One, two, three, four.

Get my shoes then out the door.

Five I'm alive, six, seven, eight feelin' great.

Nine, gonna shine, life is good I'm doing fine.

Ten, Gonna do it right then do it again.

Yeah yeah.

I look up to the sky with all the beautiful color but, there's more than just for me so gonna share it with another.

I got to show, to give, let out, I want to sing and shout.

Take a look and see A beautiful morning that turns into beautiful evening.

And together make a beautiful life.

And if you want see, then come along with me.

That's right.

Welcome to Experience Michiana.

Thank you so much for being with us.

We absolutely love getting out and exploring the Michiana area.

There's so much to offer and we love focusing on local businesses and events that are in our communities and lifting them up, and we couldn't do it without you.

So thank you very much for your support today on the show.

We are going to find out about all the different events happening with the Mishawaka Parks Department.

We're going to find out about an exchange student program that you could be a part of.

And then we're going to look back when Courtney got braids.

Check it out.

It is a hot day here at the ironworks in Mishawaka.

Of course, pretty soon we'll be looking at this being an ice rink back here.

But for now, the only, water is for me right now.

I'm here with Phil Blasko, who's the park superintendent of the Mishawaka Parks Department.

Phil, this is like, even as you just look down here.

I mean, I come here quite a bit to the market that's on with my wife and child.

But seeing it down here has changed so much in the last few years.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So, I mean, the development that we've had down here has been tremendous, it all spirit from the, the parks and the city development of the plaza and the beer garden.

And so we designed this road here, Ironworks Avenue, to be our event road, to be able to host the market and all of our different events and programs and concerts that we have down here.

And so, it's really nice to see the big plan, the big, the vision all come together this year to see the vision come together.

And being able to use this space and have so many people coming down to enjoy it, like yourself.

Yeah.

Well, now we love it.

And we love the Riverwalk.

And just around here in general, it's just when I think about Mishawaka, even when I first moved to this area like ten years ago.

And we do live in Mishawaka, technically in the county, but it's, you know, there was just really not there.

There's not a lot of reason to I mean, downtown was nice, but there was not a lot of reasons to be around here.

Yeah, yeah.

And it's just it's just changed a lot, but for the better.

And I know there's a lot of events coming up as well over the summer and into the fall.

So you've got concert series and everything going on.

Tell me a little bit about those.

Yeah.

So, throughout the entire summer we have Monday nights are the Battelle Bandshell.

Wednesday nights are here at the ball band bier garten, and then Thursday nights are at Central Park.

But then every other Friday, we brought back the free concert at the Everhart Golf Course.

And so that's been a huge hit.

Yeah, we do some, renovations at the patio back there, and so we'll have a few hundred people that will come and enjoy that space as well.

And so we, we we do that all summer.

But we do have a really cool event coming up this Friday night.

It is called Taylorville.

And so it's a Taylor Swift cover band that's down here in the plaza.

It's from 7:00 till 10:00, $10 a ticket.

But the idea of that is, you know, we try our best to engage with all the different audiences.

And one of the audiences that we struggle to reach is the teenage audience.

And so we hope.

Yeah, we hope that this will be that that event.

And we have a ton of teens coming down here having a blast and be able to enjoy the space just like everyone else does.

I'm getting to the point where the sweat's going into my eyes and I can't even look at you anymore.

It's so hot out here right now, and I know that the temperatures coming up are going to get into the 70s, which I'm very excited about, but I'm sure it won't last forever.

But yeah, at this point, I don't even think you should show me on camera.

I'm starting to sweat so much.

So Taylorville, what what what the Taylor Swift tour should be like.

Taylor.

Like, what's the opposite to Swift of what have do.

I know, like two Taylor Swift songs, but I know that my daughters absolutely love it.

Yeah.

So I know their friends are coming.

And so it's really cool to see, like the teenagers specifically the girls getting so excited to come down to the Plaza to be able to use the space, and enjoy it now.

It is absolutely wonderful.

There's so much happening, as you mentioned.

I mentioned I like coming, we like coming sometimes on the weekend to, to the market that's here.

And so tell me a little bit about that and why people would come to that.

Yeah.

So, every Sunday, from 10:00 till 2:00, we have the Mishawaka market that happens here on Ironworks Avenue.

We have over 70 vendors that are here every single Sunday.

So they fill the plaza and they have the entire, road here.

There will be arts and crafts.

There'll be produce.

We have food trucks.

Sun King is in the beer garden.

And so it is really, become such a, a well attended of.

Yeah.

Program and event.

There were almost outgrowing our, our space.

So we're trying to figure out what do you do next buy Granger.

Yeah.

No.

Just kidding.

We only you only can fit so many people on the road.

And so we're like, well, that was shut down the parking lot next to it.

Like what?

We're.

Where do we go from here?

Because so many people want to be a part of it, and it's such a huge hit.

And so we're very proud of it.

But, you know, if you, if you haven't been out 10 to 2 every Sunday.

Yeah.

No, it's really cool because I know when you first started all this and you were trying to build things up there was, you know, the first summers and stuff, it was it was kind of hard to get people to attend things right.

And and it's really starting to find its momentum now.

Yeah.

Specifically the, the market, it's starting in the back parking lot of Central Park.

We had like 15, 20 vendors and we were like, man, we are doing something.

Yeah.

And, you know, and it was like, well, can we can we expand, can we grow?

And it's one of those things you got to kind of throw it out the wall and see what sticks.

Yeah.

And it takes years and years.

Just paying attention to detail, making sure that you're doing the right thing in our staff has worked really hard to make it into what it is.

Yeah, not just the market, but all of our events and our programs, our youth sports, our, our staff is tremendous.

And we have a lot of new, ideas that are coming out every single year.

Yeah.

And trying to make sure that we, you know, engage with our entire community.

Is there a place where because obviously there is a lot going on, we're talking about a lot of things, but do you post everything on your Facebook page or online?

Is there an events calendar for Mishawaka or.

Yeah, so we have an events calendar on the city website.

We have a brand new website there.

And then we also try to update our Facebook page every single day on what's coming up.

Right now, if you go on there, you'll see the Taylorville flooded on there and, slide the hill, which is going to happen next week.

Oh yeah, because slide the hill.

I was there last year with my daughter, actually, who was like one at the time.

And your family was there too.

So that's coming up already.

I did I slide down the hill, though, I don't think I did because I had my daughter.

Yeah, but she's ready now.

She's like 2 and 2 months.

She's able to go.

So this year hopefully we can go out and I can actually slide down the hill.

So tell me a little bit about Slide the Hill or.

Yeah.

So yeah, it's next weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

We have different sessions that you can sign up for the two hour sessions, we have a max amount of people that can come for those sessions just to make sure the traffic flow is.

No, the lines aren't too long.

But I tell you what, like if you want to feel like a little kid again, you want to go to Slide the Hill.

I do it every single year.

You know, I have the same joy that I had four years ago.

Every single year.

You know, when you're going down a slip and slide as an adult, it is just as fun as as a kid.

Hey, you know, for people that do believe in the Bible, doesn't it say, like, if you want to get to heaven, you got to be more childlike or something with that kind of producer.

Yeah.

He.

Yeah, you can tell me that.

There's something like that.

I know I'm not a biblical scholar, but I think it's, you know, even having my own daughter, I know what you feel like.

I mean, I know your kids are getting it.

You know, you've got a teenage daughter now, which is crazy.

But, you know, I think children are a reminder to us as to how we're supposed to live.

Not we're not supposed to tell them how we live.

Yeah, we kind of suck.

I mean, we're a mess.

Like, we we try and act like we're adults and we have it all made out, but kids have it made like they're curious.

They want to have fun.

I think we need to be more childlike.

Oh, absolutely.

And for for me, I I'm a big kid at heart.

I love to have fun, just like the next person loves to have fun.

And I think that that goes a long way as our community comes together for these events.

Being able to see parents enjoying the space alongside their kids, like Slide the Hill, for example, you know, you hear the parents yelling and screaming and having a blast going on that hill with their kid, and they're making that memory.

And I think that also reminds us all like, hey, we were all kids once and like being all responsible and being an adult.

It's kind of overrated sometimes.

It's so overrated.

Be a kid.

Yeah.

Don't worry about what the next person is thinking.

Have fun.

Dance like no one's watching.

Slide like no one's watching.

That's right.

And, you know, talk about the kids and the parents having fun together.

You're going to see a lot of moms screaming at this fake Taylor Swift.

You I mean, that's the fake Taylor Swift.

But anyway, I think the moms are just going to be as excited as the as the daughters will be.

Yeah.

And that's what like we don't really know what to expect with with the event.

You know we we expect a large crowd.

We don't even know if she sounds like Taylor Swift.

No.

Oh no she does okay.

She's one of the best ones that are around that's traveling across the country.

Oh, no.

Selling out theaters all over the place.

And I think it's going to be, one of those things where the moms and the kids or dads or whoever, you know, the Swifties out there will have a blast.

We're going to have been making stations.

We're going to be throwing out, free glo items, and we'll have selfie stations.

And so, you know, we're really trying our best, and I want this event to make sure everyone that comes has a great experience.

But also when they leave, you know, they leave smiling and say, hey, man, I want to do that again.

Yeah.

So, we're hoping to make this an annual thing.

Well, I'm about to have heatstroke.

And so I appreciate you being out here.

Maybe I should have had used on this side.

So you being about three feet taller.

I'll give you a little.

What do give me some shade here.

But I'm dying, so I want people to check it out.

Mishawaka is awesome.

This area, the Iron Works Plaza, is just phenomenal.

I love what it is.

It's a great, kind of, representation of what the city is and the feeling down here.

So it's cool, man.

So I'm going to go get it on shorts.

Now I'm wearing pants.

I need to go.

I'm going to get out of here.

I'm babbling.

You're sweating way too much.

Sweating way too much.

So this show is called Experience Michiana.

And on this segment you actually get to experience Michiana, but you get to experience different cultures from around the world as well.

If you participate in this program, I'm here with Brenda.

Brenda, tell me a little bit about what this is.

ICES ICES.

Yeah.

International cultural exchange services.

We're an organization that brings students over from around the world to be with host families here in the United States.

But I primarily work with the with Indiana.

They are kids in other countries that want to be here for a school year.

It's a cultural exchange, not really an academic exchange.

And they go through an agent there who hooks up with agents here.

And like I said, we've been in business 35 years, and it's been a good experience to have those kids who want to develop themselves for their future by spending a year here and learning our culture.

So I remember growing up in Ireland, we would get students from Spain and France and stuff, but they were normally over for summer.

They never said for an entire year.

So this commitment is that a normal program here in the United States?

I mean, I've been here ten years.

I'm just not familiar with the student exchange programs.

But is it usually here or are there programs where they're shorter?

Well, ours is going to be, from, two school semesters.

You come in August and stay till the end of school, which is ten months.

Yeah.

Or you could come in January and stay till, the end of the year.

Okay.

And actually, if you come in August, you can stay at a semester.

So we have semester program, okay.

And a ten month program.

How hard is it to get people to once a young person to come in to their home?

I mean, it must be a certain mindset that it's kind of open to such a long period of time as well.

It, I always say expect the unexpected.

Yeah.

You don't know what you're going to get.

You don't know, what culture they come from necessarily, what they do there.

But people that have big open hearts, big families no families, retirees, empty nesters, two moms, two dads, anybody can host.

It's whether, you're willing to let a teenager come in and enhance your life and really great way.

Yeah.

And I see on here, like there is a page that kind of gives examples of some of the people that are available.

And, you know, you look because it's important to, for your life because, you know, my wife and I go to church every Sunday.

So I see this girl is Christian, doesn't attended church, but is open to attending and things like that.

So you'd obviously wanted to try and find someone that does match the family and what you're doing in the family.

That's exactly how we do it, and that's why we provide those letters from the students and from the family so that if you're interested or let's say you have kids who are interested in soccer or maybe they're swimming, so we find students that have those same interests and the activities that they do, maybe they don't do sports.

Maybe you don't want to go to a sports event every week.

Maybe you just want to, you'd be around the house and go to local events.

We have kids that do that too.

Yeah.

So we match, and the host family gets to actually pick the student.

The student doesn't pick the host family because they are volunteer host families.

This is not a, paid or a stipend, situation for the family.

So we let them, we give them all, like, the information that we have here.

We give that to the families, and they go, and they read the letter, and then if it resonates with them, then they're interested, and then we, maybe send them a couple more and they'll pick the one that really fits the family the best.

We've a two year old.

Can I at least get them to babysit in return for staying in my house?

Or.

You know, that sounds like it might be nice to, like, you know, it's like, okay, you can come over for a year.

It's a big sister or a big brother.

They absolutely can help you.

You know, when you said there's no stipend, I was like, oh, I'm not so sure about now.

I'm thinking about a built in babysitter.

Might be nice.

Like to have, you know, something.

Teach her French.

Yes.

True.

And there's that too.

But we do want them to do chores in the house.

They're not a, They're not a guest, you know, part of the family.

So I always have mine.

Take the trash to the curb to clean up their room.

They'll put dishes away, or they're just do little stuff.

I don't I don't have them do manual labor.

Yeah, cut the grass.

Maybe once in a while in the summer, if it still is.

But I'm lucky they weren't in my house growing up.

They would have, they would have been in a rush to go back to France just to take a break, to go home over there.

Would have been plenty of chores.

Well, you know, that's a earn or keep, you know, growing up, but.

And how hard is it to find people?

Because, you know, even I know a lot about the foster system in the United States.

I know this isn't the same, but even difficult with stipends to get people to take kids into their homes that are not, you know, their own.

And so when it comes to something like this, where it's a kid from another country, is it generally difficult to to find host families?

It changes every year.

And, last year I thought was a little difficult and we didn't really know why.

This year, it's been a little bit of a challenge for us.

For the year.

Yeah.

For the for the United States.

Yeah.

So, we're really trying to get the word out, and there are people that have never heard of the foreign exchange student program.

Yeah.

So host families offer a bed, three meals a day and parental guidance.

Yeah.

The students have their own spending money.

They do speak English, but they always come to improve.

They have, health insurance and they have to get good grades.

Yeah.

And you have support of the local coordinator?

Yeah.

That is going to be with you every month, and they're going to, check in with you.

They're going to make sure that that student's doing well, that you're, doing, bonding.

Yeah.

And anything that arises we're there with local support is what you get being a host family.

And obviously, if they're in activities or doing sports, that's the responsibility of the host family to get them there as well.

We call that, some transportation because, they if there's no activity bus, they could you would probably have to take them or pick them up from practice.

But yes, that that's one thing that would be required with having a student involved in activities.

And so in your experience doing this, what is it that the host family.

Because I don't I'm not saying this in a smart way.

What do they get out of it?

Because obviously there's something in their heart they get out of it.

There's a bigger thing that they get out of it.

And what have you seen in your experience that is common that people say after doing this?

Well, someone just told me a few minutes ago that there is a host family that has visited their former students, in their own countries and has gone from country to country.

Yeah, the students come here.

They are literally your international son or daughter.

Yeah.

True.

That is the goal.

That's where we want this, to end up at the end of the end of the time that they're here.

Yeah.

And what kind of checks are done on families to make sure that they are appropriate and that there are their background checks on people, or so how does that work?

Okay, there's an online application where you will put in all the information that's asked about the family and such.

There is a background check, for anybody 18 or older, you will have references, that you would, supply us so we can call references.

Yeah.

And, home check.

So we do come to the home, and we make sure that it's a space that would be suitable for a foreign exchange student.

Yeah.

Which is obviously really important.

And and obviously, some of those are big commitments, but there is a shorter commitment which is being a welcoming host family just for 6 to 8 weeks as the students get here.

Right?

Yes.

That really helps us get the student here enrolled in school.

And then, from that point, while we're still looking for a permanent family, they have the opportunity they don't miss out on on coming.

So, yes.

Welcome.

Families are 6 to 8 weeks, and, we love people to step up and help us out that way.

And we're here today at Mishawaka High School.

Is there a reason that we're here for this, or are they affiliated with the program to some of the kids go there or, well, to high school and all this, J-1 visa is what we work with.

It's a J-1 visa, and it is for public school.

And Mishawaka, is very open to exchange students.

Yeah.

And they have taken several of mine that I have.

And there's other organizations, but, I work closely with all of the exchanges, all of the high schools locally.

Now, I C E S the organization you represent.

How can people get in touch if they watch this and they think it is something that they really want to do?

Well, I'm at B Markin at ICES USA dot Org.

Or you could go to ICES usa.org and you could actually see a spot where it says meet our students, and you can look through some of the students that are available.

And then the company will, if you want to apply through the company, they'll let us know in what area that we're at.

Okay.

So it's a perfect it's easy and you know, it's a rewarding for both.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well thank you so much.

And, I hope lots of people get more information, at least on, place, you know, because, as a person born in another country who moved here, I love this country.

So I'd love for other people to get a chance to experience it, too, and meet the real people.

Because they're awesome.

That's right, that's right.

Thank you.

Okay, I saw this cool thing on the internet and I had to find out where it came from.

And it turns out it's right here in Michiana.

And I'm here with Emily today.

You're going to tell us a little bit about what you're doing.

But you have a beautiful business, Native Beauty, and you are doing great work.

And I have to say, it is just phenomenal.

I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that.

And having something like this right here in Michiana is so cool.

Tell me about how you got started doing this.

Well, I got started just by my mom doing my braids when I was little.

And when I grew up and moved out, I wanted my own hair braided, and I couldn't find anybody to give me the styles that I wanted.

So I decided to YouTube everything so myself to YouTube University and teach myself how to braid.

And so for the past nine years, I've taught myself a little bit at a time, different techniques and styles.

And yeah, I think I found a niche and I've seen your work and it is incredible.

And the different styling that you do, and I think it's important to note that what you do, you can do on anyone's hair.

Yeah, I work on all textures.

Hair is hair and texture is texture.

And I don't, you know, I work on all ethnicities and hair types.

Yeah.

Okay.

For people like me.

Okay.

You guys probably you've seen me for a number of years.

I have very thin air.

Can you do that?

Absolutely.

We can actually add hair to it.

Okay.

We can, whether it be fun colors or natural colors, and we can make a braid with it and make it full and long and lasting.

And you don't have to do anything with your hair.

I just love that.

Can we do that?

Absolutely crazy.

Like today.

Yes.

I'm ready.

All right, let's pick up some color okay?

Okay.

So yeah.

All right.

So I have a wall of colors over here.

Yeah.

And okay I know it is summertime I know I love the pink.

And the pink is perfect.

It's bright and fun.

And we can even add another color to mix them into like a blue.

Perfect.

This one's kind of cute.

I love complementary colors.

I like okay, so it's going to last a while.

Yeah, yeah.

So you guys are going to see me.

You guys are going to see me in this for a couple days.

So.

All right let's go get started.

All right.

Let's do it.

So how long does it usually take you to do the braid work?

Sometimes it depends on the style, but I can do two braids in 20 minutes if I'm working fast.

If we take a little bit longer and do more detailed, meticulous work, then it'll probably take more like 45 minutes to an hour.

Okay.

Okay.

So, very cool.

And I love can you show me some of those examples that you have over here on the wall, too?

Because this was something that I thought was really cool.

This is kind of like what I would call festival.

Yeah.

These are festival braids.

These I make that can tie into the end of your hair so you don't have to sleep in them.

Yup.

You can get your fun colors added in to where you have two braids, and then you can tie these in at the end to make them more fun.

And so you make these up kind of ahead of time.

Yes I do, yes.

And this one even has a flash blinky light.

Say last I love that.

How cool.

So now you've done some festivals before, right?

Yes, yes I have, I have done a few of them.

Oh, what does that look like?

Oh, well, they're bright and colorful and loud and people everywhere in the most obnoxious, things.

Outfits, hairstyles, everything.

It's it's amazing.

I think the coolest one I've seen was in Phoenix.

I've done, a festival in the middle of the desert in Phoenix.

Oh, my gosh, that was really cool.

That was wild.

But yeah, there's all types of music events I last year I did it at a concert, so I'm watching a concert while I'm braiding at the time, so that's awesome.

That was really cool.

Yeah.

All right, let's get started here.

What do you need from me?

Just you just to.

Okay?

Okay.

Look.

Pretty.

Okay.

I'll do my best.

But like other things that you may maybe do.

Like who?

Who would come and get their hair braided?

I whoever wants to have a good time, I guess I would.

I love to work for a good time or keep their hair out of their face, or just maintain, you know, an easier daily life routine.

You know, I love that, too.

I think it's important to note, too.

You know, just having it away from your face.

Yes, it is critical.

Yes.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

In the summertime, when the winds start picking up, this is a great way to, you know, I think you told me before too about softball.

Yeah.

It's like, yeah, let's talk about that.

Was that like in the softball community braids.

Are you and even, the fun colors are, you know, very fun for the little girls to do.

They do all types of big bubble braids, cool, loud, obnoxious styles that, you know, kind of have them sticking out.

Field.

So, we'll get we'll get some teams together and they'll host, parent will host at their house, and I'll go on site and I'll bring all my things.

So do you travel then?

Yes, yes, I travel so I could look you for, like, a party.

Absolutely.

Come on out.

Yes.

Yep.

I love that I went to roller skating rinks.

I've done, birthday parties at houses and hotels and every.

Yeah, I go everywhere.

That's true.

I'm traveling braves for everybody.

I love it.

And you said it usually takes about 45 minutes if you're going to do, you know, kind of an intensive session.

Yes.

Yeah.

And that's just more detailed, braids maybe like heart designs or any type, anything like that.

It, you know, kind of.

Do you do a star drive?

Yeah, I could do a star.

I mean, you have to tell me about that.

Like, how do you figure that kind of thing out?

Because it's hard enough for some people to do a regular braid.

Then you get into French braiding, then you get to do Dutch braiding, and then you get into design work.

Yes.

So basically I just break your sections down in your hair, and I use my rat tail comb to just kind of draw the pictures, okay.

And then you carve everything out and yeah, it takes a lot of practice.

You're so talented.

I thank you so much I love it.

Okay, so now we have a couple just like this is like a mermaid hair thing is, I see it, isn't it?

I love it, I love this so much.

It's going to be so fun.

Let's talk about the history and.

Right.

Sure.

You know, so the history goes back not just in my culture, in many different cultures.

But in my Native American culture, braids are a way to bond with each other.

You know, before powwow happens, you know, you have mom braiding your hair, right?

It's family, you know, so even on boys that have long hair just symbolizes strength.

And in different tribes, that could mean, different braids mean different things.

But in our culture, I guess it just symbolizes like strength and identity more than anything.

And I think everyone kind of when you think of a Native American, you kind of think of that long, flowy, beautiful hair.

Yeah.

It kind of was.

It was ripped away from a lot of natives.

And when they went to boarding schools and stuff, they cut their hair out, as a way to, like, rip that identity away.

So we try and bring it back.

Now as, like, honoring our ancestors.

Yeah, I love that.

Yeah.

All right, ready to get started?

Done with these color prep and you kind of get started putting it all.

Okay.

We might come back what?

We want to come back to this, and then we'll we'll wrap up when we get a little bit closer to the finish line.

How about that?

That is.

All right, so we're fast forwarding this.

I mean, I don't even think this took 20 minutes.

This is so good, I love it.

How's it?

Like everybody.

Do you like it?

It's like, why do I have to see it?

So it's very mermaid us.

I love it, so I only have two people book an appointment with you to get something like this done.

Or if they wanted to do a party, like, how do they get in touch with you?

So you can look up my, website?

It is native braids, nativebraids.glossgenius.com Perfect.

And all of the options for all the braid styles I offer our along with some pictures to help guide you.

If you're not sure, what style you want to do.

I love that.

And you.

I mean, honestly, you have so many options that people can do, so definitely check it out.

There's so much to see, so much to do.

And then you can be cool.

Like this.

Yeah.

How's it look?

Thank you so much for being with us as we explore the Michiana area.

We couldn't do it without you and your support and that also means giving us ideas.

So if you are out exploring and you come across something cool, let us know about it.

Hit us up on Facebook.

Until next week.

Have a great week everybody.

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