Giving Thanks

There are so many things that I am thankful for in this world that my heart swells with emotion.

I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given throughout my life. One of these opportunities has been studying in England for the past almost four months. I have taken no second of these last months for granted because I know I am so lucky.

I have put myself out there and made friendships I never thought were possible to build in such a short time.

I have learned so much in school about what knowledge is and the importance of looking at and learning things from many different angles.

I have learned about time, how it is fleeting, and how it is one of the most precious things in life.

I found out so much about myself like how the opinions of those close to me are so important.

I have learned through events others have experienced and I have used these to become more sympathetic and informed.

I have looked at the lives of others and become more grateful for what I have and what I have been given.

I have learned about and seen passion – in teaching, in living, in experiencing, in living every day to the fullest – and have been influenced and inspired by this.

I have solidified myself as a citizen of the United Kingdom and embraced the culture and my surroundings.

Through this experience I have realized the things that matter to me the most in my life, which include family, friends, love, goals, and knowledge.

I know now more than ever how important continued learning through life is and that it doesn’t just stop when you get home from school or when you graduate college.

Coming to school here has given me a chance to reflect on what I know and have learned in life so far. It has also shown me more than I could have imagined about my future.

This experience has made me want to work hard to succeed and be prosperous in life. But in succeeding I also want to find happiness in myself and with others.

Being here has taught me lessons I didn’t know I needed to be taught, like about communication and having patience.

Living with people who speak English as a second language has given me vital speaking and listening skills that I know will be valuable in my future.

I’ve also discovered how much I am turning into my mother (did I really just spend my free Saturday evening organizing my desk and closet?) and this is not a bad thing. OK so organizing is not usually a 16 year old girl’s idea of a successful night, but I am enjoying being a more mature teenager.

All of these new discoveries about myself and the life that I’m living excite me. They make me look to the future not with fear but with an anxious excitement to continue to work hard in my life. But I’m not rushing things because I am still enjoying my youth.

The Characters

I thought it might be interesting to see a few of the people I have been living with the past few months.

To raise money for a charity called Children in Need the school set up a variety of activities

 that for a small price you could take part in. For 50p you could watch one of the older students get pelted with a sponge coated in beans and disgusting bean juice. Strange way to raise money for the charity, but together the school ended up raising over 900 pounds! Also for 2 pounds you could wear own clothes (middle picture)…a luxury I've greatly missed!

(L-R Calen, Carmen, Will)
Yesterday Carmen and I went to the astroturf in Berwick along with some
of our friends from school. We helped out with an area hockey tournament
for girls 11 and under. Although we didn't get to referee any games we
helped out keeping score and passed out teas, coffees and biscuits!

Sherry (L) is like a big sister in the boarding house. She is always giving Carmen and I advice along with her roommate Kelsey (not pictured). Ilona (M) and James (R) studying hard during quiet time.

Robert (L) diligently

memorizing his music

composition. He is

amazing at art and

music, especially the

piano! He is a child

prodigy.

Murtada (R)

is the newest addition

to the boarding family

from Saudi Arabia!

He's a character and

loves Carmen's

Spanish accent.

This is the best picture William would
let me take of him. I don't know lots
about him, but he is from China and
when you listen close enough he has
a hilarious sense of humor.

Kieren (L) is an AMAZING football

and rugby player. He plays rugby for 

the school and Carmen (R) and I always

go cheer him on when we can!

Michelle is another big sister in the boarding house. She and her two twin sisters

Yamie and Yelita come from Zimbabwe. She is head girl in the school and helps

in the boarding house to make sure everyone's opinions are represented. On top

of all of this she has a job in Berwick working in a grocery store. She is such a

hard worker and is so easy to get along with.

(L-R) Cameron, Aiden and Cade horsing
around on the boy's floor as usual...

Carmen's automatic position after

we get home from school.

..

(L-R)

Leo, Aaron and Sam. The future businessmen of our world.

Elina, one of two Russians in the boarding house, and her roomie Angel. These two are the same age as Carmen and I. We have a few classes together and they are very smart!

Cameron and Aiden are the youngest boarders and are very cute and well-behaved.

Of course this is not everyone and I have made many new friends who are only day pupils, but these were the ones I got pictures of! Maybe I'll update this post once I've taken a few more...

Oui, Oui Paris!

Over the week-long break from school I was given the opportunity to go to Paris with Adam, Marina and Ryan for my birthday gift. Of course I said yes! Who would pass up an opportunity to practice the language they are learning and also experience the culture?! The trip was amazing and Paris was so different from what I expected. I thought it would be full of super small cafes and extremely high-end stores in rows next to large parks. While there was a lot of this, Paris was much more than small cafes and high-end stores. I loved the buildings especially the ones we saw from the top of the Eiffel Tower!
Here are some photos from our short journey to Paris!

On the plane there I wore this necklace which my sister gave to

me before I left. It says 'big sister'. Aww!

Our first meal in Paris was in a Starbucks..however Ryan and I

get props for attempting to order in French. Throughout the trip

we would be so proud that we said one sentence in French, but

we could never understand what the people responded!

The Italian restaurant we ate at the first night.

Pesto pasta...très délicieux!

City scenes right next to our hotel.

The Arc de Triomphe.

Curly stairs we took up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

It was very windy at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Imitating the statue...these kind of photos happened a lot during our trip.

Beautiful Notre Dame.

Goodbye Paris!