Yes, tis that time of the year when all pranks are pulled and people embarass themselves.  We went to the youth group and the joke they pulled on us was not a very funny one. We played ‘Blind Musical Chairs’ same as the normal one but this time we are blind-folded and need to find the chairs.

HOWEVER!

Some of the other kids, moved the chairs when the music was playinng so you could not ever really tell where a chair was! As it turned out I was bad at this game and got out in the second round!

Now brace yourselves, I am about to get a hair cut!! 30mins later and with some hair gone, I had many a laugh from Kyle, because I looked so dorky. But ah well, what can we do, I mean it will grow back someday…I hope!

Then we come to the big topic of this week,
I have been talking with my host family and they think I would be much happier with another family and in a northern state, (mostly because I seem to be upset lots and that I would appreciate some more open people to stay with), I am not going to lie. At first I was sort of jumping to the idea of moving, what an experience, new family, new school, new friends, (Anything I had done would be not known and I would yet again, have a fresh start). But with problems that others have been having with families, I am not sure if I want to, I mean I could get a horrible family that would treat me bad, and not be as nice and good as the family that I have. (Hm…I am in quite a pickle!?).

I am torn about what to do, hm?, Let me think…

(Meanwhile, inside Joanthon’s head)

“What do I do? Lets think of the positives and the negatives and see what I can do…

Positive
- Good Family
- Good Friends
- Nice People
- Possible Trips to go on

And then the Negatives…

Negative
- I have been teased by people at school, because I don’t fit in
- The school is dull, and does not have subjects I really want to try
- Church is a burden for me
- Alot of people will not talk to me because I am not from there
- My best friend at the moment is a girl from Norway, (What am I going to do when she leaves in June?!)
- The school has no structure

Needless to say I have more negative then positive…

I am confused about what to do, people tell me to move, my parents say stay, others tell me to stay till June then move…I am confused. And it is tearing me apart!

WHAT DO I DO!?!?!

(Back in my head)

Perhaps some thinking is in order…

This week has certainly been an eventful one;

Day one: Rachel’s house.
That was a good night, although a bonfire with lots of flamable liquid plus a bunch of some-what crazy teenagers may not be the best combination. We tried to make a ‘Z’ for Zoro, in the sand with lighter fluid, It worked well, until it set a foot on fire. Hm…alright, lets get rid of the lighter fluid before we end up setting the hosue on fire. And the loud music beating through the body of all  of us was fun. Although I think I may know be tone deaf. So without further ado, it was a fantastic start to the spring break. The first I have ever had.

Then along came, day two:
I went to the movies with Tiffany and Rachel to see ‘Last house on the left’. I did not really enjoy that, then after trying to convice that Rachael was 16 and not her real age of 15 to get into the movie. We made it in. After we went to Taco Bell. Interesting food, that will once again leave you feeling gasier than when you entered.

Day three:
Boring, sunday! NEXT!

Day four:
Went to Tiffany’s place for a movie night. We watched ‘Seven’, boring and gross. And once again, being asked to say something ‘cool’ and australian. With some more laughing about what I call cookies and what they call scones. But I mean that is to be expected, especially when you get to be in another country for as long as I am going to be.

Day five:
Tonight we lost a valued friend/pet of the family. The family cat, ‘Smartie’ was killed by wild dogs from the next door neighbour. So we went outside and found the poor cat ripped and crushed on the road. Damn those Dogs! It was a sasd occasion. We had Scott come and get her. And he put her in a trash bag and then on the driveway of the man who owns the dogs. He has so far had his dogs kill 2 cats and a dog of the host family.

Day six:
The Lake! Freezing cold and those little floating yellow things in the water is, well, pollen. Yes, it is gross to swim in yellow slime, but it was a body of water and I am well over due in the swimming department. It was water and it looked some-what like a beach, I don’t care what anyone says. I am going in. Sadly I had to get out, in order to remain a man! Then tonight Alissa and myself went to Larry’s pizza. By far the best pizza ever! And Kyle went to his friend, (Gunners) house.

Day seven:
Tonight, Kyle, Amanda, Gunner, Ben, Cory and Colbie and myslef went to ‘Buffet City’, then we attepmted to go bowling, not realising that it was bowling night for the state. So we went to see ‘Race to Witch Mountain’ it was a good movie.

Day eight:
Today Alissa and I spent 3 hours doing paper work. (If I never do it again it will be too soon). Then we went to the Clinton Museum. Twas rather interesting.

Day nine:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COURNTNEY!?!?! We went to Larry’s pizza for her birthday. It was quite a fun night!

Day ten:
Today I got we wen to see the public baths in Hot Springs. Then to the ‘Western Sizzler’ with Kyle’s grandparents. They were so lovely and so very nice. I can’t wait to meet them again.

And that concludes my Spring break. What a wonderous week it was!

The dreaded day when we need to wear green in order to avoid the pinch that could really hurt, sady I have not been able to aquire any green clothing and so I have sucummbed to being pinched. When will this holiday end? In about 1 hour and 52 minutes and counting, perhaps I may be able to avoid the dreaded ‘pinch’ I have fought so hard to avoid.

Well I really need to get off to bed, lots to dream about or rather homework that I should be doing.

Till next time.

Stubles, falls and trips, yes I have gone roller skating for the first time in 4-5 years, I was a not-so-graceful, skater. But it was by far one of the best nights I have had here so far, I was thrown around the rink by Robert and swept across the floor, with my host mum Alissa and Roberts girlfriend Kimmy cheering me on, it was a great night, with an ending of good mexican, at Chijlis.

Also I have never realised how much I value, fruit and veg before, but I went and got myself some and I will never doubt the wonders of fruit and veg.

Also I have been informed of a very sad issue this week, my Uncle Eric in England, died at approximatly 7:30pm on Tuseday 10th of March. It was not unexpected, but we all thought he had some more time left. He had prostate cancer, and there was nothing we could do, he never smoked, did not drink, and was a kind and caring man, it was sad to see him leave this world, but at least he was able to say goodbye to his wife and children, at least he has gone to a better place.

R.I.P

I have not been sick yet! Has the Australian climate, and my families carful eye watching over me while I ate dirt possibly given me a good imune system? Apprently so, because I have not been sick, AT ALL. Which in a way is good, but a day off will nto be passed up, if only I am abel to get some more sleep. And many of my good pals from EF camp, are not having the best year, having a bad family is now at the top of the list. I am lucky to have such a good family.

And now we are heading into spring, the buffy eyes, runny noses, and sneezing, has not missed me. I am doing alright but I am possibly going to be hit with some hayfever sooner rather than later. And we school is good, for the most part, sure things canb be bad with some students but all is not lost if you keep a big smile and a cheery disposition you will do just fine.

And I have now got Jason Mraz tickets! I am so very excited, April 28th, is it just me or is it taking forever to get here? But It will be one heck of a concert and I will certainly be having the time of my life!

Now something to leave you thinking about,

When in English and you are bored, get Amanda, Theirry, Linda and Chris and put on ‘Stacey’s Mom’ and you are in for one heck of a ride. It really makes an English lesson, FUN!

Also for thought,

How Americans Say it | How Australians Say it
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
No-i                                      |    No
Computer                          |   Computa
Chuck-a-woo-baly         |   Chuck a wobbly
Vega-mite                         |    Vegemite
Ban-anna                           |    Bah-nah-nah
Grammer                          |    Gramma
Au-ssie                               |   Auzzie
Mars-da                             |   Mazda

But where are my manners? HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISSA! Yes it was that fantastic time of the year when we get to party and celebrate a birthday, of a mother, daughter, friend and companion. (I think the last 2 were the same. What do you think?). I took it upon myself to make dinner. Someone clear out of the kitchen, Jonathon is coming!!! Yes, I attempted to make damer (Aussie Bush Bread) with, cornmeal! Yes, cornmeal, I realised it was not flour when it was yellow and the other aspect of it being grainy. CHUCK IT! So we tried again, this time, finally! It at least looked like what damper is meant to look like. In the oven with that! Now get me peas, sausages, and some potatos, STAT! We are going to make Bangers and Mash! (The only thing I felt safe making) The overall turn out was good, although the Damper I attepmted to make was burnt on the outside and still batter inside. Well at least I tried! Then I attempted lamingtons, and well lets just say they looked like it, just did not taste like it. And as they say, ‘If you can’t stand the fire, get out of the kitchen, and possibly get the fire fighters and someone get the fire extingisher, I AM ON FIRE!’

And this week, we had the basketball finals, girls won and boys did their very best. CONGRATES GUYS AND GIRLS YOU DID VERY WELL. POYEN INDIANS!!

And now for a Public Service Announcment from me, Do Not hang up on someone who is half way around the world. I did this to my sister, and I felt awful, so I called back and apologised. I may never had spoken to her again, and I believe we should always end on a possitive note.

That has been a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, join me next week for more America.

Jonathon a.k.a. Keenjellybean, signing out!

I have had a bowling party with that was organised by my IEC Leighann. She is very nice and so very pleasant. She gave me some ideas about what I could to do to pass the time and have more fun. Like rasing a pig from birth and then having it go in contests at the state fair and possibly win some prizes. Although that would interfere with us going to New York and so many other places in the summer, so it is still in the works.

I have also learnt that I have become more clumbsy than I have been in my entire life, I was running down the stairs and I rolled my foot and triped. All of a sudden I rolled, and just laid on the grass and laughed myself silly. Well I spose that in a new country you need to go with the flow.

School is going rather well, apart from one girl in school, I was really questioning why I even wondered coming on this exchange, if it was only to be humiliated. Being yourself in another country can be harsh, you need to act just like they do in order to fit in, well it is that way for some people at school. But why let it get to me, I am over it, sick of the crap.

Also I have wondered why when we meet someone who speaks another language, we always ask them how to say some dirty words? Linda has taught me some, it sounds like, yaevla kok hodie, it means something bad, so for all those little kiddies reading this, do not repeat this around parents, or better yet not around anyone at all.

It has been 5 weeks since arriving in the United States of America. I have met some very nice people and some very, uh, interesting people here so far. I have become friends with a very funny girl called Linda, she is from Norway. We have made it custom to say each others name, with a whisper, then again with a whisper and then almost yell it at each other. (Anyone who has seen ‘Hot Chick will know exactly what I am talking about). Also World History at school, well to say the least, I know I am not failing…most times if the teacher, does not want to teach or is sick, then we watch a movie. So far we have watched; ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Bill and Ted’s: Excellent Adventure’, and also ‘Frankenstein’, how it realates to History I will not quite understand. Although most classes are bearable, to say the very least.

I have also finally grasped the ways of the average American, you get up, get to school, copy the homework off other people who have done it, go to class, sleep, and this continues till around 11:20am, then we have lunch. Now some of the food that the school serves is, interesting, one week we had Taco Soup and to say the least, I had no idea what was in it, and nearly everytime you eat something, you REALLY DO NOT want to know what is in it. Then After lunch you go to the computer room and play computer games, or write an email, then I am off to English where we sleep again, then when it finally gets to the last period of the day, we talk, laugh and don’t really do work. Then you come home, watch television, go on Facebook, and talk to other friends, then you go to bed and do the same all over again. Yes it may sound boring, but I have managed to humour myself and make it a bit better.

Also church can feel like quite a burden. We went to a pizza place, called Mazzio’s and it is really nice, buffet pizza and drink for $11 US. From my somewhat brief time there, I learnt 2 things; 1. Do not attempt to adjust your jumper when sitting down, it can be hard to fix up. And 2. Do pay attention to what is going on around you, I was putting my arm through the sleeve of my jumper and my host brother, was walking past me and my hand ‘SHOT’ out and hit his plate, (which if this were an olympic sport I could easily make gold), which went flying across the room and landing with a loud…CLANG! As it hit the floor. Within seconds I had everyone from the youth group in laughter due to my clumsyness.

This week has been alright, with my odd slips and stubles I seem to be able to entertain aswell as injure myself in the progress, I call that an Ace day in my book, which will be about 999 pages long…it will be filled with my war-stories, and this will be the fist on the list.

One thing I have learnt is that if you have a waffle-fry and you start choking, do not expect Kyle or Courtny to help, they shall merely laugh at you.