A summation

So the days are running out, and even though I am excited to go home, I still don't really want to leave. Now is the time to sum up my year, and I am going to do it out from my beautiful present I got from my host family. My host family has reached me so much, and my year wouldn't have been the same without them. They gave Mink and me each a special designed pandora bracelet. All the charms each represented something from our year. 

The empire state building stands for America, since it is here I had my exchange. The snowflake stands for all the snow we got this winter. And that was a LOT!

The heart says Mom on the side, which is specifically from my wonderful host Mom. The cheese says Wisconsin on the side. Wisconsin is very well known for their cheese, so that is why it is a cheese.

The fish is because I leaned how to fish this year, and I love it! The music nodes are for my love for choir. I have done so many amazing things with choir this year. It was one of my best classes.

The heart says family, because I have a lot of that now. 2 full sets of grandparents, 10 siblings, 1 niece and 1 nephew. The 16 says sweet on. I had my sweet 16 here and it was a lot of fun. We went to Mall of America right before my birthday. 

Ice cream!!!! I love Ice cream, and of course I have aeten a lot of that here. And I do love bags too! Therefore a bag.

Around christmas I got that funny idea that of course I wanted a dog. I didn't get it though, but I do still love dogs. Here lately I have had a love for old keys, and I have made a lot of fun with them. Therefore a key and its lock.

The basket ball is because I played basketball all winter, and I loved it! It is the only sport so far I don't absolutely stink at. Perhaps it is my tallness. The plane is because I took some trips this spring. First I was a week in Hawaii, and then 10 days in Florida. I do love to travel too. 

It has been an absolutely an amazing year! With ups and downs of course, but overall it has been a lot of fun!

- Troldungen

State basketball trip

Busy? Me? No no, not at all. I realized though yesterday, I never wrote about my trip to Green Bay, and since I am already on my way to new adventures, I better do it now. The reason that I was going to Green Bay was state girls basketball tournament. That is a competition, where the best teams from whole Wisconsin, play for the final state champion honor. Before you get  to excited, my team did not play. We were simply just there too watch. It wasn’t just everybody from the team that could go either, but mainly just varsity. As I have explained before, I am not good enough to play varsity, so I play JV. And now you ask, how come she plays JV, and then went to the tournament? See, I had expressed an interest in going, and since not all the varsity players went, there was a spot for me. I was a really fun weekend, even though we only watched 6 games. There is also another problem taking 12 girls away for a weekend, and don’t give them any space for themselves. The last night came the problem, and drama was all over. I tried to stay out of it, for the record, but the friend I went there with, got in the middle of it. So I kind of felt I was standing with a leg each in 2 different counties. It got kind off sorted out, and we went home Saturday, around lunch. Green Bay is about 5 hours from Webster, so that is not bad.

The weekend before this little road trip, I went shopping with my American friend. She wanted to get a solo ensemble (I think I have explained this before) dress, and I happened to get 2 long summer dresses for my Hawaii trip. Her dad drove us to the mall in Duluth, and we almost went to every women cloth store in that mall. My friend was a little picky about what she wanted. Like I am never do that (Right mom?). I am known for doing that too, and it was fun.

So now I am sitting in the airplane on my way to Los Angeles. From there I take another flight to Honolulu. I must admit because it has been so long since I have flown, I was/am a little bit nervous. I made the mistake of looking at the weather this week in Hawaii; Saturday: Thunderstorm. Sunday: Change of storm. Monday: Change of storm. Thursday: Partly clouded. And that is why I brought my raincoat and pants, and sweatshirts… I go to Hawaii, to get Denmark weather? Well at least I am still going, and Danes don’t normally trust weather forecasts, so why should I? 

- Troldungen

March and something to look forward to

Wow the time go by fast now. Almost half of march has gone by, and spring is on its way. Now it is about 40 fahrenheit (A little over 0 celsius) and you only need a sweat shirt on when you go outside. It is so nice, and my winter depression is finally over. Even though the weather has gotten warmer, there is still a meter snow on the ground. And it has turned grayish. 

So basketball season is over, and we finished with a bang. Our last game was 74 to 10. The problem was just we were the team that only got 10... I do really miss basketball, but every good things has to come to an end. There might even be a change I can play in Denmark in a club. I do though really like the concept of school sports, because there is then a bigger possibility that more kids do sports. it is also easier to try a sport, and you compete with the other schools in the area. 

Track season has now started, and i tried it monday. First day of practice, and my shin splint was hurting just like in cross country. As I am explaining lower down, I will be gone most of april, and that will result in I will miss a moth of practice. The meets don't start until marts, so even though I would also do it when I come back, competing in a meet is not even sure for me. So therefore I am not doing track. I have so many things to do, and I won't get bored. Yes I would have liked to do a spring sport, but it is probably the best choice. 

Something to look forward to? A lot! This saturday I am going with a friend shopping for solo/ensemble clothes. Solo/ensemble is when you learn a solo (Vocal or instrumental) and perform it in from of judges. They then judge you, and you get a score. I am going to perform a piece called Come raggio de sol. Italian, and I have to memorize it completely... I just thought I could wear jeans to it, and when I said that, my friends dropped their jaw. There were stunned... That was actually a little bit funny, so now I have to buy some nice to wear. The weekend after that I am going to state basket ball with the team. Of course we aren't going to play, but we are defiantly going to watch. It is in Green Bay, and that is about 5 hours away. The weekend after that, march 29, I am flying to Hawaii. Jep that is right, I am going to sun and more warmth. This is an AFS trip, and it lasts a week. 

So there is a lot to look forward too, and nothing can ruin my happiness right now. I hope you are having a good time, and is enjoying the long wanted spring.

- Troldungen

February fun

Now almost half of February has past, and yesterday we had another little snowfall. Winter is not giving any signs of being over soon, and the birds has not yet returned from the south. The snow yesterday came though in the evening, and before that the sun was out and it was very nice. Me, my liasion and my sister Mink therefore went out tubing. It is a lot like water sliding with a big round ring that you rite on. Here the water was just replaced by snow. It was a lot of fun! 

Last week was Snowball week, and you can say it is kind of Homecoming. Everyday is a speciel dressup day, og it ends Friday, with a dance. Unlike homecoming, Mink and I actually went to the dance. It was really fun, and I wore my new dress, so I am not complaining. Here is a picture of the new dress. 

The AFS kids form Webster excluded a german boy. It was really fun.

So we got basketball pictures taken the other week, and they arrived... I am so proud! A sport I actually thinks is fun, and I might have a little bit of talent for!!! (I know, who would have thought of that?) And now I even have documentation for it:

I found this funny picture on Facebook. Yes, this is exactly how much snow we have got...

A couple of weeks ago I got my first black eye! It was actually pretty cool, it didn't hurt for that long. Even though the next morning I had a little trouble opening the eye. The first picture is from the night I got the black eye, and the next 2 are from the next day. 

The date has finally arrived! We won a basketball game! And then we won the next one! Our last 2 games have been outstanding, just look at the scores! We are getting better!

Yes I know it is a long time since I last wrote, but everything is just normal for me now. Besides what I already mentioned, there really hasn't happened something really interesting the last couple of weeks. 

On Facebook there are all these groups about being an exchange student, and sometimes I love the pictures they post. They just hid the nail right on. Here are 2 examples:

- Troldungen

Hello January... Goodbye?

Wow I just thought we said hello to the new year, and suddenly the time is gone with the wind. In a couple of days it is already February, and I am starting to recognize what people were saying about the time after New Year. Now you have settled completely, and the time flies away with your daily activities. Day after day. Almost week after week. The weird part is that I love doing the daily activities even though there isn't anything really exciting about it. I really love school (weird right?), I LOVE basketball (Even though I kind of stink at it), and best of all: I have found some really good friends. Yes I had some problems before Christmas, but that's a part of being on an exchange. You have to deal with stuff, that I personally would rather avoid. I know this might sound a little cheesy, but i really understand now what Kelly Clarkson meant with her song:" What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". Well it is true. If somebody stamped on you, don't take revenge or cry about it. Learn how it can make you stronger. I have heard a lot of other people say this, and it haven't ever really sunk in. For a lot of people, they need to experience it for themselves. I have now. And if you are a really nice and forgiving person, you can almost thank the other person for making you stronger. I haven't reached that point in my development of my thoughts, but one day perhaps. 

So as I mentioned earlier, there hasn't really happened that much. Last Tuesday though, one of my american friends invited me to the movie theater to watch Frozen. Even though I have seen it before it is a great movie, and I thought why not. We went after basketball practice, and it was almost funnier the second time. And then after the basketball game Friday (WE WON a c-scuad game! 24-23. I made 2 baskets.) I then went to the same persons house and spent the night. Saturday was spent with Pretty Little Liars all day, and then I returned home. We had a great time, and it is nice to have such great friends. It is also worth mentioning that I am the only person in this house, except for my host-parents, that haven't gotten the really nasty flu. Friday I was the only one of the 6 kids going to school. It was very scary standing out in the dark and the cold, waiting for the bus alone. Well I survived, and I still haven't gotten sick. 

Yesterday and today the school was closed because of the cold... AGAIN! Not that I'm complaining, but as I stated earlier, I like school, and I get a little restless. Everybody says there is school tomorrow, and then the 2. semester is starting. I then exchange debate with anthropology and anatomy with sociology. So I should have a lot to do tomorrow. 

- Troldungen

Improvement and a little creativity

As I wrote last week, Monday and Tuesday were some cold days. It was in average between -40 celsius and -45 celsius given the chill factor. Because of the cold, we had snow days, and Monday night I was already going a little crazy because of staying inside and watching TV. Therefore I went down in the craft room and got to work. One pattern I found on the internet, the other I made myself. 2 bags came out of that day, and Wednesday we went back to school with a 2 hour late start. 

In basketball we have 2 girls teams in the school. Varsity and JV. Varsity is the one that have played a long time, and they are pretty good. JV are normally for the younger ones, like the freshmen's and some sophomores. Therefore they are not as good as the varsity. Because we are so many on the JV, sometimes our couch arrange extra games for those who don't play that much. This is called c-squad games. Thursday night we then had one of these games. Even though I play a lot JV, I was told that if I wanted to go, I could, because they needed post players (tall people). The c-squad game went better than the rest of our games and we only lost by one point. AND, I made my first points! Friday night we had a normal JV game, and then we only lost by 8, 27-19. We are making progress, and in this game I made 3 goals, 2 point each, and a 3-throw line one!

If you haven't noticed I have turned on the comment facilities, because I think I am ready now. Feel free to comment, ask questions or anything you want to contribute with. 

- Troldungen

New years! and a perfect definition of exchange students

A new year, a new start. Well that is anyway what everybody says. I, on the other hand, don't believe in a new start and in the new years resolutions. Why is it a new start just because you had a holiday break and it changed year? You are still in the same school/work, and you still have the same friends. The only time I believe in a new start is when something has changed. Like when you start in a new school, or in a new job. I don't believe in new years resolutions, because nobody ever achieves them. Everybody is like: This and this will I do better this year, but when February arrives, everybody has forgotten the things they promised themselves. The worse thing is then, they don't really care, so they let themselves down even without thinking it over. 

I had a nice quiet new years evening. We were celebrating it at home with some guys over from the church. It was nice, and a lot of board games was played. I love board games. Over here fireworks, jumping into the new year, and toasting the new year isn't a tradition. At midnight we saw the ball drop on Times Square, and I went to bed at about 2, so nice and quiet. 

Yesterday we had a basketball game. We lost again, not a big surprise. Even though the score was not something we had hoped for: 6 to 53! The worst so far. We can hardly be any worse, but it is still fun to play.

Over here January, the coldest month of the year, has started, and they have already cancelled school on Monday because it is apparently going to be the coldest day they have had for over 20 years! We are keeping warm, hope you guys are doing the same! Happy new year!!!

Found this amazing picture. It describes us exchange students quite well!

- Troldungen

Brrrrrr.......

So the cold has arrived here in Wisconsin, and it is now average below 10 fahrenheit during the day. Some days it is as low as below -30, other days it is over zero. Well I am a busy girl again, now with basketball. We have about 2 games a week, and when we don't have games, we have practice. That is why I don't get supper regularly, and it mostly consists of oatmeal, or a sandwich. Anyway, I love playing basketball, even though you can't say we are good. Our first game we lost, the score was 7-37. That is not that bad compared to our second game were the result was 3-34. The game last friday was then an improvement: 11-44... Well anyway, as long as we are having fun! Right?

This morning we had a fire fighting drill, were we were doing cold water rescue. We got in these jump suits, and jumped into a hole in the ice. It was really fun, but I got the suit that was leaking. I ended up standing in water to my knees and my zipper was leaking too. Even though I got cold and wet it was fun, and a new experience. 

Now it is soon Christmas, and there will be some Christmas pictures coming up.  Right now I'm happy and busy, and we are soon getting off school for Christmas. So Merry Christmas to everybody!

- Louise

Snowday!

The christmas sprit has come over me, and my room is now decorated with the danish elfs and danish Christmas hearts. The rest of the house is on its way to get decorated, but it is still just the 4th of December. The last two days have been free from school, because of the big snowfall. Over a foot snow has already fallen, and it is still snowing like crazy. My Christmas package came today, and made the day a great day. The presents went in my present drawer, the training socks for my leg in my training bag (Oh yes I can finally say I have on of those), the hoodie on my jacket, and the Christmas decorations went up. Thank you to my parents for the big package with a little bit of everything in and to my aunt Birgit for the Christmas decorations. Today I was on my first snowmobile ride. I, who thought it was a little bit like the four-wheeler, got surprised. When Em told me to lean to the side we turn to, because otherwise it would tip over, I got surprised. That is dangerous! We made it through, but my heart jumped a few times (With my body). So pretty!

I realized today, that I should probably do a checkup for you. It has been long time since I wrote anything about school. I like the school over here. School in Denmark is OK, but here I have some really god courses. To give an example: In the first hour I have Debate. One of my favorite courses. I love to argue, and I am the best in the class. Second hour I have choir. Every single day learning about music and nodes and singing. Monday I was at honors choir all day, because I was selected with 6 others out of 30 in the class. The honors choir is were you go to a school, and the best from all the schools in your district comes and practice together. In the evening we then had a concert. It turned out so that we sang for 7 hours, and next day, I couldn't talk. It was a fantastic day, and it sounded so good. So back to the school check up. Third period American History, 0kay but a little heavy. Fourth hour English 11, next semester I am going to take a harder english class, because right now it is boring. Fifth and sixth hour Algebra 2. As fun as math can be. Seventh hour anatomy. Not as fun as I thought. I think there is way too many tests where you need to learn a lot of hard words by heart. A little heavy too sometimes. 
Basketball. I love itI It is so fun, even though half of the time I am lost. With basketball comes the question: How is my shin splint. Not good is the answer. I made a deal with my host Mom: As long as it doesn't hurt so much that I cry, I can play. Perhaps that is not a wise thing, but I like it so much that I just want to play. We were actually meant to have our first game yesterday, but since we had a snow day, it was canceled. 
Homesickness. Well... It is a battle, but I am winning most of the time. Yes, it is becoming harder as Christmas is nearing us, and all my fingers are crossed for the better after New Year. As I think of it the first two month ware easy, and as I come further it becomes stronger. Well there is only one way, because the option of giving up, isn't open for a second. I am going to toughen up, and get through it.

Last week it was Thanksgiving. We had plans for going to Arkansas Tuesday, but when there was a storm warning, we left Monday instead. Originally I didn't think that I was going because of basket ball. It turned out I missed 3 practices, not so bad, but anyway not good. In Arkansas we visited the Moseleys. They are some friends of Arlan and Debie (my American Dad and Mom). We did a lot of fun stuff, like watching a dinner show, visiting Silver Dollars City (a big american amusement park), and a cute little town called Eurika Springs.

A little bowling of course:

Arkansas. Do I have to say anything more?

This church build out in nowhere, and made out of only steal and glass.

We visited this old hotel, with a lot of stairs. 

Eurika Springs:

A statue out in the middle of nowhere. Why not?

So pretty lights!

While we ware there, it was Black Friday. First I thought of it as fun, but then they told me, people had been tramped to dead before, which I found a little bit scary. We did it Thursday night at 10, and people were staying in huge lines, just to get into the stores. The line in front of the Nike store was about 100 meters long. It was crazy. I kept to the stores, that were a little bit less full, and got a nice leather purse for half price at Fossils with a makeup bag, and a lightweight jacket from Wilson leather. 

So now there is only Christmas in front of us, and I am as a little kid again. Even though I do miss the calendar show which is a Danish traditional TV-show with a new episode each day of the Christmas month. (I read the one on TV2 is a number 2 of Ludvig og Julemanden. Typically when I am gone they show a new one...) Well that just gives me the right to see it in June. I am now short of 1 years of calendar shows... Hmmm. The only solution to that is double of it next year! Have a good 4th december everybody!

- Troldungen

Des Moines and a visit

So it has been a while since i wrote here, but as you all can recognize, you get a life over here, and with a life there is normally a lot of things to do. 

Last weekend we took a trip down to Des Moines. That is the capital of Iowa. The trip was because of Minks birthday, the same as I got a trip to Mall of America. The drive down there took 6 hours, a little getaway. When we went down there, we had no idea, that we where going to a concert. There were 3 bands playing at the concert. First up was Dustin Lynch, a country band, with a big C. Next up was Little Big Town, two men and two ladies also from the country. This band was playning music closer på pop, and it turned out Emilie was a big fan of them. Finally Keith Urban came on. Everybody was so overwhelmed, and I was just standing there with absolutely no idea of who he was. It turned out to be an Australian man with way too long hair. His music was actually okay, and something I recognized. The next day (Sunday) we took out to look at bridges. No it wasn't just bridges, it was covered ones made of wood. Some of them were actually pretty.

Here is Little Big Town:

Keith Urban:

Court house in Des Moines:

This weekend I had the great opportunity to spend with my AFS Liaison. She invited me over to spend the weekend, so I went to her house on Friday, and came home Sunday. Saturday we walked with the dogs, and we went to these little cozy and nice Christmas stores. It was so nice and quiet. Even though I love living with the Pope's, as an only child, I can always use some quietness. It is difficult to get used to all the noise at home. My Liaison (Lisa) likes to cook, and she is great at it, so that certainly made the weekend even better, as a lot of you know, I love good food! Over all it was really a nice visit, but I am also happy to be back with the Popes.

Today basketball practice started, so I will probably be soar tomorrow, but I really enjoy playing, so it will be fine.

- Troldungen