On December 1st we won our first basketball game or actually we had won one before but that was when i went to Austin so it didn't really count for me.
This time we played against la Joya and won 36-43, but i have never seen my coach as mad as he was that day. We didn't really play that good. We lost a lot of balls because we made bad passes an we also lost 20 free throws! The day after he punished us with 20 laps around the gym.
The next Tuesday we played against Edinburg Bobcats and lost bad. The head coach was mad at us for not being depressed about the loss. Everything here is very competitive and this was our first district game so they were not happy, but I can't help but being happy. Of course I like it better when we win, but I realize that we are not gonna win every game. Our district is the toughest in the valley and we are not that good, but I like the game a lot and I'm happy as long as I get to play. I have finally found a sport that I really like.
mandag 21. desember 2009
tirsdag 8. desember 2009
Thanksgiving
Thursday November 27 was thanksgiving. This is an American celebration
where you eat a lot of food. We ate turkey. Mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, breads, pies cakes and ice cream. In a traditional celebration you say grace before you eat and every one have to say what they are grateful for. It is also very common to watch football games. We saw
Texas longhorns win against their rivals Texas a&m.
After we ha eaten first at my hostmothers mothers house and then my hostfathers parents house we went Home to change and then we went to aStore. I went to HEB. I sat outside the store for 7 hours to wait till it opened, i did it because the day after thanksgiving is known as black Friday and is the day of the year they have the most sales. When HEB finally opened at 5 a clock in the morning i ran in to the store to Get an iPod touch. I got it for 169 dollars that is about 1000 nok. Everyone went crazy to get what they wanted. All the Wii's and TV's got sold out within 30 sec. It was a fun experience, but practice was hard that day. I came home at 6:30am so i only got two hours of sleep before practice that was from 9:30 till 12:30.
I would also like to send my thougths to Regine Stokke's family and friends. I have been reading her blog where she have been writing ever since she got to know that she had cancer. She fougth for 15 months she died December 3. You can read her blog www.sinober.blogg.no (it's in norwegian) .
R.I.P Regine
where you eat a lot of food. We ate turkey. Mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, breads, pies cakes and ice cream. In a traditional celebration you say grace before you eat and every one have to say what they are grateful for. It is also very common to watch football games. We saw
Texas longhorns win against their rivals Texas a&m.
After we ha eaten first at my hostmothers mothers house and then my hostfathers parents house we went Home to change and then we went to aStore. I went to HEB. I sat outside the store for 7 hours to wait till it opened, i did it because the day after thanksgiving is known as black Friday and is the day of the year they have the most sales. When HEB finally opened at 5 a clock in the morning i ran in to the store to Get an iPod touch. I got it for 169 dollars that is about 1000 nok. Everyone went crazy to get what they wanted. All the Wii's and TV's got sold out within 30 sec. It was a fun experience, but practice was hard that day. I came home at 6:30am so i only got two hours of sleep before practice that was from 9:30 till 12:30.
I would also like to send my thougths to Regine Stokke's family and friends. I have been reading her blog where she have been writing ever since she got to know that she had cancer. She fougth for 15 months she died December 3. You can read her blog www.sinober.blogg.no (it's in norwegian) .
R.I.P Regine
onsdag 25. november 2009
Texas Longhorns
We left school early on Friday to go to Austin. We were going to see a collage football game. Texas Longhorns against Kansas Hawks. Austin is a 6 hour drive from here so we had a long drive ahead of us. The trip actually went by really fast. We did not drive all the way to Austin on Friday through we spent the night in a small town called Gruene which is about 40 min from Austin.
Gruene was a super cute town. It had a lot of old buildings, like the oldest Dance hall in Texas. They also have a market there every third Saturday of the month were they sell hand made jeweleries and homemade sauces and a lot of other things.
From Geuene we went to Austin to get a hotel room and then we went to the game. We stopped by the Texas longhorn store we bought stickers to put in our faces and my host dad bought a football that he wanted to get signed by the players.
We knew that our seats were going to be high up but i was a lot higher than i had expected. We had to take 11 escalators to get up there and after that we walked up some stairs almost all the way to the top. We were saying that we would probably not come out on TV because then they would have to get a Helicopter to film all the wat up there.
I ejnoyed the game very much even though we were high up. The band were doing all kinds of cool formations before the game and i halftime ad it is actually better to see that from were we were sitting. Texas won the game in the end of course. When the game ended we went outside of the stadium to see if we could get autographs from some of the players. I didn't have anything to get signed, but i got to take a picture with some of them and my host dad got the signature of about 20 players. I felt bad for the players though because when they left tha stadium it was about midnight and they had practice at 6 am the next morning.
Gruene was a super cute town. It had a lot of old buildings, like the oldest Dance hall in Texas. They also have a market there every third Saturday of the month were they sell hand made jeweleries and homemade sauces and a lot of other things.
From Geuene we went to Austin to get a hotel room and then we went to the game. We stopped by the Texas longhorn store we bought stickers to put in our faces and my host dad bought a football that he wanted to get signed by the players.
We knew that our seats were going to be high up but i was a lot higher than i had expected. We had to take 11 escalators to get up there and after that we walked up some stairs almost all the way to the top. We were saying that we would probably not come out on TV because then they would have to get a Helicopter to film all the wat up there.
I ejnoyed the game very much even though we were high up. The band were doing all kinds of cool formations before the game and i halftime ad it is actually better to see that from were we were sitting. Texas won the game in the end of course. When the game ended we went outside of the stadium to see if we could get autographs from some of the players. I didn't have anything to get signed, but i got to take a picture with some of them and my host dad got the signature of about 20 players. I felt bad for the players though because when they left tha stadium it was about midnight and they had practice at 6 am the next morning.
lørdag 14. november 2009
Basketball ++
Hi again first of all I want to thank you all for reading my blog. I have almost 1000 unique visitor now and that is super cool. I did not know when I first started writing that so many would be reading it. Awesome!
Two weeks ago was Halloween. We started the day with cleaning the house before we went to Sarah's last soccer game for the season. They won 11-0! We had brought our costumes to the game because we left directly from the game to a family friend's house. We changed before we all went trick or treating. Here people in all ages go. In most of the houses there were people sitting outside to give out the candies and all the houses were decorated. I was dressed up as little red riding hood, Renan was a Rockey Balboa, Sydney was the little mermaid and Sarah was a zombie soccer player. We got a lot of candies we went back to the house for a little while before we went back home and ate all the candies :p
I'll post a picture from Halloween later.
This week the basketball season started I had my first game on Tuesday. We also played a tournament this week. We had one game on Thursday and two on Friday. We lost all our games, but I had a lot of fun. We'll do better next time ;) On the game on Thursday i made my first foul and the ref came up and congratulated me. In the first game on Friday i finally made my first basket in the game it felt so good hopefully there will be many more of those later.
One ting i have noticed is that all the teams we have played against have a lot taller girls than we have. I'm actually the tallest girl on my team. Good excuse for why we haven't won yet ;)
Two weeks ago was Halloween. We started the day with cleaning the house before we went to Sarah's last soccer game for the season. They won 11-0! We had brought our costumes to the game because we left directly from the game to a family friend's house. We changed before we all went trick or treating. Here people in all ages go. In most of the houses there were people sitting outside to give out the candies and all the houses were decorated. I was dressed up as little red riding hood, Renan was a Rockey Balboa, Sydney was the little mermaid and Sarah was a zombie soccer player. We got a lot of candies we went back to the house for a little while before we went back home and ate all the candies :p
I'll post a picture from Halloween later.
This week the basketball season started I had my first game on Tuesday. We also played a tournament this week. We had one game on Thursday and two on Friday. We lost all our games, but I had a lot of fun. We'll do better next time ;) On the game on Thursday i made my first foul and the ref came up and congratulated me. In the first game on Friday i finally made my first basket in the game it felt so good hopefully there will be many more of those later.
One ting i have noticed is that all the teams we have played against have a lot taller girls than we have. I'm actually the tallest girl on my team. Good excuse for why we haven't won yet ;)
tirsdag 3. november 2009
Busy life
You think your life is busy you have a lot to do? Really? I Used to think my life was busy, but it really wasn't. I always had a few minutes here and an hour there, now I have nothing. Last weekend I took my ACT test from 8am to 12pm then I went to my host grandmothers house to set up tables and chairs for a party we were going to have for my host great grandmother later. After that I went to my other host grandmothers house to make food for the party. We got home at 5.30 pm and then we had 30 min to shower and get dressed for the party. At the party I was busy all the time serving people drinks and cakes.
On sunday I went to my host sisters cheer leading show. After the show I went with my friend to her church and afterwards we went to McDonalds with all her friends from church and we had a great time.
Then another week started and also basketball practices. I'm at school from 8am to 3.47pm and than I have practices from 4 to 6 EVERYDAY and on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. On weekdays I'm home between 6.30pm and 7pm. Then I take a shower eat dinner do my homework and go to bed. Home in Norway I would watch a lot of series like Desperate House Wifes, Gossip Girl and Grace Anatomy. I was looking forward to see all these shows before my friends in Norway, because they come out earlier here, but I don't have any time left over to watch TV. The life of an exchange student is busy.
On sunday I went to my host sisters cheer leading show. After the show I went with my friend to her church and afterwards we went to McDonalds with all her friends from church and we had a great time.
Then another week started and also basketball practices. I'm at school from 8am to 3.47pm and than I have practices from 4 to 6 EVERYDAY and on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. On weekdays I'm home between 6.30pm and 7pm. Then I take a shower eat dinner do my homework and go to bed. Home in Norway I would watch a lot of series like Desperate House Wifes, Gossip Girl and Grace Anatomy. I was looking forward to see all these shows before my friends in Norway, because they come out earlier here, but I don't have any time left over to watch TV. The life of an exchange student is busy.
onsdag 21. oktober 2009
Homecoming
We have homecoming this week and it is a big deal here. What happens is that the football team picks a team to play against often a rival or a team they think they can beat. The week of the homecoming game is called spirit week and every one dresses up. At my school the themes were not that cool we had tie day, collage day, twin day and “drag a bear day”. The drag a bear is because we are going to play against the bears. Everyone are gonna drag a bear around all day and then in the end rip it apart. Other schools have had themes as Hollywood, Disney, Neon and Nerd day.
On Thursday we had a parade that ended up at our school and then we had a peprally were they announced the homecoming king and class favorites and after that we had a bonfire.
On Thursday we had a parade that ended up at our school and then we had a peprally were they announced the homecoming king and class favorites and after that we had a bonfire.
tirsdag 20. oktober 2009
The field trip
I was selected to go to the field trip as I said. I think they picked about 60 students to go. They picked the ones that had good attendance, handed in their homework on time and were behaving and positive in the class room. I was honored to go. We went to the “Museum of South Texas History” It was very interesting to learn about the history of the place I'm now living in.
In Mexican tradition November 2nd is “el dia de los muertos” or the day of the dead. That is a big celebration where they decorate with scelletons and they go to the graveyard and leaves their friends and family that have passed away their favorite food. Because its soon gonna be Noveber 2nd they had people at he museum dress out and there was also a play. I could only understand half of the play because the actor switched back an forth between talking English and Spanish. They also had dancers and a mariachi band. A mariachi band is a typical mexican band. The ones that were playing for us were from a highschool in the area and they were really good.
After the museum we went to Peter piper where we got free lunch and ice cream mmmm.
In Mexican tradition November 2nd is “el dia de los muertos” or the day of the dead. That is a big celebration where they decorate with scelletons and they go to the graveyard and leaves their friends and family that have passed away their favorite food. Because its soon gonna be Noveber 2nd they had people at he museum dress out and there was also a play. I could only understand half of the play because the actor switched back an forth between talking English and Spanish. They also had dancers and a mariachi band. A mariachi band is a typical mexican band. The ones that were playing for us were from a highschool in the area and they were really good.
After the museum we went to Peter piper where we got free lunch and ice cream mmmm.
fredag 16. oktober 2009
Update
It's a while since I have been writing now because i have been really busy the last couple of weeks but now I'm gonna go ahead and give you all an update.
The football team lost last week against Harlingen Cardinals 7-63. This week we won over Harlingen south hawks 28-12. One of my friends Gabby won another cross country gold medal and is now the best cc runner in the valley. The lady wolverine volleyball team played against the lady cardinals and won 3 of 5 sets.
On Saturday we went to my hostsister's soccer game and after that we went to Pet Smart which is a huge pet store to buy some clothes for our dogs because it was only 20 degrees Celsius so they were could. On Sunday we went to church and to the mall. Guess what. I bought another pair of shoes. My third pair here so far. We had a day of from school on Monday and we used it to clean the house. It took us all day.
This weekend I was supposed to go to San Marcus which is about a 5 hour drive from here to go see my host sisters cheerleading competition, but I got selected to go to a field trip with school so I'm gonna stay here with my host grandparents. The field trip is to a museum in Edinburgh. It's from 10am-4pm and we get free lunch at Peter Piper Pizza.
The football team lost last week against Harlingen Cardinals 7-63. This week we won over Harlingen south hawks 28-12. One of my friends Gabby won another cross country gold medal and is now the best cc runner in the valley. The lady wolverine volleyball team played against the lady cardinals and won 3 of 5 sets.
On Saturday we went to my hostsister's soccer game and after that we went to Pet Smart which is a huge pet store to buy some clothes for our dogs because it was only 20 degrees Celsius so they were could. On Sunday we went to church and to the mall. Guess what. I bought another pair of shoes. My third pair here so far. We had a day of from school on Monday and we used it to clean the house. It took us all day.
This weekend I was supposed to go to San Marcus which is about a 5 hour drive from here to go see my host sisters cheerleading competition, but I got selected to go to a field trip with school so I'm gonna stay here with my host grandparents. The field trip is to a museum in Edinburgh. It's from 10am-4pm and we get free lunch at Peter Piper Pizza.
søndag 4. oktober 2009
This week
This week the people from the exchange organization came over. They just told us about the rules and stuff. They were really strict and blunt, but I guess they have to be with the job they have. If someone is braking the rules they are the once to send them home so you don't want to get on their bad side.
This Friday our football team played the Raiders one of our rivals and also one of the best teams in the vally. We lost... 42 - 7 .. It' bad!
On Saturday I went to my hostsister soccer game again and later i went to Sonic with some friends. Sonic is a dive in burger place where they also have a sand volleyball court we were there all night and had a lot of fun playing, talking and taking pictures :)
This Friday our football team played the Raiders one of our rivals and also one of the best teams in the vally. We lost... 42 - 7 .. It' bad!
On Saturday I went to my hostsister soccer game again and later i went to Sonic with some friends. Sonic is a dive in burger place where they also have a sand volleyball court we were there all night and had a lot of fun playing, talking and taking pictures :)
fredag 25. september 2009
Babyshower
Last Saturday we went to a babyshower. They had a few games and then we ate. My host parents told me that this was more like a birthday party that an babyshower, because usually there would only be girls and they would have a lot more "baby games". They made me dance with the chicken that was kind of fun and embarrassing at the same time. 
lørdag 19. september 2009
Football game
Yesterday I was at the football game. The boys in my class was so dissapointed that i didn't go to their game last week so this week i had to. My hostmother dropped me of and I met my friend Daniella there. It was a lot more people yesterday than the first time i was there. We had fun cheering for the wolverines, but we lost 34-13 over the Brownswill vikings :(
torsdag 17. september 2009
A lot of food at school
Yesterday was a crazy day. First i had government class and my teacher took us to the gosenter. Every one had to sign up for the ACT test which is a test all Americans have to take to get accepted to collage. She wants everyone to take the test even if they are not planning to go to collage because she wants everyone to have the opportunity if they decide they will go after all. I had to sign up too. I don't really mind doing the test. First of all my teacher gives us a 100 as a test grade for signing up and another 100 for actually taking the test. The second thing is that we get to take this test for free and if you are not in high school you have to pay for the test. That means that if i decide to take a semester of collage here I have already taken the test for free.
After government i had physics and we had a test that i hopefully did good on. After physics I had anatomy and we had to present our project. The project was called "Edible organ - 3D" Which meant that we had to make an organ in a material we could eat in a 3D shape and do some research on our organ. I got the eye and made it out of "marsipan" which I made from scratch. Eggs powdered sugar and egg white. After the presentation we tasted everyones projects and rated te best ones. Bianca's tung was the best, my eye was second and Izzy's brain was 3. It is actually a coincidence that those three are the ones I have a picture of.
After anatomy we had Spanish and because we live so close to the boarder and every one here are Mexicans we had to celebrate their independence day which was yeasterday. All we did in class was eating Mexican food. It was a good day at school. We should have more days like this.
After government i had physics and we had a test that i hopefully did good on. After physics I had anatomy and we had to present our project. The project was called "Edible organ - 3D" Which meant that we had to make an organ in a material we could eat in a 3D shape and do some research on our organ. I got the eye and made it out of "marsipan" which I made from scratch. Eggs powdered sugar and egg white. After the presentation we tasted everyones projects and rated te best ones. Bianca's tung was the best, my eye was second and Izzy's brain was 3. It is actually a coincidence that those three are the ones I have a picture of.
After anatomy we had Spanish and because we live so close to the boarder and every one here are Mexicans we had to celebrate their independence day which was yeasterday. All we did in class was eating Mexican food. It was a good day at school. We should have more days like this.
søndag 13. september 2009
Full house
By the time i woke up and took a shower the house was already full of people. Ralph's (host dad) uncle form Dallas is in town so all his relatives came here for a BIG breakfast. We were about 20 people here and we ate tacos, eggs, bacon, beans and cake. It was really nice.
Today we were supposed to go to the zoo after breakfast, but my host grandfather bought a boat yesterday so we went out with the boat instead. It was a really nice day!
It was so hot so I just had to go in the water!
My hostbrother from Brazil
My little hostcuz
Sydney hostsis
Renan (hostbrother) and Roman (host uncle)
Hostgrandmother and hostcuz
Hostsis Sarah
Ralph, Renan, Sarah and Rapha (Hostgrandfather)
fredag 11. september 2009
As the time pass by
I can't believe I have been here 55 days already! The time has passed by so quickly. I just finished my 3rd week at PSJA memorial and I really can't believe it. I have only got 38 more weeks down here in the Rio Grande Vally. I'm really going to miss this place when i leave about 9 months from now.
I have not been feeling very well the last week. It started last Sunday. My head was hurting, my nose was stuffed and I was coughing. It got worse on Wednesday so I stayed home from school and went to the doctor. He checked me fore the svineflue, but it wasn't that. He didn't really tell me what was wrong, but he gave me a bunch of medications first a got a shot so the symptoms would go away faster, then he gave me allergy pills, antibiotics and nose spray. I'm feeling a lot better now.
In athletics today we ran a mile on time. They told us that the goal was for us to do it on less than 8 min. I did it on 8:50. It wasn't too bad after all I'm still a little sick and there were people that used 12 min. I'm really starting to get in shape and I love it because I have so much energy.
I got my second package from mom and dad today. More chocolate :D My host family really love the chocolate from Norway. I also got some magazines candies and some flower and breads that are gluterfree.
Yesterday we were at a store called Sam's. They sell everything furniture, TVs food, cloths +++ and do you know what i saw there? Jarlsberg cheese form Norway! It even said made in Oslo, Norway on it! I think that is pretty cool they fly the cheese all the way down here to the boarder of Mexico.
I have not been feeling very well the last week. It started last Sunday. My head was hurting, my nose was stuffed and I was coughing. It got worse on Wednesday so I stayed home from school and went to the doctor. He checked me fore the svineflue, but it wasn't that. He didn't really tell me what was wrong, but he gave me a bunch of medications first a got a shot so the symptoms would go away faster, then he gave me allergy pills, antibiotics and nose spray. I'm feeling a lot better now.
In athletics today we ran a mile on time. They told us that the goal was for us to do it on less than 8 min. I did it on 8:50. It wasn't too bad after all I'm still a little sick and there were people that used 12 min. I'm really starting to get in shape and I love it because I have so much energy.
I got my second package from mom and dad today. More chocolate :D My host family really love the chocolate from Norway. I also got some magazines candies and some flower and breads that are gluterfree.
Yesterday we were at a store called Sam's. They sell everything furniture, TVs food, cloths +++ and do you know what i saw there? Jarlsberg cheese form Norway! It even said made in Oslo, Norway on it! I think that is pretty cool they fly the cheese all the way down here to the boarder of Mexico.
søndag 6. september 2009
This weekend
Saturday we left the house at 8:30. We went to McDonald to by breakfast... Its not as bad as it sounds. We didn't by fries or burgers but a yoghurt. It was a vanilla youghurt with real strawberries and blueberries and it was really good. We ate in the car while driving Sydney to practice and then we went to pick up Renan at the airport. He is from the south of Brazil. He is a nice guy.
We went home to eat lunch and then we drove around the valley to show Renan the area. We stopped by a book store where i bought a book called "The Host" and a strawberry- banana smoothie. Yes I bought a smoothie in a book store. The stores here are so "small" that they often have a Starbucks or McDonald inside of it.
Later Renan went with my hostdad to a football game. My hostdad is coaching a middle school team and they go to the other teams games to see how they play. Then it was only My hostmom, Sydney and me left at the house because Sarah was with her father for the weekend. We dropped Sydney of at my hostgrandparents house and me and my hostmom went to the movies. We watched a movie called "All about Steve" It was a really good movie, it came out here on Friday so it will probably come out in 6 month or so in Norway ;)
Today we went to the church at 10. My host parents told me when i first got here that We were going to church every Sunday, but I have been here 5 weeks already and we have gone twice.
Tonight we had a small BBQ with rice, chicken, meat, hotdogs and tortillas. They it tortillas pretty much with everything here, but it tastes good so i don't mind.
Tomorrow is labor day. That is a public holiday here and a lot of people has the day of from work, but we have to go to school. I think that is weird, but that is just the way it is ;)
We went home to eat lunch and then we drove around the valley to show Renan the area. We stopped by a book store where i bought a book called "The Host" and a strawberry- banana smoothie. Yes I bought a smoothie in a book store. The stores here are so "small" that they often have a Starbucks or McDonald inside of it.
Later Renan went with my hostdad to a football game. My hostdad is coaching a middle school team and they go to the other teams games to see how they play. Then it was only My hostmom, Sydney and me left at the house because Sarah was with her father for the weekend. We dropped Sydney of at my hostgrandparents house and me and my hostmom went to the movies. We watched a movie called "All about Steve" It was a really good movie, it came out here on Friday so it will probably come out in 6 month or so in Norway ;)
Today we went to the church at 10. My host parents told me when i first got here that We were going to church every Sunday, but I have been here 5 weeks already and we have gone twice.
Tonight we had a small BBQ with rice, chicken, meat, hotdogs and tortillas. They it tortillas pretty much with everything here, but it tastes good so i don't mind.
Tomorrow is labor day. That is a public holiday here and a lot of people has the day of from work, but we have to go to school. I think that is weird, but that is just the way it is ;)
fredag 4. september 2009
Brazilian guy
Our football team won yesterday! Stay green wolverine! It was a lot of fun to watch all the people form my school. At halftime the band played and the dazzlers danced and the cheerleaders cheered throughout the whole game. It's just like you see in the movies! And the prep rally was a lot of fun to! We were pretty much just screaming and cheering for the football players. The cheer leaders, dazzlers and band preformed.
Tomorrow we are going to the airport to pick up Rennan. Rennan is a guy from Brazil that is going to live with us till they can find another family for him. Then we are going to be a really multi national household! Brazilian, Norwegian, Mexican and American at once. It's going to be rally interesting.
I don't know why, but I have been in a really good mood the last couple of days. I'm going around singing, dancing and smiling all day long. I'm really settling in here now, I'm also working out every day and it is giving me a lot of extra energy. I'm looking forward to every day.
Tomorrow we are going to the airport to pick up Rennan. Rennan is a guy from Brazil that is going to live with us till they can find another family for him. Then we are going to be a really multi national household! Brazilian, Norwegian, Mexican and American at once. It's going to be rally interesting.
I don't know why, but I have been in a really good mood the last couple of days. I'm going around singing, dancing and smiling all day long. I'm really settling in here now, I'm also working out every day and it is giving me a lot of extra energy. I'm looking forward to every day.
onsdag 2. september 2009
Football game!
The basketball practices isn't that bad any more. That doesn't mean my muscles are not soar, but I'm doing better. All Tuesdays and Thursdays we are going to be in the wight room and today we were running around the track. We ran four times around. That is 1 mile, but that was not all we ran up and down the bleachers at both sides of the track so it was actually much longer. I didn't really mind because I like running and fore once I weren't the last one and it felt really good.
Tomorrow we are going to have a prep rally for the football team in 8th period. I don't really know what that means, but I think they are going to present all the football players and start cheering before the game tomorrow night. One of the girls in my class Stephanie is going to pick me up and we are going with her friends to the game. I'm really exited, even though I think it is a silly sport I think I would like this game better. I know the guys that are out there playing I will show school spirit by cheering for my team. GO WOLVERINS!
Tomorrow we are going to have a prep rally for the football team in 8th period. I don't really know what that means, but I think they are going to present all the football players and start cheering before the game tomorrow night. One of the girls in my class Stephanie is going to pick me up and we are going with her friends to the game. I'm really exited, even though I think it is a silly sport I think I would like this game better. I know the guys that are out there playing I will show school spirit by cheering for my team. GO WOLVERINS!
mandag 31. august 2009
Basketball
In girls athletics we had to choose a sport we wanted to try out for and I choose basketball. Last week we didn't work out at all, but today was different. We were running dribbling, jumping doing sit ups and push ups running some more doing pretzels, dribbling and a little stretching. I didn't even know it was possible to be as exhausted as I was when we were done. I could hardly breath because my chest was hurting so much. We had only been working out for 40 min! I know that the volleyball team has 2.5 hours long practices and I could hardly do 40 min! I'm really out of shape, but hopefully I'm gonna get better so that when I'm back in Norway I will be in the best shape I have ever been in.
I'm not looking forward till tomorrow. My muscles is going to be so soar and I have the same practice every day.
I'm not looking forward till tomorrow. My muscles is going to be so soar and I have the same practice every day.
lørdag 29. august 2009
Getting better and better
My first week of school is over. I like the school more and more every day. The first 3 days was the most confusing, after that I got used to the system and learned some names. The names was what I had most problems with because I met so many new people! There is only 2 or 3 people that I have more than one class with so it's a lot of names to learn. I know at least the names of the people I have talked to now.
I have been eating lunch with different people everyday. I'm always worrying that I won't find any one I know in the cafeteria among the 1150 students that's there eating, but here is always someone . I'm glad because if I just sit down with people I don't know I feel like I'm intruding.
In my anatomy (biology) class this last time we took a lot of tests. Not not writing down answers tests, but BMI and body fat. We also checked our hight and wight. We are going to do this every 6 weeks and our teacher has given us tips about how to eat right. He is very blunt and if he thinks some one is to fat he tells them. He showed us which category we were placed in. The categories were Athletic, lean, normal, over normal, over fat and obese. Believe it or not I was lean. I never considered my self as fat, but never lean ether. I know I eat too much junk and is too lazy.
American Football is the big thing here. I think every one of the guys I have talked to plays football. I haven't seen them play yet, but to day I watched football on TV and my hostparents tried to learn me the rules. To me the game still just looks like an excuse to fight, but I guess I have to learn to like it while I'm here.
Today we also went to my hostsis' soccer games. We where out side for 5 hour straight I don't think I have been outside that much since I was home in Norway, but there is a reason. It's too HOT. I've never been sweating that much in my entire life! It was nice to go inside my hostparents new cars then. They bought two cars this week. They are huge! It's true as they say: “Everything is bigger in Texas”
I have been eating lunch with different people everyday. I'm always worrying that I won't find any one I know in the cafeteria among the 1150 students that's there eating, but here is always someone . I'm glad because if I just sit down with people I don't know I feel like I'm intruding.
In my anatomy (biology) class this last time we took a lot of tests. Not not writing down answers tests, but BMI and body fat. We also checked our hight and wight. We are going to do this every 6 weeks and our teacher has given us tips about how to eat right. He is very blunt and if he thinks some one is to fat he tells them. He showed us which category we were placed in. The categories were Athletic, lean, normal, over normal, over fat and obese. Believe it or not I was lean. I never considered my self as fat, but never lean ether. I know I eat too much junk and is too lazy.
American Football is the big thing here. I think every one of the guys I have talked to plays football. I haven't seen them play yet, but to day I watched football on TV and my hostparents tried to learn me the rules. To me the game still just looks like an excuse to fight, but I guess I have to learn to like it while I'm here.
Today we also went to my hostsis' soccer games. We where out side for 5 hour straight I don't think I have been outside that much since I was home in Norway, but there is a reason. It's too HOT. I've never been sweating that much in my entire life! It was nice to go inside my hostparents new cars then. They bought two cars this week. They are huge! It's true as they say: “Everything is bigger in Texas”
onsdag 26. august 2009
More school
Today and yesterday was a lot easier. I know a few people, I know now the lunch system and where my classrooms are. In my first biology class we had a quiz, 5th grade level. Are you smarter than a 5th grader? It was hard, but I still got 10 out of 12 right so it wasn't too bad. Some of the questions were: How many muscles is in a human body? How long is your small intestine? Some of the question were multiple choice though, if not I wouldn't have scored that high.
Today I had both English and Spanish, and I spoke more Spanish in English class than In Spanish class! There was a guy that started ti talk Spanish to me and I told him that I don't speak Spanish very well, but he kept speaking Spanish. I didn't under stand much, because he was speaking fast and mumbling at the same time so it was extra hard. I just nodded and smiled when there was something I didn't get.
Today we had bad luck. Americans are very paranoid so I'm not allowed to walk home even though it would probably not take me more than 15 min. To day my host parents got out of work late so I had to stay at school for 2 hours and 30 min after my classes was done That was not very fun and I was hungry! When They finally picked me up we had to go back to my hostmom's work to look for my hostsisters backpack that she had lost. It took about 30 min before we found it. My host dad was with one of my hostsisters at practice and he managed to lock bough his keys inside the truck so he couldn't get in. After a while someone called they cops because they thought he was going to steal it! And about the time we all got home it was already 8:30.
One thing that I forgot to mention last time was what A and B days are. My schedule is divided in two so I have half of my classes one day and the other half the next day. The first half I have on A days and the other on B days. So if I have an A day on Monday I have B day on Tuesday and than A on Wednesday again.
Today I had both English and Spanish, and I spoke more Spanish in English class than In Spanish class! There was a guy that started ti talk Spanish to me and I told him that I don't speak Spanish very well, but he kept speaking Spanish. I didn't under stand much, because he was speaking fast and mumbling at the same time so it was extra hard. I just nodded and smiled when there was something I didn't get.
Today we had bad luck. Americans are very paranoid so I'm not allowed to walk home even though it would probably not take me more than 15 min. To day my host parents got out of work late so I had to stay at school for 2 hours and 30 min after my classes was done That was not very fun and I was hungry! When They finally picked me up we had to go back to my hostmom's work to look for my hostsisters backpack that she had lost. It took about 30 min before we found it. My host dad was with one of my hostsisters at practice and he managed to lock bough his keys inside the truck so he couldn't get in. After a while someone called they cops because they thought he was going to steal it! And about the time we all got home it was already 8:30.
One thing that I forgot to mention last time was what A and B days are. My schedule is divided in two so I have half of my classes one day and the other half the next day. The first half I have on A days and the other on B days. So if I have an A day on Monday I have B day on Tuesday and than A on Wednesday again.
tirsdag 25. august 2009
My first day of school
Yesterday at 8 am my first day of school started. It was really nice but overwhelming. When I got to the school I was told to go to the cafeteria and find my name on the list. My name was not on the list. Then I was told to go to the Auditorium to get my schedule. I sat there about 1 hour before they found it. Then I went back to the cafeteria with all the other seniors. There were some students that were playing drums and everyone showed a lot of school spirit. After a while we were told to go to our first period and I did. When I got there the teacher did not call my name when he checked attendance. We weren't supposed to go to our first period but our third. It was kind of embarrassing.
Finally I got to the right class and it turned out great. It was American Government. We didn't really do much in our classes the first day. They only told us what they were expecting us to do and about the school rules. The funny thing was that all my classes started with the teachers going over some rules and they saying, “But you are seniors you you have been here for so long that you know all this” or “ You have only 9 month left of high school. I didn't know the rules and I'm still going to go to school one more year after this.
It was really different at this school than what I'm used to. We had no freedom at all. No walking in the hallways except the 5 min you have to go from one class to the other. In lunch you have to be in the cafeteria. You are not allowed to were tops that's less then 5 inches over your shoulder or short shorts or skirts. You are not allowed to color your hair in an unnatural color or shave patterns in your hair. No piercings and guys are not allowed to have earrings. You call your female teachers miss and her last name and the male teacher sir.
My class mates were all really nice and asked me lots of questions about Norway. No one new where Norway is and when I told them it's in the north of Europe they still looked confused. A girl asked me if I had A or B lunch. Whaaat? If you have your 5th period on the first floor you have A lunch which is between 4th and 5th period. If you have your 5th period in 2nd floor you have B lunch which is between 5th and 6th period. It's really confusing! Another thing that was confusing was the times. My last period starts 2:58 pm and ends at 3:47.
When I got home about 5pm I was exhausted and starving. I ate a little and then watched a little TV. After a while I started feeling really ill. I thing I got a fever so I went to bed early. Thats why I didn't write last night. When I woke up this morning I was already much better.
Finally I got to the right class and it turned out great. It was American Government. We didn't really do much in our classes the first day. They only told us what they were expecting us to do and about the school rules. The funny thing was that all my classes started with the teachers going over some rules and they saying, “But you are seniors you you have been here for so long that you know all this” or “ You have only 9 month left of high school. I didn't know the rules and I'm still going to go to school one more year after this.
It was really different at this school than what I'm used to. We had no freedom at all. No walking in the hallways except the 5 min you have to go from one class to the other. In lunch you have to be in the cafeteria. You are not allowed to were tops that's less then 5 inches over your shoulder or short shorts or skirts. You are not allowed to color your hair in an unnatural color or shave patterns in your hair. No piercings and guys are not allowed to have earrings. You call your female teachers miss and her last name and the male teacher sir.
My class mates were all really nice and asked me lots of questions about Norway. No one new where Norway is and when I told them it's in the north of Europe they still looked confused. A girl asked me if I had A or B lunch. Whaaat? If you have your 5th period on the first floor you have A lunch which is between 4th and 5th period. If you have your 5th period in 2nd floor you have B lunch which is between 5th and 6th period. It's really confusing! Another thing that was confusing was the times. My last period starts 2:58 pm and ends at 3:47.
When I got home about 5pm I was exhausted and starving. I ate a little and then watched a little TV. After a while I started feeling really ill. I thing I got a fever so I went to bed early. Thats why I didn't write last night. When I woke up this morning I was already much better.
søndag 23. august 2009
My 3rd week in Texas
This week I got a package from my parents. They sent Norwegian chocolate, licorice, magazines and brown cheese. My host family loved the chocolate and the brown cheese, not so much the licorice. It was really good to eat something Norwegian after almost a month with only Mexican and American food.
This weekend is tax-free weekend in the state of Texas and all the shops are packed this weekend. That is why my hostmother didn't want us to go to any shops this weekend, but we did. Shara and Sidney needed clothes for school and some supplies. On Saturday we went to the mall to get the clothes. It was people everywhere and the lines was really long. They got what they needed and I bought a couple of shirts I did not really need.
On Sunday we went to a store to get the rest of the school supplies the girls needed. I figured I could use some folders so I bought some and do you know how much they cost? 1 penny each! Its nothing! After our shopping trip we went home and my host-grandmother made us some Mexican food. I think they called it posole or something. It was really good.
In the afternoon, my hostfathers cousin form Florida came to visit and we all went to Mexico. Mexico is only 20 min form where I live. They had a lot of stuff there and they sold silver really cheep. We looked around ate some tacos and then went back home.
I know I have been writing week reports, but I really wanted to get to what is going on now. Tomorrow will be my first day as a student at Pharr, San Juan, Alamo Memorial High School! Also called PSJA Memorial or Wolverins. I'm really excited and very nervous, but I'm sure it will be alright.
My other hostsister
This weekend is tax-free weekend in the state of Texas and all the shops are packed this weekend. That is why my hostmother didn't want us to go to any shops this weekend, but we did. Shara and Sidney needed clothes for school and some supplies. On Saturday we went to the mall to get the clothes. It was people everywhere and the lines was really long. They got what they needed and I bought a couple of shirts I did not really need.
On Sunday we went to a store to get the rest of the school supplies the girls needed. I figured I could use some folders so I bought some and do you know how much they cost? 1 penny each! Its nothing! After our shopping trip we went home and my host-grandmother made us some Mexican food. I think they called it posole or something. It was really good.
In the afternoon, my hostfathers cousin form Florida came to visit and we all went to Mexico. Mexico is only 20 min form where I live. They had a lot of stuff there and they sold silver really cheep. We looked around ate some tacos and then went back home.
I know I have been writing week reports, but I really wanted to get to what is going on now. Tomorrow will be my first day as a student at Pharr, San Juan, Alamo Memorial High School! Also called PSJA Memorial or Wolverins. I'm really excited and very nervous, but I'm sure it will be alright.
My hostsister
My other hostsister My room
Sarah's basketball team + a few sisters at the pool-party
My hostparents, -sister, grandparents, my hostfather's cousin and me
One of our dogs Coco
lørdag 22. august 2009
2nd week in Texas
In my 2nd week in Texas I got registered for school. We went to my high school where we had to fill out a lot of forms. After all the forms were filled out the nurse checked my weight, hight, hearing and sight. The last thing we had to do was go and talk to my counslor she helped me set up a schedule. The classes I'm taking is: U.S. History, American Government, Economics, English 4, Spanish 1, Girls Athletics, Algebra 2, Physics and Anatomy & Physics. I'm really excited about going to school now. To meet new people and see how the American school system is really like. I'm a little nervous too. The school I'm going to has 2300 students! That is quite a lot compared to the 450 that was on my previous school.
This week I also went to get a haircut. I didn't do anything drastic just trimming it a little, but the price I had to pay was ridiculous. It was 8 dollars! In Norway you have to pay between 50 and 80 dollars. I was a little concerned that I would have too little money while I'm here, bot now I don't think it is going to be a problem. Everything is super cheep here.
Our weekend was really busy on Friday after everyone got home we cleaned the house. We were done within an hour because everyone helped. After the house was shining and clean we went to go bowling. It was a lot of fun especially because I won.
On Saturday Shara had her last basketball game, we went to see her win again and afterwards everyone in the team and they're families were invited to a pool/ bbq- party. It was lots of good food and cakes. We had a great time!
On Sunday we went to the flee-marked. It's a place where they sell everything you can imagine. They had turtles and ducks, fruit and vegetables, and new and used clothes, shoes and computers. After we had been looking around for a while we went to the mall. I bought a lot of stuff. I needed a backpack and clothes for school. The have dress-codes at my school so I had to make sure I had enough clothes that I'm going to bee allowed to use. I also bought a pair of shoes and some earrings. Because I'm worth it ;)
This week I also went to get a haircut. I didn't do anything drastic just trimming it a little, but the price I had to pay was ridiculous. It was 8 dollars! In Norway you have to pay between 50 and 80 dollars. I was a little concerned that I would have too little money while I'm here, bot now I don't think it is going to be a problem. Everything is super cheep here.
Our weekend was really busy on Friday after everyone got home we cleaned the house. We were done within an hour because everyone helped. After the house was shining and clean we went to go bowling. It was a lot of fun especially because I won.
On Saturday Shara had her last basketball game, we went to see her win again and afterwards everyone in the team and they're families were invited to a pool/ bbq- party. It was lots of good food and cakes. We had a great time!
On Sunday we went to the flee-marked. It's a place where they sell everything you can imagine. They had turtles and ducks, fruit and vegetables, and new and used clothes, shoes and computers. After we had been looking around for a while we went to the mall. I bought a lot of stuff. I needed a backpack and clothes for school. The have dress-codes at my school so I had to make sure I had enough clothes that I'm going to bee allowed to use. I also bought a pair of shoes and some earrings. Because I'm worth it ;)
onsdag 19. august 2009
The first week
On the weekdays that followed we didn't really do much. My hostparent were at work sydney (my hostsiter) was in daycare. I was only me and Sarah (also hostsister) at home. We watched some tv, worked out a little and did some chores around the house. In the evenings my Sarah had some basketball games and we went to cheer for her. Her team was really good! They won against girls that were up till two years older than them!
On Saturday me and my hostmother drove Sydney to cheerleading practices and then we met my hostgrandmother and went to a bunch of garage sales. It was fun, but also HOT. It so hot down here one day it was 45 degrees Celsius! That is why we mostly stay inside. It's nice and cool with the air condition on.
On Sunday we didn't og to church, went to the beach. It was so beautiful there. It was nice and soft sand, the water was warm and clean. We were there all day just relaxing and enjoying ourself in the water.
On Saturday me and my hostmother drove Sydney to cheerleading practices and then we met my hostgrandmother and went to a bunch of garage sales. It was fun, but also HOT. It so hot down here one day it was 45 degrees Celsius! That is why we mostly stay inside. It's nice and cool with the air condition on.
On Sunday we didn't og to church, went to the beach. It was so beautiful there. It was nice and soft sand, the water was warm and clean. We were there all day just relaxing and enjoying ourself in the water.
mandag 17. august 2009
My first days in Texas!
Later that first night we went to both my host grandparents houses and I got to meet some more of the people I'm gonna be around the next 10 months, and they were all realy nice.
The next day was a Sunday and here Sundays means church. We went to the church at 10 am because that is the only time the sermon is in English, the others is in Spanish. When we got to the church it was packed with people so we decided to go to another church and we were in a Spanish one after all, but it did not really matter.
After church my hostmother and my new sisters took me to a movie. We watched “Aliens in the Attic”. It was actually a pretty funny movie. We also went to the mall just to buy my hostsister some shoes, but I ended up buying a pair of capri jeans and a pair of shoes too. When I was going to pay, the cashier started talking to me in Spanish. I didn't understand a thing of what she was saying so my answer was “ØØH English pleas”. My hostsister will never stop teasing me for that.
The next day was a Sunday and here Sundays means church. We went to the church at 10 am because that is the only time the sermon is in English, the others is in Spanish. When we got to the church it was packed with people so we decided to go to another church and we were in a Spanish one after all, but it did not really matter.
After church my hostmother and my new sisters took me to a movie. We watched “Aliens in the Attic”. It was actually a pretty funny movie. We also went to the mall just to buy my hostsister some shoes, but I ended up buying a pair of capri jeans and a pair of shoes too. When I was going to pay, the cashier started talking to me in Spanish. I didn't understand a thing of what she was saying so my answer was “ØØH English pleas”. My hostsister will never stop teasing me for that.
søndag 16. august 2009
Traveling
I cried on the buss until I fell a sleep. When we got to the airport we had to wait in a long line to check in there were so many people there. Then I had to say good bye to Mirko too because he was going on another plane. When I finally got on my plane I fell a sleep again.
When I woke up the plane was about to land in Washington DC. The airport was huge, and I had only seen a small part of it. I took a bus to the terminal that my next plane was going to leave from. It was about 9 am and I figured that I should go and find something to eat. Because of my allergy there wasn't much to choose from so I ended up buying fries for breakfast. And then there was only 3 and a half hours more waiting.
The worst part about the waiting wasn't that I was board, but I was tired and emotionally a mess. I had just said goodbye to all my new and old friends at the camp first of all, I had started to miss my friends and family home in Norway and I was excited and nervous about meeting the family I was going to spend 10 months with. Some how the time passed bye and I was on a plane again and again I fell asleep. And then I we were in Huston. I only had to wait in Huston for about 15 min. I was on my last plane for the day and I was too excited to sleep.
The airport of McAllen was really small. I did not know what my host family looked like so I started looking for two young adults with two kids, and I found them rigth away. They were looking like Mexicans like most of the people in the area. They were really nice. They helped me find my luggage and then we went out to eat. I was starving, I had not eaten any thing else than the fries all day.
When I woke up the plane was about to land in Washington DC. The airport was huge, and I had only seen a small part of it. I took a bus to the terminal that my next plane was going to leave from. It was about 9 am and I figured that I should go and find something to eat. Because of my allergy there wasn't much to choose from so I ended up buying fries for breakfast. And then there was only 3 and a half hours more waiting.
The worst part about the waiting wasn't that I was board, but I was tired and emotionally a mess. I had just said goodbye to all my new and old friends at the camp first of all, I had started to miss my friends and family home in Norway and I was excited and nervous about meeting the family I was going to spend 10 months with. Some how the time passed bye and I was on a plane again and again I fell asleep. And then I we were in Huston. I only had to wait in Huston for about 15 min. I was on my last plane for the day and I was too excited to sleep.
The airport of McAllen was really small. I did not know what my host family looked like so I started looking for two young adults with two kids, and I found them rigth away. They were looking like Mexicans like most of the people in the area. They were really nice. They helped me find my luggage and then we went out to eat. I was starving, I had not eaten any thing else than the fries all day.
fredag 14. august 2009
The last day of camp!
The last day came to fast. We could nor believe it was Friday already. It's incredible how fast you can make good friends. We had known etch other only 2 weeks, but still we had become really close. The day started as usual with breakfast and classes only the classes was shorter tis last day we were finished by 12 and then it was lunch. All our teacher had been great and we had learned s lot from them. We bought them all a thank you card were everyone in my class signed. We also bought our homeroom teacher Heather a t-shirt that everyone wrote a little something on.
After lunch all the classes in Kennedy High School (A3, B3, C3 and D3) met in the auditorium to have a “Graduation”. We went on the stage one and one and got a diploma for finishing the camp.
We went of to pack our stuff, but we had to leave some cloths because we were having a goodbye dance. After dinner we went down to the ice arena and left our luggage there and went to change for the dance. Suddenly they told us to go out on the football field and no one knew why. It was fireworks! It was beautiful and lasted for about 20 min. I even think I saw the map of Norway in red white and blue!
We went back and danced some more before we went back to our dorms for the last time to change. After we had changed we went back down to the ice arena were they were showing a lot of pictures from the past two weeks. It was really sad everyone was crying and hugging. Max were the first one to leave at 12 am and then it was Mirko and me at 12.30 am. It was to soon. I felt like I didn't have enough time to say goodbye. I think the worst part was knowing that now I was one my own. Madeleine had been with me so far, but not any more.
After lunch all the classes in Kennedy High School (A3, B3, C3 and D3) met in the auditorium to have a “Graduation”. We went on the stage one and one and got a diploma for finishing the camp.
We went of to pack our stuff, but we had to leave some cloths because we were having a goodbye dance. After dinner we went down to the ice arena and left our luggage there and went to change for the dance. Suddenly they told us to go out on the football field and no one knew why. It was fireworks! It was beautiful and lasted for about 20 min. I even think I saw the map of Norway in red white and blue!
We went back and danced some more before we went back to our dorms for the last time to change. After we had changed we went back down to the ice arena were they were showing a lot of pictures from the past two weeks. It was really sad everyone was crying and hugging. Max were the first one to leave at 12 am and then it was Mirko and me at 12.30 am. It was to soon. I felt like I didn't have enough time to say goodbye. I think the worst part was knowing that now I was one my own. Madeleine had been with me so far, but not any more.
onsdag 12. august 2009
The last volleyball game
On Thursday was the last volleyball games. We were placed in the gym by our “high schools”. I was in Kennedy high and our mascot was the cougar. We were all wearing our yellow Kennedy Cougar shirts and we were really good a cheering. The first game was between the teachers and the returnees. The teachers won, so they played the class that had won the tournament and won over them too. It was actually the first time the teachers had ever won over the students. We had a lot of fun and we really got the high school spirit that we have all heard so much about.
lørdag 8. august 2009
The rest of the weekend
Saturday we went to a beach by the lake. It was really nice there. We could rent a bout, play volleyball, swim or just relax in the sun. I wanted to go swimming, but I had forgot my bikini in my dorm so I just swam with my dress on. It was rally hot so it dried fast. We passed an American football to each other and got something to eat from the kiosk, and then it was time to go “home” again.
On Sunday we got to catch up on some sleeping. We had brunch from 10 to 12 I think and my volleyball game was at 11.50. After the game we where just hanging around until we left for the baseball game.
I was really excited about the game because I had never seen a baseball game before, not even on TV. I must say I was a little disappointed. First of all the game lasted 3 hours and there was not a lot of action. I liked the BBQ we got though and the Cracker Jack. When we got home we just sat down on the grass right outside our dorms because it was soon to be bed time.
On Sunday we got to catch up on some sleeping. We had brunch from 10 to 12 I think and my volleyball game was at 11.50. After the game we where just hanging around until we left for the baseball game.
I was really excited about the game because I had never seen a baseball game before, not even on TV. I must say I was a little disappointed. First of all the game lasted 3 hours and there was not a lot of action. I liked the BBQ we got though and the Cracker Jack. When we got home we just sat down on the grass right outside our dorms because it was soon to be bed time.
fredag 7. august 2009
Boston!
The next days followed pretty much the same. We tried new activities, learned new actually useful things in our classes and continued eating unhealthy. They served donuts, ice cream and pancakes for breakfast. I usually ate eggs for breakfast and saved the ice cream for lunch. Wednesday we had a volleyball game. All the classes played against each other. First we played my friend Max' (from Germany) class and we won! We had another game on Sunday, but we lost that one so we did not get to play any more.
Friday was one of the best days at camp. We went to Boston! We had to get up at 5 am because breakfast was at 6 am and the buses left at 7. It was a 3 hour long drive and a lot of people slept on the bus and the others took pictures of the once that slept.
When we finally got there the “gang” consisting of Madeleine (Norway), Mia (Norway), Elisabeth (Norway), Max (Germany), Mirko (Switzerland), Jonas (Switzerland) and me went together. First we went to some stores just looking around then we took the subway to Harvard. We visited the university which was huge, but we were not allowed to go inside. We went to the Harvard store and bought t-shirts and then we went to a restaurant. It was a nice restaurant and it wasn't really expensive we payed about 7 dollars each. The waiter we got was really nice to. He made us a note and showed us on the map where he recommended us to go.
We took the subway back and enjoyed the rest of our day in the rain.
Friday was one of the best days at camp. We went to Boston! We had to get up at 5 am because breakfast was at 6 am and the buses left at 7. It was a 3 hour long drive and a lot of people slept on the bus and the others took pictures of the once that slept.
When we finally got there the “gang” consisting of Madeleine (Norway), Mia (Norway), Elisabeth (Norway), Max (Germany), Mirko (Switzerland), Jonas (Switzerland) and me went together. First we went to some stores just looking around then we took the subway to Harvard. We visited the university which was huge, but we were not allowed to go inside. We went to the Harvard store and bought t-shirts and then we went to a restaurant. It was a nice restaurant and it wasn't really expensive we payed about 7 dollars each. The waiter we got was really nice to. He made us a note and showed us on the map where he recommended us to go.
We took the subway back and enjoyed the rest of our day in the rain.
onsdag 5. august 2009
Language and culture camp in Vermont
I haven't written in a while now because I have been at camp and didn't want to use the little time I had to write. Here comes the first part and I will write more later.
Madeleine and I said goodbye to our friends and family at the airport in Oslo, July 18. That was really sad. We cried or harts out, but I had not really realized that I'm not going to see this people in 10 months. We went through security and started to really looking forward to our stay.
On the airplane we watched movies, TV series and the time flew bye. We got of the plane and in to security again. I had been a little nervous about this because people had told me that the people that worked there were really grumpy, but they were not. They were actually really nice. When we had picked up our luggage we could see the returnees with EF signs. The first thing we could see when we reached them was a Dunkin Donut. How American! We got on a buss and enjoyed our 3 hour long buss drive form Boston to Vermont. When we finally arrived at Norwich university we where all really tired after 20 hours of traveling. We got our room key and went straight to bed.
We were really lucky that we got there on Saturday because then we could sleep out some of our jet-leg on Sunday. We used the day to play soccer, volleyball and getting to know new people. Monday were supposed to be our first day with classes, but we didn't have “real” classes. First we had a parade where we were divided in by which country we were form. We went down to a big hall where all the teachers presented them selfs and we got together in our classes. We only had homeroom the first day. Monday night we had a dance in the big hall. It was a lot of fun.
Tuesday we had regular classes. At 9 am we had homeroom and English. In homeroom we got to know about everything that was going to happen the next days, and in English we learned about baseball and idioms. After English we had “life in America” where we learned about what kinds of expectations our host families would have to us, about dollars and cents, quarters and dimes, holidays and prom. Then we had “current issues” where we learned about the 10 amendments and issues that is coming up in America now, like gay marriage and abortion. From noon until 2 pm we had lunch and then we had history where we learned about the deceleration of independence. At the end of the day we had homeroom again and then we where done around 3.15 pm.
After classes we had a ton of activities to choose from: American football, soccer, arts and crafts, yoga, cheerleading, movies +++ We had to be in our dorms by 11 pm. Most people where really tired by then so no one complained. TBC
Madeleine and I said goodbye to our friends and family at the airport in Oslo, July 18. That was really sad. We cried or harts out, but I had not really realized that I'm not going to see this people in 10 months. We went through security and started to really looking forward to our stay.
On the airplane we watched movies, TV series and the time flew bye. We got of the plane and in to security again. I had been a little nervous about this because people had told me that the people that worked there were really grumpy, but they were not. They were actually really nice. When we had picked up our luggage we could see the returnees with EF signs. The first thing we could see when we reached them was a Dunkin Donut. How American! We got on a buss and enjoyed our 3 hour long buss drive form Boston to Vermont. When we finally arrived at Norwich university we where all really tired after 20 hours of traveling. We got our room key and went straight to bed.
We were really lucky that we got there on Saturday because then we could sleep out some of our jet-leg on Sunday. We used the day to play soccer, volleyball and getting to know new people. Monday were supposed to be our first day with classes, but we didn't have “real” classes. First we had a parade where we were divided in by which country we were form. We went down to a big hall where all the teachers presented them selfs and we got together in our classes. We only had homeroom the first day. Monday night we had a dance in the big hall. It was a lot of fun.
Tuesday we had regular classes. At 9 am we had homeroom and English. In homeroom we got to know about everything that was going to happen the next days, and in English we learned about baseball and idioms. After English we had “life in America” where we learned about what kinds of expectations our host families would have to us, about dollars and cents, quarters and dimes, holidays and prom. Then we had “current issues” where we learned about the 10 amendments and issues that is coming up in America now, like gay marriage and abortion. From noon until 2 pm we had lunch and then we had history where we learned about the deceleration of independence. At the end of the day we had homeroom again and then we where done around 3.15 pm.
After classes we had a ton of activities to choose from: American football, soccer, arts and crafts, yoga, cheerleading, movies +++ We had to be in our dorms by 11 pm. Most people where really tired by then so no one complained. TBC
fredag 17. juli 2009
My exchange year in the US - saying goodbye
This year I'm going to USA to be an exchange student. I'm going to live with a family in southern Texas. The household consists of a mom and dad, two little girls and 5 dogs. I'm really looking forward to meeting them all and it isn't gonna be much longer. I'm leaving Norway this tomorrow. I'm gonna stay in Vermont for two weeks on a language an culture camp, where I will learn English, History, Current Issues and Life in America. There will be about 450 students at this camp from many different countries and we will all have the opportunity to learn a lot of new sports. One Saturday we are going on a shopping trip to Boston. I cant wait to get there and to get to know people form all over the world.
One of my best friends Madeleine is also going to study in the US this year and I'm rally glad we are doing this together. It makes it a lot easier and we can understand each others feelings about whats coming up. We are also going to the same camp and hopefully we will be able to sit on the airplane together. Yesterday my best friends and I had a sleepover together fore the last time in 10 months. It was really nice, but also sad. They are all going with me and Madeleine to the airport to say goodbye. That is the hardest part, the goodbyes. It hurts a lot to leave the ones you love behind. I know this is going to be a memorable year, but it's sad that I'm not able to share my experiences with them.
I dont know when i will be able to write again, but i will as soon as i got the chance.
Everything is packed and I'm ready to go!
One of my best friends Madeleine is also going to study in the US this year and I'm rally glad we are doing this together. It makes it a lot easier and we can understand each others feelings about whats coming up. We are also going to the same camp and hopefully we will be able to sit on the airplane together. Yesterday my best friends and I had a sleepover together fore the last time in 10 months. It was really nice, but also sad. They are all going with me and Madeleine to the airport to say goodbye. That is the hardest part, the goodbyes. It hurts a lot to leave the ones you love behind. I know this is going to be a memorable year, but it's sad that I'm not able to share my experiences with them.
I dont know when i will be able to write again, but i will as soon as i got the chance.
Everything is packed and I'm ready to go!
Abonner på:
Innlegg (Atom)
