Without the scarf...
Looking back at High School, I didn't really have a bad time, though I was awkward and shy and not one of the pretty, popular girls. I certainly came into my own towards the end of those years though and really couldn't be bothered with the clicks that came along with High School life.
In my 6th form year (or second to last year of high school) I went to America for a year and lived in Stockton, California. Everyone asked me why on earth I chose to go to Stockton and the truth was, I didn't, thats just where my host family happened to be and I loved it.
My Mum had always encouraged my sister and I to go on an exchange, and in about the middle of 5th form I decided I was bored and wanted to go somewhere new for a year and so to America it was.
I left in January, after the September 11 attacks, and even the airport was a scary place after that. I landed in LA and while waiting for my connecting flight saw big groups of buff men walking around in their army gear with massive guns - I think that was the first time I had ever actually seen a gun in real life.
My first day of school, I stood out like a sore thumb in terms of my accent and not really knowing what on earth was going on - I looked like a tourist with my school map trying to figure out where on earth I was going before I ended up getting there late. I also remember being asked the strangest questions about NZ - does it have a bridge connecting it to Australia? Can Kangaroos swim? Do you live in little mud huts? All the answers to those questions are no, except that we don't have kangroos in NZ, though I still suspect no.
After I returned, I did my last year of High school before escaping again and coming down to Dunedin to get my Bachelors degree. I'm still here, with a finished degree and 2 1/2 years working full time organising events.
Next year is a mystery because David is currently researching places to go to get his PHD and hopefully a scholarship to go along with that (He has nearly completed his Fulbright papers, so I could potentially end up back in America). I'm quite excited by the fact that I don't know whats happening - I get to go somewhere new, do something new and meet lots of new people while I'm at it.
I'll keep you up to date as things progress!!
XX
Jen
33 comments:
I was definitely awkward and shy in HS too. Sometimes I am still awkward... hee hee hee.
cute colours, i love the primary red and blue colours together :)
lol, if only there was a bridge connecting australia to nz!
Such a cute outfit, you look adorable!
xo
Jennifer
http://milliedeel.blogspot.com/
You are positively adorable.
http://betweenlaundrydays.blogspot.com
Lovely coat and Honey, don't forget Ur new award and tag what U'll find on my blog...
X♥X♥
I switched schools half way through grade ten and enjoyed my new school much more. Plus in grade twelve I started dating the bf (and still am more than 3 years later)!
My sister also did an exchange in America. Her emails about all the funny questions she was asked always made my day!
Love the sweet little blazer.
you always have the cutest full skirts!
good luck with your future plans.. it is exciting but intimidating to not know what lies ahead! it leaves a lot of room for faith, and that's not so bad. :)
how lovely to have been able to experience a different country, i wish i had done that too in my years of studying.
I love your colors today - your navy blue skirt looks very purpley and pretty.
My high school colors were purple and gold (really, orange.) It's a rare day when I happen to be wearing those shades together!
That's wonderful that you did a long exchange in high school. I'll bet that would make you much more brave and comfortable exploring new options and new places. I was impressed at how much my sister grew up after doing a one-month exchange! I never managed to fit one in myself and regret that I didn't make it a higher priority, especially in college.
my boyfriend's starting a phd in october too! i don't know what's happening in the next few months either but i find that scary. my high school colours were just boring, black...
Beautiful combination of colors! I loved the skirt and the jacket! send to me?
xoxo
I love that red blazer!
Wow, Stockton? Seems so random! Glad it was an enjoyable experience, for the most part.
Just adore those tights, lady.
Great color contrasts - I love blue with red :).
You look lovely in those colours! Good luck with what happens next year. It's kind of exciting being able to go anywhere!
That's cool how you were a foreign exchange student, I've always wanted to do that, but never did...Stockton California...I know that's near where I live, but I can't think of how far away it is...how far away is it from San Francisco?
xoxo,
Micaela
hey
its a realy cute outfit^^
I loved reading this! I think it is wonderful that you are embracing not knowing what is next for the adventure that it really is!
And by the way, I live very, very close to Stockton, CA! What a small world!
The colours go so well together.
You look great! I remember seeing the soldiers carrying guns in the airport after 9/11. It was both reassuring and very, very frightening at the same time. I live in Taiwan and I also get asked weird questions about it, like "Can you receive e-mail there?" or "Where in China is it?" (it's an island AND a separate country!) or (my favorite) "How do you like living in Thailand?" For some reason it's nice to hear that you get asked silly questions about New Zealand, too. I mean, I know Taiwan is relatively obscure, but I thought everyone has heard of NZ!
--therenegadebean.com
Very cute outfit! And that's so interesting about your high school and exchange in America. :) I was also very shy for most of my high school years.
That sounds very exciting! I'm kind of the same place as you right now, where work or other opportunities could carry us away to another country within the coming year or so. It's kinda nice not having the pressure of settling down!
Love the red and the blue together! It's refreshing to see pics of you bundling up while we're sweating over here in the States!
www.yehyehgirls.blogspot.com
You look completely adorable! That is a perfect blazer... it looks very polished ^_^
i wish i would have had to wear uniforms in school...it would have made getting ready in the morning so much easier!
An exchange year always sounds so amazing and exciting. I never did end up doing it but Stockton, Cali?! What was it like there? I love the fit of the red jacket.
Positively love this outfit! The colours work strikingly well together, and that shorter length blazer is an especially marvelous piece!
Wishing you a terrific, serene Sunday,
♥ Jessica
Love your story...and the outfit!
Cute blazer and skirt!
My school colors are red, white, and blue. We are the Colonials. How original.
Amazing outfit :D !
i laughed out loud at the comment about the bridge. OH MAN im disappointed in my fellow californians.
You must have been an exchange student at the same time I was! I too got very strange questions about Norway while in Alabama (yes, that was an experience in itself), and I experienced the guns in the airports too - very scary.
Best of luck with the plans to come!
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