good blogger

Even though my busy schedual I still take the time to write in my blog and keep the foaks at home updated, and you guys over here. I don't know what you all think, but feel that I've been doing pretty good. But I'm exhausted tonight so I'll just fill you in with what's going on for the moment.

Game last night, 7-0. I got 2 goals and one assist, decent. Today, practice and a lot of homework. Matter of fact is I got a lot of homework for the rest of the week, thank's Ms. P. Game tomorrow as well. That's it for me tonight people.

.. and scen!

State fair

I keep staying busy and this sunday it was the Kentucky State Fair that was on the schedual. Me and Connie left the house at around ten, picked up breakfust from Steve at the store he works at on weekends and took off. We had a lot to see so we figured it was good to head out early.
We really had a great day, walking around the all the stands that sells all kinds of stuff. You could buy anything from cowboy hats to quilts. You could also get all kinds of food there, anything from the classics like corn dogs, hamburgers and pizzas to funnel cakes (it's actually fried batter), ice cream and popcorn. You name it and they had it. The only thing we actually bought there was two small ice creams, that were pretty big if you would ask me. I took pictures with some guys from the army, played Ms. Pacman, climbed in some rope thingy and got some free stuff, a pretty good day.

We also walked by a red cross station where you could donate blood, and we thought, why not? Plus you would get a free t-shirt. So we sat in line there for a while, then when it was my turn I needed my ID, that typically was in the car. When I get back it turns out that people from Europe under the age of 30 can't donate because of the mad cow disease. Thank's for that one. Still got me the t-shirt though, it's the thought that counts, right?

mad cow disease, really?

but...

Yesterday was one of the days at school the teens here look forward to. The whole day was out of dresscode. I was like, "Yes! Now I can were some of my actual clothes!" (You can feel the but coming, right? Well here it is.. ) But it turned out that out of dresscode meant you could wear a blue, red or white t-shirt, instead of the collar shirts we have to wear otherwise. I ended up wearing the collar anyway.

Friday nights in the U.S.

Friday night, football night, first football night, a great night.

We played Bardstown, at their home field. And as you all know we're Nelson County, but our school is also in Bardstown, so it was a derby this friday night, extra exiting. I kind of had this picture of how the football games would be like, lots of people, cheerleaders and food. That picture turned out to be very true, even more than I had imagined.

But when you go to a game here, at least as a teenager, it's more of a social thing than it is watching football. You meat up with all of your friends, meet new people and just hang out and have a good time. Of course also watching at some football from time to time. But you can ask people here what the scor is and they don't have a clue. I don't, but hey, I'm from Sweden. Still, I'm learning the basics of it, yards, how to score and get points, what's a good tackle and that kind of stuff. I really think I'm gonna enjoy the friday night's over here, I've got a good feeling about it.

9-0

I think that's all I have to say for tonight, yeah, it is.

on drugs

I kind of like the word sinuses, like the ring of it. I do not like the word infection. And I definitely don't like the words put toghether. Especially not when you have it. Don't think it's that big of a deal really, it'll probably wear of eventually. It very much should actually, now that Connie has hooked me up with all kinds of medicines against it.

S as in..

If you read my blog every day and actually have an interest in what I'm writing you're might wondering how we did yesterday. In the game of third place. If not you are just gonna have to keep up. Anyway, the team we were about to play against was ranked something like top 10 in the state, pretty good. I started as center mid but was put on defense after a quick goal from the other team. We really picked up and played good soccer, but so did they, and they scored again before half-time. But in the second half it was very even and we managed to reduce to 2-1. But that was the result the lasted the game out.

We ended fourth out of twelve team in this tournament and from what I've understood we should be happy with that. The best result in this tournament ever for the Nelson County Lady Cardinals. I also played a whole lot better this game.

Now we have had a day off from practice and I can't wait for the next game to start on Wednesday. Just hope my cold doesn't get in the way.. Who would have thought I would get a cold in 80 degrees? Not me.

SON

Since Wednesday we have been playing two more games in the tournament. Both of them yesterday. The first one we were to play in the morning, JV and first then Varsity. But the weather here always seems to come in our way. JV's game got delayed because of a thunder storm so they only got to play half a game. They won with like 3-0, but still, you wanna play. The thunder had dissapered when it was our turn and we could set the score 3-1 after a full game.

Our next Varsity game wasn't until 8 so we had a lot of spare time. So we said that we would go some place to eat. Didn't know that some place would be Dairy Queen.. Luckilly Connie saved me from that and we went to get some good food, like pasta and meatballs. Much better than fried chicken with toast and fries.

The late game we knew would be a tough one, we were gonna play the nr 4 or 5 ranked team in the state, not the easiest thing to do. But we did a great job and didn't just fold over. They still won with 2-0 but I think that is a pretty good result. My effort on the other hand wasn't the best, not at all satisfied. But there is a new game today, for the 3rd place. A good opportunity to get satisfied afterwards.

Whose house?

The first game of the season is played. We were up against Oldham County, and they are apparently one of the better teams this season. Anyway, after an hour long busdrive we got there and the JV team (the younger/2nd team) were up first. They took the lead with 2-0 but ended up loosing with 3-2, they did a great job though, kudos.

Then it was the Varsity teams turn, our turn. We came out on the field and started great, passed the ball the way we are supposed to. But something happend after a while and we didn't deliver any more, Oldham County scored and it was 0-1 in half-time. It was still 0-1 with like 10 minutes left. But we had done a much better job in the second half, which paid of. Mary Alice Brown scored and took the game to penalty kicks. I was number 3 to take one. But they were up first, hit the pole. Then it's our turn, Hannah French places it left of the keeper, no doubt. Their turn, our keeper Ashley Wimsett saves it, no doubt. Our turn, Tara Hite scores, no doubt. They shoot over, I'm up next. PK's is not my best quality so I'm a little nervous, but I suck it up and I place the ball to the right of the keeper, a little doubt.. Their turn, they score, and it's 3-1, if we score our fourth we win the game. Emily Barnett is up, and there's no doubt there either, she scores and we win the game. A great night, great team and a great effort.

Busy days

Almost every night is an early night here. Maybe not when I'm with the girls on the weekends but pretty much every other night. We don't have morning practices anymore, but still, you get tired. The classes at school are not the hardest ones but they are intensive, from 1st to 6th period you don't get much spare time. Then we're of to practice, which is so much fun, but they keep the show going for two hours. Still I love soccer so I don't have a problem with it, but when I've got home, had dinner, taken my shower and finished my homework I'm pretty beat. So I love my early night's here, they keep me going all day.

Eat Pray Love

Never got as far as to the cinema last night. Went there this night instead, and we didn't watch the scary one I was going to see last night. But we saw Eat Pray Love, with Julia Roberts. It was actually the best movie I have seen in a long time. I guess some would refer to it as a chick flick, but I wouldn't judge this one before you've seen it. So go see this movie! Think it comes to Sweden in October, so everybody at home, watch it, you're gonna love it. I did.

I've got a feeling...

So at 6.30 we're heading to my first cook out party (knytkalas). Just like at home everyone has to bring a dish of some kind and then basically everyone just eat and have a good time. I think all of the girls in my soccer team are coming with their families and possibly more people, what do I know. That's something I like that they are doing here, like grown ups and teenagers, and possibly kids are all hangin' out toghether, and it's not lame or pathetic. It's actually very nice och fun.

After the cook out I'm of with some of the girls to watch a movie, the Exorcist. Got that good scared kind of feeling about it. Then there are more scary movies waiting at the place where we are crashing. Hopefully I'll also get some sleep before tomorrow.

Dresscode

There is another thing here that is completely different from home, the dresscode in school. I don't mind the arguments for it, you know, if you can't afford nice clothes or tend to dress inappropriate, then sure dresscode could be a good thing. But I still think it could be worked out in another way. Because the shirts for school are not exactly cheap (unless you only have like one or two) so that will cost you, and if you stubbornly dress inappropriate then you could be an exaption and have to wear dresscode. But if you dress appropriate otherwise I don't see why you shoulnd't be able to wear your own clothes. I guess it's a relief for those who are not that into fashion and don't really care, a relief for those who would get teased for what they are wearing (because I can immagine that happening in High School).

I'm gonna miss mixing and matching outfits for the next day, picking the right shoes to go with it. Also gonna miss those days where you don't really care at all and just go to school in your track suit. I guess those days are just gonna have to wait.

What's on the menu?

As many of you know I'm one of those people who doesn't eat candy. The people at home react by asking why, and I tell'em my story and that's it. It's not the wierdest thing they've ever heard. Over here it virtually is. I tell people here my story as well but they still kind of end up as question marks.

Pastries are also a big thing here, the donuts, muffins, cookies and brownies. But it's rarely home made, almost everything is made out of a package. I'll have to teach these americans how to bake! Even the animals here eat pastries, it's crazy.

I've also realized that the lunches over in Sweden is actually pretty good. The food here is not. Even if it sometimes tastes okay it's probably not that good for you. Some examples of the school lunches here are pizza slices, chicken burgers, cheese-sticks and corn-dogs, and I guss it sounds better than it is. I've only had e pizza so far and I wont have it again. Note also that the pizzas here are different, they have more crust and more topping, pretty much just larger. I think I saw one day that they served pizzas for breakfust at school... More things that are common for breakfust here are donuts, cinamon rolls (kanelbullar fast fabrikat och inte hembakta) and bagels. But they do have yoghurt and cereals and that kind of stuff. Not the good bread though, no dark bread, no loaf of bread, that's one thing I'll miss here.

Awake somebody?

Because of the heat here in Bardstown we are not allowed to practise after school as we usually do. But we still have our practises, in the morning, before school, at 5.30am. Not my favorite time of the day, I'm not a morning person, at least not that early of a morning person, and I never will be. But once we've got the practise going I'm fine, or maybe 30 minutes in to it. The hard part is going through school afterwards, I'm litterally yawning myself through the day. The thing that's saving me right now is my afternoon nap. But right now I'm actually looking forward to the hot practices after school where you're sweating like crazy and need water every 10th minute, who would have thought that?

Road Trip

Went to Muncie, Indiana for the weekend, with my host parents Connie and Steve. Didn't see all that many fun things on the road since apparently Indiana as basically just soy and cornfields. But I saw the funniest sign ever, and wierdest commercial at the same time, I mean, who would wanna eat something like that? It was for some kind of mexican restaurant I think.. anyway, just look at the picture.

But the thing we went there for was a birthday party. She turned 80 and lived in a nursing home. But I had some good food, met some friends of Connie and Steve's and had a good time with them. We ended up at this motel, in the presidential suit with a filthy bathroom, with a jacuzzi in the middle of the room, with a damp carpet. It was also kind of cold in there. But after all of that we stayed there for free so it evened out pretty good. Sunday was spent with some shopping at an outlet mall, food at Applebee's, visiting Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, which was interesting.. Then as icing on the cake we went to a ballgame. Ended up with a pretty fun weekend.

High School

So I started school this Wednesday. Today is Friday. That's three days of school. No, that's three days of High School. Two totally different things. People have been asking me if it's different here, I'm not gonna lie to you, it really is different. Everything here is so strict and structured compared to at home.
I'm gonna give you some examples, we have to call the teachers Mr, Mrs, Ms or Coach, if the theacher also happens to coach one of the school sport teams. Every day I have the same schedual, at the exact same time and at the exact same place. They also have the wierdest times, like my 1st period ends at 9.23 and my 2nd period starts at 9.27, now what's up with that? Why not 9.25 and 9.30?

Then there is this bell. Whenever a class starts or ends the bell ring, you can't leave the lunch cafeteria until the bell rings, you can't really go anywhere until the bell rings. And then suddenly when the bell rings, everyone is of for the next class, crowded as cattle in the hallway. But every single teacher wants to say the phrase "the bell dont dismiss you, I dismiss you" anyway. Don't know what's up with that either.

Weather forecast

As a non-fan of thunder and lightning Bardstown will really be a challenge. Since I came hear it I've seen the lightning strike several times, it was even thunder during my flight to Louisville, not ok. I'm not as scared of it as I was a couple of years ago but it still think it's uncomfortable.

So I've got two options here as I see it. Number 1, I can deal with it and get over my fear, maybe get to that stage where I can actually find it cosy as everyone else (doubt it though). Or number 2, I get an overdose and fall back one step to the stage where I'm scared of it again. I'm hoping for secret option number 3, that I will just get used to it.

Burned

A full day of sun in Sweden is not the same thing as a full day of sun in Kentucky. I've learned that leasson today.

Schedual

I had a plan when I got here. A plan that I would take as many easy and fun classes as possible. Because lets face it, when you don't get credit for an entire school year you don't want to wear your self out. But the only thing I could see being an easy class right now is Choir, and I don't even sing that good. I could probably get through the Food science pretty easy also, maybe because of our eating habits at home, or maybe because the soccer coach teaches the class. Not sure..

Other than that I got Geometry, English, US History and Psychologi. Don't know how I got here. But I'm hooked up with some good teachers though and it will be a good experience. I think I'll live.

Day of rest

No practise - sure. But otherwise I've been flying around all day long. This morning I went to church as a true american, and as the non religious person I am I didn't find it that interesting. But the minister was pretty interesting to listen to though. Could be because he's from scotland and has a funny accent, but I'm not quite sure.

Then we went to a nearby city called Elizabethtown, yes the one from the movie, also known as E-town from people around here. Did some shopping and had my first purchase at Victoria's Secret, probably not the last one though. Headed home at around 4pm and had a skype date with the parents, lots of exciting stuff to talk about.

Day of rest? Naa, more like evening of rest. Which included Big Brother and ice cream with my host parents. Very cosy.

Welcome to America

I've been here for about one and a half week now and I've excperienced a lot. I have already done so many typical american stuff.

I have been to two slumber parties with lots of girls, which was lots of fun.
I've had take out food from some typical american places.
I've ridden the yellow school busses.
I had an ice cream from Baskin Robbins and I've been to a surprise party.
I have also been to my first baseball game, talked to some baseball players for the first time and gotten my first two baseballs. It wasn't the National league but the one below that one. Very cool.
I've also seen a pitcher throw 100m/h already, apparently also very cool.