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Host Students

Other Special Students

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Ireland

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Germany

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Norway

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Old News

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March of 2016 marks the third year anniversary of Jerry's retirement. Last year I hardly saw him all Spring Summer and Fall, because he almost lived in the mountains! I would go up for a few days most weeks, but then back to Davidson to take care of this house and spend time with my sister. Jerry worked on several projects in the mountains which you will see below.

Twenty two years ago when we started hosting international students we could have never imagined the joy and blessings that would be bestowed on us through getting to know all of these great young people, their families, and their friends. A picture of the students "assigned" to us (minus Carolina) is below, but unfortunately it does not include the many other international students we have come to know, "claim" and enjoy. Can you remember their names? WE can, because they remain close to our hearts, and a joy to our world.

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Four Year Ecuadorian Student 2013/17

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Carolina Ordonez is our twenty-second student! She is from Quito, Ecuador and a junior this year. The fall semester of 2015 Carolina studied abroad in London at Queen Mary University. Her first year at Davidson she was not sure she wanted a Host Family, but after visiting us with our son, Salah, she decided it would be fun, and fortunately for us, we got her!! Carolina has history in the U.S. as her father, Pablo, is a graduate of Texas A & M and her brother, Jose Miguel graduated from Dartmouth and worked for J.P. Morgan in Manhattan until recently and has just transferred to Mexico City, Mexico. Her Mother, Maria Helena owns a pastry shop in Quito (which sounds wonderful!) She says she especially misses her younger brother, Joaquin, whom she is pictured with above.

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Sunshine: Don't get me wrong, trees are nice, but you can't hug them all! The big tall poplar trees down the hill out back were nice, but when the leaves were out, they blocked the mountain view and didn't allow much sunshine on the young fruit trees we planted. Consequently, Timber! Actually, we sold the timber and now are in the process of making piles to burn. We have talked to the two local volunteer Fire Departments and in the early spring of 2016 they will bring 25-30 firemen out and use the piles for practice burns and training.

Cover: They say "Buy the right tool for the job!" so I convinced Gwyn I needed a John Deere "Gator". My good friend and Army Buddy in Kentucky, Roger Devine, found this fantastic "work horse" machine and it was a life saver in building the porch addition, clearing the back, and building itself a new shed addition by adding on to the lower side of the existing work shed. Gwyn and I dug the footings, poured the concrete (with rebar in it) and layed the block in late fall, 2015. In the Spring of 2016 we will frame out the shed addition and our wonderful Gator will have a home of it's own!

If you have visited us at the cabin, then you know we had a nice front porch with a great view looking West, but sometimes when we had a breeze, the cabin blocked it! Well, NO MORE! The original porch extends out 10 feet (3 meters) and Jerry added a 12 X 12 foot (3.66 meters) addition on the end! Now, when you sit on the addition you catch the full breeze, all directions, and have a view looking East! Jerry had someone help with the two end posts, and the outer floor bands, but he and I put in all the floor joists and flooring. Then, Jerry did everything above the floor all by himself, including the roofing! He can do just about Anything!

Finishing the area downstairs turned out to take longer than expected because we started and finsihed one half the space, then started and finished the other half.

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It is almost hard to remember back to how open and empty downstairs was when we bought the cabin in December of 2008! Jerry has worked so hard building walls and closets to separate the new "guest suite" from the work & storage area. It will be a nice option for family and guests who want to have their own space, including a bathroom.

2014 - Getting Up And Down!

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After several years of trying to figure out how to comfortably connect the upper level and lower level of the house, Jerry designed this wonderful set of stairs and platforms which run between the house and the rhododendren from just outside the sunroom to the downstairs door! It is so convenient and much safer than traversing the hill on foot!

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Gwyn is apparently a true "tree hugger" at heart because the first few years she didn't want the obstructive trees out front cut down. Finally, this year when I put my climbing spikes back on and again headed up the trees to cut the new growth, she relented. Consequently, we have a "new view" out front! You need to come and see!!!

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2012-2013 News

In 2012 one of our former French daughters (Jane Mazer) informed us she was getting married in the South of France on June 9th 2012 and invited us to her wedding. In talking with Markus Kraemer (a former German host son) about a possible trip to Europe, he said if we would come to Germany also, he would arrange to have his youngest son christened while we were there. Thus began the planning of a trip of a lifetime as our 40th wedding anniversary was coming up on May 13th, 2012 and we wanted to celebrate "BIG". We flew to Europe on May 22nd and when we left on June 21, we had visited thirteen of our "children"; seen nine "grandchildren", attended a Christening, a Wedding, visited three countries, and traveled over 4,000 kilometers!!! To read more about this amazing vacation, click the link! Europe_Trip ..

2013 brought visits from many former students, friends & family! We had a wonderful summer filled with German, French & Americans! We enjoyed time in Davidson and then took them to Blowing Rock to enjoy our beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. Germany shared with us our friends, Lucas and Barbara; and our daughter Sabine and her cousin, Nina. We had the opporunity to use our limited German skills!! Our French daugter, Adele, spent the summer with us so when our former French daughters Charlotte & Myriam came with their husbands, Jerry had the chance to use his six words of French!! I, on the other hand, could contribute nothing in that area. One of Jerry's former work friends, Chris & his wife Ashley visited, as well as Jerry's cousin Sarah Weber and her boyfriend--we both could join right in with our English!!! It was a fun Summer!

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Old News

In December, 2008, we bought a small cabin and some property in the mountains between Blowing Rock and Boone, North Carolina. It is on a beautiful piece of property and has a 50 year old cabin on it . . LOTS of projects for Jerry! He's very excited! Over the last five years we have completed numerous projects inside and outside.



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..Front Porch Sunset View & Morning View of Beech Mtn...(Double-Click the pictures to enlarge)

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A Note About Gwyn & Jerry

We continue to struggle to keep our home page updated, but here are some highlights. Our two litte female Yorksire Terriers at 13 years old are full grown, mature, and much less mischievous. Their names are Bailey (12 Lbs) & Lilly (7 Lbs) & we remain proud parents!!

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... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... . . . . . .They love being outside!

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Jerry: I retired from Atlantic Window Coverings, Inc. in March of 2013, after getting the company over "year-end". I had been there for seven years (almost to the day) and decided it was time to try "retirement". I tackled two big projects at the cabin in 2013 and the 2013/14 winter project was a complete makeover of our screened in porch in Davidson, along with painting the trim on the house. I can positively say that if I ever go back to work, it will not be as a house painter!

Gwyn: I retired from the dental practice on February 6, 2008 and have thoroughly enjoyed reitrement. I have lots of "sister" time with Brenda and doing Jerry's "honey do" list! I try to walk a couple days a week and seem to stay busy all the time. This past year I learned just how much a "handyman husband" needs a helper!

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Brenda (Suzie): Brenda is doing great and enjoying retirement. She stays busy working around the house, enjoying her Church related activities and of course, spending time with Gwyn. She lost her adorable Bishon, Zoe (pictured above) at Easter of 2014. Unexpectly, she came to own a precious little six pound Maltipoo, Cuddles, who belonged to our cousin. As one would expect, she has fallen in love with her--Cuddles certainly fills her life with much joy and companionship.

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.Anne & Orville: Pop passed away at the age of 89 on August 3rd of 2008 after suffering two strokes. He had been living in an assisted living facility in Mooresville for several years. His mental health had declined severely, although he did seem to recoginize Anne, and his three children.

Mother passed away at the age of 83 on January 11th, 2009. She would have been 84 in March, but was in very poor health, and kept saying she was ready to go. Thank goodness her mind was good until the end, and she passed away on a Sunday afternoon with her only living sibling (her younger sister) and her three children and friends and relatives, by her side.

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.Diane & Ted: Still living in Va. Beach, VA and enjoying the salt water and their sail boat. Ted finally retired from his architectural firm in 2008. He is doing occasional consulting work from home, however, he worries that it may cut into his travel and sailing time! Ted took Diane to Italy in 2008 after he'd gone without her in 2006. He also went to France in 2008 again with the alumni association from the University of Illinois. Since Diane retired in 2009, they have traveled to Hawaii, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany as well as a long trip northwest to see relatives and parts of the US. Recently they returned from three weeks in Alaska where they combined a cruise and then a train trip. Meanwhile Ted designed and supervised construction of an addition on their home, adding a beautiful guest suite. They are both very active in their church, Ted serving as an Elder and Diane as treasurer of the Presbyterian Women. They enjoy their precious long-haired dachshund Fritz. .

Nieces and Nephews:

• Carrie & Mark are doing well and enjoying their son, Mark Stephen, who was born on May 16, 2008. Mark left Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in November of 2010. The faimily moved back to Clearwater, Florida where they own and manage real estate.
• Guy & DeAnne (Doctor and Doctor - Both have their PhD in Psychology) and the three boys have settled into Dayton, Ohio and now get the chance to visit us more often. DeAnne & Guy stay very busy --scouts, lacrosse and soccer!! The boys are really growing up. Bobby graduated from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in 2013 and is in a PhD program at Penn State. Kennan is a Sophmore at Rose Hulman Institute of Techonology and Ben is a Senior in High School trying to decide which school he wants to attend.

E-Mail us at: mail@jghollenbeck.com

This page last updated February, 2016.