot of our group also had headphones on so they could watch/listen to their selection.Carrie and Liliana were just enjoying the flight... (except for over Iceland, where we had TERRIBLE turbulence!)No way could I sleep this way!Billy asked me if I would take a picture of he and Hannah together... Of course I would...

Billy and Hannah, in a plane, 35,000 feet (at least) over the Atlantic...cruising home from their journey to EuropeSoran saw me coming...

Sebastian was probably dreaming of his next long plane ride to France...

Gabe tried to wink, but he was too tired...So there we have it...20 days...6 countries...many memories...many new friends...

What a way to spend a summer!

Hope to see everyone at the reunion on August 21!

You may want to think "South Pacific Adventure".... Australia and New Zealand for 2011! I'd love to have each of you go again!