Nearly 2 weeks ago, we arrived in Washington State, America. We were there to visit my friend Tiara who had joined me at Bunbury Senior High School for the first half of this year. She had spoken with her high school and they said that I was able to join Tiara in classes for however long I wished.
Olivia and I with the "yellow" school bus.
A super sneaky photo at school.
This is only half of the Cafeteria area. (when it's empty)
Kelso High
On Day number one(Tuesday) I woke at 6am. It was way, way too early. Dad walked me to Tiaras and we went on our way to school. Kelso High school has no uniform so when I arrived I was quite excited to see so many cheerleaders and many other ‘stereotypes’. Tiara immediately introduced me to many of her friends and many people introduced themselves to me. The classes were as follows:
Drama- the joy of being alone on stage having to act out something to a full American class,
Spanish– which I knew absolutely none of, but I did find it amusing how the teacher used a microphone just because he liked it.
Language arts(English)- Learnt about alternate perspective and wrote a story.
Lunch– spent sitting in the Cafeteria socialising and buying lunch.
Biology– Did stuff about stuff which I don’t remember.
Health– had fun. Was a cruisy class and made more friends.
Math- Which I understood nothing. Tiara is obviously extremely smart ‘cause the class was the grade above hers then extended specialist…
Tiara, Kaitlyn and me
Maddy, Courtney and Kaitlyn
Tiara and I in the school bathrooms.
Zac and Kyle
In most classes I was nicknamed ‘Australia’. I often had kids asking me to say words like chihahua, banana, and Ryan Shekler. I never realised that when we ‘Aussies talk’, we often miss out letters in our words such as the ‘r’ in car. We kinda say caaa, and the Americans say every individual letter like c.a.rr.
After school on Tuesday and Wednesday Tiara had Drivers Education, even though she is only 15. So I stayed at her house and chilled with her sister Destinny, sat on facebook and cleaned Tiara’s bedroom
On Thursday, the school day was knows as a ‘short day’ where school started at 10.30am instead of 8am. Tiara, Kaitlyn(Friend of Tiaras), Kyle and a few others and I walked to a place called Dennys for Breakfast (I prefer the term ‘Dunnies). Tiara and I ordered pancakes and the hugest ones came out about 10 minutes later. Only eating four of the eight, and drinking two hot chocolates which the waitress kept refilling, we waddled to school.
Pancakes for brekky at Dennys
Most people knew me as ‘Australia’. The day played out much as the first. Being asked to say words, making new friends, etc. Then after school we went back to Tiara’s and went longboarding. Tiara was quite happy that I had a longboard, because it’s not a very popular sport in Washington because of the weather. We stayed out ‘till it was dark and then made our way in because freaky people slowly started around Kelso.
Friday was no school at all, so being Tiara and Kaitlin, we just slept in and then relaxed all morning. Then in the afternoon, Tiara took me to Burger King for the first time. It was quite nice just to relax and socialise. After we ate we walked to Kelso High school as they had a ‘Football’ game – which to me, looked just like rugby with all the padding and stuff. All the Kelso High students stood in the grandstand and socialised while the cheerleaders cheered and the players played.
Burger King
Burger King for the first time.
Kelso High Footy Game Cheerleaders
Kelso High sign advertising the Football match
After the game, we started talking to some girls who made it quite obvious that I was Australian. Before long I had a large group of guys who wanted me to speak and talk. Then before I knew it I was surrounded with guys taking photos of/with me and giving me hugs, quoting each other “I’m actually hugging an Australian, omg omg omg.” Then as we left more people came up. So finally we were on our way home. I stayed one last night, then, in the morning Amy, Tiara and Destinny had to go visit Tiaras brother and we had to leave Washington, on our way through Oregon to California.
Tiara and I at the Football game
The Waldron and Howitt family
The Waldron’s were very friendly and loving towards me and I appreciate so much them taking me into their home and giving me some incredible experiences, such as socialising in a cafeteria, going to an American school, meeting heaps of wonderful people, observing a real ‘football’ match and having a taste of the American Life. They were always so nice and a great energy to be around and I consider them my American family 😀
I am extremely keen to return to Kelso and Kelso High in a couple of years and visit many of my new lifelong friends, especially Tiara.
The End
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