The Renaissance Festival

Man, im tired! I just got home from the festival which I thougt was going to be tomorrow, but it was today! We dressed up like renaissance people, whatever that is, hehe. I looked more like an pirate (which I was very happy about, can't disappoint Orlando nooow!!) But the hole festival thing was actually fun. Im excited for Halloween! Unluckely, my camera was out of battery so I didn't take any pictures, but Brianna took some pictures (Shelbi's cousin) so she's gonna send them to me later. And hey, I ate gyros at the festival, mmmm it was so good! so yeah, I had a good day. By the way, I went to the hairsalon earlier this morning. I was a bit scared you know, I didn't want her to cut my hair off! I always get some traumatic thougts like my girl, Helene, hehe (and especially now, since I have to explain everything in another language!) But everything went fine, and it only cost me 18 dollars (100 kroner!!) and that was for wash, cut and for flattering my hair - great success!


How it turned out, not a big change just way more fresher.
Mariell.

"Missing someone gets easier every day because even though it's one day further from the last time you saw each other, it's one day closer to the next time you will."

Homework

Nothing's changed, you still need to do your homework no matter what country you're from. This is my first day without homework. I had two tests today, math and english! I hope I got a B on both, but we'll see. If I get a C it's still jeackpot though, haha. School here is really hard! So I need to step it up! But im kind of used to the language now, so I hope im gonna do fine. By the way, I got full score on my spanish test! The spanish level here is so low compared to Norway. Anyways, Choir is going so well! Im really excited for our concerts. But on the other hand, team games is not going well; I thought that we were finished with softball by this week, oh noo we're gonna have it next week as well! and after that we're gonna have American Football!! It's like im doomed to fail this class, yeye at least there's some cute boys, hehe.

My hostmom's sister and her kids is coming over for the weekend! We're gonna do some shopping! Shelbi and I are planning on to go to the tanningsalon. Sunday is the Renessance festival, Im not sure what it is but im gonna take pictures and update you guys when I've been there. It should be fun! And hey, if you wanna know some facts and see some pics of my choir check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawnee_Mission_East_Choraliers
I finally took the time to take some pics of my new house and neighbourhood.

The house, it's cute!

a small part of Leawood, my neighbourhood. The British flag has been stolen for eighteen times! (Garry, my hostdad is from England)

oooh there's so many things I need to buy!! I must buy some id makeup and a homecoming dress! and the new album to T.I. - paper trail, for sure!! ok ok, Im gonna download Itunes now, and then im gonna put the rest of my pictures of family and friends on the wall above my bed, wee.

Lots of looove,
Mariell

PS. Labor day is the day ya'll! season premiere on One tree hill aaaand gossip girl, can't wait! hihi

Sushiii

I ate sushi yesterday, finally some good fish, haha. I was pretty tired yesterday so I went to bed 12 o'clock (typical me, heh), the other girls stayed up. Shelbi's bestfriends is so nice! They gave me birthday presents (which I didn't expect at all), so yeah they're really great.

I took my senior pic for the yearbook today! All girls have to wear a black top and guys have to wear a suit. fancy stuff!!! I dont know how my picture turned out. so I just have to wait and see when I get them in the mail. Luckely, I can choose which one I want. I hope that it didn't turned out like my id school card! gosh, that was horrible. By the way, I switched my girls choir class to the choraliers choir! It's much more bigger and contains only juniors and seniors - boys and girls. That's gonna be fun I think! (they were actually going to Norway for their choir trip, it didn't happen though. But anyways - they think that Norway is like the choir country of all times! So they probably think that im like a choir pro, common!! I hardly know the difference between sopranos 1,2 and alto! haha)

Kinsey is coming over later today to pick me up, im gonna hang out with her and her friends, I hope that they're nice, but they probably are - cause Kinsey is such a sweet girl.

Tomorrow's my homework day and then its school again! I have softball on monday and I kind of suck! but its my last day so that's good. Next up is soccer! Finally something I know.


Me, Shelbi, Carly, Audrey and Lauren! (and yes, the two boats that you see - is all sushi!!)

Talk to you later,
Mariell

My birthday

I celebrated my birthday yesterday with Lauren, Shelbi and Gloria :) (hostsisters and hostmom) That was really nice. Garry (hostdad) had to work, but we had a good time though. We went to Rainforest cafe and ate dinner! The hole restaurant was decorated like a rainforest, with waterfalls, trees, elephants, butterflies etc. Of course, they wheren't real!! But anyways, it was pretty cool. I kind of missed my family and my friends yesterday, it was a different day but it was very good as well. (thanks everyone, for gifts and congratulations!)

I went to the International club today, I made friends with a lot of good people! So that made my day. Im considering to join crosscountry, I talked to this really nice girl today and she told me good stuff about it. and its not skiing (which I thought), its running! So I have to think about that, for sure. I realize now that I dont have the time to write a lot everyday, but I'll try to post at least twice a week!

BIRTHDAY PICS

Mariell and Shelbiiiii

Lauren and Gloria

Kiss,

Mariell

Questions

After school started, I've recieved a lot of questions and some are really funny. (all of them come from American students) Here are some:

Are you married?
Do you speak Norwegian?
Do you smoke a lot of weed in Norway?

And the most common questions is:
Do you like America/What do you think about America?
Why did you sign up to be an exchange student?
How's Norway?

Well, I don't have the time to write more right now, I need to do my homework! But tomorrow's my birthday so I'll probably catch up with you on Thursday. (I'll post some nice pics from my day, hihi)

Love,
Mariell

My weekend

Firstly, my first school day went great! I was quite nervous cuz everyone were starring at me in every new class, but I made friends with some and they were really nice. After school there was this pep club thing at the gym. The hole school gathered together, we were divided by our grade so I sat with the seniors. It felt a bit strange but anyway, suddenly the orchestra started to play, cheerleaders came popping out of nowhere with pom poms! I was like: gosh, this is just how it looks like on television. I think I can get used to it, but I need time hehe...

Well, Shelbi and I just got home from the movies and the mall. We saw The dark knight, the batman movie!! it was sooo good, I mean Heigh Ledger was amazing! (thanks for the tip Siri) Then we went to go shopping! Mostly at Forever 21 and Macy's. Here's a list of what I bought:

-black jeans

-white/silver top

-silver necklace

-white Lancome eyeliner (finally)

-red Lancome lipstick (I got a cute makeup bag and some makeup stuff in addition to my lancome stuff, great success)

-a black Guess bag

Here it is, I like it!!

okidoki Im going to bed now, goodnight family, friends and others.

Sleep tight,

Mariell

My dream is being realized

I'm speechless....................... COLDPLAY IS COMING TO KANSAS IN NOVEMBER! I missed their concert in Norway because of my year in the states, but now they are coming to meeee, it's totally ment to be! ooooh im so excited! I just wanted to share this with you guys! I really want to jump up and down here in the livingroom, but im not gonna do it, haha the others would think that im a complete weirdo. But I really gotta fix tickets soon! man, I can't believe this!!!

By the way, Im posting a picture of Shelbi and I. ( we were visiting a museum for her history project today, and then we bought a lot of ice cream)

Talk to you tomorrow,

Mariell

My room!

It's so difficult to explain how my room is like in words, so I took a lot of pics to show you guys! It's so pretty, I love it!


my king size bed


my drawer


the closet! (as you can see, there's plenty of room for more clothes)


my night table! (more pictures to come)
I'm gonna put the rest of my pictures on the wall over my bed, that should be nice.

Take care,
Mariell

Leawood, Kansas City - My new life so far

Sorry that I haven't updated for a while. These last couple of days has been so overwhelming. I think I have to cut this up in pieces if im gonna be able to tell all this.

First of all, my arrival went great. Lauren, my youngest host sister had made me a poster with the norwegian flag and my name, she is so lovely. And the rest of the family is fantastic! They take really good care of me and they do everything to make sure that I'm ok. The first thing that we did was to go to an restaurant to eat some dinner. Then they took me to a big and typical "Kansas mall". And then we drove back to their house, and gosh!! it's enormously! My room is beautiful, I also have a king size bed so im quite happy about that. They have a lot of animals compared to what im used to. My favorite is their two dogs, Cookie and Andy. Shelbi is quite sick though. She have glandualar fever (kyssesyken). She's been ill for over two weeks now. But we have watched TV together and talked a lot. The first night we watched Juno, brilliant movie!!

Yesterday I went to go and see my American counsellor, we picked classes and talked about the school. My favorite class is of course choir! (and clothing, photography and team games) im so excited about my classes, I certainly got to pick something that I like and also subjects where im able to make friends. I hope that my Norwegian counsellor approves it. We ordered my yearbook and my graduation gown. My graduation is in May ( im sooo counting down the days). Later that day I also got the chance to walk around at the school building. I made friends with two junior girls and one senior guy, so they showed me around. The guy looked like a typical American football player. So when he told me that he was in the choir I thaught to myself; common!! he must be joking. But he wasen't. Apparently, choir is a big thing here at the school, so good for me.

Garry took me to this laptop store on Sunday. And I finally got my longing laptop! and it's reeeeeeeeed!! (Totally Serena and Cassie, hihi) It's the best birthday present ever ( Thank you mom and the rest of the family)

My brand-new laptop, wohoooooooooooo

ok ok, ma roe ned egga. I'll catch up with you later, probably on Thursday (it's my first day at school).

Mariell

bye bye Stonehill

This is probably my last update from the camp, I will post more pictures from Stonehill and Boston when I arrive at my hostfamily's house.

We had the talent show yesterday, It went pretty good! I have a full schedule today. Im gonna pack my suitcases, clean my room, check out in the lobby and then eat dinner! We're gonna have this "all night party" until we leave, im gonna bring my pillow and hopefully get some rest ( I know, im boring, hehe) Im getting picked up by the bus 2:45 am. Im so glad, cause im gonna ride with the same bus as Line! So we're gonna say our goodbye's at the airport.. Im a bit nervous about the flight tomorrow, I've heard that the airport in Washington D.C. is huge! well, we'll see.

Love,
Mariell

In class

We're having this assignment about Obama and McCain, but im done so I have the time to write a little update on yesterdays baseball match. We had a barbecue before we left, it was really good to eat something different than the cafeteria food. The match was fun in the beginning, but after second round it started to get a bit boring. So we bought some candy and sang a few baseball songs to keep the spirit. I was really tired when we came home so I went straight to bed. I got my flight yesterday as well. Im flying through Washington D.C. and then to Kansas. So far it seems like im taking the plane alone without the other students from the camp (first time ever, heh).

Im gonna post some pictures from the game later, in the mean time you can watch a clip from the wacky games! The boys we're suppose to be girls, and the best "girl" won a point for their team, wacky!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-6D28-Q8x0

Mariell

Newport beach

I had the best day ever!! (I usually say that every day but seriously this day was great)

We arrived at Newport beach in Rhode Island state at 12 o'clock. We didn't get tan (I used sunscreen factor 30, heh) But I didn't get burned like some other girls here, so that's good for me though. We went home, I called my mom and took a shower. And now we're gonna have a "dance/party" thing here, we'll see how that's goes, haha. Tomorrow's the Baseball game, so i'm gonna update you soon.

BEACH BABES!!


SOARING, FLYIIIIIIING!

Mariell

Rain and Cosmopolitan

a very good combination...! plutselig startet det a tordne a lyne her sa vi fikk beskjed om a ga inn a slappe av. so now im sitting her in the lobby with Anu, just chillin' while we're reading the cosmo magazine. we were suppose to play soccer tonight, but I guess not. It's okay though, cause the rest of the girls and I are gonna crash amanda's place and watch mamma mia on her computer! we allready bought a lot of snacks, hehee...... Tomorrow we're going to Newport beach. Last year they went sailing, I hope we're gonna do the same this year.

Here's my bed. Just imagine me on top of it, dreaming about you guys in Oslo..

(notice that it's not messy, proud!!!!)

Lots of love,
Mariell

Wacky Gaaaames

a update from yesterday, god that was a lot of fun! I've never done something like that. it's difficult to explain the meaning and the purpose of the games, so i'll just post some pictures so you can see. But the main thing was of course to win! My class played against the other classes, we made a flag and a cheer! And the team spirit was great! My throat is really hurting now, I speak like a man haha. Marina and I are going to sign up for the talent show, we're gonna sing together! im excited for that. We're gonna sing the theme song to Friends, "i'll be there for you". well, here's some pictures from yesterday.

Enjoy,
Mariell


C2!!!

yeaaah

Update from Stonehill Camp

Heyheyheeey

Anu, my roombuddy is really nice! hun laaner meg pcen min saann at jeg kan poste noen fine bilder fra campen. I dag skal vi ha wacky games, we're gonna get dirty...! On monday we're going to Newport Beach and on Thuesday we're gonna watch a real baseball game! that should be fun. Yesterday I was at the mall, it was so big! I bought a lot, maybe too much... typical. The food here is actually really good. The blueberry vaffels is my favorite! I have a problem with my EF telephone card, I hope I get to take a phone call home to my mom tomorrow. I haven't spoken to her for like one week, and that's the longest time ever. well, I gotta go now. here's some pictures from Harvard university and the Camp.



ready for take off, Bostoooon

a piece of Harvard Univerity, Anu and Amanda

In class

See ya,
Mariell