New Sister

I know it's been a while since I last posted but I have been so busy! (or according to Anne just too lazy hehe) Anyway I'm updating now so let's all be happy! About a little over a week ago Anne arrived and we have had so much fun. Poor girl though, she had barely landed when we just threw her right into it. Last saturday (the day she arrived) we were at church to experience an American wedding. Later that night Lee's sister's (Aunt Jill) husband turned 50 so she met Lee's side of the family right way. Needless to say she was exhausted when we at last climbed to bed. Sunday was very chill and we just watched some TV, I did homework and we went to evening church with Lee. Monday I went to school as the other days, while Anne got to sleep a little longer until Karen, our area rep, picked her up to register her at the school. That evening we made dinner together (delicious pizza) and we were laughing so much by the end of the night it was hard to stop. (on a side note.. If you ask Lee or Christine I bet they would complain about all the giggling and laughing ever since). The next day in school was normal - except for the fact that I rode with Anne on the bus (and Holly) and that now Anne was in both my Creative Writing and US History class. During the week we have gone to buy school supplies for Anne, had dinner with Lee's mom and on Thursday Karen and her husband, Ted, picked us up to stay until Saturday because Lee and Christine were away at a couple's retreat. On Friday night they took us out to eat at a pizza restaurant and we talked for many hours. When it came to Saturday we got up at 8 am (too early on a Saturday) because we had an YFU orientation. It was real nice and you got to talk with a lot of other exchange students. On Sunday we were really supposed to go picking apples with Christine but it started raining so we went to the movies instead and had dinner at Big Boy. Me and Anne ended the week by watching an episode of Supernatural.

Because I'm on yearbook we get assigned cameras - and not the cheap ones. I have camera partner who already owns a camera so she's probably not going to need it so much. That means that I can take as many pictures as I want (our teacher said we were allowed to use it for personal use - as long as you bring it in again the next day). So this weekend I brought it home so I could practice taking nice pictures for the yearbook. So I have a whole gallery to show you guys.

 The first picture is after the movie at the restaurant and the second is us today on the school bus.

 Cutest eyes ever !!

Me and Christine with her crown a few minutes before we meet Anne for the very first time. Like they did with me they greeted Anne in a very unusual way. She was lucky though because Lee had just gone to the bathroom to put on his disguise when Anne came down the stairs and saw me as the first person. If she had seen Lee with his mustache or Christine with her crown I bet she would've run away as fast as her feet could carry her. 

 On Sunday we had dinner after church.

 The first picture features Anne last Monday after a tiring day of registering. The second is of me and Anne on her first day after the wedding. 

Meet Kira the cat who forgot to take her meds. Or maybe she just caught sight of me. 

Me and Anne's first pie experience in America at Karen and Ted's house.

 My first picture as a professional photographer (or whatever hehe). Me taking a picture of me taking a picture while we're driving.

Lee and Anne in the car waiting for our food.

 Her Royal Highness

 "What did you do this time, Emilie!?"

 "Me? Nothing!"

 Anne being her very nice self. Me and Sayuri, another exchange student, at the orientation.

The cake I baked for Anne when she got here. 

So that's it for now. Tomorrow we'll celebrate Christine's mom's birthday and Thursday we will go homecoming dress shopping. Wish us luck!

First days of school

It's Thursday and two days ago I started school. I am currently sitting at some treatment with Christine (we have the day off because of some Jewish holiday). Basically she sleeps for like 8 hours because of the treatment and I get to watch her sleep Edward Cullen creeper style. yay me! But it means I get free Starbucks, I can read (when I've done my homework first of course;)) and now tell you guys about my first two days in school.  

On Tuesday I got woken up by Lee because as stupid as I am I had set my alarm clock for PM and not AM. I got up (way too early for my liking) and out the door to my bus stop. As I started walking my nerves were starting to really kick in, but once I got to my stop I met this girl, Holli, and asked if this was the stop (totally genius ice breaker, I know). After that we started a conversation and sat on the bus together. In fact, we have been sitting together both to and from the school both days and it's been really, really nice.  

When we got to the school I said goodbye to Holli and went to my homeroom. Don't really know what we were doing there except getting our schedules. After that there was an assembly and the band was doing some show as people filled in the gym. After that it was time for classes but I had to get to my locker first to get my books. And even though one of the experiences I have been looking forward to in high school is the locker I must ashamedly admit I have no freaking clue how to use it. I got it opened after having asked a teacher and hurried to my first class. The classes were all just introduction and we didn't really do anything that day. The people in my classes were nice though and I just know this is going to be the best year ever! When it was time for lunch I decided to use some of my time to figure out the locker and after 10 minutes my mission was accomplished (for that day only..). The only disadvantage was that now the whole cafeteria was filled along with all the tables. I quickly found a table though where there were only two girls sitting so I asked if I could sit with them. One of them was even in my creative writing class. 

The highlight of my day was my last class, Yearbook. It is all girls and it is a somewhat different class since we all have to work together and it requires that we have to show up at after school events sometimes (even though I had already planned on that - gotta have everything out of my year!) Everybody was kinda relaxed (although tired) and our teacher is really down to earth. 

On my second day it didn't start off as the best because of Algebra 2 (we had to do something I had no clue about what was). But it got really fantastic real quick. Of course as stupid as I am (yeah I'm repeating myself) I had done my English homework for Wednesday but forgot it at home. My teacher were really nice and understanding though and just told me to bring it in on Friday. When it was time for lunch a girl from my English class, Sarah, invited me to sit with her friends. They were really nice and just started joking around like I had been a part of their group since forever. Sarah was really nice and introduced me to her other friends. (she's a fan of Supernatural, Will!) 

The day went on and it was even better than the first one. 

When I got home Lee and I skyped with Anne Marie (the girl from Germany) and her family. I have a really good feeling about this! That has just made me even more excited and I can't wait for her to come on Saturday! 

I'm sorry the blog post got so long but I had so much to share!

Final days of freedom

Tomorrow I finally start school and my american adventure will begin for real! But before that I have enjoyed my last few days of being able to stay up late, wake up late and use the time however I've wished to. In the time between this post and my last post my host family has signed up as a welcome family since YFU still has some students who hasn't got a host family yet. As a welcome family the student will stay here until they find her another family (she can't wait in her own country since she would miss school). So on friday a girl from Germany will be living with us and I can't wait! Lat friday Lee and I went to an IMAX theater which has the biggest movie screen I have ever seen! We watched Elysium starring Matt Damon and if you like science fiction movies I would totally recommend it!

Luckily it's so far away, you couldn't see my tears right after the movie! 

Lee took it more as the man he is and just had a great time 

Saturday Lee took me to Staples so I could buy my school supplies. I also bought some things for my new laptop (that has touchscreen!) It is my new baby hehe.

I named it Mara from a book I love

I spent pretty much all sunday playing with Mara and trying herout. I made this collage as my lock screen:

It has a mix of pictures from back home in Denmark and my new home in America.

Today I've spent the day with Christine at the Michigan State Fair. I bought a bracelet saying "reality has limits, imagination is boundless" and I'm never taking that thing off again! They had pig races and all sorts of contests although unfortunately we didn't see any of it. We did see a lot of animals though and met some clowns too!

 Mama sheep with her baby sheep!

Christine taking a picture of some goats 

The goat let her pet him! 

Me hiding in a cow... or something 

Christine said I fit right in with the clowns - she's just jealous because we're so awesome!

Isn't she cute!?  (Chris and Steph ;))

Baby chickens.. aaaw!

The bracelet!

Now it's time for me to go so I can get ready for school tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Roadtrip

Hi guys! 

Last time I updated this blog I had two host twins living with me, but now there is only me and my host parents (they're warning me I should be scared.. And after having lived with them for three weeks now I must say I'll take their advice). Thursday Raymond and Tabitha had a goodbye dinner at Tabitha's favorite restaurant - where she works when she's not at college too - Carino's, which is an Italian restaurant with delicious food (hope you're happy now, Tabbi!). I got to meet the rest of my host family (I have met everybody on Christine's side of the family). Lee's mom, sisters and nephew were all really nice and open and I had a great time with them.

Raymond, me and Tabbi at Carino's

When we went home we had to stop by the library so I could borrow some books. I couldn't go on a 5 day long road trip without any books, now could I? Anyway, both the twins were busy because they had decided to pack on the very last day before we left. Real smart, guys. So I was mostly just watching them run back and forth and now and then I would read a little too since I couldn't go to bed (me and Tabbi share her room and she was using my bed to pack... yay)

 Amidst all the packing Ray found his old banana costume for Halloween. Haha!

Friday morning we were finally on the road and on the way to Indiana (Tabbi's college). Ray took a plane down to his college the next day and did not drive with us. Once we had her settled we stayed until Monday morning and left for Louisville (Raymond's college)

Me and Tabbi in the car

Christine was too busy playing Fruit Ninja she didn't have time for a picture at Chipolte's, which is where we had lunch

We visited a free zoo (free!) in Chicago, where I got to meet one of Christine's best friends (it's Lee on the picture though)

This is the church at Tabbi's college. We spent the day (literally the whole day) trying her bus route at the college. That was some experience!

We were all very tired at the end of the day.

We then said our goodbyes to Tabbi (she's coming home in 8 weeks for Thanksgiving though) and went to the motel where we stayed the night and then drove to Ray's college.

His college were a lot smaller than Tabbi's with only 40 students. 

We had dinner at his college even though he didn't even sit with us and he went to play baseball afterwards. Christine wanted a proper goodbye so we had to wait for them finish. Soon though Lee had joined the game and as the seconds ticked me and Christine grew more and more impatient. They apparently planned to play until they the sun was down. 

At least the sky was beautiful. Plus, hey we got a free meal out of it too!

Christine was ready to just lie down and watch tv after such a long day.

Tuesday morning (yesterday) we left Louisville with Raymond in it and started the long way home. We had to stop in Dayton though because at the last minute Lee had to take care of some stuff with his work. So he rented a car and me and Christine was once on the road again. This time with loud music though that we sang along with.

One hour away from home.

And at last we made it home, where Kira their cat had missed us.

The first few days in America

So now it's 8 days since I arrived and had my very first glimpse of the country that will be my home for the next year. We traveled all in a group and it was nice to be one among many other excited people, nervous and happy to soon meet our families and finally start our American dream. 

After having traveled for 24 hours my host-family greeted me - although I must add it was no normal greeting. My host-dad, Lee, have the upcoming months to this stay teased me that they would disguise themselves and let me walk around the airport before revealing themselves to me. Never had I actually thought they would go through with it. But nevertheless when I was coming down the staircase I could see the luggage coming out and some people but no sight of my host-family. I caught sight of a guy with big, green sunglasses, a fake mustache and a big piece of paper in his hand but it was first when he started to take it all off I recognized him as Lee. I blame the 40 hours of having barely slept. 

 If you are wondering what my host-mom, Christine, is wearing I can inform you it is a crown as she likes to refer to herself as the "queen". 

After that memorable start to an unforgettable year we all went to their home (sorry, OUR home now) and they showed me around and told me about the rules. 

School doesn't start until September 3rd so Lee has taken me out a few times, I have been to Milford memories with Christine, I have been to their church and tried Tabi's (my host sister) bus route and it has already been quite the experience. (I think it's because of Lee and Christine's humor that keeps me busy laughing all day)

Below here there's a few pictures of my first days here in America and the journey leading up to it:

        Me and my little brother, Lukas

Picking out candy for the long 9 hour plane ride to Chigaco

Me and Lee out eating on my first day

           Me and their cat, Kira

Me and Christine at Milford Memories (she's gonna kill me for posting this picture)

     Me and my lovely host-sister, Tabi!