Now , 5 weeks after i have got back , i have decided to write my last blogpost.
So on my last day, my amazing family made me that pancake breakfast which i had so enjoyed! I packed a little bit more, and then we took Jane and went to a place near Rock Creek ( forgotten the actual name), was called something lik the 'Great Falls', but were really just little rapids. haha not so 'great', but very pretty. Then we went out for a lovely last lunch, and my whole family was laughing at my because i ordered a salad with fruit in it. Got home at 3:15 and had a wild dash to get everything packed because we had to leave by 3:45! was SO stressful, weighing bags and trying to get them to the right weight. The McGullivaries who lived next door had dropped off a present for me. It was a beautiful Dylan's Candy Bar bag filled with treats from Dylan's Candy Bar! it was amazing because they knew i was sad i didnt get there while i was in New York! So that was amazing. Finished packing, loaded up the car and went to pick up Jeffrey and Jane. A few delays at their house, but eventually we were on our way with Sophie, Alex, Edith, Jeffrey, Jane and me. Arrived at the airport to a completely empty queue (we were very late) and checked in. Then had to say goodbye to these amazing people i had lived with for a month. It was devastating! so sad.
When we eventually made our way into the actual airport we had to SPRINT down to our boarding gate (the furtherest one away, of course) because they were already doing last calls. (but we stopped for our last starbucks, naturally.).
Made it on to the plane (whew!). Made friends with the americans sitting behind us. And then we were off! Leaving the USA :(. Had the same flight back, stopping in Dakar again. I hardly slept, but it went so quickly! Landed in Joburg, and was so weird to here South African accents. had a very quick supper before we boarded our next plane, which was the LONGEST flight ever. We landed in Cape Town, which was SO exciting, and got all our luggage, except Jane's tennis racquet and hockey stick (Jeffrey had it shipped separately in Washington). Eventually we were the last ones left in the airport, and the conveyer belt stopped. An airport man person came and helped us, and it had not been put on the flight, so it would be sent over the next day. With that we gathered what we had, and left the airport. Our AMAZING friends, (Pip, Nicole, Jess and Michaela) were waiting with a banner for us!! (this is 10:30pm by now!) it was so great to see them.
Also very nice to see my family! but according to Andrew, they were "over me".
As we were leaving the airport there were a group of people ("a trade union, must be" - mother) who were singing and dancing african music ("their leader must be coming from somewhere" - mother) which was fantastic to hear!
So so nice to be in my own bed.
Looking back, the exchange was the most AMAZING experience ever. I only wish i had been there for longer. I didnt get homesick at all, but now ALL i want is to be back there, with everyone.
It really was absolutely incredible.
Thank you all <3
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Thursday, 6 October 2011
The last day of school.
Such a sad day! i cant believe i am leaving these people.
My spanish class through me a 'fiesta' which was so sweet. that has been my favourite (favorite) class. Even though they are mainly grade 9s, they have been so so friendly. We had music, and everyone brought food (incl the teacher) and we took photos and stuff. it was so so sad !:( I gave them bangles and stuff.
Then chemistry and photography were sad, but the goodbyes werent bad.
Then algebra was sad, because that class is also really great! we gave them s.a brooch thingys. Nice teacher as well.
English was a non - event, and then environment was sad, mainly for the teachers though. Earlier in the day we found Mr Sahr (he is amazing) and gave him a scarf, soweto string quartet cd and an african pen. He was so so sweet, and said if he ever comes to cape town ('his dream to bring students there') he will get hold of us, and if we ever come back to DC, we must let him know and we can meet his family. He is so sweet.
Then break, which was sad, because we sat with all these people we hardly knew (a few we did) and it was so sad to meet new people just before we left!
Homeroom was amaaazaing, our class had bought us Cathedral tshirts from the books store, which was so nice! it was very sweet.
We finished early, so we sat with Danya and Sloan who are freshmen in my spanish class, but two of the nicest people we met! they are incredible. I have to see them again, as well as everyone else we met!
Delia picked up Jane, Sophie and I and dropped Jane and I off at the Balkinds. We said our goodbyes to Francoise and Emma because they left for florida this evening. it was so sad!! but it was easier, because we knew we were going to see them next year. Then we came back here, and Alex took us and Sophie out for quick dinner (jane and i had sweet greens which is the salad place, it was so good!), and then we went to a movie. Alex jane and i saw contagion, and sarah came and wastched abduction with sophie and her friend. Contagion was so scary! but not like horror scary, just the whole idea behind it. it was about this virus that had broken out and it focused on how the disease spreads through contact. 'an average human touches his faces 2000-3000 times every day, 3-5 times every waking minute'. Which is true! so even though i was already a germaphob, my worries have increased by about 400. And i am going to an airport tomorrow! Although it was a really good movie!!
Then we came back and i packed my first bag at 12 hahah! Mum, you would be so proud of my packing! it was incredible i was so proud. i packed it so well, that it had space for more things but it was overweight. Well it was 23.2 kg? so i dont know whether that is too heavy. I am going to finish packing my other bag tomorrow, and then see if i can transfer stuff. Otherwise it will just have to do. It was packed so compactly! Im so proud ;).
Now it is 1am, and i am in bed. So weird to think that as i am typing this people in cape town are getting up and going to school! so weird.
My spanish class through me a 'fiesta' which was so sweet. that has been my favourite (favorite) class. Even though they are mainly grade 9s, they have been so so friendly. We had music, and everyone brought food (incl the teacher) and we took photos and stuff. it was so so sad !:( I gave them bangles and stuff.
Then chemistry and photography were sad, but the goodbyes werent bad.
Then algebra was sad, because that class is also really great! we gave them s.a brooch thingys. Nice teacher as well.
English was a non - event, and then environment was sad, mainly for the teachers though. Earlier in the day we found Mr Sahr (he is amazing) and gave him a scarf, soweto string quartet cd and an african pen. He was so so sweet, and said if he ever comes to cape town ('his dream to bring students there') he will get hold of us, and if we ever come back to DC, we must let him know and we can meet his family. He is so sweet.
Then break, which was sad, because we sat with all these people we hardly knew (a few we did) and it was so sad to meet new people just before we left!
Homeroom was amaaazaing, our class had bought us Cathedral tshirts from the books store, which was so nice! it was very sweet.
We finished early, so we sat with Danya and Sloan who are freshmen in my spanish class, but two of the nicest people we met! they are incredible. I have to see them again, as well as everyone else we met!
Delia picked up Jane, Sophie and I and dropped Jane and I off at the Balkinds. We said our goodbyes to Francoise and Emma because they left for florida this evening. it was so sad!! but it was easier, because we knew we were going to see them next year. Then we came back here, and Alex took us and Sophie out for quick dinner (jane and i had sweet greens which is the salad place, it was so good!), and then we went to a movie. Alex jane and i saw contagion, and sarah came and wastched abduction with sophie and her friend. Contagion was so scary! but not like horror scary, just the whole idea behind it. it was about this virus that had broken out and it focused on how the disease spreads through contact. 'an average human touches his faces 2000-3000 times every day, 3-5 times every waking minute'. Which is true! so even though i was already a germaphob, my worries have increased by about 400. And i am going to an airport tomorrow! Although it was a really good movie!!
Then we came back and i packed my first bag at 12 hahah! Mum, you would be so proud of my packing! it was incredible i was so proud. i packed it so well, that it had space for more things but it was overweight. Well it was 23.2 kg? so i dont know whether that is too heavy. I am going to finish packing my other bag tomorrow, and then see if i can transfer stuff. Otherwise it will just have to do. It was packed so compactly! Im so proud ;).
Now it is 1am, and i am in bed. So weird to think that as i am typing this people in cape town are getting up and going to school! so weird.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
two more nights.
Second last day of school. this is devastating.
in the Environment class, we have two teachers, Mr Sahr and Mrs Mattoon, (who's the like 'helper), and today was our last day with Mr Sahr, because he has an eye doctor appointment. That was the first of my goodbyes! so sad. Tomorrow me and jane are going to take an sa scarf and pencil thing and leave it with the secratery if we cant find him earlier, because he was our favourite teacher. he did so much for us.
Also had our last hip hop lesson, which was so so sad!! The people are absolutely incredible!! it is so so so sad.
Tomorrow is going to be so hard. saying goodbye, most likely forever, is so sad!! they are so nice. i hope i can see as many people again as i can.
Started packing. Well not really, but like making piles. aah i dont want to pack :( or leave!!!!
in the Environment class, we have two teachers, Mr Sahr and Mrs Mattoon, (who's the like 'helper), and today was our last day with Mr Sahr, because he has an eye doctor appointment. That was the first of my goodbyes! so sad. Tomorrow me and jane are going to take an sa scarf and pencil thing and leave it with the secratery if we cant find him earlier, because he was our favourite teacher. he did so much for us.
Also had our last hip hop lesson, which was so so sad!! The people are absolutely incredible!! it is so so so sad.
Tomorrow is going to be so hard. saying goodbye, most likely forever, is so sad!! they are so nice. i hope i can see as many people again as i can.
Started packing. Well not really, but like making piles. aah i dont want to pack :( or leave!!!!
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Third last day of school. Nooooo :(
After school we went to the National Air and Space Museum. There are loads of rockets and space shuttles and space things. it was really interesting, could have spend a lot longer there, andrew you would have loved it.
My absolute favourite thing was a picture that the Hubble Telescope had taken, like a depth field or something, where they left the lens open to absorb as much light as possible, and they got images from light that were 13 billion years old!! how cool is that. Ulti-nerd :D! but it was very very very cool!!!!!!!
Mother dearest, we have to bring andrew here he would love it. They have a whole lot of stuff about the wright brothers, and like theatres and stuff and all these different things.
and its freeeee.
After school we went to the National Air and Space Museum. There are loads of rockets and space shuttles and space things. it was really interesting, could have spend a lot longer there, andrew you would have loved it.
My absolute favourite thing was a picture that the Hubble Telescope had taken, like a depth field or something, where they left the lens open to absorb as much light as possible, and they got images from light that were 13 billion years old!! how cool is that. Ulti-nerd :D! but it was very very very cool!!!!!!!
Mother dearest, we have to bring andrew here he would love it. They have a whole lot of stuff about the wright brothers, and like theatres and stuff and all these different things.
and its freeeee.
Monday, 3 October 2011
so hard getting up this morning. So sad to be leaving so soon!!
i LOVE my spanish class, i dont want to leave any of these people, in any of my classes!
Good day at school. had curly fries for lunch.. they are incredible.
Wrote a chemistry test, was really easy, and i did it without studying. (teachers suggestion)
Had hip hop. Then Jane came home with me and we watched the mentalist (!!! cape town you are missing out!!). Worked on our power point we are doing for the middle schoolers tomorrow on South Arica, and then she is sleeping over.
:)
i LOVE my spanish class, i dont want to leave any of these people, in any of my classes!
Good day at school. had curly fries for lunch.. they are incredible.
Wrote a chemistry test, was really easy, and i did it without studying. (teachers suggestion)
Had hip hop. Then Jane came home with me and we watched the mentalist (!!! cape town you are missing out!!). Worked on our power point we are doing for the middle schoolers tomorrow on South Arica, and then she is sleeping over.
:)
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Last day in NYC
Woke up and had a yummy hotel breakfast :)
Then set off for the Empire State Building. SO COOL. Did this 'fast track' thing where we watched a virtual tour of NYC, in one of those theatre where the seats move. Very cool. Then we waited like 10 minutes for the elevator up to the 80th floor, where they had a kind of musuem thing, with pictures and facts about the Empire State building, then we walked up the last 6 floors to the observatory, which is where you can go outside and take STUNNING pictures of New York. It is beautiful!
After this, (which was a few hours), Francoise and Emma went back to the apartment and Jeffrey, Jane and I went on a boat tour. We went up the Hudson river ( i think) and to the Statue of Liberty. Was fantastic to see NYC from the water. Was about an hour and a half. Caught a taxi back to the apartment, and then Emma, jane and i walked down to the Hersheys store (!!). Has sooo much chocolate. And huuuge bars!! so amazing though. Then we went to the I <3 NYC gift shop next door, and i spent waay to much money. (i love you dad).
Then, very sad, caught a taxi to Penn station, (next to Madison Square Gardens!!!) where we caught our train home. so saad :(. Long trip, almost 4 hours!
Nice to be home. So so sad to leave NYC! :( and almost DC.
Only 5 more days here. It is unbelievabley sad:(
Then set off for the Empire State Building. SO COOL. Did this 'fast track' thing where we watched a virtual tour of NYC, in one of those theatre where the seats move. Very cool. Then we waited like 10 minutes for the elevator up to the 80th floor, where they had a kind of musuem thing, with pictures and facts about the Empire State building, then we walked up the last 6 floors to the observatory, which is where you can go outside and take STUNNING pictures of New York. It is beautiful!
After this, (which was a few hours), Francoise and Emma went back to the apartment and Jeffrey, Jane and I went on a boat tour. We went up the Hudson river ( i think) and to the Statue of Liberty. Was fantastic to see NYC from the water. Was about an hour and a half. Caught a taxi back to the apartment, and then Emma, jane and i walked down to the Hersheys store (!!). Has sooo much chocolate. And huuuge bars!! so amazing though. Then we went to the I <3 NYC gift shop next door, and i spent waay to much money. (i love you dad).
Then, very sad, caught a taxi to Penn station, (next to Madison Square Gardens!!!) where we caught our train home. so saad :(. Long trip, almost 4 hours!
Nice to be home. So so sad to leave NYC! :( and almost DC.
Only 5 more days here. It is unbelievabley sad:(
Saturday, 1 October 2011
NYC
woke up at 9 and emma jane and I had breakfast in the hotel and met Jeffrey and we walked to Rockefellar Plaza, which is awesome. Bought tickets for the 11:45 NBC studio tour, so had like an hour, so we wondered around, went into H and M and bought a blazer. Also went into a cathedral (st patricks or peters i think?). Alsooo went to Teuscher Chocolatier, amazing.!!
Then we went to the NBC studios for our tour. It started off in a movie theatre which showed how NBC started. Then we got to go into all these studios which have different shows. we went into where they film all these different news programs. Then we went into Dr Oz's studio, and then into Saturday Night Live's studio! It was so coooool. They were setting up all the sets, and practising the music. While im typing this im watching SNL (which is, obviously, live) and it is so cool to look at these people (Lady Antebellum and Melissa McCartney are both on tonight, ) and think that i was there earlier! Then we went into how they do the make up and masks for SNL, which was awesoooome. If they dont get the masks and make up applied in the given time (usually 20 seconds, ) they have to cut to commercial and they lose $250 000 !! After SNL we went into this smaller studio, where we got a photo taken behind the anchor desk, and then we all sat down in the seats in the 'audience'. Our tourguide person asked for 2 volounteers who could read at a 5th grade english level, so me and this other woman volountered. i was assigned the news, and she had to do the weather. So I got to sit behind the anchor desk and do like a legit news report thing! with the subtitle things and stuff! and then the other lady did the weather. it was really hard!! they told us afterwards it was broadcast live to the NBC cafe! hahahahaha. We got the dvd though :P
We finished on the tour, and then looked around the gift store. it is so cool, all the shows the have on they have so many gifts for. So Friends and stuff had a whole lot of things about it. AAAAAND for chuck, they had BuyMore tshirts!!!!!!!!!!! so cool.
After the tour had finished we went to the Conergie Deli for lunch, which was really nice. fantastic (huge) sanwiches, and something called egg creams, which someone told us were amazing, but i didnt like. Ate with Jeffreys sister in law, harriet.
Then we took the metro down to SoHo, which is an area with loooads of nice streets. So we did some shopping :) which was fantaaaastic, hardly bought anything though. Then we caught a taxi back to our hotel, where we had an hour to get ready for wicked, and relax a bit. We got dressed, and then went out to supper at a french bistro down the road, which was really nice.
THEEEEEN we went to WICKED!! in the gershin theatre. it was absolutely beyond words. The sets were amazing, as were the costumes. The costume changes were so good, and everything was beautiful! The acting and dancing was absolutely brilliant.. and then the SINGING, the singing was absolutely incredible!!! it was so so so so so good. i would watch that show a hundred times over. it was absolutely beautiful. The singers range was increeedible!
After the show we came home, and are now watching some SNL.
I dont want to leave NYC! it is so beautiful! i love it here. (MUM WE HAVE TO COME BACK!)
Then we went to the NBC studios for our tour. It started off in a movie theatre which showed how NBC started. Then we got to go into all these studios which have different shows. we went into where they film all these different news programs. Then we went into Dr Oz's studio, and then into Saturday Night Live's studio! It was so coooool. They were setting up all the sets, and practising the music. While im typing this im watching SNL (which is, obviously, live) and it is so cool to look at these people (Lady Antebellum and Melissa McCartney are both on tonight, ) and think that i was there earlier! Then we went into how they do the make up and masks for SNL, which was awesoooome. If they dont get the masks and make up applied in the given time (usually 20 seconds, ) they have to cut to commercial and they lose $250 000 !! After SNL we went into this smaller studio, where we got a photo taken behind the anchor desk, and then we all sat down in the seats in the 'audience'. Our tourguide person asked for 2 volounteers who could read at a 5th grade english level, so me and this other woman volountered. i was assigned the news, and she had to do the weather. So I got to sit behind the anchor desk and do like a legit news report thing! with the subtitle things and stuff! and then the other lady did the weather. it was really hard!! they told us afterwards it was broadcast live to the NBC cafe! hahahahaha. We got the dvd though :P
We finished on the tour, and then looked around the gift store. it is so cool, all the shows the have on they have so many gifts for. So Friends and stuff had a whole lot of things about it. AAAAAND for chuck, they had BuyMore tshirts!!!!!!!!!!! so cool.
After the tour had finished we went to the Conergie Deli for lunch, which was really nice. fantastic (huge) sanwiches, and something called egg creams, which someone told us were amazing, but i didnt like. Ate with Jeffreys sister in law, harriet.
Then we took the metro down to SoHo, which is an area with loooads of nice streets. So we did some shopping :) which was fantaaaastic, hardly bought anything though. Then we caught a taxi back to our hotel, where we had an hour to get ready for wicked, and relax a bit. We got dressed, and then went out to supper at a french bistro down the road, which was really nice.
THEEEEEN we went to WICKED!! in the gershin theatre. it was absolutely beyond words. The sets were amazing, as were the costumes. The costume changes were so good, and everything was beautiful! The acting and dancing was absolutely brilliant.. and then the SINGING, the singing was absolutely incredible!!! it was so so so so so good. i would watch that show a hundred times over. it was absolutely beautiful. The singers range was increeedible!
After the show we came home, and are now watching some SNL.
I dont want to leave NYC! it is so beautiful! i love it here. (MUM WE HAVE TO COME BACK!)
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