Posted by Karen on November 28, 2002 at 05:58:48
In Reply to: Inaccurate use of the term SGA posted by MG reposted on July 01, 2002 at 09:30:24:
MG, thank you for saying that you did have a few good memories, that was very nice to hear. We were in a school home in Greece in 1989 and 1990, and it was just before all the retraining started and families were split up. I think one family had already been split up and the dad and a couple of the kids had been sent away (not by us). But I don't think life was so terrible yet at that point. I know the JETTS did some fun things - hiking and games and we had a pool. I know that I always tried hard to make things fun for the kids and teens. Sometimes (except on rainy days) I would pack some good snacks, and with the teens, I would take all the babies in backpacks and strollers for long walks in the country, trying to find new places to explore, etc. We always tried to take a JETT or two with us if they were not already playing ball of some sort. And when I went shopping, I used to try to take turns taking different teens or JETTS and getting them a treat, ice cream or some pastry somewhere. I do know that things changed and also that some of the people who were overseeing the JETTS sometimes were pretty strict (one of my girls who was a JETT got spanked for trying to say good bye to her dad who was leaving to go back to the states - I was really furious over that one - but I think the guy who did that got taken off the JETTS after that). Yeah, you are right, even when you start thinking about the good, the bad just kind of sneaks in there.
Anyhow, I do appreciate you saying a few good things about your memories. I have a couple kids who have good memories, too.