Thanksgiving

Well this last few weeks have been quite eventful as well!

This week I got to experience a real Thanksgiving.. three to be exact! Last Saturday I went to the schools international students Thanksgiving. It was really traditional and was really pretty. They played a few videos discussing what Thanksgiving was all about and why they celebrate it still today. The food they served was the same kind of food that was served at all the Thanksgivings I went too ( turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, peas/beans, corn etc.). Did you know that the first settlers only got to eat 5 kernels or corn (the little tiny things on corn) a day. They had no food over the winter, that’s why the next fall that came around, they were really thankful to an Indian who taught them the tricks of the trade to plant a successful harvest! We made hand turkeys (trace your hand, make it into a turkey with your thumb as its head), ate food, talked to other students, watched videos and had a good time. Sunday last week was Thanksgiving with Stacy (my buddy when I first got here) and her family. We had the same kind of food but it was a lot more casual. We also played a game called Risk, which was really interesting, it was all about taking over countries. We even got to make Christmas cookies! So cool! That was pretty much all of Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday were the only days I had to go to school, and they were pretty full on! Monday was my music class final project, it don’t think it went that well but it is done, so nothing more is ever due for music. I got home and had to complete my lesson plan for my TESL class the next day. That took all night pretty much. Tuesday I got to go to a classroom , again! I don’t think I mentioned last time that I got to go into a school? Well I did! Last Tuesday I started off in a year 4 classroom, the kids were great! tey got to ask me all these questions and it was really fun to be up the front of the classroom again. After that I moved from class to class observing. I observed a Kindy class, year one, year two, year four and ESL class. Then I went back to my first year four class and worked with the kids solving maths problems that i just gone over in my maths class the week before.. awesome! I LOVED it, being able to help them, and have them call out and want me to help them. I was Miss Jess in this school, which was cool . This Tuesday I got to go back into my year four class and help them out again with a different maths solution to double multiplication that i had also just been over in maths.. this unit was really helpful! I also got to observe a music class, a library class, a year five class and a year two class again. They don’t have year 6/7 here, they are classed as middle school up till year 8. Then 9-12 is high school. While I was in a year five class, I heard some awesome classroom management techniques. I was laughing, because the kids were responding to the teacher in a really fun manner that made them all smile, and the teacher was able to have fun with them and still get respect from them. I am going to go back and watch her later. She was amazing! That is the kind of teacher I want to be. I had to go to two uni classes after school was out, so it was a long day, but it was also exciting because it was the last of the week.

Wednesday… was amazing! Wednesday I got to go SKIING! Alex and I were up at 6.30 am after hardly sleeping from excitement. Alex was going to be snowboarding and I skiing, and it was both our first times lol. We hired out everything for free! all we had to pay was 50% off the lift pass.. ahh its a cheap day.. except, the shoes we got were to small so we both had to hire them out, then pay for fuel, and dinner and lunch.. so it became an expensive day, but it was still worth it. By the time we were all set to go, it was nearly 11.30 (it took 2.5 hours to get there, and then fluffing around with the shoes). We played around on the flat surface and thought we had the hang of it so we should go up the chairlift and see how we go. However, even though we were in the beginner area with all the kiddies and other first timers, the stupid hill was still really steep! when we got to the top we both freaked out and decided we didn’t want to go down, but we had no choice. There was no other way down. I got the skiing part of it, I just couldn’t get the stopping. And so when I started to ski, I’d be flying through fine enjoying it, then realize how fast i am going, freak out, try to stop or at least slow, fail, and fall straight over! I only fell twice, the other times I made my self drop coz I freaked out. 1.5 hours later we had probably gone 100m down the mountain. We had stopped a few times to admire the view around us, other times to watch people, and the rest of the time we were creeping down. In the end, there was this really steep bit, and i walked down it (taking my skis off) and Alex bum slid down it with her snowboard still attached.

We eventually got down the bottom, and we were sooo sore! Our muscles were not use to being worked like that, we could have definately benefited from some practice before the mountain. When we got to the bottom it was 1.30 and we were starving so we got food. By then, we couldn’t feel our feet from the shoes, so we decided to call it a day. On the way out we talked to a few different people and got some suggestions about next time (we are going again on Friday). Hopefully it will be better then! On the way back home we stopped by a mountain lookout and it was amazing! I got to see all over the mountains and out into northern Colorado. I could see Denver in the background and all the flat plains. It was so pretty. We were there just as the sun set, so I saw it in daylight, and then got to see it with all the lights on. Closer to home, Alex took me past some houses and I got to see some Christmas lights, already up! they were so AWESOME! I always knew Americans were into the Christmas lights and things, but this was so cool to see. This was also all before December, I cant wait to see how much more will be coming up, and how much better they will be soon.

Thursday was the real Thanksgiving. I got the privilege to join Robin and Shane (my adoptive family) and all of Robins family. It was really fun, we had all the same food (with lots of deserts including pumpkin pie, cherry cheesecake and lemon cake) and played games such as uno, speed and spoons. It was a real family feel, just like Christmas really.

The kids went off to watch movies, we went for a walk and just relaxed. When I got home I got to sleep in the basement. Sounds a little freaky, and it was, but it had a MASSIVE TV down there, and a futon so it was comfy, and their basement is literally the size of there house, just below. It is crazy, they have their washing machine/dryer, a ping-pong table, a piano, lounges and storage. The next morning we had a cruizy day, and then we went to the shops as it was Black Friday. Black Friday is a day like our boxing day sales. It is crazy. Shops open at 3am on Friday and stay open till midnight. They have these amazing sales on with things over 50% off. I had to go have a look so we all went to this outside mall. It had hundreds of shops and they were all outside. It was like walking along a city mall. They even had an outdoor ice-skating rink!

I bought some presents for the family, a little elf suit for Zarlie and a new camera! Sadly, my camera which i bought last year in NY was broken at Christmas time last year. However, dad managed to fix it, and it has worked up till last week when the lens just wouldn’t open any more. Lucky for the sales, I was able to save 100 on a new camera. I now have a canon that is just like dads, only smaller. I am his mini me .

When I got back, I had dinner with Robin and Shane and played some more card games with Shane and Robin. This one is called Nurts and its solitaire with as many people as you want. Its a lot of hand eye co-ordination, but really fun.

Today I woke up, played some more games with the family and got to DRIVE THE CAR! It was so cool. And a little weird, to be driving on the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car. But i did good, and it was nice to be back behind the wheel. I have really missed cookie monster haha. And that has been my week! Pretty full on, but it has been another amazing experience!

Till next time!

xxoo

Read More

Snow, Halloween and Bears

Well!

I keep saying I am taking forever to update this, but this time was a long time! Sorry to everyone who was actually reading this haha.

The last month has been AMAZING! To start of this perfect month.. I had my first snowfall! It started snowing about 9pm when I was out to dinner with Abbey. When we walked outside she told me it had started (as this was something I had been waiting for all day). I did the classical tongue out and caught the snow, and it fell on my tongue. I couldn’t stop laughing. it wasn’t really snowing then, just icy rain, but it was still amazing. I had only stood in snow in NZ before, I had never had it snow on me, or snow just in a normal little town! I was told it would always snow on or around Halloween and this year was no exception. This was the Wednesday before Halloween.

I got home, still laughing the whole way, and went inside to carve my first American pumpkin! It took us a while and all four of us (all my roomies) came out and we got to do it together, which was really fun. We don’t often all do things together. I was desperate to go run out into the real snow now, but it wasn’t thick enough yet so we waited a little longer, and at 11pm at night, we all rugged up (except Joey lol) and went out side for my first “real” snow experience. Talile filmed me, it was quite entertaining to watch back. She didn’t want to get cold so she wouldn’t play in it, but I ran straight out, got a snow ball and pelted it at Alex. Of course, the automatic response was one straight back at me. And my first snow ball fight in my life started! It was really fun, but my pants kept falling down! There wasn’t much snow at that point, but it was still covering everything. I thought it was a lot (let alone did I know what I would wake up to).

Once we were exhausted from throwing snowballs, we went to this grass oval, now covered in snow, and wrote the letters S.N.O.W! in the ground. It was big enough that Joey from the 16th floor could read it and took a photo. We built a snow man and I got to make my first snow angel! It was freezing lying in the snow, and so after being out there for nearly 2 hours, we came back inside. I had the biggest adrenaline rush, and to top off my already awesome mood I got to speak to Bri for the first time since she had been away in South Africa for three weeks.

The next morning I woke up to Talile running into our room and yelling, “its a snow day, school is closed, they’ve shut down school!” Up went my mood to top the day before. NO SCHOOL! It was a dream come true. I had been debating whether to miss my one class tomorrow, and I didnt have to even worry about it in the end. It was rare to have a snow day, the uni never shuts down, it was -20 degrees last year and they still didn’t stop classes. So this was a rare miricle. I found out later it was because trees were breaking under the snow weight so it wasnt safe to be walking around campus. But a snow day was a snow day. I went out about lunch time to find people everywhere, building gigantic snowmen, having snow ball fights and just enjoying the day off school in the snow. It was a really cool environment to be in. I got caught in the middle of a snow fight, i was laughing and tried to retaliate but instead fell on my bum in the snow. The snow came up to our knees though, it was that thick and fluffy, so it didnt hurt at all. Until they started pelting snowballs at me because I was an easy target. Lucky I knew them and they cut it out after a few goes .

(Check back for photos…)

We then went and found our own  piece of snow and started to build another snowman. This time is was a lady snowman, with all the usual lady parts. It was quite funny. People were coming over to have photos with her hehe. While we were there I asked Alex if she wanted to fall into the snow with me.. and so we did.. it was like landing on fluffy pillows. I cant describe how soft and fluffy the snow was. We ate some, just out of curiosity (tastes like water surprisingly haha). So when we fell, it didn’t hurt at all. It was really fun. After that  I started to freeze so after another 2 hours of glorious snow fun, we went back inside. After watching a movie in the warmth, i had to have a nap because my eyes were killing me from the onion someone cut up. I woke up, and then went downstairs to participate in a Pumpkin carving contest with 50 other people. All of my roomies and me did it again with me, which was really cool I carved the same pumpkin I had done the night before because it was awesome. And it payed off! I came FIRST out of 50 people, and Alex came second. We really did have awesome pumpkins though hehe. She won a witch on a broomstick who laughed when you made a noise near her and I won a red eyed fog machine skull! We put these out the front of our door, as we were also participating in the door decorating contest. We had an awesome door! We found out two days later that we had won the door contest too! We were on a roll! We won a massive massive bag or mini chocolates which we ended up giving out to trick or treaters on Halloween.

(check back for photos)

Halloween.. another story on its own. That weekend before Halloween we had gone out and had heaps of fun, I had even tried on my costume. On Sunday we went through a HAUNTED CORN MAZE! We had to drive to Fort Collins, which is about 30 min away, and once we got there (Joey, Alex and I), Joey and Alex started to freak out which was making me freak out! We had to wait in line for 30min and then we could go through. Imagine a tall corn field (above your head corn), cut into a maze, at night, with no lights, and scary things lurking through it and then jumping out at you and going BOO! As you were walking around, scary sounds would be playing out of the corn , and other times it was dead silent except for the screams you heard of other people in the distance… that was worse! The first few times I screamed like a little girl, but after that, I would jump, and maybe scream a little, but I would laugh. And for some reason it made the whole thing really enjoyable. I laughed at getting scared, coz they did a good job! We had to go through a clown tunnel, filled with smoke, strobe lights and heaps of damn clowns, big and little, holding knives and machetes and wearing angry scary masks! Another tunnel we had to walk through was worse, because you could hear what was coming… As we walked out, all is silent.. and then we hear the revving of a chainsaw.. I haven’t seen anyone run as fast as the girls ran! I got pushed into the corn a little, and he went past me. It was scary, but I knew it was coming so I wasn’t as scared as Joey who was freaking out about the chainsaw man. The horror movie’s these days really can do a number on you! Right when we came to the exit, we had to go through one more tunnel, and as we came out, what did we hear but the revving of ANOTHER chainsaw man, and this time I did run as I wasn’t expecting him… I ran all the way out of that corn maze, and then cracked up laughing! It was so cool!

(check back for photos)

On Halloween Monday, it was exactly the kind of Halloween I had hoped for. I got all dressed up into my Witch costume (I was going to go as Scream, but I didnt want to wear the mask all night) and went trick or treating ! I went with Robin and Shane (my adoptive family) and there kids. We went all around their neighbourhood and got candy! The way it works here is if your porch lights are on, your assumed to be giving out candy. If your porch lights arent on, then no one will knock on your door. Smart concept. Once I had been trick or treating, and gotten lots of evil looks from adults because “technically”  i shouldnt be doing it, i went back to campus. I had a few drinks with the girls and then modified my costume to become a nerdy hobo witch (I was wearing 3D glasses, with the glasses part pushed out and my thongs in my witch costume still) and off we went to Haunted Harrison (a “haunted house” basement in on of the residence halls on campus). It was pretty cool, but I just laughed the whole way through again . When I got back , Abbey and I went out to a pub (names Bears Pub) to finish of celebrating Halloween. It was pretty empty, but enough people there to talk to and play pool with. Towards the end, Abbey and I decided to go and sing Karaoke. I would never in my right mind normally do this, but I’m in America.. so I was like, why not. Little did I know the song Abbey picked was “A Whole New World – by Aladdin” O.M.G. lol It was really funny to be singing that song in a pub, and one of the ladies filmed us on my phone, so I have proof . We went and got some food and drifted on home. It was a fantastic night! And an awesome Halloween experience.

(check back for photo/video)

Two days later it snowed again, but no snow day this time. I didn’t even get to go play in it, we ran out of time with classes. That was last week, this week it was meant to snow again on Tuesday, but nothing happened. Since then I have just been completing assignments and enjoying being home for a bit. This weekend we will be going out to celebrate the end of a long week, but nothing big. Were currently planning Thanksgiving and going up to the mountains to go skiing in a few weeks .

Not long left now. Today, I have now been here for 3 months exactly. I have about 6 weeks left to go, but out of that, there is only 2 weeks of actual classes, thanksgiving week, exam week, and then im off to Vegas, Disneyland and Melbourne before heading home . I have been doing really well in all my classes, i’m pretty sure I am on an A in everything, which is amazing!

As much as I don’t want to leave, I am getting really excited to come home. I do miss everyone and everything a lot!

Well, I will try not to be to long in between my next posts.

Till next time,

Jess xxoo

Read More

Denver

HI!

I haven’t been posting no where near as much as I would like for a few reasons. One, sometimes nothing much happens during the week or on the weekend, so there is not much to tell. Two, I just forget!

The last couple of weeks have been hectic! Two weeks ago was the start of mid term exams. We don’t have this back home so I wasn’t to happy to have to study for an exam already, however it was OK! I had one mid-term on Tuesday, Teaching English as a Second Language, and I found out my score the next week. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I had gotten 15/15.. 100%! I was so stoked….. and then I went into class and found out that nearly 80% of the class had also gotten 100%…. she marked easy lol Still, 100% is 100%!! And I have gotten full marks for everything in that class so so far I am on an A

That weekend (last Friday) was so awesome.. I road tripped it an hour into the city centre and got to see my cousin Cherie. I haven’t seen her since I was 16, and I was a little nervous honestly. But it was sweet! She’s so cool, and it was surreal to be hearing an Australian accent. I kept telling her she sounded weird lol. I kept thinking how weird it was to just so naturally slide back into each others lives. A lot has happened in 5 years to the both of us. And we never use to talk that much before. But through Facebook we had caught up on each other and what they had been up too. See, technology really is good! On Friday we got to our hotel (which was really nice and close to 16th street, the main shopping mall/movies etc.) around 2pm. We went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co for lunch which was yum! Then we went shopping and went to a bar called COYOTE UGLY! haha when we walked in we were center of attention, and the bar tenders had microphones and they were ralling up all the guys, telling them to buy us shots etc. Then bar tenders even got on the bar and danced liked in the movie, it was awesome  We ended up going to a movie (Real Steal), went out for dinner, and then ended the night with a horse and carriage ride down the main street!!

Saturday we woke up pretty late and went to lunch at a fancy restaurant.. burgers again (man their burgers here are so good.. yumm) and Abbey met us there. We went shopping for most of the day, but it was raining and 7 degrees! I had thongs on and 3/4 pants… opps lol didn’t realise how cold it would get. We decided to go bowling to relax for a bit and I won hehe, just though.. Cherie was pretty close behind me lol then we went back to our hotel to chill for a bit and Abbey went home. Dinner at the hotel and then we went clubbing! It was so much more expensive in Denver then in Greeley! Even more expensive then in Perth I reckon. It was a lot of fun

Sunday we got up late again, checked out, had breakfast at a bakery and then waiting around for our lift back up to Greeley. While we were waiting we went and watched another movie (What’s Your Number) which was really funny! Off we went back to campus, but we didnt get home will 6pm. I showed Cherie around as much as i could at night, and we had dinner, watched a movie and crashed out.

The next day I took Cherie with me to lunch at the dining hall and then off to a real “American” classroom lol it was really boring, but only 50min so it wasn’t too bad lol. After that we went down to the basement to do some washing and then we went to drop her off at the bus stop. BUT! Talile (my suite mate) decided she was OK to drive down to Colorado Springs, which is 2.5 hours away.;. so ROAD TRIP!! It was so much fun, it was Talile, Joey Cherie and I. We ended up in Colorado Springs around 9pm, dropped Cherie off (I cried a little in the car after… got a little home sick lol) and then dropped Joey off at her families so she could see them for a bit. While she was with her family, Talile and I went shopping at the 1 Dollar Shop! I love this place. I bought a heap of teaching resources and other little bits and pieces. We picked Joey back up and left around 11pm.. getting back home at 1.30am! It was a very long night, but it was so awesome that I got to spend a little more time with Cherie on the trip down

Tuesday morning awoke to a 2nd mid term, this time for Special Needs. I feel like I did OK in that Then Wednesday was filled with guitar practice and procrastination from writing my 7 page paper that was due on Thursday. I finished it Wednesday night, and felt pretty good about that too. Thursday I spent the day at class and then practising my little butt off fro Friday… my guitar mid-term. My fingers were so sore after my mid term on Friday that when I was eating I couldn’t push down on my fork with my fingers. HOWEVER… thankfully, i did really well! I didnt get it perfect, but I surprised my self and was really happy about how  I went. Before I left though, he told me my grades so far in guitar… he told me that so far I am on 97%… I am getting an A in guitar! I never ever would have thought that. Not putting myself down, but i suck at guitar compared to other people, but he did say he was grading on preparation and persistence. So… I AM ONE HAPPY LADY hehe.

This weekend I have been so exhausted from the last two weeks that I decided to stay in and do nothing all weekend, and that is exactly what I did. I took naps, did some scrap booking (which looks really nice I might add), had a few drinks, watched a few movies and today I went to see Dolphin Tail with my adoptive family. That movie was so awesome I am considering maybe possibly completing a masters in marine biology… I have always wanted to work with dolphins… But its all still in my head lol

And that has been it for now.. our ‘house’ is officially Halloween decorated, I have had my hair braided like a white African woman haha and life is good. I have a few moments of home sickness.. but I am still enjoying every moment here

Till next time,

xxoo

Read More

Homecoming Week!

I‘m back!

The last two weeks have been a combination of boring and fun! Two weeks ago, there was nothing new to really report with school, and the weekend was just a cruizy one of staying home and bonding with the roomie!

This week however was slightly different.

It started off like any normal day on Monday, but when I woke on Tuesday I didn’t feel right. I was still happy, I could still laugh. I just felt a little off. Like something wasn’t right. Tuesday I skipped one out of my two classes. Then Wednesday, I missed class, until it was the end of the week and I hadn’t been to class since Tuesday. I still till today can’t pick what was wrong. I had a funny tummy, but I also just had no motivation. I’m pretty sure it was to do with 1) me feeling homesick, and 2) me knowing how cool the weekend was finally gonna be, and I just wanted it to hurry up.

I did other things instead, like clean up the kitchen by fully re-organizing it. On Friday, I went out to lunch with Abbey which was really cool to see her again. She’s been pretty busy with work. We went to a place called JD’s and its a drive in resteraunt. You can stay in your car and order at these boxes and eat in your car. They wil bring it out on a tray they sits on your open window. Its pretty cool. We went inside to eat, and you phone in your orders from your booth haha. Awesome place, good food too .

I also went to the shops for a bit of me time. I got a massage in those massage chairs that you pay money for, I bought three pairs of shoes (which is think is a new record in one go – stylish ugg boats, heeled short leather boots and some sneaker looking shoe), a backpack, a cookie monster beanie, some prezzies for people back home and then went and sat down to a movie on my own. It was just what I needed. I think maybe being stuck in the house up all week/weekend got to me. I am strongly debating buying a bomb car, but then my suite mate said I could drive hers! Hell yeah haha.. practice first though!

This weekend was homecoming week. Kind of definition, somehting to do when the soldiers come home from war, and its celebrated nationally. There was all different events, pie smashing, penny drop, can raising, bingo, game days, bon fires, footy game and then a formal.

I missed most of it, due to school or people not being home to come with. However, I got to the bon-fire (kind of) and the formal (kind of). The bon-fire started at 8.30, but I was to busy talking to bri on skype that we didn’t leave till just after 9. And by then the bon-fire failed and put it self out! Which was so disappointing :( however, just as we were walking up, I saw something even more magical. FIREWORKS!! Man I loved them

Once they finished, I went back to Harrison Hall, which is a residance hall two building across with much more entertaining things to do! They have a pool table, a juke box, Foosball table, ping pong table and two massive TVs. There are always people where the games are, so its a great place to socialize. We ended up styaing here till 2am, I met heaps more people and then I went home to sleep!

Saturday morning, I had an interesting wake up call. I woke up swearing coz someone had loud music on so early in the morning and it was very disrespectful! And then I woke up properly and realised it was coming from outside. So I went to have a look and 16 stories below me on the grass was the marching band! They played some awesome lil beats (I filmed one and put it on fb) and I got over the fact that it was 10am and I was now fully awake. I had a shower etc, and after a while Joey came home and we went to the homecoming football game!

We lost (UNC players suck lol) but it was fun to watch the half time show. I went back upstairs coz it was stinking hot and crashed for a bit. Eventually Joey and her friend Rach came up and we all got dressed to go to the homecoming formal.

We left here about 9 ish and walked in. It was not like I expected! There was no disco/dance lights (sad face) and no decorations (sad face). However, there was a pretty good DJ and very loud music (happy face). So we all dancedfor about 30min, but then decided this wasnt as cool as we thought and so we went back home. I called Molly, my suite mates friend and asked her to come with, and she did, so we all met up and headed out to Sky. I had obviously had a few drinks, and as I was the only one who was 21 outa the whole group (there was about 20 of us), it was weird! Drinks were so cheap again, but I guess we all get the point. Just when I was getting into dancing, we had to leave because the driver was tired. Fair enough. We went back to Harrison hall to talk and muck around for a bit, and then we went back to ours and me and Joey stayed up till nearly 6am talking!

A successful weekend I must say!

Today is Monday and class starts too and I am back! No more missing things! I hope this week will be a little more exciting I hope

Two weeks and my cuz Cherie will be here! Quite excited, but no more wishing away weeks. I’m happy to take it day by day again now. I am making more friends slowly so I am feeling more and more like I belong here. Oh and we have a new suite mate! She had to move into Talile’s room or they both had to pay more money for being the only ones in a double
 room. Her names Alex, she seems pretty cool. Still not 21 lol man I needa find some more 21 year old people! I swear they are hiding out haha.

Till next time,

xxoo

Read More

A Successful Month

Welcome Back!

So it seems that I have now been here for a month and 2 days! In a few days, this will now be the longest I have been away from home! Go me

School went well this week. My guitar assessment went ok. I am not doing any good at reading music though. But writing the letters of the notes over them actually helps. So at least I am getting somewhere. I am excited for my special needs main assessment. I will be talking about the hard of hearing, and hopefully we can do some of it in sign language, which I really want to learn!

I found out this week that I could move! However, when I went to check out where my new home could be, sure it was new, and I would have my own room, and it was just overall awesome, the three girls who I would still be sharing the bathroom/lounge with were all 18. They were freshmen, new to collage and were just not gonna get along with me. I get along with my roomies, so if I could get over the whole lights and lil issues it will be OK here. I think I would be better off a lil uncomfortable with no privacy, then locked away in my room all the time coz I hat my room mates. So.. after all this waiting. I am staying.

I am settling in more now. I bought a whiteboard and stuck up more pictures, and were all gonna chip in a buy decorations and make this feel more like home, which will be awesome. I asked one of the RA’s (resident assistants) if I could help organise a whole building Halloween competition. Best suite decorated will win something. I think it will be awesome! I cant wait! And I get to help plan something so I am excited for that too lol.

This weekend flew past, as have all the others. Friday night I enjoyed the comfort of a QUEEN bed, as I stayed at my adoptive families parents house. Which I class as a mansion. We watched a movie and I crashed out. When I woke up we went off to Robins sisters child’s first birthday! It was really cute, I will upload the photo of us when I get it off Robin.

I cam home about 3pm and went on a massive cleaning spree. I tied up my room perfectly, put all the rubbish from every room out, did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and even toilet. I was quite proud!

Watched a movie after and then started painting my board. Now this board is awesome, but to understand what it really is I will have to put a photo up, but its not finished, so you’ll just have to wait.

That night I went out to a pub for a drink, and came home to bed!

Sunday was chill day, practiced guitar and then I accepted dads challenge. I have been complaining about making friends, I hate trying to do it, but i am bored coz I have no one to hang out with. So he gave me a challenge. For every door I knocked on in my building, I would get $5… AWESOME! (there are 7 doors per floor and 16 floors of people). However, even with that, I still hesitated. Just the idea of knocking on some randoms door freaked me out. So I didn’t end up going till 3pm. When I did though, I took my board, and as a conversation started, I said hi etc, but then said that my dad has dared me to get as many signatures as I could, and it worked! I got the board (which is A1) nearly full and I only went to 6 floors. I have 10 to go still lol  I met a lot of cool people, and some I would hope never to run into again. But it was a good experience. Dad thought I might have met enough people by a few floors, but its me.. and money… challenge accepted!

Today is back to class (Monday) and I am about to leave so I should. It is definitely improving. Slowly, but its getting there. By the time I have to go home in December, it will be perfect and then I will be sad lol. But for now, Im enjoying it one day at a time .

Till next time,

xxoo

 

Read More

Two And A Half Weeks Down

So another week has past, and as much as I feel it has gone slowly, to think that a whole week, and a bit even has gone, well that musta gone pretty fast!

Not much happened to report on last week though.

School has been going well. I passed my first guitar playing assessment on the first string, tomorrow I have my second assessment on the second string and playing my first two cords. That is hard, transitioning between them! But I am getting there. I also completed my first mini maths assignment, to present an activity to a small group. That was really easy!

Its been really hard this last week as I think I have had bad PMS and to top it off, I had a few really boring days (the friends I’ve made work) and some really tiring ones. I’ve had a few issues with a kid (room mates friends kid) sleeping over in the lounge room and then waking up really early and screaming and running around. Happy to report the matter has hopefully been dealt with for now.. and I should be moving this week into my new room.. fingers crossed. But yes, I have just been feeling homesick and genuinely frustrated because there is nothing to do here once class is finished, if it is not the weekend. I feel stuck because I have no car.  It’s good that I have a bike now, cept it doesn’t work.. I broke it already, and I need a man to fix it because I am not strong enough to do what needs doing. Where are all the men in my life when I need them!

To help cure my bordem, my clever parents suggested I get into volunteering, and I think I am going to volenteer at the local animal rescue shelter (because I miss my puppy and I love all animals), if I can find a way to get there. Maybe paying a $5 taxi fare once a week won’t be so bad.. however.. I dont think I have seen a taxi since I have been here! lol

This weekend was the Labor Day long weekend. Long was definitely the right word!

Friday night I went out to dinner with Abbey to Wendy’s (not an ice-cream shop, but a really great burger place!). After I had dinner with her, Robin and Shane my adoptive family here took me to Shane’s parents place to watch movies. Their house is AMAZING!! It is so bog and just keeps going. They have their own movie theater, a bar, a pool table and a air hockey table, and that is all downstairs in their “basement”. It was very cool!

Saturday day I slept in, which was lovely and then went to my first American football game! It was really patriotic, we got free shirts saying “Go Bears!” and they had the marching band and cheer leaders and everything! I can’t wait till I go see a Broncos game at Denver stadium! That night I went to the drive-ins at Fort Collins (30min away) with Abbey which was really cool! We saw Smurfs, which actually made me laugh hard, I loved it! And then we sat Cowboys and Aliens. It took a while to get into that movie, but we enjoyed it by the end .

Sunday was a day of nothing-ness. I went to the grocery shop with Abbey again, but that was about all!

Monday the same thing. Nothing much happened but in the afternoon Robin took me to Hobby Lobby, which was this MASSIVE craft shop! I went and bought paints and pencils and a thick piece of cardboard; and heaps of scrap-booking things to make a memory of my time here Hopefully that will help keep me busy while I’m here as well!

I finally have some assignments due in the next few days/weeks, so I am excited to get stuck into work. I cant believe that this is week three of school, and my fourth week of being here. On Friday (in Perth) it will be exactly a month I have been gone. After that, this will officially be the longest that I have been away from home.

It has finally gotten colder here, it even rained a little today. It is beautiful!! Can’t wait for it to keep getting colder, although everyone says I will take that back

It’s good to hear that nothing much has changed back home. That is what makes me feel the most home sick, is knowing that when I come back I could have missed out on so much. But everyone is being great at talking to me all the time when I need it. Poor parents I’m sure are sick of me already, but its definitely helping me settle in here knowing I can always talk to them back home.

If anyone is actually reading this and wants to send me any mail my address is as follows:

Jess Labordus

University of Northern Colorado

Lawrenson Hall, Room 16F

Greeley, CO, 80631-6946

Also, if you want me to add you to Facebook, there are more videos and pictures and casual updates posted on there. You can try and add me, however I doubt you will find me. I have turned off all privacy things, but still it doesn’t work!

Till next time,

xxoo

 

 

 

Read More

First Week

Hello again!

So I thought I should probably update everyone on my first week! I wanted to wait till the end of the week so I didn’t have all these little posts, but so much happened I now have a huge post to write!

Starting with class last Monday:

I had my first music class and freaked out… 1) I had to learn recorder (kill me now). 2) I had to KNOW how to read music…

I use to read music when I was 8, but I haven’t tried since. I aways take a long time to read the music, for example work out that the note means A and then try and work out what fingers A is meant to look like. So I didnt like it. But I sucked it up. The style of the classes here means that I have two of each class a week (except I don’t for some). Weird, but good for music.

That was all I had on Monday and I spent the rest of the day online sorting out bits and pieces, like ordering books!

Tuesday was the job fair in the morning, and I applied to work in the library, at a child care centre and at a place that works with disadvantaged kids and teens. I didn’t get the library job, and I havent heard back from the others. I don’t have high hopes though. I then sorted out some bank stuff, went and bought four posters to make my room look awesome and then went to my first class. This class was S&E and Maths together.. its not really mixed though, one day you do S&E and the other Maths. However, I happily remembered that I didn’t need to do S&E so on Tuesday I don’t have to go to class anymore because that would have been my S&E day. I then had 3 hours till my next class so I decided to go up to to the other end of campus to get my music books and my guitar.

While waiting for the bus I met this lady who’s daughter was a transfer and didn’t know many people so she asked me for my email address. I gave it to her, and then commented on the bus taking forever. By this time it had been 20 min and I was gettin hot and bothered (it was about 37 degrees outside). After looking both ways for the bus something clicked.. I realised I was standing on the wrong side of the road… Stupid Americans and driving on different sides.

I finally got up to the book shop, bought my books and then realized that I missed the bus home. I had to walk to a different bus stop further away and after half an hour (of waiting on the right side of the road!) the bus came and I got back to my class room. But by this time I had a killer headache and still had 30min till my next class so I sat down and cooled down. When I was chillaxing a girl walked past and asked for directions. I told her and then she asked me if her mum was just talking to me and I gave her my email address. You should have seen my face! There are over 8,000 people on campus, and that same day, only a few hours later I ran into this girl. Her name was Abbey (my favourite name), shes 21 (finally someone I can drink with!), she is studying Elementary Education (yay) and my mums favourite… she goes to church haha. Well actually she’s exactly like me and hates church, but she wanted to check out this different rock kinda church, but more on that later. Anyway, as mum would say, she was my miracle friend.

After we talked for a little bit, I had 2 classes, Teaching ESL and Special Needs. They both seem really interesting, and not too hard. What I love about ALL my classes is that there are no exams. There is take home exams and lots of little assignments, but that is is. Nearly a quarter of my grade for every class is given to me for just showing up. Then everything else is only worth 20% max each. Finals and mid-term exams are only ever worth 10-15%. I love this place lol.

I didn’t make it through Special Needs though, I sat through 30min and then nearly passed out. I was feeling dizzy and like I was going to throw up, and I had a killer headache. I went home, took lots of pain killers and slept. When I woke up at 8pm I realised I probably had heat stroke. My headache never left till I woke up the next morning, but luckily that was it!

Wednesday was music again, and then guitar! I am really excited for guitar, I love the idea of being able to play properly but my teacher moves through classes really fast. By the end of the 16 weeks I am expected to play a song for 1-3min. I would love to play Sweet Home Alabama, but I will have to see how I go. I also got my hair done that day after class, it is now short and dark brown with blonde streaks through it. I don’t have a good picture though, and its too hot to have down, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer to see it.

Thursday was TESL again and then Maths! Maths is fast paced to, and its a lot of teaching to the class, but its hands on learning so its fun . After class I went with Stace to the grocery store and got some, well, food, lol kind of predictable.

Friday, all I had was guitar again, I can now play E, F and G on the first string – which includes the Spanish march haha.

Friday night we had the block party which was like a street party. Stace came to mine about three and we had a few drinks, then she went home and I met up with her an hour later. I gave Stacey and my room mates some vegemite to try! They actually liked it haha yay for Aussies lol. Back to the block party.. they blocked off two streets and there were bands playing on 5 different stages and people were selling art and jewelry etc. It was pretty cool and there was so many people!

I met up with a girl from my guitar class and we went to this pizza place for dinner and a drink. I paid $8 for a 36oz class of pineapple juice with vodka and tequila (2 shots of each). My liver will hate me soon. But for now we’re best friends!

The night didn’t last very long, but it started early. I went and crashed at Stacey’s house (which was so hot.. no aircon!!) and hardly slept coz of the heat. When I got home at 9.30am ( had to wait till 9 for the bus), I slept till 12 and then Stace called me and said she’d be here at 1pm as I was going to her families place at Boulder, and hour south east from here, for a birthday gathering for her mum, brother and sister. Her family was really sweet and welcoming and I’m sure I”ll be back there one day in the near future. I also bought a bike from Walmart for $80. Its white and lime green and girly as anything, but it was cheap and it will do haha. We were with her family till 11pm, came home, called mum and dad and crashed. Cant believe how early I have been going to bed on the weekends!

Sunday I woke up planning to study, but Abbey called me and asked me to come to Fort Collins, which is 20min south of here. It is really pretty and there is a lot more to do there then in Greeley. We went to this discount bulk warehouse and I bought some food to freeze so I always have something. That place is like wow. There is so much stuff! We then went to Walmart, which I could live in!! I was looking around with my mouth open like the clowns at the royal show. That place is like Bunnings/Target/BigW/HomeWares/Woolies. It has everything you could possibly need and SOOO cheap!! The even have a pharmacy, an eye shop, a cafe and other things in there. I bought pans, spatulars, cups,tea towels, wooden spoons etc. and most things were like $1-$2.. so awesome. So now I can cook proper food finally.

We then went to church. Which was pretty good considering it was church lol. It was short too, which I was like.. woohoo! It was aimed at young adults and had boppy songs so I coped which was good

Abbey is awesome. She is like a me crossed with a Bri and Sarah. We think a long the same lines about a lot of things, but then she’s got that no care factor attitude that I’ve always wanted. Like she loves calling out the windows to strangers when she’s driving etc. where as I’m always to embarrassed. I think I’ll be hanging out with her a lot lol.

Today I had music again and I got told that there was a simpler music class.. WHY did no one tell me this earlier. I stayed back at Fraiser Hall to talk to this other music teacher and she said I could stay in her class today if I wanted, so I did. And O.M.G. Its perfect! Its so much more games and activities based and there is no music reading, no recorder, no field experience (so I don’t have to worry about trying to find a school like I would have had to with my other one). They made music with instruments we found accross the room and played street clapping games that we use to play when I was in primary school. There is no exams, no big assignments, nothing. It is the most perfect and appropriate music class. I am so happy to be in there. I am not actually meant to be allowed to change classes because I missed the deadline, but this music teacher was lovely and said she would do it for me . I just hope ECU approves it and I am all set.

So that was my week. For anyone who actually sat through and read that all I hope it wasnt to boring, and thanks for being interested in what is going on

I am really liking it here, and everyone I talk to is really nice. Its just a matter of me continuing to branch out and make more friends. Everyone I am friends with though says I should stay on for the year. I haven’t crossed it off yet, but I would be coming home still for Christmas either way.

Now that I have my bike, I hope to have a little more freedom, and Abbey has a car and has offered to take me wherever I need, whenever I want to go, which is like SO good!

My accent is still getting me the same response.. Aww ur Aussie! I love your accent. I just want to listen to you speak! lol although a lot of people say I sound more British… Lol. As much as it’s embarrassing, I love that people love me haha.

I do miss everyone though, if you ever want to come see me, there’s plenty of room to crash here. I am still trying to get my own room, but I won’t know till next week probably. I am getting along better with my suit mates, but I still just want that privacy.

Till next time,

xxoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read More