Anonymous wrote:If the HF didn’t offer to bring AP for the holidays, the AP would’ve complained about not being part of the family, of exclusion over the holidays, etc. plus, some HF truly get offended at the idea that the AP wouldn’t want to spend the holidays together- the idea of taking full responsibility for a cultural exchange, and having an AP who picks and chooses which holidays and circumstances in which to participate in this exchange can be truly offensive.
There are many APs who don’t appreciate their HF’s generosity or inclusion. I hosted an extension AP who was so unhappy about her previous HF’s Christmas trip, she couldn’t stop talking about it a year later. “We flew on Christmas Eve, it was awful to fly on Christmas Eve, I cried and cried. I was so bored just sitting in the house on Christmas Day”, etc. she didn’t work, the kids were older, but the HF felt it was the right thing to do, fly across the country with AP and include her in the family tradition, even if it meant the AP would criticize everything about their holiday tradition.
What is so generous and inclusive about either dragging the AP across the country, forcing her to sleep on a living room couch in a communal space and having her babysit HF and extended family’s kids, OR, making her take her annual allotment of leave? HF is obviously in the position of power and it just doesn’t feel kind or fair to the AP. Sheesh, some of you people use your “generosity” as a weapon.