Last weekend: Bye Lewes, I will come back.

Saturday was my last day in Lewes L. In the afternoon, at twelve, my parents arrived in Lewes. My father was watching some paintings in a gallery. I was waiting in front of the school and saw my mother in front of the gallery. I took them to the Whyte’s house. We had lunch at the house. Carrie had made Caesar Salad which was great!! It was really nice. Carrie and my mother really wanted to meet each other, and they were talking all the time about me which was quite embarrassing. Peter wasn’t there because he had to photograph one of the princesses in a stadium. However, Jack was there and he studies physics, so my father was talking a lot with him :p. Just before we left, I played one single game of billiard. After many ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’ we left Lewes L. We drove for about a few hours and arrived in Rye. Carrie had recommended Rye to my parents. We had a walk around, and I was quite in a sad mood… Reason?? ;) We found a lovely, old English (duhhh!!) hotel where we had great dinner!! I showed them lots of my pictures. We were all tired so slept quite early.

Sunday we drove back to the Netherlands through the tunnel. When arrived, I was quite happy to see my brothers and dog again, but was missing all the students of LOGS. We immediately had to leave cause two of my aunts were celebrating their birthdays.

Lewes is probably one of the best things I have ever done in my entire life. I thank Mr Blewitt and Ms Rosin  one more time for allowing us to stay that long at LOGS and help us with all the problems/questions we had. I want to thank Ms de Wolf for organizing everything, and allowing us to stay the sixth week. Mr Leuiken for allowing us as well, and if he hadn’t known Mr Blewitt, we wouldn’t have been in Lewes!!!  The host parents for allowing to be part of a family. I had a great time with you. And of course, all the amazing students of LOGS for making me have the best time of my life. The teachers: Mr Walton, Mr Wakefield, Mrs Lawdon, Ms Taylor, Mrs Ticehurst for making me enjoy the lessons and learning a lot about the subjects in English!

I had a wonderful, great, exciting, and interesting time and will never forget those six weeks!!!

Picture 1: Tired in a hotel
Picture 2: Saturday morning...
Picture 3: The Whytes with my parents and I

Last week in Lewes :(: Everything has an end.

I went to school with the feelings that it was impossible I had already stayed in Lewes for five weeks. I was really unhappy because I knew this was my last week. However, each event ends sometime, so I shouldn’t be unhappy but enjoy my last week as much as possible! With this attitude I started my last week in ‘AMAZING’ LOGS. Manon, Sanny and I were already discussing about a goodbye party. I heard from some friends that a party at the Downs was great. So I discussed with Sanny and Manon to do it there. However, when they asked their host parents, they got the reply they weren’t allowed to go there because there are some high cliffs close to it… You know people will get sad when you leave, but we don’t want friends to commit suicides ;). My host parents didn’t like the idea as well and said that they didn’t expect many students to be allowed after all the stories of Maia’s party.  During the week, I had to move two times from room. The first one was Tuesday because Grandma had left and I could move into my ‘own’ room again. However, Friday, the mother of Peter (father) visited the family, so I had to move into Louis’ room again. This week, I made lots of pictures of lessons: with teacher after the lesson, and during the lesson. However, we weren’t able to spent all our afternoons enjoying and making pictures because we needed to study for our anw exam as well. However, Ms de Wolf, of course we really enjoyed studying for your test too ;)!

Monday I started to ‘feel’ that the a-level exams were coming closer and closer. People start to do work during their free periods, and during the lessons, teachers are driving the students crazy with comments like: ‘Only a month left’…. During history, Mr Walton asked the students if they wanted to come over to school during the holiday to practice some ‘twelve mark and twenty four mark questions’. The students, surprisingly, agreed! Sanny told me she had bought the English flags as well, so that we were able to get them signed by all students and teachers during the week. We were going to get them signed on Thursday and Friday. Monday evening, I played billiard with Jack.

Tuesday, discussions, discussions, and three Dutch exchange students getting irritated by each other.. One person wants to do this, and the others say no… ‘and it goes on and on and on’. After lots of discussions and plans, I came up with the idea to have a small picnic at the Paddock, the grass fields behind the school, and go to Brighton that night to have fish and chips at Brighton beach! Many students would love to do that, but my co-exchange students thought it would be messed up to try to get all the students in the train to Brighton -__-… Another plan messed up. However, they liked the idea to have a picnic at the Paddock immediately after school. So the plans for Friday changed completely, and it was just going to be a small picnic at the Paddock, Yippee….

Wednesday, I took pictures of history and Ict. Hahah, the three of us during the ICT lesson look so smart in the picture… I realized that I had only two days left. Weather was amazing!!! We had sun for over three weeks already, so we had really brought the standard good spring weather from the Netherlands. Students started to work more and more, so they could enjoy their holidays more. Next week, they would have a three week Eastern/May holiday. The RLW should do the same ;)!! After school, I found out that Jack had invited some of his friends to come by. He already has holidays. They were firing a target with the airgun. I asked if I could join their match, and I beat all of them XD! This was the second time I had ever shot with an airgun and I shot three out of four times, eight out of ten points.  Wednesday night, I was talking with Anya, good friend, on Facebook. I was telling her about all my messed up ideas of a party, and I told her that I thought nobody would be coming Friday to the picnic. She was doing some history homework… So really wanted to help me instead of doing work :p! We created an event on facebook and invited 150 friends. It looked great, and this is probably the reason why such a large amount of students came by Friday. Thank you veryyyyy much ANYA!!!! (I don’t think you will read this ;)!!)

Thursday, most of my friends signed my flag. We drove students and teachers crazy with questions like: Could you sign my flag? or May I make a picture of the class? Lots of students told me that they might come by the next day, so I still wasn’t expecting many students. I made the last plans for the party and tried to force as much students as possible to come to the picnic/party. Some students were already going on holidays next day, so I had to say goodbye to a small amount of students. Many hugs and a few kisses, and a sad feeling inside. During a few free periods, we bought some chocolate for Mr Blewitt. When home, I found out that Jack had one of his friends (girl) staying the night at the house. I had to move to Louis’ again.

Friday was finally the goodbye picnic. During the school day, more flag signing, and more goodbyes. During the big break, we bought flowers for Ms Rosin and Mr Blewitt, wrote the letters for them, and during the seventh period, we gave the presents, flowers and cards to them. We are always allowed to come back, and we made the plan to come back for the end summer party of the school. Sanny wanted to stay at school the last two periods!? So Manon and I went with Jack and his girlfriend (she actually isn’t, but I know they like each other ;)) to one of the big supermarkets. Jack drove us there in his amazing car. We got some food and drinks and went as quickly as possible back to the Paddock because we didn’t have much time left. We arrived and found out that about fifty/eighty students had come!!!!!  It was awesome!! I really hadn’t expected that many people to come by and say goodbye. Almost all my friends were there. It was sunny again so with lots of food, but a small amount of drinks we spent about three/four hours at the Paddock. A girl signed my face as well with ‘I love cock’ instead of ‘I love Girl’s name) which was quite embarrassing but still funny XP! I enjoyed so much and after the party, I was sooo sad L. That night, I spent whole day at Facebook to say the people who hadn’t come goodbye and was having a bad time all alone!

Lewes was GREAT!!!     

Picture 1: History

Picture 2: Chemistry

Picture 3: Psychology

Picture 4: Aren't we gorgious with Louis.
Picture 5: Part of Paddock chillers
Picture 6: Big part of Paddock chillers!

Last weekend without parents: Glyndbourne

This weekend is my last weekend without parents L. I really enjoyed my last weekend!! Saturday, Louis and his mum were practicing all day in Glyndbourne for the show on Sunday. Willem was coming to Lewes, and some other students told me that they might come to Lewes as well. Willem arrived at about two/three o’clock. We first walked through Lewes, but there isn’t much to do in town, so we decided to go to Brighton. So, after a short walk through town, we took the train to Brighton. In Brighton we went to the pier (again). However, there is so much to do there, that you won’t get bored, even when you go there for the fourth time in six weeks. I couldn’t stay that long, because I had to study for an Anw Exam next Monday. So after having played lots of games, sport activities, lunch and some drinks, Willem and I headed back for the train station. Willem was staying with a friend in Brighton, so I was going back all alone. I had quite a weird train trip :P… I won’t tell why ;)!!

Sunday was the day many students of LOGS and of course the three Dutch exchange students had waited for: Glyndbourne. We left around twelve o’clock and Theo and I drove with his brother in the most amazing car I have probably ever sat in. It was really cool because the roof was open, we put the volume much too loud, and were all wearing a suit with sun glasses XD. When we arrived at Glyndbourne, I saw one huge building, looking like the Globe theatre in London. We weren’t allowed to enter yet, but were first going to have lunch at the grass fields near the building. In England, picnics are quite common. Many families have picnics instead of for example going to the beach or other events. Carrie came by to have lunch quickly, and I asked if I could come inside with her to meet the students doing the show. I was allowed to go inside and met all my friends and lots of other students of LOGS who were all really worried… Anya and Clara showed me the podium and I found out the building was MASSIVE. I think there is place for about one thousand people ;)! I found it really brave that all those students were playing music, acting, or singing in such a HUGE building. The show started and it was GREAT!!!!!! The performances were of such a great quality! The acts were funny, dancing skills were amazing, and most of the students sang great as well! I think I’ve never seen such a great show in the Netherlands. I found it so brave and excellent because the students were acting great shows while having one thousand people watching them… After the show, I immediately ran to the change rooms and congratulated all the amazing students. Jack needed to get some medicines in Brighton so I decided to drive with him to Brighton, of course including all the music and no roof :P. It was great!! We enjoyed a beautiful sun set le driving really hard along the coasts/beaches. Jack decided to pick up his medicines next day so we just drove through Brighton back home. We were both really cold when returned. At night we had a lovely meal, and I studied hard for my test next day.

My last weekend without parents was amazing!! With many thanks to Jack, his car, Glindbourne, and all the amazing LOGS students who proved their acting/dancing/singing skills are amazing!!!

Picture one: Brighton Pier

Picture two: 4 handsome guys having lunch in front of Glyndbourne

Picture three: Glyndbourne

Picture four:  Beautiful sun set, and I seriously took it!!!

Week 5: Glindbourne is driving students mental :-)

Holy shit (sorry for swearing), this is my fifth week in Lewes o_o. I’ve been here for over a month! It sounds so long, but I enjoy so much which makes the weeks pass so fast. Week five, my fifth week, and the last week of the Reeds’ students. I wonder if they enjoy/enjoyed that much as I do/did!? This week I started off with a Greek test which was quite easy. I was glad I didn’t have to do it the week before because I was quite busy with tests the week before. In small break I showed the strawberries, when Liz wasn't there yet, and one of her friends got quite mental and sprinted away to get Liz ;)… They loved them, so I was happy as well ;). After many hugs and quite a few strawberries with chocolate, I needed to go to my next lesson so was forced to leave the girls L. I told Louis I was going to stay with him the last one and a half week, and that I would move to him next Thursday. In big break I needed to take some money out of my account, because I spent too much money at the pier.            

Tuesday, at night there was going to be a football match between Chelsea and Manchester City. Jake supports Chelsea and was looking forward to this match. That morning, Mrs Power had to work, so we had to go to school by bus which means we had to wake up even earlier. The bus leaves at about eight o’clock, so at a quarter to seven, all of us were in our suits, with tired faces ;). Glindbourne was coming up, next Sunday, and the students, most of all students, were practicing and having rehearsals. So during the breaks, most of year 10 and year 11 students were practicing. In the afternoon, I went with some guys to café Nero, and took the bus back home. At night, we watched the football match. Chelsea lost, so Jake was in a bad mood :p…

Wednesday, we played my last hockey match in Lewes. School day was normal. Mr Blewitt came to tell me that I would be staying with the Whytes another one and a half week. I had already asked Louis, so he or his mother must have asked Mr Blewitt. We heard that the team we were going to play with wasn’t able to play the match… However, we really wanted to play hockey, so Sam, one of the students of year thirteen, who organizes all the hockey matches, asked year thirteen, twelve and good hockey players from years below to join us and play a match. We split up the players who had come and created two hockey teams. The match was amazing. It was great weather, maybe a bit too hot, but I enjoyed the running. We were picked up by Mrs Power, got something to drink in a little shop, and went ‘sweaty’ home... All of us wanted to have a shower as fast as possible ;). We were quite tired so went to bed quite early. Next day, I was going to move to the Whyte’s again.

Thursday, the last time I had to swap families. The students of my year went off to an university, to get some information about different universities and studies. Sanny, Manon, and I stayed at school all day. Tests, blog, and other schoolwork were the most important things we did that day :p! However, year thirteen was still there, and while the year twelve students were gone, we changed the whole common room. It was quite funny and especially the reactions of the students when they arrived… Ms Rosin liked it, so we were allowed to leave the room this way.

Friday was already the last day of week five. I watched some of the students practicing for Glindbourne. It looked already quite cool. However, I didn’t expect such a great show as I was going to see next Sunday! Most of them were starting to feel worried, because they only had a few days left. I was starting to worry a bit because I only had one weekend and one school week left. Because Louis and lots of other friends would be practicing for Glindbourne the next day, I made plans with Willem to go out next day. Louis wasn’t worried, because he told me he almost didn’t have to do anything at Glindbourne. Friday was fine, a bit boring without all my lunch friends (who were practicing for Glindbourne) but a great day to finish some more schoolwork.

Picture 1: Morning registration (look to our faces and you will understand why 'morning' registration Picture 2: A serious ICT lesson                                                                                                                             Picture 3: Time for a Dutch exam

Weekend at the Powers

Saturday at the Powers was quite boring. I slept much too long and after I woke up, I did homework, worked on my blog and was online all day on Facebook. It was actually quite nice to have such an easy day. At night we ordered Indian food which was great and spicy! I watched football with Jake all night but went quite early to bed, because next day I was going to Brighton.

Sunday, we all went to Brighton. Jake went with his parents for shopping and Bessie and I went to the pier. We made use of some attractions including the dance game with the arrows in which you see arrows on a screen and you have to use your feet to press arrows in front, on both sides next to you, and behind you. It was quite embarrassing… Some people were watching us which made it all more exciting. Bessie called Lucy because Lucy and Manon were also in Brighton. When they arrived at the pier, we made use of a few more attractions including a kind of a rollercoaster. ‘In a rollercoaster with some yelling girls’…. I had promised Liz, that I was going to make some real strawberries with chocolate. So, in Brighton, I bought some chocolate bars and some strawberries and that night I cooked the chocolate, dipped the strawberries in the hot chocolate and put them into the fridge. I got some help of Jake and his father!! At night, we watched a movie and a kind of an English detective series which my mother would have loved ;).

From the weekends up until now, it’s clear that Brighton is the most popular town to visit, one week later I would go to Brighton again.

Picture 1: In a rollercoaster with some yelling girls. From left to right: Jop, Bessie, Lucy, Manon

Week four, sjerious kissing, weird pictures

Week 4 was week B again. Less periods than week A so more time for schoolwork and blog     -__-. However, I haven’t worked on my blog a lot like you can see, because it’s now week six and I still have to start with week 4. Luckily, I made some notes so I don’t have to remember everything I did. I had a great weekend ;) in which I actually kissed a girl on Maia’s party. So, first day back at school, lots of people asked me and Bessie (who kissed a guy) about it… Louis’ father was also enjoying that I had kissed, cause he said all the time: ten minutes of Sjerious kissing. Sjerious because of my Dutch accent :P. Luckily the girl I had kissed followed schooling at another school, because otherwise we would have gotten mental by all the questions :P. However, school was fine. That afternoon, Louis went to gym, and I went home to study for my German test, and the first test sent to England… It took quite some time to revise all words, sentences and grammar but it was fine. That night we had Shepherd’s pie which is a typical English dish.

Next day, first test at LOGS’. Ms Rosin asked me after Registration which periods I wanted to make the test. So, after small break, I joined up with Ms Rosin who took my test with me and brought me to a room of 1.5 by two metres… So, quite small but great, because you aren’t interrupted for about an hour. The test went fine and I really would like to know my grade, but it’s still not put on the school site. That night, I skyped with some friends (English) and met a boy named Joseph who had been  a student of LOGS for a long time, but had moved after year eleven. Quite a big amount of students leave after year eleven to finish their A-levels at another school. Those A-levels could be compared with the exams at the end of secondary school in the Netherlands. Joe, Joseph, had moved to Spain to finish schooling there. Willem told me that all those guys play a game together and talk with each other while playing the game. Joe said that he had a second account and asked me if I wanted to have it, so we are able to have contact when I’m back to Holland.

Wednesday, when I got in, I saw some unhappy faces. The students had gotten their results for their exams they took some months ago. I found out that some students had seriously messed up… Another unhappy fact was: Liz (one of my friends) was ill. That night, I talked with her on Facebook and asked her some questions. She told me what her favorite animals, color and food was. With the help of Louis, we made some pictures of me and used paint to put me for example for a zoo with a tiger and kangaroo in my arms and a police officer behind me, so showing me stealing some animals from a zoo. It was quite funny, and I spent whole night doing it. Another important thing I realized that day, was that I’ve brought good weather with me from the Netherlands. I think I only have had one day with storm and some days a bit cloudy.

Thursday was my last day with the Whytes, I thought. Peter took me to the golf pitches at the hills next to Lewes. You had a great view on the town. They wanted to show this view on  Lewes before I would leave them. I was going to stay with the Powers. Jake and Bessie Power are in my year, so are two years older. The school day was normal, but we skipped psychology again because they were making a test. In the lunch break I went into village with some friends and had lunch at café Nero. It’s quite expensive in this restaurant and really different than the free lunch at school. However, I think lunch at school is just as good as, and actually even better than lunch at restaurants. In the fifth and sixth period, I made a mathematics D test, which was, I thought, much too hard. I might have missed something at the RLW but I was only able to make three of five exercises without problems. After school, Mrs Power picked Jake, Lucy, Manon and I up from school and brought Lucy and Manon to Lucy’s house, which already took half an hour, and drove on for another five minutes to the Power’s house. So, quite different than the other host families. However, it was in the middle of nowhere, but an awesome location! They got one really cute dog, quite different than Zorro (my dog) but really cute. Bessie had stayed in town cause that night, there was a parents evening with children about the results of their exams. At night, I was brought to Lucy’s to do some work there while Jake, Bessie and their parents were at the parents evening. I had to study for a Greek test, however wasn’t able to study everything because of multiple reasons: lack of concentration and Lucy's cat on my books while studying... I had dinner at Lucy’s which was nice!! I was picked up at around half nine.

Friday morning, I found out that Mrs Power picks up the Hughes girls and Manon every morning. However, normally, at Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we have to take the bus to school. In the morning I asked Ms Rosin in which periods I had to make my test. She replied, that she said it would be better if I made it Monday the week after! I didn’t really care, because I was still able to study a bit for my Greek exam. A long day with many periods, but I still enjoyed it. I heard some rumors about the concert called Glyndebourne. Sanny, Manon and I were also going there. Mr Blewitt had ‘free’ tickets (again) for us. We get so much for free in LOGS. At night I watched some movies with Bessie, one was really weird, and we had dinner in front of the tv!

Picture 1: View, on a cloudy day, on Lewes.

Picture 2: One of the pictures created for 'ill' Lizz

Picture 3: Cat on my Greek work

Picture 4: Little room where we make our tests!