One Year Of Tension: Mai 2012

Montag, 28. Mai 2012

Happy Birthday David!

Whitney and me in the cinema :)

"The game of life"

Today has been my host dad David's birthday! The day began pretty funny when I got up, went downstairs with my presents ( a self-made cart and the "national bowhunter", a hunting magazine), looked on the table and there were Michele and Whitney in the kitchen. I looked on the table and there was a card and it said "Happy Father's Day! Love you, love you, love" etc. So I was wondering and asked "Hey Whit, did you already get the Father's Day present?" (Here father's day is on the 17th June). She looked confused at me, then at the card, then: "Oh no! I got the wrong card! Today's not father's day!!!" I kinda cracked up, while she was getting so mad.. I thought that was funny :D
Anyways, David and me are always making fun of each other... So my card for him was pretty sarcastic. It said: "Don't worry about getting older. Actually birthdays are good for you..." Then turn the page, and: "Statistics show that people who have them live the longest! :D And anyway... You're not getting older, you're just getting closer to death! :D Better to be over the hill than buried under it! ... Hope you like the hunting magazine... And hope you have a good day! ♥ Lara"
It's hilarious, he laughed about it :)
Then we went to see "Men in Black" in 3D. I didn't really enjoy that movie but that's all right. It was okay. Adter dinner Michele, Whitney and me played "The game of life". I really enjoyed that! Then I went to shoot some baskets. In the evening Michele, Whitney and me took Lacy for a walk and when we came back Michele had a cake prepared for David. We sang "Happy Birthday" and he blew the candle out. (: It was so sweet, just like at home!
All in all it was a good day!
Happy Birthday again, David!! Love you ♥

German Dinner

Of course I am the one
stepping into the mud.. -.-

Last Saturday we had dinner at a house of a austrian, older lady and her family. She cooked german for us <3 She made Gulasch and Bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes) and Schnitzel ♥♥ It was awesome! Even though the Schnitzel was made of chicken, not of pork. And then there was this oriental bread that tasted just awesome! I enjoyed it a lot! She told us she immigrated and first did some easy housework to get money. Her daughter moved with her. Her husband was from Panama. It was a pretty amazing story! But as Konfuzius said: "Every great journey starts with a first step". So the austrian girl finally ended up in Kentucky. Her daughter married an american and they've got two sweet boys and a lot of dogs haha :D They're living on some kind of farm so rode the four-wheeler and went into a cave. There was a bat-nest and when I wanted to take a photo there was a little thing flying out of it... I freaked out! That was SO creepy! :ooo
Anyway, I had a lot of fun and I was glad to meet these people! :)

Mittwoch, 16. Mai 2012

Let's Make This Last Forever.

Today all the foreigners have been bowling. I realized that it would be the last time that we'd be all together... Cindy will be leaving to New Orleans tomorrow, Marta is already going back to Italy next tuesday, and then everybody's leaving with time... I will really miss those guys because they're the best ever! I don't think I ever had that much fun in such a short time. I'm just happy and so glad I met them. There's one thing you normally don't have when you're meeting in such a huge group of people and that's loyality. But in this group you do have it. I know that whatever may happen: A huge fight, a great loss, or whatever! I KNOW for sure that we'd always come back together and if I'll ever go through a rough time, they'll be here for me.
I love you guys! Thank you so much for all the good times we had together.

Dienstag, 15. Mai 2012

Mother's Day

My present for Michele. ♥

As (hopefully) everybody knows this sunday has been Mother's Day. So Michele, David, Whitney and me went to the cinema in Richmond to see 'The Avengers' and afterwards ate at a sweet Italian Restaurant. It was a pretty good day.

Anyways, this is Mother's Day and for me there'll always be just one 'Best Mom Ever' and that's my Mom back in the Netherlands. I miss her so much! I even miss fighting with her... Well... Maybe not that much, but I miss heaving her around. She'd be cleaning my room, make me food and all of that stuff... She's just the best! Here's a poem for you, Mom, and even though I didn't write it on my own this time it still comes from my heart.

A wonderful mother

God made me a wonderful mother,
A mother that never grows old.
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And he moulded her heart with pure gold.

In her eyes, He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see.
God made that wonderful mother,

And he gave that mother to me. ♥

Graduation

Last friday night there was the graduation of the seniors. The evening before was kindergarten graduation, then in the morning pre-school graduation and in the evening senior graduation. It has been just like in all the movies you watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_dS0zzaUtc&feature=related
Teachers are holding speeches, some students are holding a speech, special students are getting awards, some or smiling, some crying and then in the end they throw their hats in the air. It has been sad, but wonderful at the same time. During the ceremony Mr. Akers told every grade to move up to the seats of the upper grade. So I, as a junior, had to move to the seats of the seniors, and I realized how hard it would have been to walk in their shoes. This class has been just amazing! Very high grades, so smart and just godly and nice. They are amazing. All together they achieved scholarships of more than 2 million dollars! They are awesome! I love all of them and hope so badly that they'll all find what they need in this world ♥

Once a cougar, always a cougar!

Marta and Emily. Love them.

David and Charity. They're two of my favorites!

Jarred holding his speech. He's so talented.

Charity receiving her final report.

Big huddle up ♥
Hope they'll never forget!

Summer Break

Summer break was coming up so there were a few events at our school such as the last school day, the special awards ceremony and the field day.
So the last school day was on tuesday the 8th. Only if you had a B in any subject you would have to take the final exam. I had to take it in english on Friday. So on tuesday there was this award ceremony. I got an award and a medall for being an A and B student and another medall for being an exchange student.

All foreign exchange students. I will miss them :(

Ms VanHoose called all the exchange students up to the front, held a speech (cried a little while doing it) and then gave the word to Christian. Christian (the other german) has always been like the leader of the foreigners... Whenever we had to pray or do whatever he'd lead us. And it has always been funny because he's acting soooo old... I mean 'grown' haha :D And while he was speaking in front of the whole entire school and he was saying stuff like: 'Thanks to the teachers. And thanks to the whole stuff for accepting us, even though it was hard a lot of times..." and while he was saying these words, I kinda realized that this would be the last time he'd be leading us... And I just kinda started crying a little. Nobody realized it but when Mr. Hale was done with his ending speech and I went to my locker for the last time I really started crying. I spin away my combination (38-28-02) for the last time, got my stuff out of it for the last time, and went down the hallway in a Somerset Christian Uniform for the very last time. I wouldn't stop crying until about an hour afterwards... Then Whitney cheered me up with an immitation of me in Science class. I had to hold a speech in a group of three and I wasn't prepared at all but by the way americans hold speeches (with reading off exactlu what's written on the poster) I thought I don't have to. The topic was 'The computer as a brain'. Whitney was like: "And suddenly you used your 10pm bedroom voice! 'So... Everybody's paying attention right now!' And I mean... it worked! Everybody was paying attention! And then you've been like: 'The computer has to be as fast as the brain. Taryn! Catch this!' You threw this weird frog at her and said: 'Did you think about catching it? No! Exactly!'. I was thinking: What is she doing?!". Haha, Gabby even said I should be a teacher! Guess you're always best when you don't try to be!

Then we watched 'Desperate Housewives' and everything was fine again. Sometimes it's great having a sister ♥

The next day was the Field Day. That means we had some games after noon. It was hilarious. There were water slides and we played in our chapel groups as a team. My team got 2nd place, yaaay! I've been so wet but it was great! I had so much fun!

Emily and me waiting for going on the water slide...
We'd take like forever to get up there because we'd fall
down a millions of times, haha :D

Many things are confusing about this picture...
1) Why is Zach holding Abby's arm so lovely?
2) What am I doing, there in the back?
3) Why is David climbing this stone?!

King's Island

On Friday the 4th we had our last Merit Trip to King's Island in Ohio. All the foreigners and seniors were allowed to go, the others are going after summer break because of a lack of buses. Anyways, it was crazy good!! It's like a theme park with rollarcoasters and stuff. It was awesome! In my favourite one you're facing each other while you're riding. Again: It was awesome. This day reminded really reminded me of the last scene in 'Grease': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pyA6jAM3_I

Our feeling was exactly like in the video!

The only bad thing was that we left pretty early because they closed the best rollarcoasters because of thunderstorm warning, so that we didn't get to go on these. We went to the mall therefore.
It was just an awesome day and I wish so bad I could do it all over again!

The Sports Banquet

The tuesday after the prom night there was our sports banquet for everybody who participatet in a sport this school year. Since I'm in the softball team I was invited too. Before that we had an EF exit meeting since everybody will be leaving soon where we discussed about what's important for our departure. So I came a little too late. For every team they had four trophees for special awards. For example 'Best Offense', 'Best Defense' or "Christian Witness Award'. And... I got the 'Most Improved' Award for Softball! Yeeeah! :)
At the beginning of the softball season I was like: "I hate softball. I can't do anything! I can't catch, I can't bat, I can't even throw without hitting somebody!" And now I just love it!
We lost our pitcher (the most important position on the field) after one of the first games so we needed somebody new. I took the opportunity, got up at 8am on a Saturday morning, watched softball on youtube and practiced pitching for hours. Now I am the new pitcher :) I'm not as good as I wish I would be... But it will still get better with a lot of practice!
The only bad thing: On the trophee there was written 'Laura Waas'. I told my coach so often Laura without the 'u'! Every single time in the line-up he spelled it incorrectly. Anyways, I changed it now. It's so funny :) I love them!

Softball game.

By the way: All foreign girls received a trophy! Kat and Josephine for Basketball and Marta for Cheerleading. Go foreigners! :D

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying!

On the 3rd and 7th of May we had our Musical Production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING!
With the help of an instructional guide, J. Pierrepont Finch is determined to succeed in business - without really trying. Encountering a corporate bigwig, a romantically-inclined secretary, a wily competitor, and a sexy ex-cigarette girl with ambitions of her own, the intrepid Finch dodges, parries and plans until victory is his. "How to Succeed..." is a comic masterpiece of satire and song, a loving and laughing tribute to the ambitious window washer in all of us.
These two evenings have been just great! It was awesome to dance, sing and act along! Even though I only had a few small roles it was so exhausting because of all the changing during the play! The only part I was worried about was the Pirate Dance because it was a partner dance and it was way harder than the others. Daniel and me even had about 15 seconds alone to dance and everbody would watch us. We practiced a shoulder lift for that. I was afraid it wouldn't work. Anyways it worked! And the video looks AWESOME! I loved dancing and now I'm so sad it's over. The second evening I even had three times more lines because Cindy was at the nationals of golf and I took her parts. And after the pause Mr. Akers called a few people who did a lot for the play on stage. I've been under them. And he was like: "Lara is such a talented dancer. I remember the first time I saw her dancing I asked her where that comes from and she answered 'I've been to a dancing club in Germany' and I said 'Honey, dancing club doesn't mean the same here...'." I love Mr. Akers. I got so many compliments on the way I dance to musical songs. There's a love song I did the choreography of and I already showed it to Bethany and Emily, but I still had to show Jarred. So I played his part one time and David and Caroline who watched it were like: "Oh my! You're so good! I just thought you would've been falling in love with Emily!" Haha, they are soo cute! And I'm so sad I won't have drama with these guys again. Anyways, if you like musicals I recomment to look up the following songs on youtube, because they indeed are awesome!
- Been A Long Day
- Coffee Break (the audience loved that)
- Brotherhood Of Man

So here are a few photos: