xargol's weblog

Tomorrow morning, my one year long adventure to the US as an exchange student commences.
Grand RapidsMy flight from Gardermoen, Norway leaves at 11:30 AM, and after changing flights in Newark and Cleveland, I finally arrive at Gerald R. Ford International Airport outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan, some 16 hours later.

I’m going to stay in a town called Jenison, a suburb about 15 km away from Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, and is with its almost 800.000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area, quite larger than what I’m used to.

I’m travelling through the Rotary Youth Exchange program, and during the year I’m going to attend high school at Jenison High School in Jenison. I’m going to have my school year in the US count as the second grade school year I would normally attend here in Norway, so that when I get back to Norway next year, I’ll resume school in the third grade.
Jenison High School

During the year, I will stay with three or four families. The first family has two boys aged 14 and 18 and a girl aged 15. School starts on September 4, so I will have a week and a half to get settled before the school year begins.

I’ve spent the last week or so tidying my room, sorting through all my stuff and packing my bags. The past days I’ve been rather anxious to leave, but now that the day of departure is close, I’m just eager to get going.

I hope that my year in the US is going to be a positive experience, and I’ll do my best to keep you updated from time to time.