If you can’t escape to other countries and explore other cultures…have them come to you.

It was late Tuesday evening, as I slipped into the back row of the junior league meeting.  As the speaker was lecturing about human trafficking, the conversation soon switched to hosting visitors from Kazakhstan.  What one had to do with the other, I had no idea. The organization being featured was the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, and its mission was to “increase respect, mutual understanding and cooperation and between Los Angeles and the rest of the world.” Funded largely by the State Department, I caught the part of the speech where it was mentioned that some of the former U.S. hosts included the George W. Bush family, and participants range from Prime Ministers, Dignitaries and government officials from all over the world. (Margaret Thatcher was once a participant).

How Fun, I thought.

Never having been to Kazakstan (and no plans in the near future) how cool would it be to host someone from a place I know almost nothing about.

So, 2 days later, after sending in my registration form and becoming an official member of IVCLA, I will have two women from Afghanistan staying with me May 7th-11th. “A” and “K” are in the United States for a conference sponsored by The United States Agency for International Development dealing with Anti-Trafficking. One is a President for a legal center for woman’s initiatives, the other a chairperson for a public foundation. Both speak fluent Russian, Kazach and Uzbek. I have no idea if they speak any English at all. One does not eat pork. One grew up in the mountains of Tajikistan. Both have advanced degrees.  Not knowing what to expect, I Google Kazakhstan.  Unfortunately, all I know about the country I learned from Sasha Baron Cohen in “Borat”. (I am thinking I won’t show them the movie). Google tells me in is the 9th largest country in the world, is bordered by Russia and China and the primary religion is Islam. I try to completely furnish the guest rooms to make their stay as comfortable as possible, as well as research tips for hosting international visitors. (I come up with almost nothing,  except that when greeting a guest, the host gives the person both hands…to show that they are unarmed).