Daryn Photo Column on exchange student/host family

Dreaming in English

It all started because of a “freak accident.”

Judy Reed made a phone call out of curiosity. A week and a half later a Dutchman was moving in.

That was in 1995, five foreign exchange students ago.

Reed, her husband, Scott, and their 14-year-old daughter, Leslie, have played host to six teenage students from five countries. Anne Borra, a 17-year-old from Zelhem, Holland, arrived in August and will stay until June. “She fits in well,” Scott said as he shot Borra a smile.

Other exchange students were Tom from Holland, Estefany from Mexico, Jiyeon from South Korea, Silvia from Italy, Stefanie from Germany and Anne from Holland. All have studied at Lewiston High School, just down the street from their host family’s home. The first two to three months are difficult, as the students transition to Maine, Judy Reed said. “Once they start dreaming in English, everything makes sense.”

Borra’s dreams are half in English and half in Dutch. She played soccer for Lewiston High School last fall and is on the school swim team. “I’m very good at holding my nose,” said Borra, who admits to not being very athletic. She plans to try out for the tennis team in the spring.

“I miss my bike,” said Borra as she stressed how bicycle-friendly Holland is. “I could go anywhere without depending on motorized transportation.” Borra biked to school in Holland each day – a 30-minute commute. She now walks to school.

Walking may be a tad chilly this winter as the type of winter coat Borra will wear is a subject of big debate at the Reed dinner table. “We don’t have real winters in Holland,” Borra said. She has not seen snow in three years and temperatures rarely dip below 30 degrees. Scott Reed is pushing for a warm winter coat from L.L. Bean. Borra is on the lookout for a nice designer jacket, but she’ll give Bean’s a chance, she said.

The Reeds keep a picture of each student on their family room wall and enjoy sharing memories. Tom is 6 feet, 6 inches tall and has been back to visit three times. Silvia never stopped studying. Estefany played tennis. Stefanie called her host father “Scottie Boy.”

Jiyeon calls the Reeds Mom and Dad and her new-found phrase “wicked good” has gotten a few strange looks from her fellow South Koreans.

“They all fall in love with brownies,” said Judy. Humpty Dumpty barbecue potato chips and tacos have also been favorites, Scott said.

“They’re our kids,” said Judy. “They have become our children … They all have their little quirks, but you work through them just like you do with your own children.”