It's a party in the USA! #2

Well, that's what Miley Cyrus would have said. And I totally agree with her!

The last couple of days have been nothing but amazing! Thursday is as usual our short day in school, which means that we’re off 11:20 am. Almost the whole class went to Pacific Science Center, which you could compare to Danfoss in Denmark. I had a lot of expectations about how Pacific Science Center was and I would have to say that a lot of things were incredible, but I was still disappointed about it. Anyway, it was worth seeing it. After walking around in the center for a couple of hours, some of us went a little deeper into Seattle and took this tour that was called “Seattle Underground”. We went under the buildings to see the old Seattle and the guide really made it interesting. She talked about is like it was a bedtime story and I actually couldn’t stop listening, because it was so exciting! Definitely something that I enjoyed! And my mom would be proud of me for being so cultural! ;-)

Friday was the big event! Friday night was the date of EdCC’s Halloween Dance! I told you so, party in the USA!

Tuesday, three days before the dance, Mette, Mette and I were looking for our costumes (or create our own costumes, more exactly). Mette Bennekov was a dark fairy and bought black wings, she could wear to a black and grey dress. Mette Bækgaard and I were something sporty/disco from 1980’s and we bought leggings and t-shirts in neon. So after spending hours (and money) in Alderwood Mall, we had our costumes. It just couldn’t be Friday soon enough.


Three times Mette - and don't we look good in our halloweencostumes?

But anyway, it became Friday and after a way too long chemistry lab, Bennekov, Bækgaard and I went to Bækgaard’s place to prepare/pre-party! We listened to loud music and stood in front of every mirror and finally we were ready for take off!
We took the bus to the school and OMG, people looked like they had never seen people in neon before! Well, we were running for the bus, so that must have been a pretty weird sight for those on the Transit Center.

The second we arrived at EdCC, we could hear the music. And the closer we came to the building, the louder the music became. We were afraid of which kind of music they would play at a party over here, but it was actually mostly the same you would listen to in Denmark. And people went crazy! People were dressed up in costumes. Some were scary, some were funny, some were just weird, but almost everybody was wearing a costume. And we danced on the stage and eating chips and drinking juice (of course without vodka when you’re in the states and underage) but it was really a great party! And some of the boys from our class were nominated for a prize, because they were dressed up like old women. Or that was what they looked like, so that’s my guess.

It was just AWESOME!

Saturday we went for the hike that we should have done last weekend. But before the hike, we went to see a waterfall, but it was really hard to see, because of clouds and the water was splashing in our faces. I was disappointed, because I really wanted to see the waterfall and take some beautiful pictures. But not this time!

We didn’t spend much time by the waterfall, so we went to a place closer to the hiking destination and bought some lunch. In my case, a frappuchino with caramel from Starbucks and a hamburger from McDonald’s (hellooooo fat girl!), but I just wanna live. But I have to admit, that I could live healthier than I do right now.



Mette Bennekov took a picture of me by Rattlesnake Ridge.

After eating we came to the hiking destination, Rattlesnake Ridge. We were told that the hike would take 45 minutes. Sure, but that’s just the way up! And it did NOT take 45 minutes. Not for me, it took at least an hour! And my legs just didn’t wanna go any higher, but I had to. I didn’t walk that long just to give up before I had reached the top. Emilie and I also agreed that the view had to be beautiful after that walk. And I was at no point disappointed about what was waiting on the top. It was absolutely one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen! The sun was shining, and the whole class was on top of this mountain, and it was definitely worth the long walk! You could see the lake and the mountains far away and trees all over. I would recommend this hike, if you’re going to this part of the USA! It was just a wonderful day. And you get a lot of exercise (11.000 footsteps in my case!).

So what to say? My legs hurt and I’m tired, but I can’t complain after such a good weekend!

Three weeks later...

... And I'm still in love with everything over here! My wallet might disagree with me, but besides that, I love this!

Three weeks ago i was at Tulalip hotel and casino, my very first weekend as an American student. I was tired because of the long flight and time difference between Denmark and America. And now I'm sitting in the living room with my hostsisters, eating fruit and watching "Transformers". And I have to say this: I'm going to miss them so terrible much! They are my "short-term-sisters" and they're just so amazing, and they're so sweet. I wish they didn't live in China, so I could see them more, then just calls on Skype..

But as I said before, it's already been three weeks, and I feel like time is passing by and there isn't time enough to do all the things I want to do over here. I want to see the mountain, the waterfalls, I wanna eat 'till my stomach hurts so much that I can't walk, I wanna shop 'till I drop (my hostmom actually encourages me to do that! - she is a shopaholic and she is absolutely amazing!), even though I don't have the money to shop that much. I wanna stand and watch the sea and I wanna enjoy every single moment that I have over here. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I now have to disappoint my teachers: I know this trip is about school and that this isn’t a vacation, but I don't want to remember this trip as "homework and assignments" - I'm sorry, but I wanna live life and be wild and be spontaneous while being here.

I could live over here, seriously! My friends would not like me for saying that. And my mom would probably say that I'm not allowed to, because then I would be way too far away. But WA has definitely made a big impression on me! I really didn't believe that I would fall in love with all this, but the more I get used to it, the more I don't wanna go home to Denmark (WOW, can’t believe I just said that!)

It might look like I prefer being here than home, but I do miss the people home in Denmark a lot. But all this is just so exciting, AND I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH!

Host-sisters-night! (#1)

Hey you lovely people!

This weekend was absolutely one of my favorites, and you guys are the lucky ones, who are going to hear about it ;)

Well, it actually started pretty boring. Chemistry lab all afternoon, so I wasn’t home before 6:15 pm! Not my favorite part, I admit. But – and here comes the good part – I spend all Friday and the most of my Saturday with my host sisters from China, Yating and Janet!

Friday night, and the first I did when I came home was going down to my room. Yating, the one who lives in the basement with me, was on her way to the kitchen, and then she just asked me: “Can I hug you?” – Awww, isn’t that just sweet? And I really needed it, because I was so exhausted after chemistry lab!

Well, we cooked some food and then Janet, my other host sister, came and ate with us. It was so cozy, and they barely talked Chinese to each other, so in that way, I could also understand what they were talking about. And then… we went to QFC (local grocery) to buy HOT CHOKOLATE AND CUPCAKES! I think we used about one hour in QFC, trying to decide which cake we wanted to have (I’m a cake-lover, and I found out that day, that they were too!). We went for the chocolate cupcakes with M&M’s on top, with a lot of (surprise) chocolate-frosting. Through this trip I’ve tried not to eat all sugar – but Friday, I went crazy!

Janet (left) and Yating on our way to QFC.

We took the bus home – in order not to smash our lovely cupcakes – and then we just made it all ready and the rest of the night, we watched ‘America’s funniest home videos’, ‘Friends’, ‘Reba’ and ‘Two and a Half Men’. We laughed, talked and I really just felt like my host family was the right family for me.

Saturday we were all tired from watching television ‘till the break of dawn, but we got up. My host mother Evangeline, Yating and I went to this really strange Korean restaurant, and THAT was worth the experience. It was my first time with chopsticks and I can tell you – I SUCKED! My host mother is from the Philippines and as I had mention before, two of my four host sisters are from China, so of course they had no problems with the chopsticks. Me? Well, I learned how to handle them, but perhaps I’m more a fork-and-knife kind of person ;)
Acutally i also teached Yating danish! She now knows how to say "Hvordan har du det idag" (how are you doing today) and "Jeg elsker dig" (I love you) - and I love her chinese accent!

And for dinner that day, my host mother’s daughter and one of her sons were eating with us. They were really nice and Christina, my host mother’s daughter, looked like a 24-year old (and blond) version of my host mother! And then she gave us massages Sunday, you can’t complain about that!

I hope I will have more of these weekends, ‘cause even though I wasn’t with anyone from my class, I had an amazing time with my host family!

Love at first sight? YES!

My class and I went to Seattle two days ago. I can't describe to you how cool it was! Honestly, it was love at first sight.
First of all - the view from The Space Needle! 360º and it was amazing. You could see all the buildings, you had the skyline just infront of you, and you could see the mountains behind the city. Well, it was a sunny day when we came. Lucky! But it is definitely worth it (even though the trip with the elevator was nauseating!).
When we came down to Planet Earth again, it was time for lunch. My lunch: coffee from Starbucks (which is originally from Seattle, uuuuh!). After that elevator, eating wasn't my top 10 thing to do.
After our lunch, we went on tour with "Ride the Duck". If you're evern going to Seattle, these guys really know how to make sightseeing anything but boring! Normally I think sightseeing is some random dude saying "bla-bla-bla" and I just wanna sleep instead. But this was nothing like anything I've tried before!
The driver had sense of humour, and with a bus filled with teenagers, humour is important! He was dancing and singing and during the ride he changed hat about 12 times! He also played a lot of music during the ride and it was in every way just such a funny tour! If I am ever going to Seattle again, I would do it again. I would recommend it to everybody who has a little kid inside themselves and just wanna have fun!
We also walked around for ourselves for about one or one and a half hour. What to do? I can tell you in one word: Starbucks! We saw the first Starbucks in history. Way too many people in line, so we walked for another one that was about 500 meters from the original. But the coffee (or in my case a Frappuchino with caramel, mmh) was just as good. Our tour-guide from "Ride The Duck" told us that in Seattle there are about 188 Starbucks! Not hard to believe, they are everywhere, on every street almost!
When we arrived in Lynnwood, the only thing I had in mind was this georgous city!
What to say? I ♥ SEATTLE!

My proud mom!

Hope you guys are ready for some real weird info.
Okay, I talked with my mom today (skype for the wiiiin!) and I told her something, she never in her life believed would be possible:
I took a shower, that lasted less than 15 minutes! Oh yeah, I'm telling the truth. In denmark i would use like 45 minuttes if i take a shower in the evening or weekends. In schoolsmornings it will take me about 15 minutes. But NEVER less - except from THAT moment today!
If any of you are thinking "why would she tell me that?" well, it's because I want to tell everybody how proud i made my mom when I told her. Well, actually she said: "I was already proud of you" - but she's kinda obligated to say that, shes my mom. But wow, I miss her and my family back in Denmark.
Stay tuned and I'll be back with more about this fantastic jouney, that just begun!

First day at school!

Hey you guys! Hope you are doing good out there!
Today was our first day at EdCC. One word: Wow!
When i first walked into Herning Gymnasium, I didn't know how to find the rooms, but here - I really feel lost, with all those buildings, but I'm still learning. By the end of this trip, I know how to find more than just "information"!!
Well, it started in the morning, 6:15. I turned off the alarm, even though I wanted to sleep at least four more hours. But I couldn't, cause I had to take the bus at 7:03. WAAAAY TO EARLY IN THE MORNING, I'M TELLING YOU!
But it all went smooth afterwards. I just have to figure out when the bus arrives and leaves. And which bus, that might be good also. When we went to the Alderwood Mall today (the big mall in the Lynnwood area) there were so may busses, and you get easily confused with all the numbers, and when you have to get off the bus. At least we have two months here, so we'll learn it. Hopefully! ;-)
In school they introduced our teachers, and Jesse (our contactperson at EdCC) brougth cookies, coffee, muffins and so on. In the end it became too much, and I really couldn't eat more of all that cake and sugar. I already miss all the rye bread from Denmark. The first thing I'm going to do when I get home, (after sleeping) is eating rye bread! And lost of it! But at least nobody is bringing cookies tomorrow, so hopefully I can eat my lunch without getting invaded by the sugar-terror ;-)
That's all for now. Now I wanna go to bed, before i fall asleep with my face on the computer.
See you, dear readers!