Want an ice lolly?

Irish girls find home away from home

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--On Wednesday, two 11-year-old girls will be returning to their homes in Dungannon in Northern Ireland with fond memories of Valley Fair, the many trees and water, eating at McDonald's and Dawn and Shaun Domeier's dog Gabby.

For Ruth Hunter and Jessica Kelly, coming to America to live with the Domeiers of rural New Ulm for five weeks is the adventure of their young lives.

They knew very little about America--and Minnesota--when they arrived in New Ulm on Wednesday, June 27, and just a little bit more about the couple with whom they would be living, thanks to Internet e-mail.

"When we found out who was coming, we e-mailed them quite a bit," said Shaun Domeier.

Dawn and Shaun learned about the Children's Program of Northern Ireland in their church bulletin.

"We called the number listed in the bulletin," Dawn Domeier explained. "Since we don't have children, we thought it would be a great experience."

After filling out and sending in an application, the Domeiers were selected to receive one child, but they then were notified that because there was a shortage of host families, they would be getting a second.

"We got lucky," Dawn Domeier said. "We got two wonderful girls with really good manners. And they haven't fought once since they've been here."

While the two girls had seen each other on school buses, they were surprised to learn they shared the exact same birth date. While Ruth has two sisters and is the "middle" child, Jessica has three brothers and a sister and is the second youngest child.

Neither girl had any idea of what America -- or Minnesota, for that matter -- was like before being accepted into the program. Then, all they had was a brief fact sheet on Minnesota supplied by the program.

Ruth did do a little research. She got on her computer to learn what a "Lutheran" is.

While Dawn soon discovered there was "a lot of laundry" connected with the two young ladies' stay, meal planning wasn't nearly as big a problem. Both girls loved going to McDonald's.

"We have McDonald's over there," Ruth explained, "but we don't go out to eat too much."

The girls soon learned about the differences between America and their homeland.

"The cars, the houses and buildings, everything is bigger," said Ruth, "and you drive on a different side of the road," said Ruth. "It's much hotter here, and we call your Popsicles 'ice lollies,'" Jessica added.

Dawn Domeier noted that "our cookies are called biscuits there, and sweatshirts are jumpers."

Neither girl knew that sunflower seeds could be eaten, and neither liked Root Beer. "It tastes like medicine," Jessica said, wrinkling up her nose.

They also were puzzled by the word "Pop."

"We call it by the brand name, like Coke and Pepsi, or we will say 'juice,'" Jessica explained.

Their favorite thing?

"The amusement parks," they chorused. "The Mall of America," added Ruth. "And the (Minnesota) zoo," Jessica said, excitedly.

They spent six hours at Valley Fair, going on nearly every ride offered. Ruth admitted to having missed a couple of the rides.

Because Jessica loves horses, the girls went horseback riding. However, it did not have a happy ending. With Jessica in front, the two girls got aboard a horse, and "we got bucked off!" Jessica said.

With the girls heading home, the Domeiers already are planning to keep in touch via e-mail.

Would the girls want to come again and see the Domeiers?

"Yahhhh," they both shouted.