May 14th

Friday 13th was my birthday in New Zealand, it was strange to think that I had turned 18 already in another country. Friday night was pretty bad weather with a lot of rain and stormy weather :) yay! Managed to at least talk with alison on the phone for a short while before going to Julia's restaurant where I was sung happy birthday by everybody at the Dutch :P haha ohh how i love my sister Julia..
It really began to hit me, just how different life feels now. I have the sweetest friends, family and home here in America. I never thought I could feel so close to these people like I am now, I'm not even sure what I had expected to happen but I know it really wasn't this. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I know it's just going to be the hardest thing having to leave everybody. It worries me a lot because I really love everyone I'm meeting.

MY BIRTHDAY, 9am we had to leave the house to drive into Cleveland to be on the Nautica Queen cruise ship. Julia wrote me the cutest card, one I will keep forever and ever!! <3 We had a good time, so much laughing and actually the food reminded us of Prom, except this time we didn't miss out on the best part.. THE BREAD!! I was expecting it to be windy, I guess that's something I'm used to preparing myself for in New Zealand that I've brought that habit back to America. Sometimes I feel like I can't even breath, there's no wind..



Titanic action ;)

Later on, after my very long phone call to my New Zealander's; Julia and I drove into Warren. Best drive EVER!! Julia's so lovely, buying presents for me :P We had got ourselves into the singing mood ready for cosmic bowling. OHMYGOSH, that was real interesting aha. Zach and Kevin were just simply, WOW!! I think the videos we got of them explains all. They had a wild time. Afterwards we had the birthday cake, i liked all the American colours to it. By the time we went to sleep it must have been 3am. Julia left for work early and I slept in a while longer. I was lucky enough to have a kiwi dinner :) I was so happy!! Glenda and her family are so sweet, they made me a Pavlova too. "Should we put the food out the kiwi way or the American way"? I heard someone ask. So actually, in New Zealand we have someone put the meal on everyones plate before it's dished out to everyone while American families have all the food put out in the middle of the table so you can take what parts you want. Didn't even realise.. Apparently New Zealander's eat different from Americans, we use our forks AND knifes but tilt out forks the "British way" oh and also the word "shone" is not used in America? like, 'you shone like a star'!! Hmm well at least i know i'm not the only one being hassled about what words they use and how they use it, poor Glenda shares my pain. Overall I'm very grateful for the meal put on by Glenda's family. I almost felt like I could be home <3

Even being away from maybe the most important people in my life, I was still able to have a wonderful birthday weekend surrounded by the people I feel I can call my home and family. I'm so thankful for them all!! My kiwi family and friends are hardly forgotten, how could they be when they're sending me such cute birthday cards and presents thousands of miles across the globe.. for me ;)

Well this is really on my mind at the moment,

Kiwi like the kiwi fruit, the Kiwi bird and the Kiwi girls.

Yes, I have to be careful with how I speak about "kiwi stuff" to American people otherwise they think I'm really strange, and maybe I am just a bit but at least I have an excuse..

I'm from New Zealand :)





Prom was beautifulness

Too many things are happening right now, so many changes, so many opinions.. yeah people suck sometimes. I guess I should start with prom since i haven't really mentioned it on here, i think it was a pretty big deal going so it's probably worth including. I don't think anything can compare to Prom night, it was so much fun. I'm just so glad i ended up going, it's the American high school thing to do!! I'm just telling everybody who asks me about it that Prom needs to happen more often :P Julia went to prom too, we took both of the Austin's :D The morning of prom day Sheila and I went to a mother's day brunch, everyone dressed in very elegant looking hats and dresses, it was cute.

Day of Prom was really busy, but i think that was a good thing. You don't have time to think about the next big event that follows this way. I know I should have heaps to say about Prom, but it's one of those things that can't really be explained, it's all in my head. Happy memories :) thinking back on it I really loved the whole night including after Prom, that went on until 3am. Had a good, good time. Everyone gets prizes towards the end.. i got a freaking pillow!! it's not small either, can't really imagine taking that home with me on the plane, maybe i'll have to stay here in Ohio?? :P I can't leave that zebra print pillow ;D Oh that reminds me, they're all lovin' the zebra prints over here.

Mother's day was the following Sunday, I'm sad I wasn't there for my Mum that day back home but I know she knew I missed her and wished I could have been there :) I got the chance to go to Cleveland Botanical Gardens for Mother's day, it was so, so pretty there!! so many photos that weekend.. The weather proved to be a lovely Spring day, I was impressed!!

"A mother is someone to shelter & guide us, to love us for the kind of person we grow to become, a warm understanding & infinite patience makes any worries past away" Clover you are the sweetest thing (so is Dannii & Sian.. and all the other awesome SHC girls!!) XOX ♥ love you

Dramas in the month of May

Prom is May 7th, I'm extremely excited while also being completely curious, confused and nervous. Prom seems like a huge deal  in America. It's like the MUST THING to do!! I've got pretty much almost everything sorted for the big night. I'm surprised in myself that i decided on wearing a purple prom dress, that is so unlike me to go for that colour.. "national gay colour", i'll always point out to a certain "someone", who shall not be named.

Now i can officially mention that i can walk through the senior graduation at the end of the school semester in May with all the 2011 seniors. I wasn't sure the school would let me since i'm at this high school in their last half of the 2011 senior year, i'll be back after summer break too (which btw is 90 days!! - Thanks Kayla), so it would be strange to graduate high school and then come back to finish the first half of my senior year when i'm already a graduate. But it's sorted now and yes, this will mean the full on cap and gown outfit! I'm typing up my resume since it's a requirement for graduating. It's taking such a long time to finally complete, i don't think i really know what i want to do career wise, but this resume is sure a good excuse to start planning and thinking about the future.

I'm considering signing up for cross-country at school. I've been told by so many people that it would be really good for me to get involved in a school activity like this. I've done Duke of Edinburgh tramps and had a lot of fun with the inter-school and inter-zone school cross-country events over the years.. why not try this?

Lastly,
To, Dear.. sister of mine, feel loved <3

btw, i am recovering from a cold.. or maybe a sinus infection?

OhMyGosh, thank you Claritin!!