Jose Luis Dabdoub, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, (ISE) arrived at our home, as our eighth exchange student, on August 21, 1994 as a 17 year old. I already had Noel picked but the organization asked me if I'd take another student because there was so many kids left that wanted to come over here. I had my eye on Jose first anyway, but in his profile, he stated that he wanted to play tennis. Our school doesn't have tennis so I decided to take Noel instead. I was happy to have the second opportunity to get Jose because I felt he would be a welcomed addition to our family, which he proved to be. He and Noel got along great because of their similar personalities and their willingness to make things work.

Jose was our "ladies man", always checking out the girls. He did fine at school but he too thought everyone talked to fast at first. It didn't take him long to catch on and get into the school thing. He didn't really have any favorite classes but the ones that had the most "babes in" were more to his liking. Like Noel, he tried to find any excuse to skip school but most didn't work. He ate almost all foods and drank coke, but like Noel, beer was his favorite. Another Spanish drinker!!!!!! He joined the basketball team in school but didn't play much either. He did enjoy being with the other guys. He also went skiing for the first time here and came home with a bruised hip but otherwise fine. Scott (our son) got him from the bunny hill to the middle hill to the BIG hill within an hour just as he did Noel, and again I was surprised neither boy got hurt. He liked snowmobiling and 4-wheeling but he wasn't crazy about ice fishing. While Noel and Tom fished, Jose would roll in the snow. He really enjoyed the "in between" card game he played with Noel and Scott. Jose had to leave early because he had a year of high school left in his country. Their summers and winters are just the opposite of ours so his school started the middle of February. His mother was afraid if he waited until the middle of June to come home, he'd have missed too much school and wouldn't be able to catch up in order to graduate with his class. His mother came for a visit a week before he had to leave. We had a snow storm while she was here and it was a joy to watch her play in the snow. I loved watching her expression as the snow fell on her face and she rubbed it on her hands. She spoke no English, but we communicated with hand signals and translation from the boys, who did a great job of it!!!!!!

Jose and Rosario left on March 21, 1995 and it was sad to see them go. I wish Jose could have stayed until the end to have the experience of graduating but it wasn't meant to be. He finished high school with his classmates and then started college studying architecture but changed his mind and decided to be a lawyer like his father.. I miss him but we write letters and make phone calls often so that helps. Jose came for a visit January 11, 1997 and stayed until February 5, 1997. It was great to see him again and visit with him. His personality didn't change at all, and he was still the charmer he had been the first time he was here. On December 19, 1998, he came for another visit and stayed until February 6th, 1999. Noel was trying to come visit at the same time for a couple weeks, but the day after I ordered the tickets for him, he emailed me and told me he couldn't come. Good thing I could cancel them!!!!! Seems like he was offered a better paying job than the one he had, and he just couldn't NOT accept it. I didn't blame him, although I was hoping he and Jose could get together again once. Maybe next year!! He did invite Jose and me down to Mexico to visit while Jose was here, but we couldn't make it because of Jose's visa to the U.S. On June 30, 1999 I made a trip to South America, and visiting Jose's home town and family was on my agenda. I arrived in Santa Cruz on July 5th, after leaving Ecuador and flying up to Bogota, Columbia, and then Caracas, Venezuela. I was very tired but it was so good to see Jose again, and all I could do while waiting for my luggage, was keep hugging him. It was great to meet his wonderful family too, who also were waiting at the airport. I could see why Jose is the guy he is just from meeting his family. It was their winter season, but the temperatures was in the 70's, and I sure couldn't complain about that. I had a wonderful time touring the city and the country side. I saw Indian artifacts and carvings in the mountains and on stone. We drove across a one mile one lane railroad track because the road was washed out and never repaired. It was VERY interesting!!!! We tasted many native foods, all of which I found different but good.

We had a big birthday party for Jose's dad with many relatives and friends, and I got to talk to some of them who spoke English. This family's hospitality was the best I've seen anywhere and I'll never forget them. One interesting thing that I think of often is when Jose's aunt Patty had her car stolen. We looked all over the city for it but couldn't find it. Jose and I drove around in his car talking a lot too, and it was great sharing a few beers with him and talking about anything and everything. One night we stayed out driving around and talking all night and when we got home, we sat outside his house on a bench talking more, and his father actually called him on his cellphone wondering what he did with me. And when we said we were outside talking, he came out to check. I liked the fact that he was worried about me, but being with Jose, he had nothing to worry about. Jose is a gentleman who knows how to treat people, young and old. I left Santa Cruz on July 15th, 1999 and headed to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Besides other presents, Jose's sister Karla gave me a big fluffy white cat that she's had for a long time. I had told her I loved cats when I saw it in her bedroom, the room she gave up for me while I was there, and she insisted I take it with me. Everytime I look at it now sitting right here by a big window looking out, I think of Karla. And of course, the whole family. I met Jose's younger brother Michel too, and maybe someday, he will be an exchange student in my home too. I saw a younger version of Jose in him, and will welcome him just as I did Jose. My biggest mistake would have been in saying I didn't want a second student the year I was asked to take another one. I would have missed so much not knowing this family!! Jose is still in college studying to be a lawyer and is getting nearer the end of his studies. His family renovated their whole house not long after I left so I'm anxious to visit again and see how different it is this time compared to how great it looked before. Jose plans on visiting this December when school is out and I hope it's for a long time again like last time.

Oh yes, Jose told me in our last telephone conversation that his Aunt Patty found her car a couple months ago, almost a year after it was stolen. Someone just took it and was using it and she happened to see it and called the police, and sure enough, it was hers!!! Patty also got married, since I've been there, to an American who lives and works there. They were going together at the time of my visit and he was a nice and funny person. They also just had a baby!! When I told Jose that Noel is going to try to get here to visit this winter when he comes again, he was elated!! I know he wants to see Noel just as much as I do, and I'm sure Noel wants to see both of us again too, and my family, of course. Tom will have to take both of them ice fishing again like old times, and I bet Jose will be rolling on the ice playing while Tom and Noel fish!!!!

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