To say the Smart family enjoyed their time in the United States, and especially in Wayne, Nebraska, would be an understatement.
Caitlyn Smart originally learned about Wayne State College through a recruitment agency and wanted the chance to study abroad.
That brought her from Johannesburg, South Africa to Wayne, Nebraska, where she is now a sophomore studying health sciences. She hopes to pursue a career as a traveling physican's assistant or do some type of missionary work.
In recent weeks her family has had the opportunity to travel to the United States to celebrate Christmas with her and take in some of Nebraska and other parts of the U.S.
Family members making the trip were her parents, Dave and Keri-Lynne; brother, Thomas, who is 17 years old; sister, Amy-Leigh, who is 15 years old and grandparents, Geoff and Sue.
The Smart family lives in Johannesburg a city of more than 4 million people, which according to the family "is very different than Wayne." Caitlyn's grandparents live near East London, a coastal town approximately 600 miles from there on the southeastern coast of South Africa.
Caitlyn's mother, Keri-Lynne has been to the United States once before, but for the rest of the family, this trip was a first and they worked to get in as much of the country as they could.
In addition to their time in Wayne, the family was able to visit Texas, North Carolina and New York while in the United States.
When asked what they were most impressed by their visit to Nebraska, Amy- Leigh said "snow," Geoff said the "Wayne State campus," Thomas said "the sports bubble and the sports fields," Keri-Lynne said "driving through the countryside," Dave said "Nebraska hospitality," and Sue said "the fields, the Missouri river and the campus."
"Everything here is a novelty - things like Target, Scheels and the take out food we have seen on TV," Keri-Lynne said.
Other things that impressed the family was the fact that American flags are flown "everywhere" and the singing of the National Anthem during many events.
During their time here they were able to have an extended tour of the WSC campus, eat at The Table and Fiesta Brava and have a meal hosted by the Adam Wright family.
When the family heads back to South Africa, Thomas will complete his final year of school, which will end in November; Amy-Leigh will still have three more years of school; Dave will return to his work as an operations director for a retail support company; Keri-Lynne will continue to serve as a chauffeur for her children as "there is no public transportation in Johannesburg and young people do not get driver's licenses until at least 18 years of age.
Geoff is retired from the pharmaceutical industry and Sue worked as a secretary through her career.
The family noted that Elizabeth King, owner of the Rose Cottage, was "a wonderful host and came recommended from others who had stayed here."
While there is an eight-hour time difference, the family is able to communicate on a regular basis, with Caitlyn calling her parents during her lunch time and "the grandparents have Sunday evening calls."
Caitlyn says she is thoroughly enjoying her time at WSC and said "it is very easy to make friends who make me feel welcome here."
Her family agrees with the hospitality and friendliness of those they have met and are already making plans to return to explore more of the state and country.
