On Being Slack...

Hello!

I am sorry that my initial plan to write once a week has completely fallen through, but I think that now a more realistic aim is once a month. I seem to be so busy, and it isn’t easy to find enough time to update my blog.

So, as per usual, a lot has been happening since I last wrote.

I now feel well and truly settled in, and this is beginning to seem like normal life now. It is weird however to think that I have been here for 3months already, as it feels like just yesterday!

So, spring has well and truly arrived in Burlington. Apparently this is very early for spring, and the weather we are having at the moment is rather unusual – it has gone up as high as 25 degrees Celsius! Of course, being a crazy New Zealander, I thought that this weather meant that the freshly melted pool would be perfect for swimming in… it turned out to be 12.5 degrees, which while not deathly cold, wasn’t ideal. Let’s just say that I haven’t been back in since. I have attached a video of my swim anyway.

But the weather really is great. The daffodils are out now, and I have been playing football (Gridiron) on the turf most lunch times at school. It’s funny, because this school doesn’t have a field like Howick does. Instead, there is an artificial football pitch, surrounded by a running track and bleachers. Full stop. I guess it is low maintenance, but there is something odd about the feeling of plastic grass underneath your feet.

So, about two weeks ago I attended the “Tim Hortons Camp”, with all of the other exchange students. We stayed there from Friday through to Sunday, and had lots of fun. We played heaps of basketball and rugby, and just hung out in general. We played pool, and messed around with the dress ups (an old favourite of mine :P ).

We also did some scheduled activities, like High-Ropes climbing, painting tiles, and star gazing (despite the noted lack of stars). It’s funny how close I feel to the other Exchange students, after only having seen some of them 3 times. These people really have become my family for this year, and I am utterly terrified just thinking about what will happen when they all leave. But – no point thinking about that now.

Then, last Friday, I had my school prom! I had been planning on wearing my black and purple Senior Honours dress, but then out of the blue, I found (and fell in love with) another dress. So, I bought and wore it. Kaley’s friend Michelle came over to do my hair and makeup, and then Megan Knights and her bf Mike picked me up. We drove to another friends house, where a group of us met, and got a limo :D. I only knew Megan before then, but I ended up making lots of new friends that night, and sat and danced with them all night.

Tomorrow night I will be temporarily moving to another host family, just for the week while Laurie is in Cuba. And then, a few days after she returns I will be going to Florida with her! So I am very excited about that, more details to follow.

Lots of Love

Heidi

xxx