First off, I am starting this blog after picking up Nack from airport. However, a lot of things have transpired to get this point, and I'm sure we'll have many stories to tell now that he's here. I decided to chronicle Nack's life in the USA so that he would have a nice memory of the time he spent with the Winkles family. That being said, let's start from the beginning.
The Question
It was sometime around March of this year that first call came. It was my friend Kanittha from Thailand. She told me that Nack was interested in becoming a foreign exchange student, but that Wanphen (his Mom) was worried about who the family would be. Wanphen suggested a few names to Kanittha, but Kanittha finally asked her "why haven't you mentioned K. Roger and his family?"
Wanphen's family and my family have been friends for many years. It seemed like a logical choice to Kanittha, but it wasn't so easy for Wanphen. In Thailand, they have something called "krengjai." What this basically means is that you do not want to do or ask anything of someone that would put the person you are asking in a bad situation. In Wanphen's situation, if she asked me to be a host family for Nack, she was worried I would have to say yes because of my obligation to our friendship. She was worried I would not want to host Nack, but I wouldn't be able to say no. Kanittha solved this problem: she asked me instead.
It didn't take Livonia and I long to make that decision. We immediately said yes, and called Wanphen to tell her we would be honored to host her son.
From there, things moved pretty quickly. Rather than explain it all here, I'll post a few of the emails that led up to today. That should be enough to bring everyone up to speed on what happened.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Nack has a spot at Hamilton High School
From: Roger Winkles
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 1:08 PM
To: Wanphen.Lertapiruk; Nack; apichai.lert
Cc: Livonia Winkles
Subject: Application and Placement complete
Hello All,
I received notification from PAX that everything has been processed. Nack has a spot at Hamilton and my application is complete.
The only remaining item from my end is to have the Local Coordinator visit the house for our interview.
Here’s some good news: In order to comply with Federal Regulations, the Local Coordinator cannot live more than 120 miles from the host family’s house. Our local coordinator is in Payson. From the Payson city center to the Chandler city center, it is 124 miles. From the Local Coordinator’s home to my home, it is 118 miles. We are 2 miles (3.2km) inside the boundary! Pretty amazing, huh?
Regards,
Roger Winkles
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 1:08 PM
To: Wanphen.Lertapiruk; Nack; apichai.lert
Cc: Livonia Winkles
Subject: Application and Placement complete
Hello All,
I received notification from PAX that everything has been processed. Nack has a spot at Hamilton and my application is complete.
The only remaining item from my end is to have the Local Coordinator visit the house for our interview.
Here’s some good news: In order to comply with Federal Regulations, the Local Coordinator cannot live more than 120 miles from the host family’s house. Our local coordinator is in Payson. From the Payson city center to the Chandler city center, it is 124 miles. From the Local Coordinator’s home to my home, it is 118 miles. We are 2 miles (3.2km) inside the boundary! Pretty amazing, huh?
Regards,
Roger Winkles
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
From: Roger Winkles
To: Sittisak
Cc: Nack, Wanphen, Apichai, Sujitra, Suchada, Livonia, Christi at PAX, Rosemary at Hamilton, George Dorman
Date: Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Subject: Apr 29 Update: Voluntary Host Family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Hello All,
I have an update again.
Today, I received a call from Christi Reynolds, PAX Area Coordinator. She made contact with Rosemary Gallo from Hamilton High School and was in the process of FAXing Nack’s application to her. Christi also gave me the name of the local PAX coordinator that we will be working with. She is actually in the Prescott area (not Payson). This is still quite a distance away, but it sounds like we can still make it work. She needs to setup an appointment to visit the house and interview me and the family. The good news is that Hamilton High has your application, Nack! We’re getting closer!
PAX will be sending George Dorman and his family information to fill out (application, background check, photo request), as they have agreed to be the backup family in the event something happens with my family.
At this point, I don’t see any showstoppers. Let’s hope things continue to run so smoothly!
Nack, you said you like basketball, right? We have basketball courts very near to our house. Dobson Park is a little over 1km away from my house and has four hoops and a newly resurfaced court. Here’s a map to show you. We live at the edge of Pelican Court, at the top right of the map. The bottom left of the map is where the courts are (they are blue).
I’ll let you know if I find out anything else. I hope you’re excited!
Roger Winkles
To: Sittisak
Cc: Nack, Wanphen, Apichai, Sujitra, Suchada, Livonia, Christi at PAX, Rosemary at Hamilton, George Dorman
Date: Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Subject: Apr 29 Update: Voluntary Host Family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Hello All,
I have an update again.
Today, I received a call from Christi Reynolds, PAX Area Coordinator. She made contact with Rosemary Gallo from Hamilton High School and was in the process of FAXing Nack’s application to her. Christi also gave me the name of the local PAX coordinator that we will be working with. She is actually in the Prescott area (not Payson). This is still quite a distance away, but it sounds like we can still make it work. She needs to setup an appointment to visit the house and interview me and the family. The good news is that Hamilton High has your application, Nack! We’re getting closer!
PAX will be sending George Dorman and his family information to fill out (application, background check, photo request), as they have agreed to be the backup family in the event something happens with my family.
At this point, I don’t see any showstoppers. Let’s hope things continue to run so smoothly!
Nack, you said you like basketball, right? We have basketball courts very near to our house. Dobson Park is a little over 1km away from my house and has four hoops and a newly resurfaced court. Here’s a map to show you. We live at the edge of Pelican Court, at the top right of the map. The bottom left of the map is where the courts are (they are blue).
I’ll let you know if I find out anything else. I hope you’re excited!
Roger Winkles
Thursday, March 27, 2008
The response from Sittisak
From: sittisak
Sent: 2008-03-27 22:50
To: Roger Winkles; Nack; Wanphen Lertapiruk; apichai lertapiruk; Sujitra LAORNUAL; Suchada Promma
Subject: Re: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Dear Mr Roger
Thank you for your recent letter. I am pleased to inform you that we are aiming to send NACK’s application to PAX at the end of March. All students will have to attend to the PAX’s orientation on 5-8 August which is mean that all students will start their school a little bit late. However, PAX staff will coordinate with the school that student will attend about this matter. We will attach the cover letter with NACK’s application to inform with PAX staff about you intention to host NACK. The final decision would depend upon the terms and conditions of PAX.
As you have already applied to be the voluntary host family, please let us know the progress of your application, so we can process to the next step with PAX.
Thank you again for your kind support. We look forward to a successful academic year for him.
Kind regards
Sittisak
Sent: 2008-03-27 22:50
To: Roger Winkles; Nack; Wanphen Lertapiruk; apichai lertapiruk; Sujitra LAORNUAL; Suchada Promma
Subject: Re: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Dear Mr Roger
Thank you for your recent letter. I am pleased to inform you that we are aiming to send NACK’s application to PAX at the end of March. All students will have to attend to the PAX’s orientation on 5-8 August which is mean that all students will start their school a little bit late. However, PAX staff will coordinate with the school that student will attend about this matter. We will attach the cover letter with NACK’s application to inform with PAX staff about you intention to host NACK. The final decision would depend upon the terms and conditions of PAX.
As you have already applied to be the voluntary host family, please let us know the progress of your application, so we can process to the next step with PAX.
Thank you again for your kind support. We look forward to a successful academic year for him.
Kind regards
Sittisak
What do I do next?
It had been quite a bit of time since we last heard anything about Nack coming to America, so I decided to ask the question.
From: Roger Winkles
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 8:00 AM
To: Wanphen Lertapiruk
Subject: FW: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Hello P’Tuk,
Any update on Nack coming to stay with us? I ask only because the Chandler School district where my kids attend is a year-round school. This means the school year starts in late July. If Nack plans to attend school in the Chandler area, we need to get things moving along.
Regards,
Roger Winkles
From: Roger Winkles
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 8:00 AM
To: Wanphen Lertapiruk
Subject: FW: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Hello P’Tuk,
Any update on Nack coming to stay with us? I ask only because the Chandler School district where my kids attend is a year-round school. This means the school year starts in late July. If Nack plans to attend school in the Chandler area, we need to get things moving along.
Regards,
Roger Winkles
Wanphen's Reply
From: Wanphen
To: Roger Winkles
Cc: Sittisak; N ; ack
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:05 AM
Subject: RE: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Thanks for being on top of this matter since this should be my job. :)
As I know from the inter-learning school ( In BKK) from Mr- Sittisak - He advised me that all applications from students will be gather and send to Pax all at once by end of March, 08 to avoid losing document. We will have no news as of today.
The application of Nac has completely done and approved by Inter-learning.
I'm copying K. Sititsak and Apichai in the loop if any change from what I know. Thanks.
Khun Roger: Millions thanks for your kind thought and remind me.
To: Roger Winkles
Cc: Sittisak; N ; ack
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:05 AM
Subject: RE: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Thanks for being on top of this matter since this should be my job. :)
As I know from the inter-learning school ( In BKK) from Mr- Sittisak - He advised me that all applications from students will be gather and send to Pax all at once by end of March, 08 to avoid losing document. We will have no news as of today.
The application of Nac has completely done and approved by Inter-learning.
I'm copying K. Sititsak and Apichai in the loop if any change from what I know. Thanks.
Khun Roger: Millions thanks for your kind thought and remind me.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Roger gets to work on coordinating efforts
From: Roger Winkles
To: Sittisak
Cc: Nack, Wanphen, Apichai, Sujitra, Suchada, Christi at PAX, Rosemary at Hamilton, George Dorman,
Date: Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Subject: Update: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
To: Sittisak
Cc: Nack, Wanphen, Apichai, Sujitra, Suchada, Christi at PAX, Rosemary at Hamilton, George Dorman,
Date: Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Subject: Update: voluntary host family for NACK (Chatchawin)
Hello Khun Sittisak,
Yesterday, my wife received a call from Christi Reynolds, the area coordinator for PAX. She asked that we contact the High School Nack will be attending to ensure that they have room to support another foreign exchange student. I left email and voice messages with Rosemary Gallo at Hamilton High School and I’m waiting for an answer. I’ll let you know more as I know more.
Yesterday, my wife received a call from Christi Reynolds, the area coordinator for PAX. She asked that we contact the High School Nack will be attending to ensure that they have room to support another foreign exchange student. I left email and voice messages with Rosemary Gallo at Hamilton High School and I’m waiting for an answer. I’ll let you know more as I know more.
A couple of loose ends that need to get worked on:
Local Community Coordinator: PAX currently does not have a local community coordinator in the Phoenix area. The closest coordinator available is in Payson, AZ, which is 145km away. This is a concern because this is the local coordinator Nack will use if he encounters any problems while in the US. I’ve attached a map to give you a representative example of the distance.
Second Host Family: PAX needs to locate a second family that is willing to host Nack in the event things do not work out with our family. This is a formality from my end, as I do not see any issues here, but they still need someone. Wanphen, I talked to George Dorman and he and his wife are willing to support this requirement. If you have no issues with the Dorman family, I can recommend them to PAX and we can get his paperwork started.
I am also learning that we are working this process somewhat in reverse. Typically, the host family is not identified by the child’s family, but rather by the PAX organization. Doing it the way we are will involve a bit more coordination, but I think we can all handle it.
I am also learning that we are working this process somewhat in reverse. Typically, the host family is not identified by the child’s family, but rather by the PAX organization. Doing it the way we are will involve a bit more coordination, but I think we can all handle it.
Contact Information:
I thought I would list all the contact information I have so far, in the event you wish to start communication with anyone on this side. I have also added all of the contacts to the email string so they are aware of the work we are already doing in the background.
That’s all I have for now. Let me know if anyone has any questions for me.
Roger Winkles
I thought I would list all the contact information I have so far, in the event you wish to start communication with anyone on this side. I have also added all of the contacts to the email string so they are aware of the work we are already doing in the background.
That’s all I have for now. Let me know if anyone has any questions for me.
Roger Winkles
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