Revelations...

This being our second time hosting, I've talked to quite a few people who want to know "is it different this time?"

Absolutely, unequivocally, 100% YES!

First, Vladik is from Ukraine and Mareks is from Latvia. That in itself will mean there are SOME differences.

I think the biggest difference is that the language barrier (for the most part) is gone.
Vladik spoke, for all intents and purposes, no English. Mareks, on the other hand,  has been learning it since he was a young boy. What this means is that: 1. I'm not tied at the hip to google translate. 2. He can interact more fully with us and our boys because he understands whats going on.
     I didn't have to explain much about the dentist or the eye exam. What I DID want to clarify, I was able to do so in the car, on the way there.
     We went to the kids' school's Christmas program last night, and I was able to explain things in detail, or point out different people. He was able to laugh at the things that were funny-- because the understood what was going on.
     More so than with Vladik, I know a little more about his daily life. I hope the longer he's here, the more I can discover; but because he can respond with complete sentences (without having to use the computer) I'm learning more about him. Now, I will say that is seems like I'm the one asking all the questions, but I'm making a point of keeping them very neutral. Questions about school, what he does in his free time, teasing him about girls, etc.

Mareks is having a harder time adjusting to the time difference than what Vladik did. Not that that's good or bad either way... it's just different.

Mareks plays with Joe and Kyle differently that what Vladik did. Again, not good or bad... just different. With Vladik, there was always a little competitive edge with Joe. Much of that, I'm sure, is that they were closer in age (6 years difference with Vladik, 9 with Mareks), and even closer that that if you figure "emotional age."  Vladik interacted with the boys as a peer- as a contenporary. Mareks is more like the "really cool uncle." He still plays with the Joe and Kyle- being goofy and having fun, but there's no element of competition. He's a lot less physical with them that what Vladik was.

He eats a lot LESS than Vladik- and that surprised me. Mareks is every bit of 6'... slender, but not malnourished or underweight. Although he did eat 3 BLTs (minus the "L") for lunch yesterday, so maybe his appetite will continue to increase.

Mareks is a lot more brand conscious that Vladik was. Vladik didn't care what he wore, or what label was on the shirt. Mareks is MUCH more aware and desirous of "name brand" items. And we have to be careful with that. Not only are the name brands more expensive, but in some cases having them can make him a target when he gets back home.
Additionally, Mareks seems more... mature? aware? self-posessed? experienced? worldly? I can't put my finger on the right word. But it's like the difference between a "big city" kid and a "country" kid.... urban vs. rural. Mareks is the big city kid, Vladik the kid from the country. Again- one isn't any better than the other-- it's just different.

We ate at Wendys' last night before the Christmas program. During the course of the meal, I asked Mareks if he wanted more to drink. When he said "no," I let him know that refills were free. He looked at me with the disbelief clear on his face. (I'm told there's no such thing as free refills in Eastern Europe.) I assured him that not only were refills free at Wendy's... but at every restaurant in the US that I could think of. He was dumbfounded. Still a bit skeptical, he went and refilled his Coke. Then, when he ran out of ketchup, I told him he could get more if he wanted. When he said "no," I let him know that we didn't have to pay for condiments; that if he wanted more ketchup, he could get more. Again, the disbelief was clear on his face. "Come on... really?!" He said. (I'm told there's no such thing as "free" ketchup in Eastern Europe.)
THEN, because I was having so much fun shocking him... I told him about buffets like Cici's Pizza and Golden Corral.

I don't think he believed me. :-)