The Light - An Alumni Publication Winter 2014/2015 | Page 22

FACES OF YFU

DENISE GIBSON
YFU Program: Netherlands, 1978
Education:
Parkway Central Senior High, Chesterfield, MO
University of Missouri, Bachelor of General Studies in Education and International Relations,

Minor in French
Other: AMS Montessori Teacher Certification
Occupation: Political Consultant and Substitute Teacher

Home: Northfield, IL

Aging Parents
An only daughter often holds a special place
in a family of boys. YFU alum Denise Gibson has
enjoyed that cachet in her Dutch family since 1978,
when she spent a summer-long exchange with
the Meeres in Cuyk, Netherlands. Their bond has
endured for 36 years, spanning the 5,000 miles of
land and ocean between Chicago, where Denise
lives, and the land of canals and tulips.
 “Basically, we are like any family separated by
distance,” said Gibson. “We skype, we email, and
we try to see each other in person at least every two
years.” When Gibson visits the Netherlands, she
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divides her time between the home of her parents,
Johan and Annie, in the eastern part of the country
and the west, where two of her brothers, Henk-Jan
and Frank, live. 
When Gibson’s third child was born, Annie
came to the United States to help mom and baby.
For their 25th wedding anniversary, Johan and
Annie sent airplane tickets to all of their children —
including Gibson — to ensure the family could come
together to  celebrate. Gibson said her children
have grown up eating Dutch food such as hutspot,
nassi goreng, and poffertjes and observing Dutch