Dress Shopping

 This weekend was totally amazing. Yesterday Whitney has had a competition with her Academic Team - This team is the best! They are so smart, seems like they know everything. In the evening we went to Bob Evans, the typical american restaurant.

Today was church and after that we went to lunch with a nice older couple from our church at Ruby Tuesdays. It was great, they've been really funny.
After lunch we went to Richmond to find a homecoming dress for Whitney - That was amazing! Althought I've already got my dress I guess there's never been any day of my life I tried on so many dresses. Whitney finally found her dress. It looks beautiful, she looks like the ocean, haha :D
There's been one dress I looked like a peacock in it. :D

Flower & Sea (Whitney's homecoming dress)

But see for yourself:

The peacock... :D

 

Homecoming Game ♥

In the evening there was the homecoming game: First the girls basketball game, then the presenting of every class from middle- and highschool, and afterwards the boys basketball game.
I have to admit the boys basketball game was awesome! They play like little champs. If I'd have to play against them I'd be totally scared, haha.
Before the game everyone in the gym stood up and music was playing. When the music stopped everyone sat down. Taren (on of my friends) said: "It's been long time since they've done it." And I went like: "Yeah it was such a great, great music...!", with kind of an ironic undertone. "Lara, that was the national anthem of the United States...". THIS WAS EMBARASSING!! I'm so glad they laughed with me about it. I guess others would have been angry.. :D
I also made fun of the cheerleaders nearly the whole time. They're cute and funny at the same time, haha :D I love watching them. They really cheer you up.  c:
The girls lost the game miserably but the boys won it with 61 to 28 points. The games have been really cool.

But nothing compares to the presenting of the classes and coronation of the homecoming queen and king. Last week every class had to choose two couples presenting their class at homecoming game. They had to dress up and Mr. Akers named their interests and their favourite psalm in the bible.
But he totally left out Logan and Caroline. He just went on, this was so funny because everyone in the stadium was wondering and whispering. As Mr. Akers recognized what he had done he was just laughing. Logan and Caroline are fortunately not mad about that.
I love all their dresses and it was so crazy seeing some of the folks you usually go to school with so wonderful. It was only great. They went as couples there and I guess many of them are going as couples to the homecoming prom too. From the highschool nearly everyone has a homecoming date. Many girls and boys are just going as friends. Surprisingly I've got a homecoming date now too. Of course we're just going as friends. His name's Spencer. He asked me out on the ice scating trip. It's cool but it's really not a big deal because nearly everyone has someone to go with.
Here come some photos of couples from the homecoming game: I love them ♥

Homecoming King and Queen.

Ice Scating

Whitney and me.

The Ice Scating has been so great! It was really fun. It wasn't even crowded althought the 130 people. There was also a gym for playing volleyball and basketball. It was really fun.
Our bus - One of the typical yellow american school buses ♥ - broke down for five times. The first four times the bus driver was able to start it again but the last time (ten minutes from school) he wasn't... Our parents had to pick it up. I guess this is why they call the bus "Stinky Twinky":D

Bits And Pieces

Checkmate :)

Katie's locker.

The last two days have been quite casual. I haven't done much special. Yesterday evening Whitney and me played chess. It was so funny. She didn't kill any of my peasants and I slowly gone mad because I couldn't go anywhere because of all the peasants in the middle. And she went: "Well, I'm not for war..." Haha. :D It was great. I've won with my aim: Don't having any more peasant but all of the other figures. :D

I am so excited for today! First we're going on a trip with the Highschool and Middleschool: We're going Ice Scating in Lexington. That'll be so great.
In the evening there's a basketball game of our girls and after that the Homecoming Court. It means that 4 guys of every class are present their class. I guess that'll be fun too.
In choosing a court there've been big problem in 9th grade: Katie and one other boy were chosen first. Then the boy didn't want anymore but Katie already had her dress. It gave a revote and Katie didn't win. She's been so upset afterwards. Whitney and me decorated her locker with lots of sweet and that stuff the next morning. Katie was just laughing, it was great ♥

Have a great day, I'm sure I'll have one :)

Snowwolves that make you cry..!

I think I already told you about my dear english teacher Ms VanHoose. It's not that I hate her... No...!
On Saturday there's Seargeant Meyer coming to our school to hold a speech about how he saved the lives of 30 people. And Ms VanHoose told us they're planning to make a binder for him and whoever wants to write something can do that (and would get 10 bonus points on the test...) And either way I needed a new story for my website so I've written a story for Seargeant Meyer. She didn't tell me ANYTHING about it for the last two weeks. I guessed this was because it was written very personal like a letter with many feelings and you don't correct personal letters or read them out... Then:

*Today in english class.*Ms VanHoose: "Firstly I wanted to request you to still write something for Seargeant Meyer. So far just one of you turned it in."
Lara: Oh my gosh...Ms VanHoose: "And she turned it in even right after I asked you! And I've been so impressed of her story!
Lara: No...Ms VanHoose: "And I'd like to read it out now!"
Lara: OH MY GOSH! As long as she doesn't meantion my name...Ms VanHoose: "Lara? Would that be okay for you?"
Lara (totally shocked): "Ehem... Yes... If you'd like to..." Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!*Ms VanHoose starts reading. Lara hides her head behind her hands and begins writing senseless, mean stuff on a sheet of paper:*
I will kidnap her. I will kidnap her and leave her alone in a forest. And hope that she'll never ever come back. Too late for that. If I'd stand up, run past Ms VanHoose to the window, raise the shutters, open the window, jump out of it and rescue myself to the next state... Would she be fast enough to stop me? Tennessee would be fine. And then never ever come again. Yeah, that might work. Too late!! She'll finish in three, two, one... Now. Grrr!
*Applause - Lara's head becomes a potatoe*
Ms VanHoose: "Yeah, you should give her your honor! This story is perfectly touching! I cried as I first read it. Really, I cried! I hope this story inspires you all to write something! It's so wonderful!!"

That was the worst thing since I'm here. I hate it so badly when everyone is starring at me! My friends all nodded appreciating. All of the others might think I'm a geek now...
I needed the whole english and US history lesson to let my thoughts calm down.
Then:

*After history on the floor. Lara walks innocently along. Then she hears a voice of Spencer, a boy who's NOT in my english class
*Spencer: "Lara! Hold on!"
Lara: "Hey. What's up?"
Spencer: "I just wanted to tell you that I love your story!"
Lara: "... Which story?"
Spencer: "The one Ms VanHoose read in english."
Lara: "Oh my gosh. This was so embarassing. Who did tell you about that?"
Spencer: "Oh no. She read it out in our class."
Lara: "No! No! She read it out?"
Spencer: "Yeah?"
Lara: "I leave this country."
Spencer: "Why?"
Lara: "Ms VanHoose has got FOUR english classes! If she'll read it out in every class they'll all know my name! Oh my gosh... They'll all think I'm a geek."
Spencer: "I'm sorry..."
Lara: "It's not your fault..."

Haha, that was an adventure... I guess I might have exaggerated a little, in fact it has been a great compliment for me that she even cried, but I just hated them all starring at me like I would have comitted a crime.
Hope you liked my "funny" interpretation of that day.
Love you!

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

Just watched a preview of the broadway musical we're going to perform. Oh my gosh, this is awesome! I'll love it. To all musical fans, you should watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AL3qpCbJqM

One scene goes like that:
Man: Well, someday we're going to marry. I of course didn't forget you! But first: Do you have any idea how we can make profite? What am I going to do with this company?
Woman: I wouldn't care if you'd sell the whole company. I love you.
Man: Say that again.
Woman: I love you.
Man: No. The sentence before.
Woman: I wouldn't care if you'd sell the whole company?
Man: Yes! This is a good idea. Of course not sell the whole company, but parts of it... etc.

At the beginning I'm going to play one of the business men you see in the video during the song "Brotherhood of men" and during the rest of the play I'll be one of the women in the beautiful dresses! It is so awesome! I love it. ♥

Loved Monday...

Today was more realxing than I thought it would be - I mean it's monday! Mondays are usually never relaxing. I've written my first two tests in english and chemistry and I didn't learn anything but actually tests are quite easy because they're multiple-choice... You can't to many things wrong. I recognized I've got more than three sentences in the play. It must be about ten. But I also have a singing part... They will all have to go to a doctor afterwards... :D
After school I've been to the cheerleader training but they told me that it would be to late to participate in the games and competitions so I'm not going to do that. But I'll participate in a Science Competition in march. That'll be fun, I hope. Don't really know how it'll be like so far.
I guess I'll join the handball team that starts in march or the environmental-group. Haha, they've got so funny things here!
I'm going to bed now. Bye, bye! Have a great tuesday ;)

2nd week in the US

The second week in the US is just over and I've already done so many things. On tuesday we've been to the gym the first time. It was good. After 30 minutes on my treadmill stood: 260 Calories, Distance: 2.20 miles. Don't have any idea if this is good or not, haha.
In drama class we play "How to succeed in business without really trying". It's a broadway musical (in NY Daniel Radcliff plays the main character). It's really funny! I love drama class althought I only say about three or four sentences in the play. I guess I have to cope with that because I'm new. But I can sing and dance, this makes it alright! :D
I do also enjoy US History and english. Well... My english teacher Ms VanHoose is a meanie!! I mean she's a very good teacher but she always gives so much homework and writes quizes (quiz = Test; test = Klausur) and lets me revise my article about three times.
Friday has been the best day that week. School was okay. On friday's we don't have drama after school but another worship with all classes. This worship was crazy!! A pastor named Alan Fisher came around and before the short worship we played a game: Highschool against Middleschool. This was awesome! Of every part there was one leader. Ours was Jordan Taylor, a boy who's also in my chemistry class. The things we had to do were just like: „Which team can firstly get three left shoes onto the stage?“. And suddenly millions of shoes flew over my head hitting Jordan, the pastor and the leader of the small ones. But the most funniest thing was: „Which team has the student with the most strange tic?“. Bobby (highschooler) danced. It looked absolutely strange... If you want to watch it just write me, I'll show it to you! ;)
In the evening there was a party at church. It was so funny! There was a competition: Who can draw the things we say better with blindfolded eyes?

Mine (above) and Whitney's (beneath)
drawing.

They wanted two guys who are good in drawing. Whitney suggested me, I suggested Whitney. So it was me against Whitney. It was so funny! They began with: Draw a sun, draw birds, draw a house, draw a bike. But then they started with: Now draw people in your house. Draw a man onto your bike... ?! "Where was my bike???". It was so funny. On the right you see our pictures. I've won but I guess that's only because I used more than one colour, haha :D To Whitney: I love your bird!
Regocnized the flying car? I thought I would've already consumed all the place at the ground so I've drawn in into the sky and written "Harry Potter Car" above it. Remember the second Harry Potter movie where Ron and Harry travel to Hogwarts in the flying car? This is it! Yeah, I am a creative person :D Then we played table foosball. Whitney and me against two smaller ones. We've won every time :) They said I'm a natural talent in drawing, table foosball and table-tennis. Acutally I don't think so. But it was fun when I wanted to drop a little ball into a mini-basketball hoop that stood about 10 metres away and the ceiling was very low and the small ones said: "Look at it. I bet she does it the first time!". :D       I love them, they're so cute. - Of course I didn't get it.
However. Yesterday (saturday) we just stayed inside and bought some food. This was perfectly relaxing.
Today was church. Wow, it took three hours... First a "lesson" and then the worship. I mean I like the worships here but compared to german ones they're different. In Germany they read more out of the bible and let you your space to understand it how you want to and here they read only a little but explain that for feeled hours. I'll get used to it. Also it's new to me having three worships a week: One with on wednesday (but I love this one, it's relaxed and there's something like a meeting for adolescents before, that's funny), one on friday in school and one one sunday. 

After church today Whitney and me went shopping for Homecoming. with 3 other girls in Whitney's class. Homecoming is a party on 10^th of February. Every class had to choose a homecoming court who is going to present the own class already on Friday after a basketball game. Also we've chosen the homecoming „King and Queen“ but we'll get to officially know them on 10^th of February. The topic of the evening is „Valentine's Day“. So I guess the scenery will be very cute! This topic gives you a lot of freedom in choosing your dress. I just thought something nice would be good. And as I already promised some of you I'll upload the pictures of my dress.
Goodness, I LOVE MY SHOES! ♥
See you!

The weekend in Memphis

I'm sorry for not writing for a few days! Memphis has been great. We've done so many things that I'm going to structure this post a little. Enjoy!

1. Graceland
Visiting Graceland is what we did on Saturday morning. Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and 13.8-acre (5.6 ha) estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard and less than four miles (6 km) north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as a museum. It was opened to the public on June 7, 1982.

Only a few of Elvis' prizes.

I have to say: Elvis has had a great style! Every single room was keyed to special colours or themes and it looked so great. I really liked the so called „Jungleroom“ and the living room. The Jungleroom looks just like a jungle: Green and brown colours, everywhere are plants, a panda sitting on a chair etc. The living room was so bright and just wonderful. It was mainly white and blue but just look at it (see below). It's wonderful.
Furthermore we've taken a look inside of his airplane „Lisa Marie“. This was amazing! There was a meeting room, two bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms. And everything was so huge and there was a lot of room. Elvis Presley's daughter even spent one birthday flying in the airplane! I'd like to do that too, haha.
Moreover we took a look at his cars and clothes. For that I'm not so into cars the only thing I meantioned was that he had a lot of cars... The most ones have been very noticeable in colours as white, pink, turquoise or black.
His clothes have been very noticeable in brashy colours too. I loved the suit he wore as he married Priscilla. Plain but gentleman-like.
The most awesome thing was the amount of prizes Elvis had won during his life! You wouldn't believe it!
At Graceland there are also the graves of Elvis and some of his family members. This was kind of sad.
So all in all it was a great matter to see and if you'll ever come to Memphis you should go there!

Whitney and me in front of the villa.

The "Jungle Room".

The living room.

2. Hard Rock Café
After visiting Graceland we went to the Hard Rock Café Memphis. Of course it was great, I mean: It's a Hard Rock Café. They are all great! The Hard Rock Café is placed in Beale Street. This streat was totally awesome. Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street. It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of the blues. Today, the blues clubs and restaurants that line Beale Street are major tourist attractions in Memphis. Everything there was so colourful, I loved it. The only embarassing about the Hard Rock Café was when I wanted to go to the bathroom and suddenly stood right inside of the kitchen... Typically me.

3.Cinema

On Saturday evening we went to the cinema. I love cinemas in the US. They're so colourful! It looks funny, totally different than in Germany. We went into the movie “ The joyful noise” with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. It was amazing, the movie was great.

Kati, me and Whitney (from left) inside of the cinema.

4. Church 
The first time I've went to an American church. American churches seem to be much different than german ones. It was very relaxed, they sang a lot. And as in Desperate Housewives they shake each others hands and wish them a good morning. It was even kind of fun. Well, I'm wondering how church in Somerset will be next Sunday.

5. Familiy
The family we stayed with is related to my host family. They are so nice. She older woman's name is Gloria but I don't remember her husband's name. During our stay with them a few other family members came visiting us. For example Kati who is the same age as Whitney and me. She's Whitney's cousin. Then there was Preston, one year younger than Whitney and me. Also cousin.
Then there've been three or four small ones... About 5-10 years I guess. I don't remember all their names either. But they all were kind of fun!!
Katie was the whole time with Whitney and me: In Graceland, in the Hard Rock Café, in the cinema. She's really funny, I like her.
Gloria was always like: “Oh Goodness! I'm going to place you beside my bed and just let you talk! You're such a cutie. I love it when you talk. Say something again!”.
The smaller ones seemed to love me because I'm a german. They said things like “You're going to be my best german friend. Forever and always!!”. And one of the small boys didn't believe me I'm from Germany. He always said: “No, you are from England. You don't have a german accent!”. Gloria said I'd have an australian one. This was kind of fun.
In the morning I've just heard the small one scream: “I want to wake the german girl up!! I never woke a german girl up!”.
And Preston said: “We could put ice in her face.” He was so nice to, kind of a meanie, but nice.
We played a game where you have to bring the water to an alligotor. I didn't get it and the alligator always started crying. Preston asked me why I always make the alligator cry. I anwered: “Because I like making others cry. So: Cry!” This became Whitney's and mine insider joke :D
Whitney, Katie, Preston and me had a lot fun together this weekend.
Memphis is really a great city!

A part of the family.

Memphis, the "City Of Choice"

Whitney`s drawing of the Haribo bears
inside of your stomach.

I just arrived in Memphis with my host family. We'll stay here until monday with a part of their family. On Monday there's no school because of Martin Luther King Day. This is great.
Memphis is a city of choice. Middle income families live here, all students have options for the future, poor families move into the economic mainstream, and talented workers are developed, attracted, and retained.
The journey took about 5 hours but it was kind of funny. Whitney just discovered the golden bears of "Haribo". And whatever you do with them, they pop back in their standard form. You should try it, it's awesome!! I made a joke and said that even after you swallowed them, they still pop back into the right form in your stomach. Whitney has drewn a picture of that, it was great!
Then we watched "Night in the Museum". Funny movie.
So the next days we're going to go to Graceland and the Hard Café. Does anyone want to have a souevenir? If yes, just write me! ;)
Have a nice weekend!

Snowfree! ♥

Yeah, today's snowfree. I have to admit it's only free for the first two hours but in fact this is better than nothing, althought I'm at the only school in the country (!) where the pupils have got to go today...

Let it snow

The view from my room's window

My maths test. :D

Yes, it just snowed over here. This is kind of irony when I think about a question a boy asked my yesterday: "Have you already been to Antarctica?" I don't know why but he seems to think that Germans would travel to Antarctica a lot. ^^ This was strange. But I like him, he's nice. He's in my drama class too.
I was able to change my schedule a little today. Instead of Biology I took Bible and instead of Bible in the 4th lesson I took Geometry. It was simple (I guess) if I would have understood at least one word of the test they were writing. Tell me what this shall mean: "Write the point-slope form, slope-intercept form, and standard form of an equation for a line that passes trough (-1,2) with slope 4.
Yeah, I looked the same way... God thanks that I didn't have to submit the test to the teacher! I just drew a rabbit in a garden and a panda bear onto the paper. But the austrian girl told me that after a while I'll be alright with these formulations - I just hope so.
Drama was as cool as yesterday - I really enjoy that. The games (as the teacher calls it: doctrines) are so funny! Improvisation brings a lot of fun.
I gotta end writing now, I still have to write an anecdote for english.
Good night to you! Kisses to you!

The Everyday Life

Actually my first day in Somerset ended. All in all I think I've given my very best and everything has worked out perfectly good.
I stood up in the morning at 6.30 and took a shower. The breakfast consisted of cereals with milk, it was alright. After that my host mother drove Whitney and me to school.
The school is called Somerset Christian School. It's actually a small school but I like that. It rained as we got out the car. The principal was standing in front of the school's door and said Good Morning to every student. He's very nice. He explained the different possibilies of subjects I'm able to choose, shown the different room to me and introduced my teachers. Actually I've only got three different teachers.

Principal Hale

Here comes my actual time-table. In the USA the students have the same time-table for every day:

1. Biology - Mrs. Adkins
2. Trigonometry - Mrs. Pierce
3. Chemistry - Mrs. Adkins
4. Bible - Mrs. Adkins
  25 minutes lunch.
5. English - Mrs. VanHoose
6. US History - Mr. Akers
7. Drama - Mr. Akers

But in fact I guess I'm going to replace 'Biology' with 'Bible' and for 'Bible' I'll put 'Assistant Principal'... I'll see what it is, it sounds easy. :)
The hours at school were very crazy. I've just been around in Biology lesson for the last ten minutes but I was already confused...
Trigonometry has been bare nonsense to me... At SCS (Somerset Christian School) there are four different classes of maths: Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Trigonometry. I don't really know why I've chosen Trigonometry. I guess because it was the highest level of maths (There's also PreCalculus but this is already studying for univerity). I was sitting there the whole 50 minutes just thinking "God, send brain from heaven...". My maths class is kindly weird. We're eleven pupils and nine of them are exchange students - This is absolutely crazy. There are one french girl, one italian girl, two pupils from Denmark, two from South Korea, one chinese girl and one other german boy - and me. The other german boy remembers me on a boy I already know. Peter? If you read that, I mean you ;)
Then there was another boy who's also been in my Biology class. He looked at me and said in such a serious voice: "Hey, are you still able to change you classes?" "Yes, why?" "Get out of the biology class. Seriously. This is no joke. After the first year I considered to kill myself. This is horror." For just one moment I deliberated if he said the truth. I guess he didn't. But I never wanted to take biology so as I already said I wanna replace it with 'Bible'.
After that I've had Chemistry. This was so easy! In comparison to what we've already done it Germany they are very slow in Chemistry here. They were jsut talking about the periodic system and names of atoms. The only tricky thing for me is that the names of some atoms are different. Today our teacher wanted to which substance is this: Na. In Germany it's called Natrium but in english they call it Sodium. There're several lot of differences between the german and english chemical words I have to know about.
Then I went on to my bible class. I cannot say much about this. It's quite a big class, I never had Bible lessons before. They really work the bible, read sentences, talk about them, and so on. I'm not sure if like it yet.
The lunch here is just like in High School Musical - Inside of the cafeteria there're round tables and a few square ones and everybody's sitting in their 'group'. The senior boys, the senior girls, the sportsman, etc. It was exciting. After lunch I've had the best two hours of the day: English and US History. These are totally my subjects. English is just like German in Germany (of course). That's why I like it. We were starting to write an anecdote today.
US History was amazing. I love the teacher. He's so different to all my history teachers in Germany. He explains the things so vivid and you like to listen to him. There's just one problem about him: He always lets the pupils write down the whole transparency. Whitney told me his second name would be "Board Man". Well, I like him althought.
All in all the lessons are very different than those in Germany. Here the teachers like friends. The pupils seem to do whatever they want when they've finished their task. In my maths class two girls were just starting listening to music and singing to it. Well, it's exciting. The teachers even laugh about it. They're all so friendly.
From 2.10-3.00 pm I've got my elective which is Drama. I really, really enjoyed it. It was so funny, they seem to work very much with improvisation. It was great.
At last there was the after-school club. I joined the same one as Whitney does today. It's called "Homemade Club". They want to help creating a better society and improve the atmosphere at school. Sounds very nice. In the next few days I will try to join the academic team, the environmental group and the year-book group (maybe not every of them but one or two).
All in all the people here are really opened and lovely. They come to you and show you the stuff you need. There hasn't been even five minutes at my locker I had to spend alone because always anyone came and said "Hello, you have to be Lara!". It's crazy so many people suddenly know me but it's alright. The only thing I'm not able to manage is my locker... Puh, it is so complecated to open it! I'm sure I will habituate on it but now I'm not able to open it with less than two tries... I will get it tomorrow! Also they've got cool school uniforms here. I will get them soon.

Somerset Christian School

The evening I've spent with Whitney in the church. Well, it wasn't really the church. It was (I guess) rooms next to the church. It was fine there. There were adolescents from all over Somerset and a few from my school. I met one other girl from Germany. This was great. And there was pasta with bread and it everything was quite relaxed. Then they all moved to another room to sing a few songs, hear short speeches of people who did something for their faith. That was kind of interesting.

So, now I told you nearly everything about that day... I hope I didn't bore you, if I did I'm sorry.
To the guys in Germany: I miss you. I've just seen the photos I've brought with me standing on the desk - Spechial greeting to Isa, Alice, Steffen, my mom, dad and grandmother. Still love you ♥
I'll say good night now, sleep well and wish me luck for tomorrow!

Welcome to America

Me at Chicago Airport eating my Chicken Nuggets :D

Hey there guys!
I'm well received in Kentucky althought the flight has been very, very crazy! From Düsseldorf to Munich everything was going alright and the plane from Munich to Chicago was the best I've ever been inside of. There was a small TV in front of every seat and there've been so many movies available to watch. I just decided for "Puss in Boots" - This movie is so cute and funny! The man next to me had a weird look at me after I laughed so loudly because the speaking egg in the movie said: "Let me go. I'm not a person, I'm not a bird - I'm not even a breakfast!". I love it.Then I watched Footloose and one episode of Desperate Housewives (..I'll miss them..). So this flight was going well too! I was able to see the skyline of Chicago from the plane. All these lights were impressing. The only thing I gotta worry about is the size of the airport of Chicago. Well, they could place the next "Tour de France" there! With one suitcase and four bags I had to pass the duty, pass the pass-control, than get my suitcase, than take (as an officer told me) the train to terminal 1, check in, pass the pass-control another time, give away my suitcase and get to my flight. There was just one problem: The officer told me wrong... I should've got out of the train at terminal 2 - Bad mistake. To this terminal it's 30 hours an air hostess told me. Wanna know what I did? I went to McDonalds. And as my friends know: As long as I'm able to eat Chicken Nuggets, I'm okay! The flight from Chicago to Lexington went well. I've been so excited that I just slept about half an hour at all.
After I've gone out of the airplane and passed the pass-control David, Michelle and Whitney were already waiting for me! They're just so cute. They prepared a placat on which is written "Welcome to America, Lara!" and in smaller letters "Willkommen in Amerika!" several times. I was so happy.

Lexington Airport

The journey from Lexington to Somerset was great too. Very quite and relaxing.
The house is very big and wonderful. My room's perfect for me, I kind of feel homy. Lacy, the dog, is very tall too. She's a little like a big baby. Big and it seems like she always wants to be everywhere to not miss a thing. I'm already in love with her. So all in all I really like being here. I already went to school today but I'm going to wirte you about that later because I just have to go to church for something as a haunt for adolescents. And I still have to give my host family their parents.. Duh, I'm so oblivious! I'll write you about that and my first day later on.
So far, bye bye!

14 Hours

Uuuh! Only 14 hours left till I fly, so here come a few data to keep in touch! As I already told you I live in Somerset, Kentucky. The full address is:

Family Phelps
190 Ridgeview Drive
Somerset, Kentucky 42503
USA

I really, really rejoice over every letter!! And for the lazy about writing letters ones here's my mail address: larawaas@web.de

Actually my host family's totally perfect to me: The parents are nice and they've got a daughter who's 15 just like me. She visits the same school so maybe (- and a little hopefully) I'll be in the same class. Her name's Whitney. They do many different sports such as basketball, football, hiking, riding, tennis, swimming, volleyball and water sports. My friends know that I'm really into sports and I'm a active person. I'm even able to take piano lessons there so that I don't forget everything!
On Saturday I made a video-call with them (skype) and the house's looking very wonderful. I don't have to share my room, it's really cute. They've got a dog called Lacy, an Airedale Terrier. She's very tall but so sweet. I love dogs.  ♥
Very cool is that they travel a lot, for example they do camping. Next weekend they want to take me to Memphis - Yes, Memphis. The largest city in Tennessee, the home of founders and establishers of various American music genres, including blues, gospel, rock 'n roll and Graceland, the home of Elvis! I'm so excited!
So guys, wish me great luck for tomorrow and not such a big boredom during the flights - At 11.15am there's the meeting at the airport of Düsseldorf, at 1.10pm I fly to Munich (1 hour), from Munich to Chicago (9 hours) so that I'll be in Chicago at 6.15pm because I have to turn back time for six hours and from Chicago I'll take the flight to Lexington (2,5 hours) and I'll be finally there at 11.37pm. From there about two hours with the car and whay! I'm arrived.
I guess I won't be able to sleep this night.
Goodbye my beloved ones and wish me luck! I love you, see each other in six months ♥

Goodbye My Lovelies

Thanks to Isa, Helen, Aylin, Jil, Joelle, Julia, Friede, Alice, Ilayda, Carlos, Pascal and Steffen for this great surprise party! I was awaiting a cool movie-evening with Steffen and I came into the room and everyone was screaming "Surprise!". This was absolutely crazy! The party hats and the confetti made the room so colourful and the cakes you baked were so delicious!! And the in pink written "Lara" standing upon it was awesome. But a really, really big compliment I have to give you because of the photo album you've made. The pictures are so old! Up to five years! I can't even imagine these scenes! And the ferric tree where I'm able to put photos on is fantastic because I always stick the photos onto the wall - This has an end now, yeah yeah! And the pizza tasted like pizza - Excellent!
So thanks for these wonderful five years, I will never forget them. Neither the times we argued or the times we laughed. It's like a marriage promise: "In good and in bad times..." Haha :D
I will miss you so badly in the USA and I'm always thinking of you guys!
Goodbye my lovelies ♥

Kentucky - The Bluegrass State

... This is where I'll spend my visit in the USA. I just received the information about my host family this morning. And when I talk about receiving the information I mean my mother shouting "I know where you're going to spend the year!!!" - to wake me up... I mean this even wakes up the whole neighbourhood. I'm just kidding, haha ;)
But firstly a few facts about the state:

Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States Of America. Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union.
Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the fact that bluegrass is present in many of the pastures throughout the state, based on the fertile soil. It made possible the breeding of high-quality livestock, especially thoroughbred racing horses. It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources, including the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park; the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States and the two largest man-made lakes east of the Missisippi River. It is also home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States, the largest free-ranging elk herd east of Montana, and the nation's most productive coalfield. Kentucky is also known for horse raising, bourbon distilleries, bluegrass music, automobie manufacturing, tobacco and college basketball.
Both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were born in Kentucky.
Here comes a law I found which is quite ... funny: A woman mustn't enter a highway of Kentucky in a swimsuit if she doesn't get escorted by at least two policemen or if she doesn't carry a truncheon with her... Okay, now I know what not to do! :D
I'm so excited; this all sounds quite cool! The city I'll move to is called Somerset.
Somerset's population was 11,196 according to the 2010 census. The mayor is Eddie Gurdler. The climate is warm during summer and mild during winter when temperatures. When I arrive it will be very cold because January is the coldest month there with about -3 °C.
So far I don't have the flight data. In the next few days I'll contact my host family - Immediately when I know more and when I got their permission to write about them I'll do so.
But so far: Bye bye guys!