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20th Anniversary 2008/9 Exchanges Useful Forms
June 15-22, 2008
On Sunday, June 15, 2008, fourteen members of the Blue Mountain Australia FF Club arrived at O'Hare Airport. We greeted them with welcome signs and open arms. After previous exchanges in Wichita KS and Birmingham, AL, our guests were ready for a day to get acquainted and relax in their new surroundings.
On Monday, we assembled the group and toured the Chicago Botanic Garden in Highland Park. Our guests were delighted with the beautiful landscapes, flowers and fountains. The Rose Garden, English Garden and miniature railroad garden were photographed over and over.
Lunch was provided in the Garden Café and then on to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette. Our docent conducted a tour of the temple and pointed out many of the architectural highlights to our guests. Before heading home for a rest, a brief stop was made at Gillson Park, directly across from the Temple. Our Australian guests were impressed with the beauty and size of Lake Michigan. Several walked along the shore and marveled at the panoramic views of the city.
Later that evening, Ludwina and Bill Homer hosted a welcome dinner at their home in Waukegan. We all got better acquainted over food and drinks and shared many tales of our FF experiences.
Tuesday and Thursday were free days to be spent with host families. Several club members provided tours of their local communities, accommodated guests with special interest events, such as quilting shows, antique shops and live theatre. Others hosted dinner parties with members unable to home host, but anxious to meet our Australian Ambassadors.
Of course, an exchange to FFNI would not be complete without a visit to downtown Chicago. We had a beautiful day to tour the Cultural Center, stroll through Millennium Park to view Cloud Gate, Crown Fountain and listen to the Chicago Symphony rehearsal.
