The doorbell rang and I opened the door to greet a Rotarian and a young blonde girl named Marketta, with a sore arm. The Rotarian was soon off, but Marketta Vanamo is still with us . . . forever I think . . . as a friend to delight our hearts.
At the time Marketta joined our family, I had just been elected the 1996-97 president of The Rotary Club of Tacoma #8. New clubs are numbered in the order of joining Rotary International. That means that Tacoma Rotary #8 is the 8th Rotary Club in the world.
Marketta attended Wilson High School nearby and attended most Rotary meetings and events. She became part of our family. Of course, Americans mispronounce her name as Mar’-ket-ta, but in reality, her name is pronounced Mar-ke’-ta.
When Peg was scheduled for surgery, I told Marketta she would be staying with another family while I was alone; her response was a resounding “un-hu.” She did not want to leave her first American home. She went on to stay with other Rotary families. Marketta is a very outgoing person and made many friends in the area, including two in particular: Suska from Scandinavia and Letti from Columbia.
In 1996-97, I was Rotary president. Marketta enjoyed meeting other Rotarians and had a great time visiting with many. Over the years we have maintained our friendship. After she finished her business training and had a great job, she gave birth to her daughter Charlotta. Marketta returned to share her one year-and-a half baby year old with us and her other families she had met. That time, Marketta stayed in the same bedroom she had stayed in years before. We didn’t have a baby crib, so Charlotta slept in a suit case on the floor in the same bedroom. We had a nice family luncheon to celebrate her return with other family members.
Peg and I would love to visit Finland. When Marketta describes it, it sounds so beautiful and wonderful.
When we found out Marketta and her now much older (13 years old) daughter Charlotta were coming to Tacoma again, we made sure to invite her to dinner on our deck with a number of old Tacoma Rotarians. Marketta spoke and shared her story of visiting and introduced her daughter. Both Marketta and Charlotta received a warm welcome. After everyone left, we talked, and talked. We all had a very sweet time with our reminisces.
Their next stop is to Vancouver and then a return to Finland. Peg and I look forward to reading about their trip to Canada. Marketta still has our love and laughter. Compared to her mother Charlotta seems shy, but I’m guessing in Finland, she isn’t shy at all. She’s a tall beautiful dark-haired version of her mother. We love them both. We will have a room whenever she or they return.
When Marketta was living with us and when she was visiting other Rotarians she made friends, who still remember her after a whole lot of years. At the end of her stay with the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 it was like she was related to everyone in the club. I think she still is.
Turnover Day at Rotary is always special. It means new club officers and new exchange students . . . however, Marketta is still in our hearts . . . along with her daughter Charlotta.
Don & Peg,
Once again you have helped me discover that we four were on a parallel pathway in life.
My wife and I had 9 Japanese foreign students live in our home during the previous century. One student, who stayed for 9 months as she studied English as a 2nd language at Pacific Lutheran University, is still our honorary Japanese daughter. We love her.
We did travel to Japan in circa 1988. What a life experience travelling to Japan it proved to be.
Our 15-year-old daughter was an American foreign exchange student in Osaka, Japan.
When you compare Pearl Harbor and the drop of the atomic bomb to the relationships that evolve from foreign exchange student programs, connecting with foreign students is an excellent pathway to peace on our planet.
I encourage anyone who is in a position and has an interest to get involved with a student foreign exchange program so they can become more Don and Peg Doman-like in an easy and fun effort to promote world peace.
Joseph Boyle – Bilingual in English and Japanese, although I took a cheat sheet with me to Japan to communicate.
Joseph,
As usual you hit the nail on the head. One of the great ways Rotary structured exchange students was a limited time. You had a student for a limited time and then they moved on to another home, however it didn’t cut you off. The exchange students usually became fast friends with other exchange students as well as Rotary families. We had one student who became friends with an exchange student from a different Rotary club in town. The other student wasn’t too happy with her Rotary family and so we often had a twofer. One night Peg and I were in bed and there was a cattle stampede directly above us. Peg and I creeped upstairs to see what was going on. One student was teaching the other student how to polka (I think). They were dancing together, laughing together, and just having a grand time. We enjoyed watching. Another time a friend had our exchange student from Australia. The student wanted to share their dance. She approached me and explained the dance. I knew exactly how it went . . . or at least I thought I did. It was heal, toe, step, step, step, heal, toe, step, step, step. It sounded simple. The music started and we danced: healtoestepstepstephealtoestepstepstephealtoestepstepstephealtoestepstepstep . . . it took me the rest of the day to slow down my heart. We have always enjoyed the exchange and learning more about the world from happy students who like to share. Yes, you and I are much alike along with our wives. . . darn you and moving!!!!