I Just need to rant!!!!!!

**hollyhill** · 08-10-2005, 12:45 AM

I am having such a crummy summer!!!
We have an 11 yr old Korean boy staying with us for 6 weeks. He is matched with our 11 year old son. I also tutor him in English. He is making our life miserable!
We have had several other Korean Children for much longer times and they were great so I guess it was just a matter of time!
We need the money otherwise I would have packed him up and sent him home.
He is so ungrateful, difficult to teach, complains constantly, hates American food (except MacDonalds!!!) UGHHHHH! And what is worse my dear son is trying so hard too! And it is upsetting him that this kid still isn't happy or very friendly. I am getting so tired of him ruining all our outings! I have another 3 weeks to go! We are supposed to take him on a one week vacation and I am dreading it! I want to cancel. But boy would we hear about it then.
I WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!
Thanks for listening.

**dolphin** · 08-10-2005, 01:48 AM

Sorry you're having such a hard time with the boy.

**Julia Kimber** · 08-10-2005, 02:22 AM

Sorry to hear that you are having problems.

Julia

**Englishlady** · 08-10-2005, 03:46 AM

Sorry to hear that he is giving you grief.

Sometimes people complain constantly when they are upset or worried and have no other way of expresing their worries.

I would suggest that you ask him what would help him enjoy his holiday more? Do you know what his interests/hobbies are?

Get HIM to tell you about HIS culture, even children like to educate/inform/boast, having been given a chance to do that he might feel less impotent about his situation and decide you are not so bad, & settle down.......worth a try?

If all else fails take him to see "Super Size Me" and then see if he still wants to eat MacDonalds

Try to hang on in there!

good luck
Karen

**Early Bird** · 08-10-2005, 06:16 AM

Bummer.

**Darlene** · 08-10-2005, 06:56 AM

Have you tried talking to whomever is in charge to see what they might suggest? I bet this isn't the first time this has happened. Not everybody gets along with everyone else and this might just be a bad match and nothing you should blame yourself for or suffer through.
What a nice thing you are doing or in this case trying to do.

Hope it works out for you all.

**PrairieRose** · 08-10-2005, 09:31 AM

Holli we hosted a foreign exchange student for 9 months and even though he didn't complain, wasn't a problem behavior wise I can empathize with what you're going through. It's hard to have a stranger in your home for that amount of time. I hope you get some help with it, maybe from the organization that you signed up through. Sorry to hear it's been so rough.

**baronmom** · 08-10-2005, 09:57 AM

I hope things get better for you. Maybe he is just really homesick, and that is his way of lashing out. Best of luck to you. I know I could never be a host to a student.

**jlxian** · 08-10-2005, 11:09 AM

I'm sorry its awful!

I agree with EnglishLady --- ask him what he needs you to do to make him happier.

And, I think I would treat him as one of your own children rather than a GUEST --- if your kids complained about everything what would you do?

And then --- there is an end to this --- keep reminding yourself and your kind son that sometimes there only so much a person can do to help another person feel happy. Grit your teeth and be patient until its over.