Will it be the same?

Dover- Harvey's dog

My last day in Hampden. There will be a farewell party tonight.

I am in my room, about to be done packing to leave. We will have to met up with the rest of AFS Dirigo Maine kids tomorrow at 1pm.
Looking around, this room has been my comfort place and it feels terrible to have to leave and never come back. The time I spent here is enough to make me feel deeply attached. My host parents have been ever so understanding and supportive. The amazing friends here are, what more can I say, amazing. It sucks to have to bond so special to some of them and yet have to leave and having the chance not to ever meet again.

Yes, I may come back to visit and yet I might meet up with them. But by then things would have been different and my HA high school friends will be going down their different path. *sigh*
I have truly enjoyed myself here in Hampden and I feel rather emotional now.

Yet, I am excited to go home and hang out with my mother, the GGGs, close relatives and some others. I am too excited to get my driver's license and start college. So many changes in so little time makes me nervous. What if I no longer fit in in the GGGs, or what if people back home get shocked with the new me and expected different.

But watch out people, I'm coming back! *laughs silently*

ps: I love Hampden, ME!

New York City

And so being in US, we had to go to New York City, which we did. I went with the YES AFS group last week. IT was with Mike, Hana, Lyle, Germaine, Aajra and Aini. It was great fun. *duh*

I took loads of pictures but would not be able to upload it all for this post, hence it will be in my facebook, hopefully if i'm not too busy.

We took a 10 hours bus ride down.

The 1st morning, we went up to the Empire State building. The view there was amazing, need i say more. We could see about the whole of Manhantan being up there, all the way to liberty island.

We then walked around town and made our way to the Rockefella Centre, Wall Street and Liberty Church. Walked passed the Trump World tower and headed to the United Nations Headquaters.

Since we went there in this AFS group, it meant a lot, in terms of interculture and peace. The UN guide had fun because this group had more variety, since i'm from Malaysia, some from Germany, Indonesia, India and the Phillipines.

Later on that night, we went to Times Square, which was amazing too. Shopped a lil there; Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, Billabong and other really awesome shops.

Times Square

Guitars in Hard Rock Cafe

A couple was taking marriage picture in Times Square.

Next day, went to Ground Zero (WTC), then to the AFS main Headquaters. WE were so welcomed there. Excahnge students hardly got the chance to visit them, hence they were really excited to see the group of us. We had pizza and spoke to them for a long time.

After that, went to visit The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Very excited to be there, the attraction in New York.

Walked to Little Italy and Chinatown. Had Italian dinner. When we were in both those places, it doesn't feel like being in US anymore. It more like in Italy of China, seriously.

yeahs!

And the last day, we went to the Natural Musuem of History. Awesome place. Everything that was seen in the movie, Night in the Musuem flash through my mind.

Went to Central park and spent loads of time chilling there. Then the movie, Enchanted flashed through my mind. Lol.

Headed to the Musuem of Fine Arts and the movie, Thomas Crown Affair flash through this time. Geez. It was great great great fun!

Being in New York have completed my life. Lol.

reminds you of being dumb or chewing gum?


Central Park

Brooklyn Bridge

I do *heart* New York.

Hampden Academy Graduation

Compared to Convent Kajang, Hampden Academy graduation rocks!

And so I am done with my school year in HA and graduated as a Senior Class of 2008 last Sunday.

Hampden Academy had an outdoor graduation and it was held on our football turf. Thanks to Harvey and others, we actually got to have it outdoors instead of our stuffy gym. *yeahs*

It was a bright sunny day, all of us were sweating but it was indeed a beautiful day to be outdoor.

Girls wore white caps and gowns while the boys wore purple. We had to march to the bleaches in front of the crowd. My marching partner was Matt Coston. The ceremony only lasted for about 2 hours.
After that, we all headed to the front of our school to take pictures with our school Bronco Statue.

That night itself, the graduated senior took a bus down to Portland to board on a cruise for the graduation project. Graduation project is kind of a party after graduation that is planned by the school and is free from alcohol.

Anyway, we got onto the cruise about 11pm and the party started. There was a hypnosist that performed a stage show. It was hilarious. Then we had supper&dessert, The DJ started playing some music and people were dancing on the dance floor.

Around 2.30am, everyone headed upstairs to play blackjack. We were each given some 'money' to gamble and there are prizes to be given to those who won the most 'money'. I did not know the prize was so worth it, I took the game for granted. Ended up, the top 3 winner won a GPS, an iPod and 400$ Best Buy gift card. *sulk*

Left the cruise around 4am and took the bus back to Hampden. Had breakfast at Dysart's with everyone.

Harvey offered to send me back home, but we ended up back to his house and spent about 2 hours just jamming. I enjoyed it though.

A day or two at Valerie's

My April Vacation started this week. *yeahs* My food teacher, Valerie invited me over to her house to spend a couple of days there. And so I did. She picked me up in the morning and we did some errands. Headed to the Bangor Mall and got some stuff, that we needed.

Got hungry and had lunch at Ruby's Tuesday. *yums*

typical thing to do when we are at the mall

something I got for her

We went back to her place and started to make our own album. We bought albums and fabrics to make our personal albums. *winks* That took wuite some time. While doing that, I was having Starbucks and choping down Doritos chips. How am I not to gain weigh. *sigh*
Tried on my prom dress and she got a pair of black heels that goes well with it. *jumps*

her cat which managed to bite and scratch me

Had a wonderful dinner of salmon and desert of angel food cake with whip cream and fresh strawberries. It's good. We then sat in the living room and watched the elections in Pennyslvia.

Woke up at around 7am the next day. Made muffins and scrambelled eggs together. Sat around lazily and talked.
Had lunch and then went bowling.

breakfast!

I didn't play well..

Track practice is still on during the holidays, so she brought me back to school after bowling. Track was hard. *sigh* Our first met will be this Saturday!

Trip to Norway and Lewiston

April vacation has started for me. Went down to Lewiston to visit foster parents' friend for the weekend. *yeahs* The wife stared in a play, "The Glass Menagerie" as a mother that care very much for her children. Foster mom decided to make a cake for her friend, a dinosaur cake wearing the same costume that was worn during the play. Had much fun making the cake with foster mom. Made quite a mess too. *laughs*





It was about 2 hours drive away. Keziee and Darby, the dogs came along. We stopped at Hannaford to get some food and let the dogs out to walk. They are so adorable.
The weather was great. The journey was quite comfortable too.
Foster parents' friends home was very cozy and comfortable. We hung out and talked. Then had spaghetti with meatballs for dinner. After that, headed towards the Grange House to watch the play. It was awesome! *claps* The play was great and the stage player was so professional.

The next day, sat around the house and did some light reading. After lunch, went out for a walk around downtown Norway (the place they live). The buildings were from the 1800s. Really pretty, kinda similar to those seen in Marry Poppins. *grins*

Left Norway in the afternoon. Foster dad decided to go visit his mother, my mermer. They came from Canada and spoke French. Cool eh? Went to Da Vinci and had dinner there. The pizza tasted so good. *licks*

Overall, I had much fun and am looking forward to spend time with Valerie, my food teacher.

the journey there

taking a walk

really pretty settings and background

the journey back