THE Homecoming Dance.

I started the day by waking up at 7.00 am, getting ready, and by eight Tarryn came and Picked me up. Time for All-state choir auditions! The auditions we're held at Adam's central high school in Grad Island, and all all-state people (both band and choir) drove together from the school. THAT DAY we got the parts that we were supposed to sing (bad, since we barely had anytime to practise) and all the way there we sat and sang. They didn't take any from the German song that I knew so well, and pretty much the hardest parts of all the other songs! My audition was at 10.05, so I had the least time to practise. A time that got way less after talking to all of Tarryn's friends that she knew from everywhere! I tried to convince myself that I didn't care, that I just have to go in there and have fun, but of course, as always, I cannot take failing, making mistakes or not being able to do something. So I get nervous. And ruin it. I stood outside the audition room listening to the girl inside ( OH NO, I reaized. PEOPLE ARE GONNA HEAR ME!) The girl in there was amazing, and that did not help my nerves. When she got out it was... Anna! She was one of the girls Tarryn introduced me to before.

The judge in the room gave me some directions (even though she was not supposed to) put the tape on, and I sang! I had to know everything exactly, what part I was singing, what pitch etc. I just got the tempo, and then I had to know everything else by myself. Not the easiest I'll tell you. Some parts that I thought were gonna go good went bad, and some parts I thought were gonna go bad went well, but afterwards I still knew I didn't make it. My nerves messed it up again... I sat down and talked to Anna waiting for Patty, and by the end of the conversation when we were going toget coffee, we had already planned how she was gonna come to Sweden and live with me for a year, and go to IB, and learn swedish and everyhting. Let's just say we got along well.

Patty came and we went to meet up in Hastings with Nikki to buy last minute things for the dance. I bought a red clutch, a couple of earrings, and oher necessities for the evening. We ate subway, and when we got home we pretty muh started getty ready for the dance even though it was like 2 pm only.

Before the dance we went to pick up Shae (that was barely ready at all) and Nik in the white Tahoe that was ours for the night. Took some pictures at Nik's house and went to the dance. It was fun when the guys felt unmasculine sitting in the backseat haha. the first half hour was all about pictures at different places, with different people etc. Then the ACTUAL dance started. I got in my dancing mood, the mood where I just let go of everything else, and I love it! I had so much fun it was crazy. Daniing with all different people, talking to all different people. I can honestly say that I haven't had that much fun in a looong time.

When it all ended at 11pm we went to Grandma Max'x (It's a tradition going out eating breakfast after the Homecoming Dance every year). Everone was there. After that, even though we didn't have curfew until 1am, we didn't have time to do anything. My feet hurt after all the dancing, and after some texting I fell asleep. Sleeping Beauty as someone once said.

SPIRIT WEEK continuation..

Late, again, but at least I'm here!

COLOR WAR

The point of this day was that every grade had their own color that they were supposed to dress up in, and one grade would win (how they judged that I don't know). Anyways, Seniors (for example.. me) were supposed to wear green, juniors pink, sophomores orange, freshmen yellow etc. In Interior design we had a substitute, plus that we barely had anything to do (a usual interior design class for that matter) so Nikki acted hairdresser and poofed everyone's hair doing big awesome hairdos for us. It was fun, and people sure did notice us. Nikki was probably the cutest with her pink wings, extremely poofed hair and pink flowers on her face.

CARDINAL DAY

The most boring day, but it's tradition and we didn't have a choise. Since it was the day of the Homecoming game people were supposed to dress up in the school colors; Red, Black and White. I thought it was boring, but as always I follow my rule, "Life is what you make it" and I did wear Red, Black and White, but in afun way! I did my makeup extreme with red eyeshadow, patterns with liquid eyeliner and dots on my eyelids with glitter eyeliner. Even guys complimented it during the day and told me I should be a make-up artist haha. it was fun.. We had a peprally to highen the school spirit during the day where all these games were held for different sports groups. The senior Volleyball girls got to eat "poop" (chocolate and nuts) out of diapers, the Footballguys had to blow flour and find sugar cubes, and Cross country guys got their faces covered in whipped cream and got cheeseballs thrown at them by the X-country girls.

Our Homecoming game was not what it could have been. I would have been so much more fun if we would have won the game, but the guys were not as bad as they usually are after losses. We went to McDonalds after, but some of us thought it was too crowded, so me, DJ, Butters, Shawn, Nik and Jordan got into a car and drove to Wendy's (there's something about the "Baconater"...) but is was closed, so we went to Sonic. I had s much fun! I love haninging out with different people all the time, and sometimes guys are so much easier hanging out with than girls! Anyways, we had fun. And on the way home, Nikki and I forgot Tarryn...

SPIRIT WEEK

SPRIRIT WEEK = week before Homecoming, using dress-up-themes everyday for School just for fun. Also I'm getting way excited for this weekend. Need t go shpooing for shoes and all this other fun stuff for the dance!

Monday: PAJAMA DAY
Probably the most boring day. There are girls atour school that walk around in pajamas on regular days, so I wasn't really expecting any huge differences, and there weren't. I hate though people who don't even try, or want to do something. I mean, how many times a year do you have the oppertunity to freak out clothes'wise in school? There you go. Me and Nikki were wearing robes to school, and Nikki got the female costume award for that day, congrats hunny!
Today we also got to vote for Homecoming Queen and King. I voted for Kmart and F-Nik (= Foreign Nik, I LOVE HIM! He's the funniest guy)

Tuesday: DUCK-TAPE DAY
I admit I was sceptic, but it ended up being so much fun. People were going crazy, wearing tape all over their clothes, different colors, shapes, everything. You really got the chance to be creative. Many classes during this day were spent to decorate clothes, and make clothes out of tape. Britny stayed up until 3o'clockin the morning making her jacket. Respect. Satsigt huh? :D
I made a skirt for myself during study hall, just by wrapping my butt in tape. Next period I had to go to the bathroom...

Wednesday: COSTUME DAY
I dressed up as Barbie, I even had a blond wig that I took off before first period. Remind me NEVER to go blond, omg retarded. I used the excuse that it was itching and that Kim messedit up (wich is partially true) but mostly it was because I looked like a freak, we do have a picture onit on the fridge though, haha. Nikki was a pirate, it was very cute. That was a fun day too. During the day I saw princesses, ninjas, batman, batgirl, Teenage Ninja Turtle, superman, cheerleaders, snow white, a banana etc.

updates of rest of week is to come! Håll utkik vettja

I'm a bad person...I'm sorry

I've been really busy lately, as you might have noticed wen you've over and over again read my un-updated blog. A sincerely apologize. I'll try to change. Anyways. To make this easy I'll just sum up what I've been doing since last, up to now. Here it goes:

thursday 6/9
* Went to away Volleyballgame and dropped by Amigos on the way. Their cheesy's and cinnamon chips are the best. Seriously. On our way back it had turnes into storm, Stacie could practically not see anything while driving, it was raining, hailing, heavy wind, thunder, lightning, I think it even may have snowed a bit. The weather here is so weird, it changes so much from day do day. One day you can freeze your toes off at a football game, the next run around in bikini in the yard. Anyways, we had to stop atthe school to wait out the storm. Me + all cheerleaders, it was fun!

friday 7/9
-got my nails done (thank god, they looked horrible after I bit them all off, now they're long and beautiful again!)
- R.I.P my red balloon, brutally assassinated my Kim Villain.
- Left my bag at TJ´s (for you who dont know what it is: Taco John's) in Hastings, freaked out, but got relieved when no one had stolen it from me.
-Sleepover at Kim's and watched (TRIED to watch!) Superstar, which by the way is an awesome hilarious movie and you just have to see it. This caused us to for weeks, months after, still quote it.
-Overall a bit weird night. UV-lights makes things scary...

saturday 8/9
-Shopping in Lincoln
-I LOVE HOLLISTER
- hung out at Sonic with Dj, Keith etc.
- Met Nikki's friends from far away.
- Had peculiar experiences at a camping in-the-middle-of-nowhere

sunday 9/9
- Went to Ef-picknick in Grand Island
- Met swedish people :O (Fredrik, Ida, Vanessa)
- realized that I can barely speak swedish anymore....
-got an Austrian friend; Theresia, from Sutton
- ate way too much
- Watched movie during awkwardness at DJ's.

wednesday 12/9
-Had poverty simulation (juniors and seniors gather in the gym where there's lots of chairs and stuff, the whole poit is for us to figure out how to surivive during "a month" with not much money. Our family (Me, Kim, Johnny and F-Nik) ended up as severe criminals ;(
-I fell asleep during American History watching a movie about Gettysburg. Woops...
- Kim found out the truth. It was weird seeing her sad like that. At least she got happy soon again realizing what mistake she had made.
- Went to Wal*Mart cuz Nikki craved Puppy Chow
- The ride home was fun

saturday 15/9
- a good day... I GOT A CELLPHONE!

thursday 20/9
* hung out with Kim after school to do our fruit carving homework for foods!
- went to Wal*Mart to buy melons
- Ate dinner at Kim's work (Ruby Tuesday)
- NOS :)
- (Mrs Hanson ended up LOVING my fruitcarving. I know, I'm the best!)

friday 21/9
- Kim had a rough day (fought with Kinzie, Dj was not being the best trusting boyfriend, got bad news phonecalls, and on our way home, as the cream on the mashed potatos (I just thought the translation was funny!) we hit a raccoon...
- Me, Kim, Brittany and Jena drove to Kearney for football!
-stopped at Runza
- a certain note in a locker

saturday 6/10
- Cinnamon sugar bagel :)
-Found weird leaf-bug :O
-Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island, Tarryn got elected first runner up :D
-Sonic
-Fall Festival in Doniphan, Tarryn elected fall festival queen
- Drove around
-Went to Carlos (Kmart, Amy, Neilee, Jesse, Jesse's friends, Tarryn, Jordyn)
-Went to hang out at Tarryn's
- Went to Travis where we found lots of football guys watching...football. Fell asleep in the couch at 10, and someone stole my Full Throttle ;(
- Phonecall from Amy
- A calm fall festival night


Random:
-Watched A LOT of volleyballgames (unfortunately we almost always lose..)
- Kim & DJ turned into a couple in two nanoseconds
-"HATTAB" (= Hot tub)
- Watch movies :) (Music&Lyrics, Borat, Deja Vu
- Nikki's grandpa got hurt and her grandma won't call 911...
- started a diet (+ ended it the same day, crap)
- Saw funny animated movies for fifthgrader's in foods. People who know me know in what way I turned gothic while watching that.
- Went to college fair
- decided not to try out for One Act (doing High School Musical instead)
- Got obsessed with the Sarah Silverman Programme, it's like the best show ever! ("You're not a lesbian!" "Then how do you explain this?" *pose* laughing out loud!)
- went to practise for All-state choir audition with Tarryn
- movie night at Kmart
- made my own cake-mix bownies (that's how I roll)
- Rejected major shopping in big time for probably the first time in my life..
- Became obsessed with, and watched the whole first season of Heroes
- things started to come up
- Met Mrs Lau on a Hill in Loup City..
-watched Heroes
-watched some more Heroes
- Hung out with Shae, Tarryn, Nikki, Nik, Tom and Jake and discussed our devotion to corn
- Remember: Sometimes your friends can be best friends with your mom.
- Went shopping with Brittany, bought a beautiful white winter jacket (+ met her horses)
- Decorated a beautiful cake in form of a covered wagon with donut-wheels in foods! (it sure deserved a purple ribbon)
- getting random phonecalls at 2 am.
- having the wonderful tast of collecting bugs for biology. It sure is fun seing them die in my glass-jar filled with nailpolish-remover. No it is really not...
- hurtfully took my nails off...
-decided that I'm gonna go out for Basketbal and track
- missed my dear drama workshop
-Got a date for homecoming Saturday 13/10
- Getting used to doing all group projects myself.
- Getting used to getting straight A's

Choir Convension

Wednesday 5/9

*Picture-time! Seniors usually don't take school pictures since they take senior pictures (I'm gonna make Nikki take mine some day) but this year, with the new principal and all we're going to have release cards, meaning that you have the right to leave school during study hall etc, and for those we need pictures. I think I want to have mine anyways, I peeked and they turned out good, and it's always fun to have pictures to send to Grandmothers and Grandfathers.

*11 Choir-people left in the school van to go to North west high in Grand Island where the convension was held. During the day four speakers talked to us about their experiences, how to make our choir better, to believe in yourself and that you actually can make a difference in the world. I bet that not one of those 200 students attending walked out of that auditorium without feeling filled with hope and joy, with the thought on their mind that they're so small in the world, but that they can make a difference. The speakers were great. My eyes teared up several times during the day. They just really believed in life, no matter what they had been through. One of them had cancer and had been fighting it for a long time, but his feelings towards life erre just wonderful. He was constantly happy, enoying everything in life, seeing just possibilities and being such an optimist all the time. It was great to see. The last man was as good. "Dont judge, celebrate". If you're judging people you don't have time to love them. You don't have to like everyone, but you have to love them for who they are. He had been an alcoholic, you got to know that during his last 5 minutes of speach, out of maybe an hour. No one knew, no one could have guessed. "If you think something positive about someone, say it!" So true, so true...

*At lunch at Valentino's, italian buffet. I totally overate, it was so good! You just had to try a bit of everything, and if it was good you took some more. The best of it all were those cinnamon-bread-cake-thingies. It's hard explaining. It was like bread, really good kind, soft, compact, kinda sweet rolled in cinnamon-sauce-thingy. It was sooooooo good! omgomg. Anyways, think everyone overate that day. Didn't feel that good afterwards, haha.

*We were talking about how better singers make a better choir, but that there's a lot of other things that affects it too; Devotion, respect, how you want to try new things, soul, dedication, inspiration and passion. He let us sit down, close our eyes, hold hands and listen to him talking about 9/11, about the men who offered lives to try to save others. After that, still holding hands, still with closed eyes, we sang America. "Our country 'tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride, from every mountain side, let feerdom ring" The feeling that that brought, even though I'm not even american, was unbelievable. It sounded so good, so pure, so passionate. 200 people. It was mighty.

*Each one of us got a coffee bean in a bag when we got to the convension, and in the end we got the explanation, here's the story:

-"A girl was sad and depressed, everytime she got rid of one of the many problems she had, another seemed to appear. One day her father, who was a cook, took her into the kitchen. He started boiling water in three different cans. His daugher said "What are you doing, what am I doing in here". The only thing he said was "Just wait, you'll see". In one can he put an egg, in the second a carrott and in the third a coffeebean. After a while one the stove he took them off and showed them to the girl. "When problems hit you, would you rather be the egg; that had a hard shell but with a light playful spirit that when exposed to hot water still is hard on the outside, but looses that light and lovely spirit and turns hard and bitter inside, or, be the carrott; that after being exposed to the boiling water becomes weak and easy to wound, OR", he said,"would you be the coffebean that after getting in hot water, instead of being affected by the water, changes the water after herself, and the hotter she gets, the better the coffee tastes."

Everyone, Choose to be a coffeebean!

Your beloved Pärlan

Messed up day...

Tuesday 4/9

Overall pretty messed up day. At first there was the Volleyball game, but that was actually fun. Camo-theme (Kamouflage för er som inte förstår engelsk slang). I got to borrow Dennis' camo-vest lol. Combined with my Abercrombie tanktop, another brown tanktop and brown/green/ nature colored accessories it was cool! (I even put leaves in my hair!) I think Kim has some pictures, just have to make her upload them. At the first game, I was the only one wearing camo... Then Kim came and we were two... At the second game the footballpractise was over, and camo-dressed footballplayers entered the gym. It was not AS much spirit as last time, but I still had a blast jumping around with the football guys cheering our team. Between the two games me and Kim went to her house to get some food for Janie (and cookie-dough ice-cream for me!) That was actually the first time I've visited her house, crazy. During the second game I was so happy, full of spirit and joy. Don't really know why... I got to wear Shae's sunglasses, Nikki's "cute"-bracelet and Travis' hat, and ofcourse...Facepaint.

It was afterwards that the not-so-fun stuff started. Ofcourse it's about boys. Mostly for Nikki's part and I felt really sorry for her. Don't like seeing her sad. And when she went to yell at Brady after getting a call from Shaylee, me and Tarryn were having girltalk in the car. Stuff revealed, and for that night I was mad at all men in the world (kinda). Enough said. We went to Wal*Mart. People were looking at me weird, I wonder why.

Pearl...

Labour-day-weekend

Sunday

2nd of september we packed all our things to go to "the lake" (Don't know the actual namne of it, but everyone else calls it "the lake") to camp over labour-day-weekend. We brought Shaylee's jetski, and when we got there we picked up Bryan's boat. People attending this nice trip were: Me (duh), Nikki (always), Shaylee (junior-friend, also in Cheerleading squad), Bryan (Shaylee's boyfriend), Taylor (Shaylee's fun freshman sister!), Adam&Zack (Bryan's friends from Hastings college). On the way up we stayed at Wal*Mart to get all the food and stuff we needed, and for some reason the guys bought tons of donuts. Zack spent all his time in the car talking about himself, how expensive everything he owns is, how he apparently has the best life ever (again pretty much about money) WELL...

When we got th boat there were tons of "stickers"! They're like plant-thingys that gets stuck to everything! They look like small balls with pointy sticks out, and they hurt to. I've never seen anything like it, and it wasn't positive.

Jetskiing was fun though! Shaylee drove and she was a bit crazy, we pretty much flew and crashed into the waves. Awesome. Then ofcourse: Tubing. What made it even funner was that we went to at one time (not two on one tube, but on two different tubes) and sometimes you bumped into each other. Bryan was going fast, at least compared to when I went three years ago, but after a while you get used to falling off and try to climb up that tube until you have no energy left. I can tell you I had such sore muscles the following day. So after a whole day of jetskiing, tubing and boatriding we were to set up the camp. Unfortunately it took somewhat longer time than we thought to get everything up on dry land again, and when we finally arrived to the camp it was dark, and for a while we thought it was full. We found a spot though. The guys set up the tent, and I helped doing dinner. It felt good when everything was in place and we could just sit down on our chairs and talk by the fire. I was soo tired and almost fell asleep a couple of times and when I did go to bed I slept through the whole night. "Som en stock". Felt bad for Nikki who didn't feel that good.

Monday:

The ACTUAL Labour day. Have no idea what they're celebrating and they pretty much didn't know anything either, exept the fact that we're getting one exta day of weekend. Went tubing again, but wer still tired in my arms so I fell off all the time. Zack and Adam went crazy though! They told Bryan to drive pretty much as fast as he could, and turn sharply, all that. In the curves they were like going 90 miles/hour! They held on to it, sat on it, sat on i backwards, like everything you could do. It was scary just watching them, but they apparently enjoyed it!

Drove home. Were supposed to be home at four or something so I decided that since it was my mom's birthday I would call to congratulate her. We came home about six, and I didn't want to wake her up in the middle of the night... I sent her an e-mail, but felt so bad. Didn't want her to think that I forgot her, cuz I certainly did not. I love you mommy.

It has begun!

THURSDAY
Games, Football, Volleyball, everything! Thursdays triangular Girls Volleyball game was amazing. The theme was "Blackout" and when I came there I was undeniably dissappointed. Sure, some people wore black, but it didn't catch the eye as much as it should have! Anyways. I sat by myself in the beginning, since pretty much all my best friends are either in the Volleyball team, or cheerleaders! Then the guys dropped in, and turned up the heat. They were all so spirited! The cheerleaders gave some of them S.T.U.D.S T-shirt (Don't ask what it stands for, it's something about keeping the School-spirit), they all wore black, and had black face-paintings! I got a beautiful flower on my chin.
I can't explain how much fun it was jumping up and down, screaming, dancing, whatever. I'm not usually into sports that much but this was fun, and I got really engaged! I even cussed some ( In swedish! That way no one would know! So that doesn't count) I pretty much collected different things from different people to wear: I got Nikki's "Cute"-bracelet, Shae's RayBans and Travis' hat. (I made a beautiful "toppluva" Out of his way to big headband that he could wear instead). The girls ended up winning one game, and losin the other. They were so close! It was totally annoying, but it'll go better next time girls!
After the gae we totally ended up going to Wal*Mart (I so love Wal*Mart!), me, Nikki, Megan and Nick (Nick is the foreign exchange student from Austria, he's nice!) We went there for the main reason of developing pictures, but as always we did a lot of other stuff to, and we ran in to familiar people like Mac and some of Nikki's guy friends. On the way back Megan and Nikki convinced Nick to go to Homecoming with them (Yes, both of them: They're having a triangular double-date) Fun! I think Nick though we were kinda weird, but you know, we like carparties!

FRIDAY
foods: Making Salsa (canning!) , hell yeah! Our group is totally the most fun. Me, Kimmie, Stacie, Amy and Kelan. Kelan: "So do you do a lot of skimmimg in Sweden?" Antonia: "Ofcourse, it's my hobby. I do it atleast eight hours a day, can't you tell?" Kelan: "Yeah.. you're a professional". I totally dropped one of our tomatos in the sink though (You know it that hole, you Americans know, which i kinda big and just squashes things? lol)
english: glad to have DJ behind me to help me with all the grammar (the downside of senior-english) He doesn't even get it, how am I supposed to?
interior design: I'm totally into it! I've become lika a nerd reading ahead in the book and stuff lol, but it's so much fun! We've got to design our own book-covers, and we're going to re-decorate the computer lab!
biology: Oh no, I've got my book... Now I actually have to do stuff!
choir: Me, Kim, Brittany and Tarryn totally own this one (me and Kim are libraaarians, Tarryn president and Brittany Vice president, i think) I think we're going to some kind of choir-convention Wednesday next week, those who want to. I do.
american history: Sounds totally boring, right? It's not! I love the teacher Mr Breckner, he's so much fun. Tried everything to make us learn (Incudes writing in different colors, doing corny movements to connect with important things etc) and he always relate to things that we actually understand (He made us believe that his new big-screen TV broke, and that he just wanted to skip paying further payments since he didn't want to pay for a TV that's not workning, to make us understand about contracts that's written during war, and how you couldn't escape them. Things like that) It's brilliant anyways. We also have a really small class which can be nice cuse it makes it more personal. This is the only class except for interior design that I have with Nikki. Shaylee's there too, and Tiffany, and Shae.
pre college algebra: As most of you know, Math isn't my favourite subject. I get by though. IT's confusing sometimes, but it's been OK this far.

After school Kim came and picked me up to go to the Football-game! It was an away-game against Blue Hill and it took about 45 minutes by car. We had so much fun though! Stopped by Runza so they could get something to eat (I had already eaten) listened to music and talked. It was me, Kim, Janie and Neilee. Janie is just such a pure-nice girl! This game, all senor girls were supposed to wear the guys Jerseys. I wore Sam's, number 50. It was so fun though, cuse it wa so big I wore it as a dress, with leggings under. It was really cute, with red lipstick. The game itself was really confusing. I pretty much didn't get anything what happened, but cheered along when we scored (which did not happen that many times, actually one if I remember it right). In the beginning the sun was in our eyes, and it was really bad so we barely saw anything. We kinda just played around and took a couple of photos and talked to the cheerleaders.
I saw the most beautiful car! It was like a hot pink sportscar, and like the cutest ever!
On our way home we stopped by Dairy queen, I got a Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard, yum! On our way out from there we discussed dark things... Hung out at the school's parking lot for a while after until it was just me, Kim and Nikki left. I was so tired when I came home and fell asleep at once! (After checking facebook of course, which reminds me, SIGN UP)

SATURAY
What I did:
-Watched maybe 3 episdes of America's next top model 5 (totally love it)
- Ate lunch from Arby's
-Went to Shaylee's to watch the Huskers football game. (Nebraska vs. Nevada)
- Ate puppy chow (corn cereal in chocolate/peanut butter and powder sugar) and like the same thing but caramel. Goood.
-Went around driving in half-time.
-Fell asleep in the couch when I got home.
-Searched for the tent with all included like everywhere, and then put it up to see it was okay.. It was.
-Went to Hastings to see Justin, Britny, Becca etc. for Justin's birthday.

Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape
We won't hear a word they say
They don't know us anyway
Watch it burn
Let it die
'Cause we are finally free
Tonight
-Boys like girls - The great escape

Love y'all!
Pärlan, the girl in hot pink.

BBBBB - Bon fire, Birthday, Blizzard and Big Bubblegum!

School drill and Emergency bus evacuation. Not as fun as it sounds, but I guess It's necessary. Day in honor I wore blue jeans and the red new cheer t-shirt so that all of us cheerleaders would match (funky, huh?) Sam is in my Biologyclass, at least now I have someone to talk to that's not a sophomore! ( Or that teacher's assistant! "Making sure the girls are in the right place"!? Well, sure, guess you can say it like that??)

After school we went fast to Grand Island to buy Tarryn some cards, and get jelly beans! I can tell you. They're not regular jelly beans. They're Bertie Bott's jelly beans... I guess it was kinda scary that we ate them on our way back while driving, I know that me myself would probably had driven off the road, but Nikki's a good driver. Here's the flavours we tasted: Lemon drop (the best!), cherry (okay), blueberry (okay too) grape jelly (did not like it), buttered popcorn (ew!), soap (even more ew!!), grass (I assure you... It tasted exactly like grass) Soap (not my finest moment), Vomit (Spit it out before I actually tasted the flavour) eartworm (same thing here) dirt (yes, exactly like dirt) pickle (not very delicious) but the worst of them all, no doubt: SARDINES. I don't even like fish, neither do Nik, and as a jellybean!? Not a good match. Right when I was eating this we were slowing down in front of some traffic lights. I pulled the window down and started spitting like crazy, and I was lauging (some guys in the car looked reeeally weird at me) and almost crying at the same time. They were gross. Some flavours we didn't try: Earwax, Rotten eggs, sauage, tutti frutti (we didn't get any...) cinnamon (...didn't get these either). I should buy some with me back to Sweden. (Still waiting for some kind of package (L) What if my dreams come true?) Anyways. We found the cutest cards for her. Im so mad I can't fins pictures of them to put up here! They were totally adorable. We met Jimmy fort a short while, he was nice.

Bon fire was not really as spectacular as I imagined, but I still enjoyed it (There were actually no real FIRE because of all the wind). Cheerleaders cheered, Dancers danced, Teachers held speaches (Coach Kubik cried as always, I thought it was cute to begin with cuz you don't see 50/60- year old men cry that often which would mean it was really emotional, but this happens everytime he's speaking about "his" football team), We had a competition between sports teams. That was actually funny! Each team announced their two "biggest babies" (XCountry, Cheer, Dance, Volleyball and Football) and then each team had a "babysitter". The babies would sit on their babysitters lap and being fed lemonade out of one of those bottles for babies. First team done wins! What they hadn't thought of what that the holes in the nipple was so small, so it took a loooooong time. Finally someone came up with the brilliant idea. "BITE OFF THE NIPPLE". Not the easiest thing we noticed, but they made it and guess who won? Cheerleaders ofcourse, whatd'ya think? lol. It was funny though seeing DJ being fed by Kelan, sitting in his lap with a haklapp på. Whatever it is called in english.

Senior members of teams held speeches. (Pretty much "I wish all teams good luck this year, I feel it's gonna be a good season and we'll do everything to win") Until Travis. Considered he's a bit shy and not the speech-type, this was really funny.

"I don't really know what I'm doing, I'm not really the speech kinda guy, but I guess I'm just here to make sure that all the ladies are paying attention" Lol. (Someone overheard a thirdgrader say "omg, that is freaky! Just before he said that, I was thinking about how HOT he is!" that was soo funny!)

We took senior pictures up the fire truck! FUN! I have to find someone who took pictures to send them to me.

Since it was Tarryn's 18th birthday we went to Dairy Queen after the Bon fire. People ate French fries and Ice-cream, yummy! (I got an oreo blizzard (L)) Tarryn had brought the cutest cup-cakes! White ones with lots of white frosting, colorful sprinkles and LOVELY butterfly rings on them! She got the cards and the T-shirt we bought her at Charlotte Rousse, and she got happy!

We didn't want to go home yet. We wanted to enjoy the spirit that only a birthday can bring, so where would we go but not Wal*Mart? I think Wal*Mart is way underestimated! By just being as weird as we are, we got new friends (kinda), many confused looks and gave Tarryn a memorable B-day. On my way out I saw giant-gums... 25 cents each.. Do I have to tell you I could not resist? Well, it turnedout good, I got three instead of one that I was supposed to, but I was the only one of us three that actually got all of it in my mouth to chew.. It wasn't easy I'll tell you, I couldn't talk and it hurt a bit sometimes, lol, but I probably got strong jaws!

I'm thinking about going for state-choir. You have to audition with like six songs in front of a judge, and they choose out of 2000 applicants. I will not get my hopes up, but just auditioning would be a good experience. While we're at the subject choir I thought it was kinda funny today. We were singing first down, and when we couldn't sing any lower we sould sit down, then we did the same thing but reverse: up. I had a good day, I'll tell you that, it's not all days of the week I get that high on the scale, anyways, I was the last man standning, I thought it was kinda funny, but I think I could have gotten at lest one step higher, but I got nerveus when I realized that the whole class (like 60 people?) were watching me after I'd been standing alone for a while.

Tomorrow is Black-out day, and I'm thinking about going crazy! Not at School but at the game. It's exciting, this is the first game I'll watch since I got here. Volleyball, home. School spirit for the win!

Stand up xx

be proud xx

Say your name xx

Out loud

we are the cardinals!

Doniphan Trumbull

Straight to the top

The Red, Black and White

Cardinals can't be stopped

Yell DTH, DTH, DTH, DTH

Keep the spirit up

I know I will

You're dearest

Pearl

Complications

Today has been kinda problematic. After school we stayed a bit to practise cheers (mostly for those who are gonna perform at the Bon fire tomorrow) I'm doing really good! It's so much fun. Suddenly Mr Ptomey (principal) comes out to talk.

"What are you girls doing?"

"Just practising cheers for tomorrows Bon fire, we'll be out soon!"

"Is Germany on the squad too? *Me offended* I mean Sweden"

"Yeah"

"Did you have try outs?"

"Yes"

"Official ones where everyone could try out?"

"Noo..?"

"Don't you think that's kinda unfair to the girls that didn't make it before? I don't want any angry parents calling. You should reconsider this" Walks away...

WHAT IS THAT!? He's seen me practise with the cheer squad for three weeks now, he told Stacy it was okay, and he even gave her a specific code to be able to order my uniform! And now he comes with this? What can I do, I wasn't here while try outs, shouldn't I have a chance too? I mean. Those girls who didn't make it had their chance, I should have mine. There's a reason they didn't make it, and it's not like I'm taking anyone's place: They have different amount every year, Stacy chooses the ones that are good enough. If I wasn't good enough I would not be on the squad. I guess he doesn't understand that. It just feels crappy if I won't get to prove my skills, not even getting a chance. Am I not as much worth as Doniphan people? sigh.

Stacy was really upset. She was almost crying because she felt so bad. It was not her fault! She just didn't think people were that narrow minded. We dont have cheerleading in Sweden. Those girls can try out next year again, I can't. Sorry for not being perfect... We'll just see how everything goes. It is turning into a big thing. Stacy called the newspapers here in Doniphan, and they're probably gonna interview me and the other exchangestudents. Funnn. Collecting signatures anyone?

FCCLA kickoff today! FCCLA is a group at school doing things for the community and stuff. Sounds lame but it's not! We get to arrange dances, help out in the blood mobile, create locker signs, have like a fashion show in our promdresses at a home for older people etc. They do fun stuff, it does not take too much time, there's lots of fun people, and you get to do something good! At the kickoff they had different games and stuff. It was okay, but what I enjoyed most was seeing all these fun people. Kim is so hilarious! Hanging out with her NEVER gets boring. I can sit and laugh at her all day. Tarryn is one of the most talkative people I've ever met! With her it's never quiet! I just love everyone here, and since you have different classes with different people you just get to know new people all the time. I had a fun time at foods too, being partner with Ryan lol. I might buy him a pink crayon, the blue one is kinda boring. Sometimes when I meet new people it's confusing though. Everyone knows who I am, but I don't know them! I always forget names and faces, it's embarassing! I used to be one of those people who complained about people like that. Like: That's just an excuse for being too lazy to learn their names!. Now Im one of them, but it's not laziness.

After FCCLA we went to the first meeting of One act. It's a drama group that each year performs a play at different places, and competes in it too against other schools! Seems like so much fun, and ould fit me perfectly! (Accept for if I don't make cheersquad and goes Volleybaling istead, that won't work).

Tomorrow's the Bon fire, fun! US cheer's are having "dresscode" tomorrowin school. They usually have it here on game-days. We're wearing our red cheer-shirt and blue jeans, not that special, but anyways Makes us stand out. Thursday's theme (Volleyball day) is "Black out" (everyone is wearing all black) That's exciting too, to get to see my first game! I think Friday might be Football game, but not sure. The cheerleaders sometimes wear their uniforms in school, it's so cute! (btw, "Cute" is like the most used word here!) I love those uniforms so much.

Can't wait until this weekend (Labour-day? some kind of celebration anyways) and we're going to the lake. Shaylee is bringing her jetski, and her boyfriend is taking his boat. It's gonna be so much fun!

Stayed up until two last night reeding prom-magazines and checking up dresses at different webpages, I was hooked! I'm really picky with my dress, but I found two that I practically fell in love with. The blue one is on the picture. The white one is a fabolous strapless yet pretty simple dress with a big fluffy bottom. Just the way I like it. A white one would look awesome with a nice tan! I could so for that. Blue is nice, but everyone is wearing blue! I wanna stand out. And all the planning! Hair, make-up, shoes, bag, tan, teeth, facials, manicure, pedicure, dates, just the whole preparation thing! Planning what to do after, ordering limousines, watching movies about prom. Everything has to be perfect. Can't wait. (Yes, prom is not until April/May something but anyways!) I'm gonna be so nice to everyone! Wouldn't it be awesome to become both Homecoming princess AND prom queen? (Oh God, Am I dreaming too much again?) I don't care. Living in the fantasies of a perfect world is my thing.

Please friends. If you don't have facebook yet, get it! I'm on there more often than msn nowadays, and it's there I'm uploading goodies for you. (Bdb takes so much time!)

I have not forgotten.

Pearl.

1st day of School!

I can actually say that I didn't have that much fun, and the reason was my schedule. This is my day:
* Assembly: We met the new principle who showed us the spiderman-dance, heard a few speaches etc. You know hos assemblies are.
*Physics: Sat down. Listened. I don't like it, I won't have it, I didn't have that much fun!
* Environment: I got a pass to go down to fix my schedule, and when I'm next in line some teachers come in, give the principle some papers, and tadaa. That's more important, we have to go out and he says it will probably take about half a day. FUN! *not* Me and Kim sat down talking to Ryan, Kelan and Sam (pretty much the only black guy in Nebraska, he's hilarious!).
* Study Hall: Trapped in the library with maybe about 20 boys. Turned out kay though. We were talking.
*Foods: One of the classes I actually chose! Me Kim and Stacy were (How about Ketchup, Xiao chicken, Xtreme nachos, Yoghurt,Eel and upside-down chocolate cake?) After that we had interviews in pairs to get to know each other (everyone pretty much knew each other, so I guess I was the only one who truly needed it).
*Lunch: Now this was confusing! Didn't know where to go or anything, and forgot to take out cash before school so I got food from Nikki's account. Subs. Schoolfood, what should you expect?
*Trigonometry/Pre calculus: NOT my kind of maths! I'm going to have Pre College Algebra instead, with Mrs Bass. I heard she's not the best teacher, but Kim will be there, and it's better than Trigonometry! I liked Mr Alberts though. He was nice.
*American History: This class I have with the juniors because I think it's funnier than American government, and it's fun 'cuse Nikki's there too! I love Mr Breckner! He's so laid back. I think it's gonna be interesting.
* College preparation english: Not the english class I was supposed to have, but I probably will have it anyways. I like the challenge, the seniors in that class and that they read books that I probably will have to read anyways in IB, like Frankenstein etc.
*World Geography: I was seriously misplaced in this class. Freshmans? Woo... I found out why my schedule was so messed up: Mrs Suits hadn't made it when she was supposed to, and a week later she had a baby. This is hard since the first week people change their schedules all the time, and she's the only one who really know how! Anyways. Since she hadn't made up my schedule when she was supposed to Mr Ptomy just made one for me randomely. And we all know how that turned out. Hopefully my new, REAL schedule will be finished tomorrow.

Photography is so much fun! Me and Nik didn't really have anything to do (This was after I used her camera to photograph totally random ans unecessary thing just 'cuse it's fun!) So we decided to go out, put the camera on the tripod and take crazy pictures of ourselves! We had so much fun! Jumping, Running, Acrobating, Lipglossing (My lipgloss is poppin'!) etc. Some pictures turned out really well but most important was that we had so much fun! It's crazy how big the difference is when you have such a good camera. I think this year I will only wish for money for christmas, from everyone. (Except for salt-licorice and Marabou ofcourse!) Both because it's more practical since it's hard sending packages, and because then I can get things I really really want.

Tomorrow all cheerleaders are wearing their cheer-costumes for school (Except for me, since I don't have mine yet) I did take measurements today though! For everything. In five weeks, can't wait!

Och ja Ken: Kanel-tandkräm! Gonna have to bring some home for yah!

Jag vet att ni älskar mig
Pärlan

Weird-Wheather-Day

Cheerpractise at Bree's 10.30. Well, let me just say that there weren't a lot of cheering involved, as always when there's no adult around. We went through the cheers for Kubik-dinner a few times (Kubik-dinner = A dinner for the football, volleyball, and basketball players + crosscountry, dance and cheerleaders at coach Kubik's house, this friday) and the ones for the Bon fire next Tuesday (OMGOMG, practise anyone?) then we just sat down, planning the cheer-sleepover a bit, and eating candy. I tried Milk Duds for te first time ever, and now I'm hooked! Anyways. It's so annoying that Lindsay's mom is the way she is. Feels like she's just holding everyone down for stupid reasons.

Amigos have the best cinnamon chips ever! Just for your own good...

Shopping for cheer-sleepover/cheer-initiation was scary... Sure, I'm a NEW cheerleader but not..new? Oh God. I hope they take bribes. At least I know what they're planning and that way might be able to get out of it. Goat-cheese/salami face masks aren't really my thing you know. At least they bought a whole lot of candy! Skittles, Toblerone, gobstoppers etc. Me like.

At home me and Nik-Nak fell asleep on the couches in front on the "TV-show Judge *something*" THey have tons of these shows here! People who can't solve their problems themselves that go on TV in front of a judge to get it done. Crazy according to me, but easy to fall asleep of! Anyways. We went down in the basement and just hung out, when Dennis yells that we should help him move things outside so they won't blow away. Blow away?? Yes. Apparently a storm was heading our way, and the cuschens outside blew under the treedeck by the pool. Me and Nikki ran to get them, and on our way to the garage I practically blew away! I was laughing so hard as I was running through the storm with the wind trying to carry me away. Two minutes after thatit felt like the sky was falling down. The water was pouring down. Well, down is the wrong word since it actually was falling horizontally because of the crazy wind! Thundering, A LOT of lightning, heavy rain, tornado-warning were things we got to experience during the passing 20 minutes. Everything comes and goes so quickly here! Before when we had cheer-practise it was splendid wheather! Weird...

Dennis went to school to get my schedule and I go pretty surprised when I got it. Environment?...Pre calculus? Trigonometry?? PHYSICS??? Wouldn't think so! I can't believe that they managed to get like ONE class right and the reste wrong. Where's choir, annual, biology and interior design? anyone? It just annoys me that I probably have to go to the classes I've got for now until I can change it on Study hall... Which means that I have to go first period Physics and second period Environment. grrrreat.
Anyways. First day of school tomorrow and it's exciting! I just think it's sad that summer's gone already. It's gonna be cool meeting al new people though.
Bot those I've already met and liked, and new ones that I haven't met and will like (I just exclude people I don't like. Not that I've met that many so far, but just as a precausion). I'm just thrilled about so much! Wearing all my new clothes, Kubik-dinner, Cheer-sleepover, Spirit week, Homecoming, Football games, Winter ball, High School Musical ( Our musical, not the movie), all my new classes, prom, graduation. There's so much more happening here than at our school, even though this is much smaller! Found two adorable dresses for Winter ball, but I just think I'll wait. There's some time left and I already have my Homecoming dress so that'll be fine.

We went shopping for a bookbag when the storm was blown over, even though they announced floodning in Grand Island. Good thing we have a super-car that can go through all that stuff! was Found one after looking for a while. It's cute, white, Roxy, but unfortunately 34$. Whatever, I really need a bookbag. When we walked out of the mall we saw the strangest thing... Rainbows! (Yes, with an S as in plural!) And whole too! I have a really cool picture of this (Actually I have a video too) Imagine a really colorful whole rainbow, and then around that one, another, but not as clear. Coming out of Wal*Mart the sight was stunning, and we had a fun time seing people's reactions when they came out.

We went to this Office store and bought things o decorate our lockers with, I'm so excited! Like locker-mirror, something for pens and erasers, stickers, post-it notes etc. The strange thing is that they don't have locks! That sucks. Our lockers will be the cutest anyways. Pink mostly (big shocker, right?)

When I sat down i the basement I smelled something... something gooood. I just had to go up to check what it was. Brownies! The were so good, I can't really descibe it. Emma would love them.

Coming home from Decorate-locker-shopping I saw the biggest home on wheels I've ever seen! It was like a bus, but wider and better looking and I was pretty much just amazed. That was Patty's parents "Trailer/camper" and it was beautiful inside. Not like swedish ones, like those small one you can live in, but rather not. This was huge and nice. 2 TV's, couch, dinner-table, shower, big bathroom, dubble-bed etc. I could totally live in there and it was bigger then some apartments! Oh-la-la. I'm gonna get one of those and travel the world around sometime. That would be so much fun.

Songs I like: (And that you should check out!)
* Big girls don't cry - Ferie (Is played over and over again here, and I love it)
* Delilah - Plain White T's (It is so cute, But I've probably over-listened it by now)
* From my mama - Artist unknown (There's a funny story about me requesting this song with fake swedish accent, but he just hung up on me three times in a row. Bad style)
*My guardian angel - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (I first got this song about a year ago and loved it. NOW it is starting to show up on the radio. At lest here. Love it more than ever since that concert)
* All songs by The Rocket Summer. (I love the way they just fill me up with hope and goodness but not in an obvious way. Just listen and you'll see)

I LOVE MY CINNAMON TOOTHPASTE - just thought you should know...

All my love
Pearl

The Warped Tour

Wednesday morning at 5.15 me and Nikki got up to pack and get ready for the trip. At 6.30 Shaylee and Shatonnon picked us up and the journey towards Kansas city began. I practically slept the whole time, and thereby the time passed smooth enough. At Chili's I had the best Chicken Sandwich ever with loads of spices and red pepper. I ate way too much, got stuffed, and felt bad for a long time afterwards. Our plan was to try to get a hotel BEFORE we would go to the concerts, but our options wasn't many and getting a room for 150$ where not all of us could sleep anyways felt wrong, so we just skipped that part. Overall the warped your was awesome. I've never ever bee that swetty though, it was crazy. Well, you go try to jump in a crowd of people in 38 degrees C, no wind, and not a cloud in sight. You could have run around naked and you would still have too much on. Luckily enough I brought my bikinitop and wore that and my white jeansshorts. I almost passed out everytime I just saw someone who wore regular jeans, I can't believe how they did that!
Anyways, it was hot and I think I drank like 2,5 litres of water that day. (Thank God to the nurse-bartender that let us have free cool water if we just bought a cup for 4$. "I'd rather give you free water and let you be alive, then see you pass out here later. It's hard for me as nurse seeing all these dehydrated people")
Bands with female singers rock! It just gives a whole new dimension to rock/punk music which is really cool. The singers in Paramore and Meg&Dia are both so tiny, and it's amazing that such big voices can fit in there. Paramore is sooo good. If you haven't heard them yet then you really should concider it. They're new album is called Riod. I haven't heard Meg&Dia before I got to the warped your, but I really like them. They have both a female singer and a female guitarist/backup vocalist (We got a picture with one of them, not sure which ne though...) Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was amazing, and we stood in the front line. Right before they were starting to play though, I had to get out of the crowd since I was about to faint. I tried to sit down for a minute, but it was so hot on the ground that it was impossible! Dehydration and low blood pressure isn't the best combination I guess, but I drank somemore water and went back into the crowd, no problems fpr the rest of the day. They sang Atrophy, Face down (love) and some other song I don't remeber the names for. "This was supposed to be our last song, but since you're so energetic you'll get two more". That's when they started playing Guardian Angel and the last piece of the puzzle was put in place. That song is one of the most beautiful ever written. Memories connected to it, both good and bad, flew through my head and I just sang along while I was crying. It was a good thing I wore my sunglasses. My make-up was all messed up afterwards, but it was totally worth it. Cute is what we aim for were really good live (I bought the cutest t-shirt with them, pink, obviously) but one thing was really annoying. You see, right in front of us, at the spac between the audience and the stage where all the guards were there was a plektrum lying on the ground, either left-overs from Red Jumpsuit, or from CIWWAF, and Nikki asked the guards if she could have it. They hesitated, but said they'd pick it up in one minute. Along comes a lady walking there passed the stage, sees it, picks it up, and leaves. The guard tried t tap her shoulder, but she didn't notice and just kept on walking. Were standing like one metre away and couldn't do anything!
We saw Sum 41, but all people were discussing was wheather Avril was there too watching here husband. Bad Religion was really good, haven't heard them before. After a whole day filled of EMO-kids, heat, awesome music and atmosphere, and running through sprinklers to cool off, we were ready to leave. At a gas station we ran into a couple of guys. This is the conversation summoned.
"Did you guys just come from the warped tour?"
"yeah"
"Which was your favourite band?"
"Hmm...Paramore!"
"aaargh"
"why??"
"We're Killerswitch Engage"
"no you're not!"
"no we're not.. We're Boys like girls"
"NO YOU'RE NOT! :O"
"right.. we're Paramore"
"You're mean... who are you? Are you a band?" *We're getting embarrest, what if they really are famous!*
"Okay, now we're ebing serious, we're The Almost"
"Well, I'll just get a picture with you then, then I can check it up later"

Nikki gets her picture, and it's hilarious! Nikki's doing a popper-pose, and right before the flash goes on he leans over and kisses her cheek. The expression on Nikki's face is just wonderful.

I slept on our way to a hotel, we ended up at Super 8 or something. We each took a quick shower, watching the end of The last kiss, and the beginning of Little Miss Sunshine before we fell asleep.

This morning we went to Lincoln för shopping. First we went to Platons which was all like cheap designer clothes, but basicly just one of each. Seven-jeans, Abercrombie and Fitch shirt, Striped skirt, Teal shirt and a blue lace tanktop was what I brought with me from there. Then we went to the mall, spent like hours in Charlotte Russe, I just wanted everything there! Like the cutest tops ever. Bought a purple top, a black/white one with bare back, and a wonderful silverish dress that I might wear for Winter ball. I'm glad I bought a dress for Homecoming, then it's just prom left! I really likes the store Wet Seal, and then we had to go home. It's a ood thing we're probably coming back Saturday. We went to Nick's house and started to watch Hot fuzz, it was weird.

Nightie all my friends
Love Pearl

Saturday, ofcourse!

g

We were supposed to get up at nine to go to that softball game, but we were so tired we got up a bit later. Tarryn had already left to give her mom an eyeshadow or something, not sure, I was practically asleep. We ended up being like 20 minutes late to the game, but we didn't really care since it was kinda lame. There were like no people there and the players didn't give their best. They had mixed teams, old, young, boys, girls, and Adam's team was way better so there was no real game. We drove Bree home on our way to Tarryn to give back her CD and her swimsuit.

Nikki started work at 12 and then me and Patty went shopping for Groceries in this huge store that pretty much had everything. Pizza Rolls, fruit, chicken, chips etc, and then we went to Kmart to get notebooks and pens for schoolstart. Before we went to Kohl's to exchange a pair of shoes for Ryan we went to coldstone which is like an ice-cream shop with the best ice-cream ever! They mix it themselves at a cold stone, thereby the name. I got Chocolate Devotion which contained of chocolate ice-cream, chocolate chips, brownies and fudge, it was gorgeus. I got the smallest size (We were not allowed to buy children's size, urgh) but still got sooo stuffed! Next time I'm taking Our Strawberry Blonde or Oreo Overload, yummy. We met Ryan and Kayla at Kohl's, exchanged his shoes and then went to best buy and bought a microphone for the computer so that I can use skype. Just gotta install it. When Nikki went of work at 5 we drove home and I took a swim in the pool before dinner (it was soo warm, like 32 degrees C in the water!). Dinner contained of meat, canelope and sweetcorn, I seriously loove the sweetcorn here! After dinner we went to Bree for Dinner with popcorn, it was awesome.

Love Pearl

Friday

I weird. I can sleep forever if no one wakes me up, and today that happenedat 2.15 pm. From now on I'm setting my alarm-clock, it's crazy to sleep away all day like that. I know it's not jet lag 'cuse I've been like this all summer. Anyways. Took a shower, said bye to Nikki who was going to work and almost right after that Ryan came home. Ryan is one of Nikkis older brothers, he's 20. He is really cool, but kinda weird,we got along realy well though, and then I got to meet his friend Dusty who was really nice too.
Since Nikki was at work I didn't have that much to do so we just drove around for a bit and ended up at Dusty's mom's. At home again they thought we should watch 300 and tried to convince me for a really long time and when I finally accepted it they changed so we would watch Hot fuzz instead, some kind of cop movie. But! Here comes the necessary but. The DVD-player wasn't co-operative at all (feels like home, yay) so Ryan tried to fix it himself (He's studying computers and electronics at college) but he sucked and messed it up even more :D No movie this time... We watches Homewrecked insted. It's like a show when a guy helps people to get revenge on people who did bad stuff to them by totally making a makeover of their room (In a bad way, a really bad way) It was hilarious though.
Dusty helped me to play pool on his cellphone, it was cool.
Nikki came home and we just chilled and watched MTV until later when Tarryn, Angel and Izzie showed up. We went out swimming in the pool. It was pitch black outside so we all pretty much walked into the bushes all the time, it was nice anyways and the water was warm. After a while Aaron and Travis came over, and a bit later DJ and his friend came for a minute to say hi.
When everyone left except me Nikki and Tarryn we stayed up until like 5 am watching MTV and pictures on myspace and facebook. I wasn't really tired, I just realized how tired I would be when we were getting up at 9 am saturday morning...

PS. Ryan and Dusty sent a fax to Bill Gates saying kinda: "Yo man we have some really good ideas we want to discuss with you. Peace and Love". The strange thing is that they actually got a mail back. Sure, it didn't say that much, and it wasn't REALLY from Bill but from the Chairman... Al they wanted was money anyways. lol.

All my love to you guys in Sweden.
All americans say that Salt liqorice is gross, isn't that funny?
Well... That just means more for me!

Cheerleading!

Today I went up at 8 (almost.. I snoozed once) and at nine we were att cheerleading practise! I met all the girls in the squad except for one, and they were all really nice. Me and three other new girls in the squad went down to the basement to practise old cheers, but it was kinda hard. The other girls already knew the most of it and I was practically lost, but tried my best. The sponsor said that I could join if I practised a lot, so that the girls that didn't get in won't be pissed 'cuse I'm not as good as they are, but that I got in and they didn't. Also there's the catch that the uniform costs 700 $... I think I'm gonna send a mail to all my different grandmas and grandpas to ask them to sponsor me 'cuse I so would love to be a chherleader.

After cheerpractise I talked to a woman working at the school, and she showed me around and let me choose my classes. I think I'm taking Biology, Maths, Choir, Interior design, Yearbook and maybe some cooking class. I think there were some more, but I forgot. Anyways. It's a small school but I think I'll like it. Nikki, Patty and I went to each lunch right by the school and then we drove home. I cleaned up my room a bit and now I'm sitting here eating my beloved salt licorice. I found a heart and some candy that my sister secretly put in my bag. I just love her so.

Tonight Nikki is working from five to close, so I might hang out with Britney and others at the mall. I'm so looking forard to the warped tour concert the 14th. Be jealous! :D

Love, your future cheerleader

America!

Yesterday was a crazy day. Went up at 4 in the morning, got ready and left for the airport. LInn was there too. At 6.20 I met the EF representative at Kastrup, but apparently I was the only one going! She basicly told me what my trip was going to be like and then sent me off. Why is it so hard to say goodbye? I seriously can't stand when people are crying, 'cuse I just start crying too! It's really hard leaving everyone behind. Just remember that a year passes by so fast, I come back, you'll still be there, and everything will be as usual, just better!
Anyways. I didn't see another EF person during the whole trip, which kinda surprised me. Scared me a bit too when I didn't know where to go, but obviously everything turned out well. My flight to Stockholm was delayed, and since I from the beginning only had 45 minutes in Stockholm before my flight to Chicago left, I almost missed it. I arrived at Final call. The flight over the Atlantics was okay. I watches two movies; Blades of glory (It was crazy) and The number 23 (Totally psychological, but good. Don't usually like Jim Carrey, but he was way better in this one). It's hard sleeping one planes, most often just 'cuse it so extremely uncomfortable! Wouldn't mind first class...
Chicago was crazy. It's the biggest airport in the world, and you have to take trains between the different Terminals. I made it though, I had about six hours to spent so I took an Ice coffee and then sat at the gate reading my new book I got from William. It's good, I'm about half way through. Suddenly they just changed the gate though, to another terminal so I had to make my way there. Met a woman that was going to Omaha too that I had company with. The flight to Omaha took about an hour and a half and then I had to pick up my luggage and check it in again (for some reason I don't know). Sat there waiting for the plane to Grand Island to take off and met three other exchange students, all from Germany. I started talking to them, but they really weren't that social (Don't know if of was that they were bad in english or just, well, unsocial) Anyways they started to speak german to each other and I wen't to freschen up instead. The plane to Grand Island is officially the smallest one I've ever been to. We were eleven people on it and of them three was pilots/fligh attendants. I arrived to a small airport where my family plus three of Nikki's friends were waiting. At this time I had been travelling for about 24 hours, but still I wasn't obviously tired. We came home, watches TV, ate fruit and pizza rolls (yummy) and I gave them the presents I bought. I was so happy the jeans I bought Nikki fit! Otherwise it would have been so sad. We went to Kimberly's drive way and just sat there and talked, it was nice. Stayed up until about 2, american time (Sweden is 7 hours ahead of where I live now) just packing up and stuff. My room is really nice! Pink black and white, and they put up pictures of me with friends and family on the wall.

Today I slept until noon, then Nikki showed me Grand Island and Doniphan, including Patty's work and the mall, and this night we went out seven girls to Applebee's for dinner, and the to Tif's where we were just hot tubbing.

There's this really strange thing that happened yesterday. A woman with alzheimers went on a walk from the camping area maybe five minutes from where we live, and she didn't return. They had helicopters and emergency squads looking for her, but it was hard since there's just corn fields around here, and corn is high which means that if she walked into one of those you couldn'r possibly see her. They found her today at 3 pm sitting by a stream of rainwater picking flowers... What if she wouldn't have been found and just turned up in our yard or something. I would freak.

Anyways. I'm really tired and have to go to bed. Going to school for cheer practise tomorrow and to see the principal and stuff. That'd be fun.

Nightie Nightie, Love

It's getting close...

I realized today that I'm leaving in two days, and that I have so much to do until then. I just started this blog with the concept that interested people at home(probably friends and family) can read it to know what's going on in my life since it will be obviously harder to keep in touch, both practically and emotionally. At least according to EF. They claim that the concept of keeping in touch much with friends and family at home will make you stans with one foot left in Sweden and never really e able to get in to the american society as easily, ans at the same time having a harder time with homesickness. I never get homesick. Never have, never will, that's my point of view. Sure, of course I'll miss everyone. It'll be hard leaving so much great people and memories behind, but they will still be there when I get back, and as I said, since I don't get homesick I'll keep in touch anyway! Nothing can keep me from that. I know it won't affect me in a bad way 'cuse I know that I will probably have the greatest year of my life! I just love the fact that I'm getting a new sister, and it's even better since we have already talked a lot, mostly on msn. I still feel that i know pretty much about her already, and it will be great to meet her finally the day after tomorrow! Everyone is so nice and I feel i have a lot to live up to. I just want to write evrything down right now, but I realize that it would take all night, and sure need some sleep to get through the following days. Here's my to-do-list!:

* Transfer my money to the right account (the one with the Visa-card, so I can use it in the US aswell) Monday 10 am!
* Go shopping with Grandma in Helsingborg Monday at 2 pm. (I'm buying the Anniversary-pack at Make-up store with all their bestsellers! <3

* See Linn and give back all her stuf she has left here, but also to get my favourite dress back, even though she looks gorgeous in it.

* Pack. Could be an advantage. The problem is to fit my whole life into 46 kg, I must use a scale!

* Tidy up my room. I can tell you it looks like someone dropped a bomb in there, and sad enough my parent want me to move all my scrapbook-material from my desk, it will take years to recategorize them again! sigh

* Do some last minute shopping: Marabou chocolate (just 'cuse it's pure love) and saltliqorice (Partly because I won't survive without it, partly because it will be hilarious to see my new friends and family's faces when they try it!)

* Buy some last-minute gifts for my hostfamily.

* Go to Höör to see some friends before I go, and give Wille his geeky wow-stuff!

All my love, Antonia
aka Pearl