Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

Being in America around the (28th) 29th and 30th of April feels weird. Back in the Netherlands they are celebrating the Queen's birthday and are crowning our new King. It's weird to miss it. It's not that I really wanted to be there. I like it here, and I'm pretty sure that my Sunday & Monday were better than most people their days.

Sunday, 28th of April.

I slept till 10. I had breakfast, Greek yoghurt and a cinnamon-roll. Half an hour later I had second breakfast. Just because I can! Bacon, scrambled eggs and red potatoes. Around 11 Jasper and I skyped again. It was lovely to hear his voice and I can't wait to see him on Saturday. I do have to punish him for being rude. Saying: 'now I'm going to do something fun again..' Thanks mate! If you read this, brace yourself! Anyhow, I'l continue. After getting fully dressed Hattie and Scott drove me to Bellis Fair, the shopping mall. I waited a bit for Tina over there and then we went shopping. She finally found her long dress! I'm really glad for her. She even found a long skirt. I am, of course, a little bit of a shop-a-holic, so I got a dress, shorts and a t-shirt. And we're still not done with shopping! Going back on Wednesday, just because we can.
At 03:19 we took the bus to Downtown. Femke, Leanne and their host Sara would pick us up at the station. They had done some really nice stuff Downtown, they went to the piano-race (teams first pushing a piano downhill and then as fast as possible uphill again), they went for a hike, did groceries shopping and they saw a little market. That's the number one reason why they were so late to pick us up. I didn't really mind, because the weather was great. When they arrived we noticed that there wouldn't be a spot left for Mirjan. We send her a message and she notified that her host mother would bring her.
At the house Leanne and Femke gave us a tour. They have a beautiful house near Lake Padden. It's amazing. All made from wood (Sara's husband is carpenter) and so lovely. After catching up we made dinner, spaghetti, sauce and salad, and had a delicious dessert: chocolate fondue with strawberries (and apples and bananas). We did this because we saw as well in New York as in Seattle a shop called Godiva. This shop sells 6 strawberries covered in chocolate for 42 dollars. No I'm not lying. 42 dollars. It's insane! So we came up with the idea to make our own. They were really good. After more talking and making jokes we did the dishes and went to the cinema-room, and still: not lying! They have a ginormous screen and beamer downstairs where we watched Sweeney Todd, whilst seated in big-ass chairs. It was a great day!

Monday, 29th of April, Queens-night!

We had a day of today. I really wanted to go to Bellingham High, but unfortunately it wasn't possible (to find out later that I could have gone because one of my classmates didn't go..). I worked on my homework. I read the booklets that we got from teachers during the presentations that we've seen. I underlined difficult words and wrote them down in my wordfile. Yes wordfile, because they think it's funny to make you come up with 150/200 new words in less than 4 weeks. What's even more unfair is that it's exactly the same amount as for those who left for 5 months. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've almost got 150, so I good. Around 7 everybody was back again and we had dinner. Hattie and Michelle went to the store to get the ingredients to make smores (marshmallows, chocolate, cookie-like-crackers), the reason why is that we were having a bonfire. I invited Femke, Tina, Leanne and Mirjan to come to my place. Around 8 I had shown them all around the house and we were taking turns on the water-bike. Everybody had lots of fun and Scott took the jet ski for a ride. Of course, all of us had to be on it as well, and yes, we did. I went first and I even drove it! It was really cool. Wind in your hair, adrenaline rush, a beautiful view! After me Femke, Tina and Mirjan went. Leanne was last and she's a natural! It was amazing to see her making turns like a pro.
After having played enough in the water we sat down by the fire and made smores, or just ate warmed up marshmallows. I had an enjoyable night! I'm glad I have such friends as these people. We even made plans for a vacation on Terschelling, where Leanne lives as well as making a cooking-group!
After 10 everyone was gone and I sat outside with Hattie, Scott and Michelle talking and eating. Then I took a quick shower and went to bed: slept a lot because I needed all my energy for Mount Baker!

Tuesday, 30th of April, Queens/Kingsday.

Woke up early and had a healthy breakfast: home-made bread pastries and fruit. I grabbed my stuff for the mountain trip and Michelle dropped me off. I spent an hour working in the library on my wordfile. I'm afraid that I'll never finish it. There are some much more words to add that I really don't know.

Around 09:20 I met up with the rest and we got into the van. We drove for quite a while and around 11:15 we were on the mountain. Which isn't even really Mount Baker. Liars. We went for a short hike, which in my opinion should have lasted much longer, and then we got in the van again. We drove to a nice spot to go sledding. Saskia and Johanna brought sleds (Scott couldn't find one for me) and we took turns. First we had to go uphill of course, which is pretty difficult when you're 1.60 metres and sank in the snow until your ribs. I had to be rescued for a few times. People also thought it was fun to take pictures of me (I have to admit, it sort of was). Finally after hours, days, weeks! (a few minutes) we had a nice spot and started making a path with the sled. Frank and Eelko started and they made a nice clear way. Eventually it was my turn (hooray!) and it went pretty fast! But it was fun. I also tried to take the other sled, which was a blue disc. It didn't really worked, only for half a meter and then it would stop. Ulli thought it would be a great idea to push me. Which obviously wasn't a good idea. I made a few somersaults and got back on my feet again. It was a good day though. Of course there were snow-fights, snow-mans were being made and even snow-angels. We had a good day and the weather was great.
On the drive back we stopped at the Nooksack waterfall. It was gorgeous! We had lunch by the river and we stopped to hug trees. Yes, we did.

Around 4:20 we were back again and everybody went home. I got my WCC sweater (Whatcom Community College: the school) in green and I gave my honest opinion about Eelko and Josse fitting them on. Pretty much everybody has got one of them now, which is awesome.

Tomorrow will be the first of May and we're having presentations. That we need to give. Wait, whut? Yes, about our MP. But they already let us now that it would be more of a talk in general. Bo-ring.
From 5 - 8 we have our 'farewell dinner', which sounds depressing but should be fun.
Between those two activities I'll go to the mall again and see a film with Tina in cinema, they're only 4 dollars, so it would be a shame not to go.