Ripple Effects of a #TeacherExchange Experience

My exchange partner and I aren’t the only ones participating in the exchange. Of course our significant others are coming, and our families are preparing to pick-up and welcome our counterparts. Our school colleagues are making connections and the students are anticipating the arrival of the exchange teacher. Our neighbours and friends in the community are excited for our opportunity and looking forward to meeting and getting to know the visiting Aussies. As personal an experience as we think the exchange is, there are huge ripples extending far beyond our own family.
As the weather turns here to autumn we realize it will be a long time before we are here in the summer again. The garden perennials having a season to grow without me poking at them. I wonder how many volunteer tomato plants there will be in the veggie garden next year.