Warren Dunes

Today my lovely family went to Warren Dunes for a day at the beach. We went swimming, played frisbee, ate pie, and climbed the dunes. It is a great day to be at the beach! It's hot and sunny with big waves. I've previously posted about the amazing great lakes, but truly, visit Lake Michigan, enjoy its beauty and majesty when you get the chance. Especially if you are an exchange student ;)

   

Art and Belles

Today I went to Kalamazoo, Michigan with my friend, Alice. First, we went to the Kalamazoo art museum. Currently, they have local artists' works on display. The selection varies from majestic glass sculpture to simplistic ink designs. They also have quite the impressive permanent collection. If you are interested in art, I would definitely recommend visiting. We finished the visit with the famous microbrewery, Belles. I had a very tasty Michigan cod sandwich with homemade fries. If you are an exchange student staying in Kalamazoo, think twice before you decide there is nothing to do.

Glass sculpture

local artist's piece about knowledge

Permanent collection piece that I found AMAZING

"For best results, use other side"

Belles stained glass window

Note the beer bottles melted into the window

Alice and I

  

Poppy's going home party

Poppy is from Thailand, I met her at the very beginning of her exchange. She's very fun, kind, and friendly. I am very sad that she leaves to go back home Wednesday. Yesterday Wasa and I went to her going away and Birthday party. It was bittersweet. It is always nice to spend time with Poppy, but everyone there was sad to see her go. So that your heart isn't broken every time you say goodbye to a friend you say things "the next time I'm in Thailand..." or "come back to visit us." You say these things so that you don't have to admit that you will never see them again. I will miss you, Poppy, have a safe flight.

Ending my stay at Notre Dame

I had a great second week, staying on Notre Dame campus! It was so nice to have something to look forward to at the end of every day. Whether it be swimming, skating going to a movie or having a bonfire. It makes little sad though to think about all the great friends that I have made or make, but will never see again. Not even just the inbounds who are returning to their home countries. All my friends who will be seniors this year, I will never get to see again. But I would never have met some of them at all if I decided not to go on exchange.

The Notre Dame Basilica at night

 

Hearing from my host sisters

On my way home from Calvin, I got a follow request from both of my host sisters. The older one, Sophia, went on exchange to Florida in 2016-2017. Now she is 19 and will leave for school in early September. My other sister, Anita, is 17 and will be going on exchange to Sacramento. This means that neither of them will be at home. When I accepted the chat from Sophia I felt like I would burst with excitement. I've been emailing my host mom, but it takes a long time to get back to one another. Now that I have talked to my host sisters it feels so real!
The following are pictures Sophia sent me.

Mountains!!

Calvin College Conference!

Calvin is the last hurrah for exchange students. The people from abroad (inbounds)  are returning home, the people who were in other countries (rebounds)  just came home to America, and those who are about to begin there exchange are also leaving. It is an incredibly fun, informative, and bittersweet weekend. It's always fun to get to see everyone again. The rebounds tell us about there adventures and warn us about what is taboo or things that they didn't expect. And we are sad to see our friends leave, especially because we will never see them again. But, it is a lot of fun!

The dance that was from 9-12 both nights!

Beach volleyball, which of course, is always fun!

My Amazing Friends!
Top, right => left: Poppy from Thailand, Madeleine from Belgium, Rina from Japan, Fiona to France, Bottom, right => left: Alisa from Thailand, Me, Wasa to France, Kim to Japan 
 

My friend Riko, from Japan, and I

Pins for Calvin College Conference

If you have been following my blog you will know about Rotary pins. If you have not been, there is a tradition among exchange students to make their own pins and trade them. It's a nice way to remember each other. Tomorrow I leave the multidistrict conference at Calvin College. At this conference, one gains many, many pins. But in order to get them, you also must give them. I have made over 150 pins at I bet I will be completely out by the end of the conference.

Central States Multi-District

Staying on campus ND for Summer School

On the Notre Dame football field

My friends Andrea, Taira, and I during our tour of the Notre Dame stadium

I am staying on campus for two weeks of Summer School. In the morning we go to the same geometry class we have been going to all year. Then we go to our afternoon class. My class is public speaking. After that, we have our afternoon activity, like touring the stadium. After study tables, we have an evening activity. We don't get back to our dorms until 10:00 at night. It sounds like a lot but its actually quite fun.

Sunset on one of the Notre Dame lakes

Flowers at Notre Dame

Because I have done so much gardening this Summer I have a new appreciation for other people's landscaping. Notre Dame's is especially amazing, I have been taking some pictures of the flowers on the around campus.

Before and After knowing

Before I knew the details about where I was going conversations about exchange were kind of sad, I felt like I was constantly disappointing people.

After I found out the details I was excited to tell people and they were excited to listen!