Countdown

Thursday, August 6, 2015

And, we're off!

-Part One, 1:01 AM, somewhere above the Atlantic-

About 11 hours ago, around 2 pm, I closed my room’s door for the last time for the next 10 months. Saying goodbye to my family and friends these last two weeks was harder than I expected, and I’m going to miss all of their good company, jokes, laughs and all of the other stuff I love so much! During the drive to the airport, I said imaginary goodbye’s to things like cows, Dutch number plates, terrible Dutch music, and my favorite radio ads. (Dutchies: Proooofiel, de fietsspecialist *TRING TRING*)
On the airport, my lovely aunt, uncle and cousin came to say goodbye, which was a nice surpise! There were 9 other Dutch EF students going to New York, and before we left we took a group picture.



After everyone had said their goodbye’s, we moved through check-in, waved at the family and friends one last time, and moved through security! And before we knew it, we were in the plane to Heathrow. While the plane was taking off, I slowly started realizing that I was really going to be gone. It was the thought of meeting my host family, people I will live with for 10 months, that made me realize I was…am, actually doing it.

Anyways, I spent most of the first flight staring out of the window, listening to music and chatting to Sasja, another Exchange Student who sat behind me. Some of the things we found out: 1. Clouds are basically moving water 2. Windmills in the middle of the sea are weird 3. Seeing other airplanes when you’re in an airplane is very weird 4. Those small boats are probably huge but they just seem so tiny! 5. Flying with British Airways does not necessarily mean they have good tea, it was terrible 6. England is much less green than we expected.


On Heathrow, we had a stopover, and we were joined on the next plane by EF students from Denmark and Norway. Right now, I’m in the plane to New York. I’m in between two Danish exchange students, who are very nice! I showed the girl on my left how to make an origami dragon, and the guy on my right is laughing at the movies he’s watching and telling me all about Danish soccer. So here I am, typing this on my laptop which is way too bright, in the chair which is surprisingly small, behind a woman who decided her chair needs to be practically on my lap, my legs hurting because I can’t stretch them, and meanwhile eating questionable airplane food. And I’m loving every second of it.

The clock on my laptop says it’s 1:01 AM Dutch time, and I’ve decided to trust it blindly because my entire sense of time is gone. Even though I’ve been awake for 17 hours, I don’t feel very tired! Actually, no, that’s a lie. I’m dead tired.

-Part Two, 8:20 AM, Muhlenberg College-

Around 5 hours ago, we arrived at Muhlenberg College, where we’ll stay for the next 10 days. Our plane landed 22:45 local time, and after we’d gone through customs there were a couple of EF-staff members waiting for us, cheering because we made it. All of us were too tired to really react. We left the airport in a huge bus with other students around 1 AM. Luckily, our driver decided we could take the downtown Manhattan route, so we got to see Times Square and the Chrysler building. It was a LOT of fun to drive through Manhattan at midnight, and all of us managed to stay awake long enough.




At Muhlenberg, I got my room keys, and carried my luggage upstairs. I accidentally woke up my roommate, Justine from Switzerland, but she didn’t mind because it was only 2.5 more hours until she’d get up anyways. And yes, at 6:40 AM the alarm clock woke me up, and I took a quick shower before going to breakfast. After breakfast, me and a little group of students explored the campus a little, and now I’m waiting for homeroom at 9:00!

-Part Three, 11:04 AM, Muhlenberg College-

The past two hours, we had a pep rally, a parade of nations, a rule-explanation, and our first homeroom.


Parade of nations basically means that every country gets a flag and walks to the main building of the college, while making lots of noise. And the 10 Dutchies were pretty good at that, even compared to the 20 Danish people. After the parade of nations and the rule-explanation, we had homeroom. The 350 students on this camp are divided into four high schools, and the high schools are divided into north, south, east and west. In homeroom we did a little name game, so everyone could know eachother's names. A lot of people have to choose American nicknames, so people can pronounce their name. For example, I went for Marge, which is easy because everyone knows the Simpsons.

So now there's a siesta until 12:30, when there's lunch, and then more homeroom!

I'm loving camp so far, but I can't wait to meet my host family in Virginia next week!

Till next time!
-Marga

2 comments:

  1. Great to hear that you're still alive ! Going to miss you dancing next to me at the parties though :( Have fun at camp xoxo

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  2. Aaaaaaaaah Marga this sounds so awesome!!! Superveel plezier❤️❤️❤️

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