yeah, I've been home for 2 weeks now. 

messing up --> coming home later :'(

Waow, I still can't believe that I am going home in less than 2 weeks. It is exciting, but also really sad and scary. Because I think I know what I am going home to, I think I am going home to what I know, or knew, since I have changed and a year has past in Sweden too.

Like the YFU staff says: 1 year, but 2 experiences. I am both times leaving a place that means a whole lot to me, I am leaving a home, a part of my heart where beautiful memories belong. I have started to say that I got a new family, but I don't think that is true, it's better to say that I have expanded my family, since my American family has not replaced my Swedish family, but as I said expanded. I have got new friends(and even though I didn't get that one best American friend I expected to get I got a Danish sister and best friend who has made every day of this year a pleasure. Thank you Stine for being awesome!), new knowledge, experienced amazing things and seen beautiful places I never thought I would see. 


Okej, so the last week a lot has happened: 
last weekend 
Friday we went to a birthday for an Italian exchange student, nice people, nice food and some dancing. 
Saturday we volunteered and Cleaned The Bay with Dad's work and after that a nice shower followed by prep(we did everything ourselves this time) for PROM :D 
Stine and I spent about 4 hours getting ready and at 5, my date Kat (a girl from my Tennis team) and Stine's date (Bella in one of Stine's classes) came, pictures were taken and we ate food from Outback Steakhouse in our dinner room and had a remarkable staff. Prom took place in Norfolk and Half Moon Cruise, a beautiful building we arrived to as the sun was setting. 
It was noticeable that the senior class had a lot more money than the junior class, since every class collects their own money for their events. Prom had 3 opportunities for photos, where of 2 was free and one of them had crafts - a viking hat was of course placed on my head :D (almost felt like being home x) haha). So until now everything's been great, but sadly the music and dancing were a bit out of my range. I think I could sing a long and dance to one song through out the whole night and everybody was twerking (hmmm. rubbing against each other is the best explanation I have, I guess) 
BUT I had a great night with great people, so I am satisfied with prom :) and just fyi, I bought a new dress ;) 


This week we got the yearbooks :D so the project in every class is to let the people who wants to sign and leave a little (or long) note and memory do that (since we have the last classes friday and monday and the rest of the days are exams days, which means that you only go to school if you are doing exams, which I have two of, and graduation for seniors is Thursday and last day of exams Friday). and I'm in a couple of pictures. 
And Milla, my finish sister who was an exchange student here last year arrived and will stay here until the day before I leave.
And I also went to cheesecake Factory with Stine, Bennie and my area rep Sandi and her husband, and a had a delicious Oreo cheesecake! and I also met her new mini puppy, THE CUTEST THING EVER !
 This weekend we went to the beach with the family, Bennie(Denmark) and Vinni (Germany) I had a blast, even though there was only 2 hours spent at the beach since Andrea (a tropical storm) chased us away / home. 


Take care ! <3


PS. congratulations to your graduation Emil, my love <3 

Here's an update of my latest Weekends and happenings:

Blacksburg 
Me, and 5 other exchange students, Stine, Bennie - Denmark, Anna - Finland, Corinne, Daria - Switzerland, Mum(Kristie) and Lynn (working for YFU), rented a seat car and went to Blacksburg, a city a in Southwest Virginia, mainly existing because of the colleges like Virginia Tech. (just FYI, Virginia is known for having the best school in America, and has colleges like UVA) 
Okej, so back to my weekend. Differently from Virginia Beach which has a lot of neighborhoods close to each other and a lot of shops, malls, a oceanfront and things to do, Blacksburg is in the woods with less civilization. 
As the Saturday was the Global Youth Service Day we started of the day picking up trash and we continued the day with a hike to a waterfall. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL ! The hike was followed by an orientation, which we've had 2 times before during the year with YFU. We discussed going home, and it feels unreal that it is only 1 month left. I am still in denial, which I was when I came here too. Like Lynn said: 1 Year and 2 Experiences.(leaving home land and leaving host land) and like Stine says: We live in the second layer (like Inception). Well. the day ended with the hot tub and a movie.   


German Honors Society 
Tallwood High School, has Honors Societies for honoring the students who take a higher level of language classes and make high grades in the rest of the classes(which is a good reference for college application). And since I am doing pretty well in school and take AP (college level) German, I was inducted to the German Honors Society. And German Class is one of my favorite classes here. We are only like 12 people and we have a great "chemistry".  
And while I am talking about school, we have had sleep-ins and haven't started school until 9.50 the latest week. ITS BEEN GREAT ! :D this is because there has been SOL testing this week, which is comparable to "Nationella Prov" in Sweden, except that it is in more subjects. I took in English and US & VA History, and Algebra 2 (math) is waiting this Thursday. 

Bonfire 
Me and 8 other exchange students from Virginia Beach went to Suffolk and spent a Saturday night there. We played Kickball which is a mix of baseball and Soccer, great - since I can't baseball. We had bases like baseball, but kicked a soccer ball. 
We ate a "real" cowboy meal, "nachos", chili, cheese and lettuce directly from the bag. 
And as you could read, we had a great bonfire when it got dark, kinda like Valborg :) ! And ofc we made S'MORES ! (grilled marshmallows, chocolate and crackers) 

Tennis dinner 
Since the Tennis season is over we decided to have a dinner to get together again. I really miss Tennis, the girls were great! 
This year and the sports really taught me that it is okey to not be the best on everything especially not when on things I've never tried before(which I will need this summer when I will start to drive) 


Latest movies 
Great Gatsby 
Big Wedding 
Oz the Great and Powerful
Star Trek 

Cinema Café is a great thing over here. A mix of a Cinema and a Café (great name right)! x) 
All Movies were great, just FYI ;D

Sushi 
Yeah guys ! I've had my first Sushi over here, and I liked it ! EXCITING :D since I think it seems so sophisticated to eat Sushi. 

Weather 
The heat has come ! :D but, it is humid! So even though its raining, it is as hot as a Swedish summer day(if not warmer)

I am sorry for the lack of updates lately! 
 But I've been preeeetty busy. 
Well, here you got an update & I hope you enjoyed it :D! 
 

' Eeeeey! How are u doin'?

So I saw my first baseball game (IRL) Saturday, bought "the foam finger"(I want to say hand so bad!) and all. ate FRIED S'mores too - way to make it unhealthy! We, (Stine, dad and I) went there with a group if exchange students, pretty decent!

So Thursday I played in my real tennis match, a dubble match with Kristina, an awesome freshman on our team. We lost, unfortunately, but I was so honored and glad that coach let me play. (We call our coaches Coach-whatever-their-last-name-are, American respect again) the Tennis team is just so awesome I love it! So supportive and we always have a fun time together - it is GREAT! :D and so is the heat, even though I'm complaining at practice, I love to not need an extra jacket!

& I went on a field trip to the air and space museum - COOOOOOOOL !

Enjoy your day! Take care ! <3
/ Ida

Ps. It's only 60 days(2 months) until I'm going home. I can't believe this year is almost over ! <3

Aaaaaah - I LOVE IT !
Sun and 25-30 degrees Celsius
+ played tennis all afternoon with ma' buddies ! - AWESOME !! <3

Okey, so now when some time has passed, I can write about it now :P 

 Ring Dance was Saturday, March 9th. 
After 100 and thousands of hours trying to find the right dress and getting it ready, by flowers, make plans and everything. 
The day came and I spend 2.5 hours at the hairdresser for some curls and a waterfall braid.  And then 30 minutes for make up and getting dressed. Great planning - yep-yep !
After that, some pictures were taken with the family,
 and then pictures at Marshall's house, with James & Zoey, Mat & Stine, Bennie, Patrick and Marshall (my date) & me.
We gave each other flowers: boutineer for him and a corsage for me. 
Dinner was at 3 Amigos and...
 at 8 o'clock  The Dance began. It was located at Founders Inn, a hotel in Virginia Beach.
The classical pictures were taken and dancing for 4 hours. & gosh there was some dirty stuff, But I had an awesome time :D ! 

I made the Tennis team, and I am not one of the top players, but I am playing "the extra" matches. Which I am glad doing since it is the first time for me playing on a Tennis team ever ! 

& I got my beloved Christmas gift; a world-watch from Urban Outfitters this week. Better late than ever -  right ? 
& I went ice skating with some friends and there was a Swedish flag, got sooo happy - OFC a picture had to be taken ;P !

I hope y'all are well :) ! <3