What is the typical American family? Do their lifestyles similar to what we normally see in the American movies? Tough questions, huh.

Based on my weekends homestay experiences with 2 families in Douglas County, Nevada; I would say there is no black and white answer for these questions. Like everywhere in the world I guess, people and families lifestyles keep changing from time to time, and vary from different places, family sizes, ages, cultures, careers, educational backgrounds, etc.

My first time homestay in the U.S was with a sweet retirement couple, Lisa and Dave; while my second was with another happy young couple, Bo and Heather, with their 4 cute children who are all boys: Cody, Domi, Conner and Zack. Such a huge different right? Well, they actually have something in common. For instance, they both own a big dog; and their dogs are both friendly, lol.

As both Lisa and Dave had educational related careers, one as a County Superintendent of Schools, another as a university professor; they shared a lot about educational stuffs to me. My knowledge and understanding about educational system in the county as well as in Nevada have increased. Here, in the U.S, the state government is responsible for educational payment (public schools only) for its residents from elementary to high school levels. Well, another way to say is the state government uses the properties tax (from housing and land) collected from its residents for this educational expenditure. For the rest of schooling, namely daycares, community colleges and universities, students pay for themselves. There are some scholarships provided though. Um, another fact that should be noted is the school fees would be doubled if students go to study in other states; and/or for none-residential students who come to study here.  

              

   My princess bedroom                      Dave's well organized workshop        School of Mines (not mine, lol)

Apart from sharing that useful knowledge, Lisa took me around to visit former and recent schools in the county, and the University of Nevada in Reno (UNR). Wow, I wish some day in my home country, Laos, a majority of children/students will have a chance access to such these great and state of the art schools and universities’ facilities like here. Well, you may think I was fulfilled with only the sound academic stuffs while I was with them. Nah, you are wrong. We did many fun and enjoyable things too. These included playing with Maggie (the most energetic dog ever), trying Italian foods (where you need to complete an evaluation survey), travelling to an old historical town and beautiful lake (so unique), stopping at the home made fudge shop (so yummy!), and sitting on the front trunk of the truck and driving around the house (so cool!).


Taste of Italian, with my host parents! @Donner Lake       @ the Donner Pass       @Fudge Shop in Truckee town

Many thanks Lisa and Dave that made me very feel at home while stayed with you (except the bedroom – cuz my back home bedroom is like a jungle, not a princess bedroom like yours, lol). You are so sweet and funny, like my back home parents. Wish you have a great time visiting your children and grandchildren who live in another far state, this Halloween. I will miss you for sure, especially when I look at the mystery picture that I took with Maggie and a ‘no head’ man (hahaha, I’m actually not a good photographer too).      

                                                            

Sitting in the VIP front seat on the truck    Me, Maggie & a mystery 'no head' man in Douglas County :D

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