I want to be an American!

THis two nights have been amazing. I've seen more about life here in America more than the past month, and really felt the warmth of really really nice Americans!

NYC and WAshington I promise I will blog ab0ut soon; there was simply too much to write to get started. *hehx*

ANyway, last night, Larry took me and two cl0se Columbians and a Mesadonian friend down to the VCU campus, and we just played street A.Football in the middle of campus! They basically simplified it to like touching instead of tackling, and it was really really awesome because I was the only girl there and they were huge guys and they were really so nice to include me, throwing the ball at me to catch and like watching out in case they bowl me over..

And A.Football is really fun!! Something like touch except without the backing. We ran about to and fro and really had a good workout..Basically each team has four tries to get the ball to the touchline, and we stand in two rows facing each other, with one of us throwing the ball for all the rest to catch when we run at "Hut!"

Had a ball of a time really, and I found out later Larry only knew like two of the other six or so guys. Boys really make friends easily! And this is their usually hobby; just like how XM and the boys played BBall n street soccer back home..

THen tonight, 16 of us SIngaporeans went to this really friendly American lady's house. SHe's really awesome to have invited us! And we hardly knew her at all except from seeing her at the park; And it was just the lifeguards who knew her first. But anyways, the plan was that she come down to the dorm at about 2pm, and take us to Blue Ridge Mountains. But somehow we went to some Botanical Gardens-like children farm cos she was ill..

THen we headed down to a real house which had a farm; it was her neighbour actually. It was really amazing how the kids from the house ran barefooted around the barns and cornfields showing us the animals; like a baby kitten Juicy, and the horses--ANapony and starlight or something.. and the two beautiful golden retrievers.. and the house had woods and they play in it like hiding Easter eggs during Easter for a hunt, and shooting flying discs with shotguns. It really is the kind of life I wish I grew up in! ANd the House was really really beautiful and big and classic; the kind which had fireplaces and a cookout place and treeswings and a pretty wooden castle for the kids to play with..It was such an ideal country lifestyle!

Then we went over to Rachell's house to make dinner about 5-6pm..her house is damn pretty too!! Three dogs, including her pomeranian Buffy, and a fireplace and a classic piano; and her children are all so talented!! She has four, and three of them hung out with us the whole day..the oldest son (who wasn't there) is an artist/painter gg to take art in VCU, the second son can write music and take pictures, the daughter can make dresses (and I mean the ball gown Victorian or LOTR standard dresses!!) and the youngest can basically do everything!

And they are all home schooled by Rachelle; something like what Emmie's family is doing..I think it's a Christian thing so parents can teach their kids the values they want, and the kids get alot of self-discipline! I really saw things in a different way; I guess it really isn't a bad thing when Emmie moved away and also homeschooled.. They really get a lot of time to develop other hobbies and talents, and character too..

So anyways we had a feast for dinner, us preparing tomato and minced beef and coke chicken, the NTU gang had their steamed egg and spicy cabbage/brocoli, and Rachelle made pasta of two kinds and dessert, which was a chocolate cake and breadpudding and rice pudding and our bought lemon meringue. Super full! And everything was so good you just couldn't NOT have second helpings! :P

Her home was really filled with warmth and I chatted with the daughter and the second son, and learnt so much about their life! Really made me wish I was American. U really have all that land and space and the values to pass on to the next generation, and the kids I saw today were really the kind I love; hugs and kisses and thank yous and all warm and really super friendly! ANd all the people I meet so far have such strong National Spirit, and they really work so hard to earn their keep!

All the kids at the park are like juggling an average of two jobs including school, and mostly support themselves because they know their parents are earning to pay for alot of other things..
I really admire that fact and it's an AMerican thing because they leave their parents at 18 or so and become really independent! I really feel so ashamed that I'm so spoilt and I really really wish I was brought up that way. And of course really appreciate the parents. I just hope I'm not so spoilt I can't deal with hardship!

Shucks all this American influence has really got me intrigued. Twenty days or less here! I don't wanna go back! It's gonna be so hard because i'll have to tear myself away.. I don't know if this is a good thing or bad but exposing myself to this side of AMerica has made me really rethink my life steps. There is so much to work on internally, and time is really short for me because I'm 22 in a month! :(

OKay anyways I should stop here since it's 6am here and I have work at 330pm later. Adios!