THE PARENTS

At the rate this is going, I will receive about 80 phone calls from the parents (and Uncles!) of the Vietnamese students throughout the 27 days they are staying with me. For some reason, I just don't want to talk to them. I got a call from Vietnam tonight at about 10pm. How did I know it was from Vietnam? Country code +84

I think the reason I don't want to talk to the relatives is because What am going to say to them?! It makes me tired just thinking about assuaging the restless hearts of mothers abroad. The conversation will most likely sound like this:

CVM (Concerned Vietnamese Mother): Umm, hello, Mr. Phil?
THD (Tired Host Daddy): Yes, this is Phil.
CVM: Hello, I am _____ , Vinh Anh's mother.
THD: Hi. How are you?
CVM: I am well, thank you. I hope my son is behaving himself for you! He is very young, and he has never been to America before.
THD: Oh, he is very nice. He is quiet, but very nice. I have no problems with him.
CVM: We want him to call us. He has not called his father yet. He has not sent email.

..... And so on.

I know, I know. The best solution is probably taking just one phone call like this and making the parents happy. But I am a stubborn mule.