Expensive and Girly

Thursday, June 28th 2007, Wake up time 7:00am


I began my first, proper day by waking up very early. I figured jet lag hadn't hit me yet as I wasn't remotely tired.  Our first port of call was to visit the high school that I'd be attending, come September. Arlington High School to be precise. I got there around half eight and I met Sharon, one of my favourite people in authority at the school. Over the school year, I regularly visited her and had a little chat. She was so sweet and caring and I miss her very much. She gave me a very brief guide to all the subjects and activities at the school. One of interest was the Drama guild, who I was informed performed 'The Sound of Music' last year. I made my first humorous comment of the day by slumping my head down and saying "I hated that film." Luckily, Sharon wasn't too offended and laughed along. After that, Lyle, one of my best friends and the guy I was staying with, took me on a tour of the school.


My first observation was one that may seem obvious to many. It was a LOT bigger than Highfield. I couldn't believe the overwhelming size of it. I could tell that I would easily get lost within the many hallways. I loved how it looked exactly like I'd imagined. We finally got out, after getting lost several times (I don't think Lyle really knew where he was going.) We went to the Library to return a DVD of Bev's (my host mother) but found it was closed until 1:00pm. So we returned home.


Once we got back, Lyle fired up his Gamecube and we spent about an hour or so on Super Smash Brothers (which I got well and truly smashed at.) As it was so hot, Bev suggested we grab some ice-cream. So Lyle, Claire (Lyle's sister), her friend Katelyn and I began the walk to the Chilly Cow which is an ice-cream parlour. However, when we got there we found it was shut! So I guess there was no ice-cream for us... As I had also left my course guide at the school, we had to walk up to get that anyway, and Lyle said we could go to Brighams after, another place which sold ice-cream. Claire and Katelyn didn't fancy the walk so they headed home. 


We picked up my course guide, me feeling rather foolish for having forgotten it and began the long walk up to Brighams. Lyle had said it wasn't too far. This is where I learnt my first, hard lesson in the difference between  American and British estimates. It was a VERY, VERY long way. Up a hill. In sweltering heat. You try it sometime. On the way, we stopped at Stop and Shop, a cheap Supermarket, and I encountered my first American excess. You could purchase three litres of coke for...go on, guess.


ONE DOLLAR! How crazy is that? So me and Lyle both grabbed one of these huge drinks and carried on our journey. Suffice to say, it was filled with me complaining and Lyle insisting we were almost there. When we finally reached our destination, I purchased a cookie ice-cream. It was rather delicious after the long walk. Lyle suggested we take the bus back down the hill to the Library, as we still had to drop off the DVD. I don't know why we didn't take the bus up the hill...but I guess it was to save money for ice-cream. It wasn't an expensive bus ride either, at only $1.50. 


We arrived at the library a little after 1:00pm. Lyle showed me the statue by the library which is also the logo for Arlington High, a crouched Native American. We stood and talked by it for a while and then headed into the library. After dropping off the DVD, we headed home, a walk which was nothing compared to the one up the hill. On the way, we bumped into a woman who asked us for a small donation. I think she was asking for it to go to her church. I was hesitant, I rarely give random strangers money, but Lyle being the honest kid he is gave her five dollars. She walked away exclaiming how she would pray for our souls. I wasn't strictly a non-believer at the time but felt that it was a bit of a pointless gesture in return for five dollars.  Once home, I had a quick shower, as I was so hot, and then glanced through my course book. I pencilled all the ones which looked interesting to me, and knew I'd pick them as the year started. 


Lyle and Claire wanted to show me Monroe Saltworks. It was one of these shops similar to Rosemary and Thyme in Letchworth town (this may not mean a lot to many of you reading.) We looked around it briefly but I saw nothing of worth. As we returned I summed it up in two words to Bev "expensive and girly." 


For dinner that evening, I had a gourmet course of hotdogs and grapes. After that, we went to see a friend of the family's farmhouse, as Ralph (the father and an architect) was doing work on it. We brought along the frisbee and played with the son of the friend, a boy called Sam, who was very, very good. We played for about an hour or so while Ralph and his friend talked.


We returned home and I just caught my first experience of the American News! A completely different set up to the British news and an interesting experience. I would tell you what was reported, but I fear I didn't write that down. A lot of this is based on my own memories interpreted from the notes. I do apologise for not filling in all the details when I had the chance :) 


Thanks for listening.