Liisa's 'American Dream': June 2017

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Last 8 hours in America

First I'd like to say that I actually am gonna write a post about what I was doing these last days, but since these have been CRAZY and currently it is 4am, then I think this post is most likely to be uploaded whenever I am already back in Estonia.

So...I still can't believe that it is so close to be over.

--> It's not possibly possible that it's possible. <--

I am going to say what we all say: They have to say goodbye to me. I have to say goodbye to my home, family, friends, places, culture, habits, everything! This year has been amazing even though there were many times when I was pretty sure I had made a mistake and should've never gone on an exchange. But that's how all of us feel. Now, looking back to my year I ask myself all the time 'was it a dream?' it seems so unreal. I am telling you guys, I couldn't ask for a better year!

So what did this year teach me?

To me it is stupid to say I learned who I am during my exchange. I feel like most of us just say that because they’ve heard other students say it and it seems like a right and smart thing to say. Which I did too, before coming on an exchange I always wrote in every single application that during my exchange year I wanna figure out who I am, etc. Now my opinion is that it is actually impossible. How could you learn who you are at the age of what, 16? 17? We are kids, how are we supposed to figure out who we are with only 10 months abroad? That's just a big no.
Anyway, what I learned was who I don’t wanna be and what I have to do to be the person I wanna become. During my exchange I saw thousands of different people. Different attitudes, different looks, different ways of living. And through that I realized what I want from life and who I am gonna be maybe someday, but right now I am just another kid trying to do right things and be the best I can.
You know, before coming here I had described myself and my life in many letters. But when I got here it was like a complete blank sheet and a new life. I could be anything I possibly wanna be. So if I am honest maybe only for five minutes was I exactly the same person described in these letters, because I wanted to try to be the person I thought I want to be. TBH I was a different person every week but it didn’t work out. What I learned about myself was that I never wanna be anyone else but the person I am. The person who was described in these letters. I know my host family picked me based on my profile and the letter I wrote but the truth is that girl never completely arrived. That teenager is still in Estonia, waiting for me to go back. And I kind a miss this kid.
I know people say this person never returns, but I know that I am gonna be this person again. Because this is who I am. I think during my year I did’t learn that much of who I am but I learnt who I am not. So in a day when I arrive back to Estonia, I am gonna be that same girl, except with a lot more knowledge, super experiences and epic memories for life!

I couldn't thank everybody enough who made that year possible for me. I am truly blessed! :)

Love you America, see you soon Buddy!
Xoxo, I'll be back. <3

DC made it and I think it's AWESOME!

Friday, June 23, 2017

TRIP: Missouri

Our trip to Ranch started on Friday, June 16th. This time it was just me, Adriana and my host mom. We left home around 9:30am and were ready for our 8-hour drive. We stopped at Central Market to grab some snacks. Like in November, we drove through Oklahoma and Arkansas. Driving through Arkansas is really pretty, 'cause you can see mountains on both side of the road so the view is truly amazing! Whenever we arrived me and Adriana made our bed and Papa made tempura. It was so good to see Gweny and Cocoa(the dogs) again! Dinner was delicious and we ate so much haha. The rest of the night we just talked and watched movies.
Saturday was pretty busy. In the morning I skyped with my mom for about half an hour and the rest of the day was basically just a lot of baking and cooking.We made homemade ice cream and brownies!!! We had lunch at Cookies, which is a restaurant in Theodosia. We wanted go there in November, but it was closed at that time, so now was our chance. I had a catfish lunch which was so good and a chocolate peanut butter pie for a desert. After getting back home we had a nice Cars marathon. Watched Cars 1 and Cars 2. I fell asleep...but oh well.
On Sunday it was raining in the morning so we were inside playing cards. Papa made blueperry muffins for breakfast, they were sooooo good. And so big. When it stopped raining we gave Gweny a bath, which she definitely didn't like, lol. For lunch we had my favorite - bacon avocado sandwich! and for dinner grilled shrimp and pork. And ofcourse after that we played cards. So if you haven't figured out by now - we basically slept, played cards and ate in Ranch.
On our last day, so on Tuesday we went fishing right after we woke up. There was a little tiny lake near the Ranch so we drove there. It was realllly hot outside, I got sunburned, lol. Adriana caught our dinner - 3 big catfishes. I got two but both times my lines broke and fell into the water, great haha. It was fun tho. For example, my host mom caught a turtle...We weren't out there for very long since the sun was burning, so after 1,5 hours we drove back. After cleaning the fish we went to the treasure shop up in Theodosia to look for cool stuff. Adriana found bunch of clothes, I just bought a card for papa and a chocolate. For dinner we had grilled catfish and it was one of the most delicious dinners I've ever had! Especially since I love fish. To end the day I took a walk. Actually I just wanted to walk to the little church thingy to draw that but it was too creepy out there so I walked back and just chilled around the house. At some point papa came out to get me because it was getting too dark, so we drove back to the house together. Before going to bed me and Adriana were just playing w snapchat as she was sending literally so many videos to different Estonians haha.
Wednesday was the day to leave so we woke up earlier, packed up and cleaned the room. Also had a nice toast with strawberries for breakfast and after that said our goodbyes to papa and the dogs.
It turned out to be an interesting night tho. While we were driving back to Texas Adriana asked if I wanna go to the Rangers game(Baseball) later. Justin had already bought all the tickets and was waiting in front of our house. So Adriana started doing her make up in the car and we both changed our clothes quickly to be ready whenever we get home. The game was in Arlington. It was cool, it was also my first baseball game I went to. There were Justin, Adriana, me and one of Justin's friends.
Before finding our seats Justin bought drinks and food and we were good to go. The game was pretty cool and I loved that it was a big game! Something new again.

I love waking up with this view!

Making ice cream

Ice cream ready!!!

Catfish lunch

Chocolate peanut butter pie

A quick walk w Daisy

Adriana - Papa - Hostmom

Picture from my hostmom's facebook. Our grilled dinner

As you can see, it's a pretty serious game haha

Cocoa!

Pictures of Ranch house from my hostmom's facebook

Fishy fishy

She got the first one!

And the second one

Delicious level very high

Driving back home

To the game

Cowboys football stadium

Jump Cam

Walking all the way down there.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

TRIP: Austin

Our Trip to Austin started on Friday morning. Pretty early since I took a shower and still had to pack my things. It was actually my hostmom's work trip, but she was able to took me and Adriana with her. So in the morning we all got ready and left the house 9:30am. It was over 3 hour drive to Austin. We stopped in Schlotzsky's for lunch. We all had chips and sandwiches and again, a new place for me. Before arriving to Autsin my Hostmom dropped us off at the Outlet mall since she had to go to the meeting. The mall was nice. Basically you were walking outside and it was like a little street through the shopping places. At some point of time we got drinks and some cookies from my favorite cookie place and sat down for a little bit. 3 hours later hostmom met us there again, we bought all the things we wanted and drove to the hotel. It was a reallllly nice Hilton hotel and superbig! We were on 17th floor, but our view was on the highway so nothing too extraordinary haha, but still cool! In the hotel we kind a just fixed our make up, changed clothes and went back outside. We met Teresa (One of my hostmom's best friends) on the corner of the street. She was waiting for us, we all went on a dinner to the bar which was right across from the hotel. We ended up ordering just some fries and that was it. And now I'm just gonna copy my hostmom's fb post here since she practically described the whole night there:

''Took the girls to 4th and 6th street. Happened to be Biker Rally in 6th so the streets were packed with motorcycles and bikers. Started at Waller Creek Pub for beverages and snacks then hit the streets walking. Stopped at Voodoo Donuts for a snack. Got a slice of late night pizza to share. Adriana Ismaili sang karaoke in an Irish pub.''

There were hundreds of motorcycles and the street was very crowded. Everybody was drunk, lol. There was live music in most of the bars and restaurants so it created the mood pretty well! A little bit before midnight we walked back to the hotel. I was so tired but it was pretty amazing night, was cool to see what the night life there is like.

Saturday morning we woke up at like 9am maybe? Got dressed, drank coffee and got ready to head out. We crabbed some croissants and more coffee from the cafe next to out hotel and enjoyed our breakfast by the river(Mom you would've liked it ;)).After that we just chilled in our hotel room for a little bit and when it was time to check out we packed our bags and went down to the reception. We drove to The Bullock Texas State History Museum. The building was pretty and there was a huge Texas Star in front of the Museum. It had 3 floors of stuff to look at and was pretty cool and interesting. In the morning I found out that Marca was in Austin at the same time and we were texting and calling, trying to figure out how to meet. When I was in the Museum she was in the Capitol, which was basically next to the Museum so we were trying sooooo hard to meet haha. Whenever we finally left from the Museum we decided to drive by the Captiol. Unfortunately there was one road closed so me and Marca ended up NOT meeting, that was sad. Before leaving from Austin we stopped at Voodoo Donuts again, me and Adriana both got one. Our next stop was in Dripping Springs where we had lunch at that one BBQ place. Before starting to drive back home we went to Deep Eddie Vodka, it's like a famous Vodka made in Texas, the place was full of people and the end of the ordering line was outside the building. My hostmom just bought some signs and we continued driving. We took different road when driving back and on our way we stopped by Arch The Texas and Brewing Co. Arc The Texas was on top of a hill and it was also a hotel type thingy. Me and my hostmom went on the roof terrace and the view was AMAZING! It was so so pretty and we just took bunch on pictures up there. After this we just stopped in several gas stations for snacks and ate dinner at a Malt shop.

And that was it for the drip, it was nice and I think it was an awesome one! :)