My recent life
I don't even know where to begin with this. Lately I have experienced thee neatest things and I don't even know how to describe how I feel.
March 25th Grace and I headed to the school at around 4:30 and picked up Jessica a.k.a Jessy. I was extremely nervous because she was going to be living with me for three weeks. We anxiously waited for their arrival and stood outside the school. When the bus arrived Jessy quickly found me and we had a awkward introduction. Looking back I find it funny because I used the word "chill" and "crazy" about 50 times. I met Aisha, Mica(sp?), and also Alex who I had been talking to via Myspace. Everyone was kind of tired so after driving around a bit Jessy came home and then met my family. We asked Jessy if she wanted to stay home and sleep...but she was ready to hit the town. So we did. Suz, Jessy, and I drove around and had a mellow night of barnes and nobeling ending with us meeting up with some guys at steak and shake. All went well until Morten the denmark kid planted a large dent/scratch on my 2006 Ford Focus. To this day seeing it pisses me off.
The next day there was a pot luck at the school. I showed Jessy around her classes and also taught her how to open a locker. It was a bit awkward because the Americans and Germans were...seperated but we couldn't help but be shy. I met two boys named Niko and Fabian this day. Right off the bat I knew they were going to be a lot of fun.
After memorizing her schedule, March 27th Jessy came to school with me the first day. I was nervous myself so I know that she had to be nervous. Before school we met up with the rest of the exchange students and they were all really excited to start schooling. Lucky for them they hardly did anything. Majority of the time they spent their time in the computer lab or hanging out in the German room speaking with Bach and his classes.
On the 31st Suz and I took Jessy to see the school's mussical. Intermission was entertaining because Bockler was "in charge" and I also talked to Alex for a bit about the mussical. He found it a bit boring but Jessy liked it a lot. She even cried! Also she spent about 15 minutes that night trying to teach me how to whistle...still haven't mastered that. After the mussical we went out for pizza and it was another night already over.
Taco Bell was a place that Alex and Jessy both wanted to try so one school night Suz and I drove to Washington. Once we got there I had to help Alex and Jessy order. They started eating and I don't think that they really minded the food but it was hilarious when Alex said, "ewww...this soda tastes like chlor"...meaning chlorine.
April 1st the family and I headed out for dinner with Jessy to celebrate an early birthday dinner. Ironically it was Chinese and I hate Chinese. I didn't mind because she had a good time and there was always the ice cream!
April 2nd was Jessy's birthday. That night we had a small get together at my grandma's house. Jessy got a lot of nice gifts and it was nice celebrating her sweet 16. I even beat ALex at pool...and I am really bad at it. Clay and Alex found a wooden game of some sort and made fun of me saying that it was MY cell phone. Then somehow a joke about me calling Mickey started and basically Mickey and I are BFF now.
School continued on but the German exchange students lucked out and got to go to Springfield and also the University of Illinois Campus. Allthough they didn't consider it lucky because they were extremely bored. Their last day of school was fun...I unfortunately had to retake a quiz in German but afterwards Alex and I used a cookie cutter to draw a cupcake on the bored. I was really excited because school was ending and Spring Break was starting.
Friday night Szwwe..!??! had a party and it was a lot of fun. The "sandwhich" inside joke started and has yet to end to this day. We sang kareoke, ate, tried to get Sean and Jessy to have a dance off, and basically just chilled. It was a lot of fun. Aisha and Sean got to know each other pretty well...and that was really cute.
During the week nights after school kareoke at Szwe..!??!'s house seemed to be the hot spot. Seeing Niko and Fabian sing the Titanic theme song to each other will always make me laugh. Justin was also really good at singing techno...so good that one night we all made him sing a song for each and every one of us.
First official day of spring break I had to wake up early and be at the school by 7. We then all piled onto a bus and headed to St. Louis. The bus ride was really longggggggggggggg. It was fun though because we all got to chill and talk. Our first stop was the arch and we all made it past the security...even though Clay and I were threatening each other with hand signals haha. We were divided into groups and Alex and I were the only scared ones for the elevator and we were both in the same one. I hit my head on the way in the elevator and freaked out the entire way up. Clay was scared that ALex and I (one on each side) were either going to get sick or piss ourselves. hahaha. We made it up ok. The top of the arch was really neat. I had never been there before so taking pictures was a must. It was amazing how all of the people looked so small. After visiting the arch we all rockied down the stairs while singing the theme song and then headed to the St. Louis cathedral. We got there and sat down and listened to a tour guide. I nearly laughed out loud when Niko leaned towards me and whispered, "I think that woman is almost 100 years old". I had to agree. The cathedral was so pretty. For the most part I listened to the tour guide but it was interesting just wandering off on your own to see the different art work all around the church. Then my cell phone went off because I didn't hold down the power button for long enough...yeah talk about embarrassing. I felt like the biggest idiot and also rude. Bach wasn't too angry with me though. Finally after all of the historical events we headed to a place that I know a little more about. A MALL. First thing that we did was eat...OF COURSE. After eating at the low varietied food court we all kind of meandered. Jessy was bummed because of a fight with her x boyfriend on the internet and Zack and I tried cheering her up by showing her a tee shirt that said, "Oh great...you are going to try and cheer me up aren't you?"...and it was funny because all day that's what we had been doing. The day went by pretty fast and after the long drive home we were all up for bowling so to Plaza Lanes we went.
bowling was such a big hit that we ended up doing that a few times. I never actually bowled but it was a lot of fun watching people. For the first time I saw people actually walk out on the lanes thanks to Jessy and Alex! HAHAHAHA. The lady working was seriously so pissed but it made my night. After bowling we partied it up at JK's house where we played some pool, mario kart, and also a bit od DDR.
Even though I refused...MANY TIMES, even on the drive to the ownes center...I ended up ice skating for the first time in my life. Strangely I didn't find it that hard. This is probably because the entire time either Josh or Alex or Zack or Travis held my hand. At first Alex pulled me out into the middle of the rink and then just let go. Of course he got a kick out of that while I stood there helplessly screaming as my legs drifted apart. Then (not know that I had never ice skated before) out of nowhere came Travis and Zack grabbed my hands and started to skate really fast and I fell. Not only did I fall but Travis's blade went into my leg...yeah it's still really gross looking.
After spending the entire Wednesday at JK's house just chillen we had to wake up early on Thursday to go to Chicago. I sat next to Jessy and I go to listen to some German rap and also some techno. BIG DIFFERENCE! It was really neat though. First thing that we did was hit up a McDonalds. Then is what a boat ride. I sat next to Niko and Fabian...which means that you are deffinetly up for a ride! hahahaha. We all ended up getting really wet but it was a lot of fun. Niko asked me where the statue of liberty was. I pretty much love that kid even though he thinks that I drive way too fast. After the really long boat ride we went to some very large building to eat. Matt Winkler and I aren't too good at following directions so instead of eating at our desginate table we ate our $10.00 meals at our own table near some other Metamora people. We had some interesting conversations...I think that kid is hilarious. After eating we went to the Hancock building...like 92 floors up? We took some sweet pictures in the elevaor on the way up as my ears popped about 4 times. Once we reached the top we took many pictures...and even looked for Oprah. We also enjoyed 5 dollar cokes while doing this. best coke I have ever had. After the Hancock building we wandered off to the Navy Pier. It was really warm so instead of walking around the group that I was with went into a sweet McDonalds. Matt and I took about 30 pictures with Josh's camera...20 of them being random tile and then a picture of a bus that on the side read "latino express". The bus ride home was rather interesting...after a long sex talk Zack finally saved me and I moved seats haha.
Friday Jessy and I went to the mall where she got her nails done. Quite the experience seeing as all of the people working there were Chinese. After the mall I took her to Hardees where she had never been before. I think she liked it but like everyone else she wondered why everything has to be so big. Later that night we went to Planet X. It was kind of boring...but I tried teaching Clay how to skate and I also got hit on by a like 13 year old. I tried telling him that I was from Germany but he noticed that I didn't have an accent. Jessy and I made an ice cream bet and then that night Zack and I also raced home.
Saturday was the last real day. The day was really sad and pretty much a day of closure. Zack, Alex, Jessy, and I all went to DQ where I bought her an ice cream...from a bet that I lost hmmmmmmmmmm hahaha. Later that night we all went to Jk's house. The party went intell 12 but seriously I didn't want it to end. We had a big bon fire and then all hung out inside and basically just chilled. It was a really emotional night...and I have rug burns! haha
This morning was probably one of the saddest in my life. The moment I saw Jessy this morning we both started to tear up. Then I couldn't hold it in when she gave me her teddy bear and sprayed it with my fave perfume of hers. We gave her some easter presents and she said goodbye to my family. Everyone cried haha it was really sad. Then we were both silent the whole ride to Metamora because if either one us were to talk we would cry. We pulled up to the school and I saw everyone and tried not to cry. Alex was trying to give out peeps to everyone and that is what kept me from crying haha. When the bus pulled up we all knew it was time for them to leave. Jessy and I said goodbye and instantly started to cry. Alex came up and hugged me while saying, "oh Am" which I am seriously going to miss so much. I am going to miss so many things. I am going to miss Jessy and her random questions, Niko and his prank calls "If you call again my daughter I will paint the wall with your brain", Alex's hugs and the fact he couldn't say Em or smoothe, but mainly just the whole experience. Mainly I am greatful. I made some great friends from Metamora and Germany. Sadly I am not going to Germany with them...but next summer I am. I am so pumped that I want to start counting down the days right now! I love all of them and I feel like I made 11 new best friends and that they all left. This has been one of the best things ever...and I will never ever forget it.
I also wish I had more pictures...but Alex and Jessy got my camera wet from Zack's hot tub...so I don't really have many haha.
Em...or should I say AM.
March 25th Grace and I headed to the school at around 4:30 and picked up Jessica a.k.a Jessy. I was extremely nervous because she was going to be living with me for three weeks. We anxiously waited for their arrival and stood outside the school. When the bus arrived Jessy quickly found me and we had a awkward introduction. Looking back I find it funny because I used the word "chill" and "crazy" about 50 times. I met Aisha, Mica(sp?), and also Alex who I had been talking to via Myspace. Everyone was kind of tired so after driving around a bit Jessy came home and then met my family. We asked Jessy if she wanted to stay home and sleep...but she was ready to hit the town. So we did. Suz, Jessy, and I drove around and had a mellow night of barnes and nobeling ending with us meeting up with some guys at steak and shake. All went well until Morten the denmark kid planted a large dent/scratch on my 2006 Ford Focus. To this day seeing it pisses me off.
The next day there was a pot luck at the school. I showed Jessy around her classes and also taught her how to open a locker. It was a bit awkward because the Americans and Germans were...seperated but we couldn't help but be shy. I met two boys named Niko and Fabian this day. Right off the bat I knew they were going to be a lot of fun.
After memorizing her schedule, March 27th Jessy came to school with me the first day. I was nervous myself so I know that she had to be nervous. Before school we met up with the rest of the exchange students and they were all really excited to start schooling. Lucky for them they hardly did anything. Majority of the time they spent their time in the computer lab or hanging out in the German room speaking with Bach and his classes.
On the 31st Suz and I took Jessy to see the school's mussical. Intermission was entertaining because Bockler was "in charge" and I also talked to Alex for a bit about the mussical. He found it a bit boring but Jessy liked it a lot. She even cried! Also she spent about 15 minutes that night trying to teach me how to whistle...still haven't mastered that. After the mussical we went out for pizza and it was another night already over.
Taco Bell was a place that Alex and Jessy both wanted to try so one school night Suz and I drove to Washington. Once we got there I had to help Alex and Jessy order. They started eating and I don't think that they really minded the food but it was hilarious when Alex said, "ewww...this soda tastes like chlor"...meaning chlorine.
April 1st the family and I headed out for dinner with Jessy to celebrate an early birthday dinner. Ironically it was Chinese and I hate Chinese. I didn't mind because she had a good time and there was always the ice cream!
April 2nd was Jessy's birthday. That night we had a small get together at my grandma's house. Jessy got a lot of nice gifts and it was nice celebrating her sweet 16. I even beat ALex at pool...and I am really bad at it. Clay and Alex found a wooden game of some sort and made fun of me saying that it was MY cell phone. Then somehow a joke about me calling Mickey started and basically Mickey and I are BFF now.
School continued on but the German exchange students lucked out and got to go to Springfield and also the University of Illinois Campus. Allthough they didn't consider it lucky because they were extremely bored. Their last day of school was fun...I unfortunately had to retake a quiz in German but afterwards Alex and I used a cookie cutter to draw a cupcake on the bored. I was really excited because school was ending and Spring Break was starting.
Friday night Szwwe..!??! had a party and it was a lot of fun. The "sandwhich" inside joke started and has yet to end to this day. We sang kareoke, ate, tried to get Sean and Jessy to have a dance off, and basically just chilled. It was a lot of fun. Aisha and Sean got to know each other pretty well...and that was really cute.
During the week nights after school kareoke at Szwe..!??!'s house seemed to be the hot spot. Seeing Niko and Fabian sing the Titanic theme song to each other will always make me laugh. Justin was also really good at singing techno...so good that one night we all made him sing a song for each and every one of us.
First official day of spring break I had to wake up early and be at the school by 7. We then all piled onto a bus and headed to St. Louis. The bus ride was really longggggggggggggg. It was fun though because we all got to chill and talk. Our first stop was the arch and we all made it past the security...even though Clay and I were threatening each other with hand signals haha. We were divided into groups and Alex and I were the only scared ones for the elevator and we were both in the same one. I hit my head on the way in the elevator and freaked out the entire way up. Clay was scared that ALex and I (one on each side) were either going to get sick or piss ourselves. hahaha. We made it up ok. The top of the arch was really neat. I had never been there before so taking pictures was a must. It was amazing how all of the people looked so small. After visiting the arch we all rockied down the stairs while singing the theme song and then headed to the St. Louis cathedral. We got there and sat down and listened to a tour guide. I nearly laughed out loud when Niko leaned towards me and whispered, "I think that woman is almost 100 years old". I had to agree. The cathedral was so pretty. For the most part I listened to the tour guide but it was interesting just wandering off on your own to see the different art work all around the church. Then my cell phone went off because I didn't hold down the power button for long enough...yeah talk about embarrassing. I felt like the biggest idiot and also rude. Bach wasn't too angry with me though. Finally after all of the historical events we headed to a place that I know a little more about. A MALL. First thing that we did was eat...OF COURSE. After eating at the low varietied food court we all kind of meandered. Jessy was bummed because of a fight with her x boyfriend on the internet and Zack and I tried cheering her up by showing her a tee shirt that said, "Oh great...you are going to try and cheer me up aren't you?"...and it was funny because all day that's what we had been doing. The day went by pretty fast and after the long drive home we were all up for bowling so to Plaza Lanes we went.
bowling was such a big hit that we ended up doing that a few times. I never actually bowled but it was a lot of fun watching people. For the first time I saw people actually walk out on the lanes thanks to Jessy and Alex! HAHAHAHA. The lady working was seriously so pissed but it made my night. After bowling we partied it up at JK's house where we played some pool, mario kart, and also a bit od DDR.
Even though I refused...MANY TIMES, even on the drive to the ownes center...I ended up ice skating for the first time in my life. Strangely I didn't find it that hard. This is probably because the entire time either Josh or Alex or Zack or Travis held my hand. At first Alex pulled me out into the middle of the rink and then just let go. Of course he got a kick out of that while I stood there helplessly screaming as my legs drifted apart. Then (not know that I had never ice skated before) out of nowhere came Travis and Zack grabbed my hands and started to skate really fast and I fell. Not only did I fall but Travis's blade went into my leg...yeah it's still really gross looking.
After spending the entire Wednesday at JK's house just chillen we had to wake up early on Thursday to go to Chicago. I sat next to Jessy and I go to listen to some German rap and also some techno. BIG DIFFERENCE! It was really neat though. First thing that we did was hit up a McDonalds. Then is what a boat ride. I sat next to Niko and Fabian...which means that you are deffinetly up for a ride! hahahaha. We all ended up getting really wet but it was a lot of fun. Niko asked me where the statue of liberty was. I pretty much love that kid even though he thinks that I drive way too fast. After the really long boat ride we went to some very large building to eat. Matt Winkler and I aren't too good at following directions so instead of eating at our desginate table we ate our $10.00 meals at our own table near some other Metamora people. We had some interesting conversations...I think that kid is hilarious. After eating we went to the Hancock building...like 92 floors up? We took some sweet pictures in the elevaor on the way up as my ears popped about 4 times. Once we reached the top we took many pictures...and even looked for Oprah. We also enjoyed 5 dollar cokes while doing this. best coke I have ever had. After the Hancock building we wandered off to the Navy Pier. It was really warm so instead of walking around the group that I was with went into a sweet McDonalds. Matt and I took about 30 pictures with Josh's camera...20 of them being random tile and then a picture of a bus that on the side read "latino express". The bus ride home was rather interesting...after a long sex talk Zack finally saved me and I moved seats haha.
Friday Jessy and I went to the mall where she got her nails done. Quite the experience seeing as all of the people working there were Chinese. After the mall I took her to Hardees where she had never been before. I think she liked it but like everyone else she wondered why everything has to be so big. Later that night we went to Planet X. It was kind of boring...but I tried teaching Clay how to skate and I also got hit on by a like 13 year old. I tried telling him that I was from Germany but he noticed that I didn't have an accent. Jessy and I made an ice cream bet and then that night Zack and I also raced home.
Saturday was the last real day. The day was really sad and pretty much a day of closure. Zack, Alex, Jessy, and I all went to DQ where I bought her an ice cream...from a bet that I lost hmmmmmmmmmm hahaha. Later that night we all went to Jk's house. The party went intell 12 but seriously I didn't want it to end. We had a big bon fire and then all hung out inside and basically just chilled. It was a really emotional night...and I have rug burns! haha
This morning was probably one of the saddest in my life. The moment I saw Jessy this morning we both started to tear up. Then I couldn't hold it in when she gave me her teddy bear and sprayed it with my fave perfume of hers. We gave her some easter presents and she said goodbye to my family. Everyone cried haha it was really sad. Then we were both silent the whole ride to Metamora because if either one us were to talk we would cry. We pulled up to the school and I saw everyone and tried not to cry. Alex was trying to give out peeps to everyone and that is what kept me from crying haha. When the bus pulled up we all knew it was time for them to leave. Jessy and I said goodbye and instantly started to cry. Alex came up and hugged me while saying, "oh Am" which I am seriously going to miss so much. I am going to miss so many things. I am going to miss Jessy and her random questions, Niko and his prank calls "If you call again my daughter I will paint the wall with your brain", Alex's hugs and the fact he couldn't say Em or smoothe, but mainly just the whole experience. Mainly I am greatful. I made some great friends from Metamora and Germany. Sadly I am not going to Germany with them...but next summer I am. I am so pumped that I want to start counting down the days right now! I love all of them and I feel like I made 11 new best friends and that they all left. This has been one of the best things ever...and I will never ever forget it.
I also wish I had more pictures...but Alex and Jessy got my camera wet from Zack's hot tub...so I don't really have many haha.
Em...or should I say AM.