My U.S.A dream

I just realized something today, so I decided to share it with you, guys. So what I realized was that I fulfilled my dream in the age of 17. Yeah. Amazing, huh?...That's what I thought too.. So let's see. When I was in 8th grade my biggest dream was to go to America for an exchange year and guess what? Four years later I'm in America, having the greatest time of my life being an exchange student.

I remember my last year in Norway. I remember getting letters in the mail preparing me for this. I remember having one goal; to get good enough grades to be accepted. Babysitting after hours imagining about my future host family, dreaming about my arrival on the airport in Phoenix, picturing my future friends, my future "brothers" and "parents"..You have no idea what so ever how intensely I wanted this. Every time I went through something that sucked the air out of me or just really messed me up inside I would convince myself to calm down, to just keep my mind straight. Focusing on where I was going in a short time. And as the day for my departure came closer I got more and more pumped and excited. There were times when I just wanted to scream and jump and dance and laugh and cry all at the same time. I would go for a run to get it out, I would go and play golf, just do something, anything to get my energy out. To not explode with all this energy and adrenaline that was pumping through my veins.

And now, when I am here, I catch myself actually being here, you know? Speaking English and having conversations I rehearsed back in Norway. Hanging out with friends at the mall, going grocery shopping at Fry's, buying soda and slushies at Circle K and eating starbursts, skittles and what not in class. It's like some freaky never-ending dream. And that's the thing. I never want it to end. I mean i really love my family, my friends and MY Norway, but I love this too. I love being "the Norwegian chic with the awesome accent". "The exchange student who get all A's" or "the Mexican guy's girlfriend, you know, the Norwegian exchange student?"

Back to my "realization"...so yeah. I know that you are kinda supposed to use like years on make your dreams come true, but I guess you get some easy. When people asked me what I was dreaming about, my "goal" in life I guess, I would say to go to America, to be an exchange student. And then they would say; "..and after that?" And I would stare at them as if they just turned into some purple, fat elephant with big angel wings. Just for the record, I never answered that part, because I don't really know. I mean, I just got my dream fulfilled, what else can I ask for?

That's all for now. Peace Out. Ida