My Winter Formal

The Winter Formal! Since my class is an English class I made the invites in english. 72 out of 76 people in my class showed up! No one had ever attended a homecoming or formal in Sweden before, so everyone was very excited and dressed up for this event. I was bummed on missing out on homecoming at CHS, so I thought I'd make one here, at my place!

I made seat placements, to mix it up a bit!

Artur and Clara have finished their chocolate dessert!

 Live music of course! My grandmother always has her contacts to help out in any situation. This was a friend of friend as usual, from way back.

He created a lovely atmoshere for all, to get people to loosen up! Everyone was excited but new to all of this. So was I of course, but I did my best as the hostess!

The table names and arrangment to fit everyone. I named the tables by themes of winter and christmas (candles, ice, santa, porrage, ginger bread, etc.) The rectangle in the middle is the buffe table for the main course: salmon, potatoes, and more.

Served GLÖGG (GL-uhhh-GG) or mulled wine which is very traditional to drink during the christmas season. Glögg has become one of my favorite drinks, but they don't sell it much after christmas.

Marilia and Michelle-->

 At the tables, we had a little quiz of random facts. Each table was a team. I asked the questions out loud with the help of a microphone, but needed some assitance since I had just removed my tonsills.
<---Iman one of the winners (everyone eneded up being "winners") with her prize, an oil lamp!

 My grandmother serving white wine (alcohol-free) since this was still a school event-ish.

I'm so lucky to have a gandmother that's so enthusiastic and generous enough to have all these kids at her place <3

(below) Appetizers: Skagen macka (SK-awwe-GEN M-ahh-KA) with caviar.

There was a vegetarian alternative also.

 Left to right: Rinad, Frida, Frida, Lara, Hannah, Niki, Naima

 <--Jana, Farangis, Natalie

Philip and Nathalie leaving   the dining room with everyone to see the dancing room. But we all have to put on our coats first!

 It's below freezing outside!

 The only picture I'm in! Next time we're NOT forgetting the group picture!

 Line and Artem dancing the Waltz. Everone jumped in and got classical. Throughout the prior week, those who could Waltz gave out lessons at school. So the left-over people (incl. me) learned the Waltz when the music started. It was very fun!

The whole formal part of "formals" has been lost at CHS, since there has never been any Waltzing there!
I think that this should be brought back, because it was one of people's favorite activity.

 Randomly decided to play musical chairs, all 70 of us! Haven't done this in yeaaaars!






(Below)
All the losers! ...watching the suspense of the finalists!














  

Bella hanging loose "på dans golvet"!
 (on the dance floor)






<---- The gentlemen!
John, Jakob, Christopher, Artem, and Jeremi

Hillevi and I after everyone has left. They're waiting for the last taxi to pick them up.

Everyone was welcome to come this time for free, so that everyone could have the chance to know each other and see if they like the idea of formals or homecomings. Everyone seemed very happy and appreciated the night, so I'm sure that there will another in the spring. I sure hope so!

Old Year, New Year

I'm officially at the halfway point in my exchange. In the last month and a half, I think i've experienced more changes and new experiences than I thought could be squeezed into such a short period of time.

I survived the end of the world (el fin del mundo) and celebrated it at my friend from school Sara's 18th birthday party. Here I am with Natalia, Adriana and Sara the birthday girl.

                               Me and mi rubia (Carolina) the second of three blondes in my grade.

Celebrated Christmas the Spanish way

1. Light show at the Palacio de Cibeles

Followed by taking advantage of Gran Via (basically Madrid's Broadway) being roped off to stop in the middle for a photo opp

2. Pictures under the giant christmas tree (harbor de navidad) in Plaza de Sol

(Chewbacca happened to be there, turns out he looooooves California)

3. A trip to the party neighborhood (el barrio de Chueca) to do some christmas shopping with my friend from school Jesus

He brought us here, a good friend no?

The end result, very happy americans

Even got my first spanish cd from his uncle's music store. And just from looking at that hair you know it's going to be good.

4. Hiking in the snow

5. Snowball fight with my friend Laura and her sister Blanca

...Laura lost

6. A trip to the top of the Circulo de Bellas Artes to get the best view of the city

7. The Christmas Tree in Plaza de Colon with my brother and his girl friend Paula

8. Plaza Mayor with the family to see the christmas market

and to eat bocadillos de calamares 

9. Outdoor iceskating with Paula's little cousin

Once Christmas was over, my german friend, Anna, who's staying in the north of Spain for her exchange came to visit me.

Anna with my host dad

So we took her for a night out dancing in Madrid

My friend Rafa, Anna and I

Alonso, Mallory and Marcos

And on a trip to the city of Segovia

The aquaduct of Segovia

Lunch

Her first trip to Starbucks in 4 months

Parque del Retiro

And then of course New Years Eve (nochevieja) 

1. First Plaza de Sol at noon with the family for the rehearsal. Why they need to rehearse eating a grape every second (for luck) for the 12 seconds before the clock strikes midnight I'm not really sure.

12 grapes of luck

2. Cheering on the runners in the San Silvestre Vallecana 

3. Family dinner, grapes at midnight and sparklers

4. And a house party with my friends lasting till breakfast time

Followed by a day of rest, and then onto the next holiday, Los Reyes Magos (the three kings or three wise men), which included a family meal

Yes that is a whole pig's leg sitting in my kitchen

And of course the eating of Roscon, a special bread made only for Christmas and the three kings day

Which has a special figurine inside some piece of it and the person who gets the figurine will have good luck in the new year and has to pay for next years Roscon

12 more months till I need to ante up

Vacations done, I headed back to school only to be visited by some friends from home

So I took them to do a bit of sightseeing

Puerta de Alcala

A strike outside the bank of Spain

And to my favorite place, Retiro

It was my first time seeing anyone from home. The only people I've seen in the last 4 months have been people I've just met in the last 4 months, so it was a little sad to see them go. But, with exchange you realize there is always something new to try. So, the following weekend I found myself in my friend Mallory's pueblo. What is a pueblo you ask? A teeny, teeeeeeeny, tiny town. Mallory, my exchange student friend lives in the pueblo Alpedrete, about 40 minutes outside of Madrid by bus. When I told my brother I was going there for the weekend he first asked, "where is that?" and then "you're joking right?" 

But no, I took the bus for the first time out of the city, by myself, and found myself walking around Mal's town (didn't take long to do), stuck in a storm and hopping from bar to bar so we could get coffee from each one before they closed early due to the storm.

So we did what any good exchange student does in a situation like this, we shopped

True, the pickings were a bit slim

But when shopping failed, there was of course, sheep chasing

By far one of the weirdest weekends I've had. But also one of the most entertaining. And a great way to end the old year and start a new one. 6 more months in Spain I'm sad to see them go, but thrilled to have them.