Week 3

On Monday the 3rd, mom and I started the day by going to downtown Louisville to get library cards while dad introduced himself at the new school without students to deal with. Later on I went to New Vista High as well for enrolment with the other new students coming in halfway through the year. I felt like I stood out from the crowd because of the absence of piercings, tattoos, colored hair, chains and wings??? On Tuesday, while dad went back to the school for some more reconnaissance, I enrolled for ??karate?? and after that mom and I caught the bus to Flatirons Crossing (Shopping Center) but didn't find anything to buy, so caught the bus home. That night we all went to Nancy and Bob's for dinner. I was stunned yet pleased to see a variety of at least six different flavors of ice cream available. Wednesday was my first day of school! The school system is not only different from Australia; but America as well. Instead of a set curriculum, you choose your own subjects. Your mixed in with all the other students, regardless of grade and work at your standard. I decided on Spanish, algebra, CAP (Community Adventure Program), and a workshop which is making a drum! On Wednesday I only had algebra (2 hours!!!), advisory; which is like role call, but also has topics such as transgender and drug use as discussion; and workshop where we made our plans for our drums. That night, from 7 till 8:30 I have karate! I had a private lesson, even though I couldn't even put my belt on properly! And it's harder than it looks! I slept well that night. On Thursday I had Spanish for the first time which seemed easy, algebra, and in the afternoon I had CAP. We went outside to play these games to learn the names of everybody. That afternoon we learnt that there would be two camps high up in the mountains, at the end of January and February. I also managed to get hold of a locker. On Friday I had Spanish, algebra, advisory and CAP, which turned out to be a two hour session of hiking!! I had to keep reminding everyone that the altitude left me bereft of oxygen, but I didn't come in last. After we came back down the near vertical pathway, we played a game where a tarp was a magic carpet?? That night we all went shopping for school supplies and afterwards I got dropped off for my second session of karate where we literally "wax on, wax off" only that we clean the floor. On Saturday Dad and I went skiing up at Eldora, where I started off on harder blue runs. I fell over twice the first time, but I remained stable the second. I moved over to a supposedly easier run, after catching the chairlift with an instructor, which was icy and very steep. I fell over once and as soon as I moved I slid all the way down. The rest was easy. Dad fell over and squished our lunches. It got a little bit windier and started to snow in the afternoon. That night we went to Toni and Bob's place for dinner, where having to live up to my New Year's Resolution of try everything, meant having to eat shrimp and a mix of vegetables. Then we went home to bed at midnight. Today we lazed around doing homework and watching movies on the hundred channels available due to the heavy snow (yet again). Tomorrow begins another week of school for Dad and I, but for mom shes got ten-pin bowling and yoga on Tuesday! So this week I'll have another dose of unique education; school adventures, and practicing my touch of death!:) I also added a picture page in case you didn't know!