dreaming these dreams

as we go on we remember

2009-06-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

all the times we had together.
Edison graduating class of 2009 =D
Ok so i'm way behind in my posting but I thought everyone would be most curious about graduation. So here's a few pictures.

check it out

(;

ceremony was in the gym

guys in black, girls in red

Jamal

Chris

Shelby

Anne

Tea and Kayla and Kody

Tamara and Anna

family picture

"we're foreign, we don't know"
yeah right.

Scott, Kasey, Lana, Kegan

Yigit's host family

Fabian

David

Nolan

Salena

Julie

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

HAHAHAA

parents

maso

Bonnie and Wallace

Solayman's host parents

Solayman's graduation present

check out mine. HAHA

we wish :P

Nashville

2009-06-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

Remember on my last trip to Tennessee I met my American aunty and her 2 kids?

Well, I went to visit them in Nashville.

First we went to the Frist Center for Visual Arts

(;

Sophie and Rosie

in the middle of the roundabout

guess who i met downtown?

Cumberland River

it leads to the Mississipi River

can't fight the moonlight

the State House

Chet Atkins

that's the Hermitage Hotel

at&t building a.k.a batman building

the Ryman Auditorium

Patsy Cline impersonator

Kitty Wells exhibit

have you heard of her?

I haven't either.

this wall was really cool.

covered with posters of the musicians.

blue suede shoes

Elvis Presley's solid gold cadillac

and his gold piano

Johnny Cash, the man in black

records

and records

and records.

would you ever wear those?

Dolly Parton magazine covers

this is the Hall of Fame.

where they hung up all the plaques

this is the replica of the Parthenon

pretty cool, right?

this is inside.

statue of Athena, goddess of wisdom

the snake represents the people,

she's protecting them with the shield.

this is a house in Franklin, Tennessee. the family that stayed there offered their house to be used like a hospital during the Civil War. there was a huge battle that took place there and about 600 confederate soldiers were looked after in that house.

we got to go inside on a tour, no photography allowed.

they even gave some of their land to be used as a cemetery for the soldiers.

last picture of the day (:

life is a roller coaster

2009-05-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

just gotta ride it.

Exchangers and Sunday School teens trip to Indiana Beach!
It's an amusement park, they call it Indiana Beach because there's like a long boardwalk and some of the rides are beside it.

in line

the steel hawk

just walking in

after our first ride

they made me go in there!! ):

pirate ship, always fun

like the Spinner in Genting

Falling Star

lunch break

bumper cars

The Double Shot!

our last ride of the day, a relaxing one.

boat ride (:

meet Chris from Thailand.

not in our group either. he's same with Kittipong

my heart will go on...

haha

the end to a great day.

we're going to the zoo, how about you?

2009-05-28T16:11:00.001-07:00

Kevin and Chris took Lindsey, Fati, Bernard, Dale and I to the Brookfield Zoo =D
In case you're wondering where's Norman, he was visiting family in New York.

the entrance

monkeying around

There was a new dinosaur exhibition

it don't scare us

anyone else thinking of The Land Before Time?

rawr.

the little chick

a symbol of the USA

They had like a petting zoo kinda thing where you can brush the goats.

polar bear!

orangutan (:

Tarzan's family

The Living Coast

happy feet!

one of my favourite animals of the day

Saw tons more animals but I think that's all for now.

the night of nights

2009-05-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

Edison Prom 2009! Was really fun. We all had a good time.

elene and i

meet Dale Gaffner

corsage

prom was at Sand Creek Country Club

tulips

grand march

clockwise from left: Kevin, Dale, Teri, Chris, Lindsey, Jessica

Tea and Anne

Yigit and Gabby, Elene and Kitipong, Michael, Dale and I

*Kitipong's an exchange student from Thailand, not under Chris

Mrs. Georgion, my art teacher

happy happy happy day

2009-04-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Kody!

from left: Tea (sis), Tamara ( sis in law), Kayla (Tea's daughter), Anna (Tamara's daughter), Kody (Tea's son), Steve (dad)

*Roosevelt, Tamara's son is behind Anna

clockwise from top: Steve (bro), Tamara (his wife), Kayla, Tea, Carson ( Steve's son)

blowing out the candles. he's 4

he got a tent and sleeping bag!

eating on the porch

fill it up

2009-04-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

As a part of Global Youth Awareness Day, we organised a food drive!

We went street to street, house to house collecting food.

Malaysia, Truly Asia

in the morning

it was windyyy!

break for lunch

almost to the end

no ihsan, i don't think they'll accept you at the food pantry.

in the end

artsy fartsy

2009-04-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

Art field trip! Get to miss school! Yeay! haha xD
We went to Chicago, one of the art schools there and the museum. No pictures allowed.

train from miller again

ate asian for lunch haha

this was outside the galleries

finally got a picture with Anita! (Germany)

sat on a double decker train back home

you spin my head right round, right round

2009-04-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

One evening we went over to my brother, Steve's house (which is on the same street) to hang out on the trampoline! Was so much fun. We were all so crazy. haha

that's kasey.

yigit's host bro.

that's carson, steve's son.
he was doing a backflip.

the kids

the big kids

the girls

squashed.

then guess who joined us?

adit and ihsan!

and yigit!

we all tried this barrel thing.

getting dark

follow me there, a beautiful somewhere

2009-04-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

a place that we can share.

My host mum (Anne) and Lisa (Deeksha and Madina's host mum) brought Tavia, Rekia, Deeksha, Madina and I to the Indiana Dunes one evening.

Looks like the sea?

It's Lake Michigan.

cold, cold water

can you guess which one's me?

We could see Chicago all the way on the other side!

Library, Literacy, Reading

2009-04-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

In March, Elene, Solayman and I entered an art competition organised by the library. We got an honourable mention ($ 100) =D

Reporter from the Post Tribune interviewing us

that's it. it's supposed to hang in the Lake Station library.

Solayman did 4 more by himself.

This one's my favourite.

another

and another

and the last one.

525600 minutes. how do you measure, measure a year?

2009-04-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

Went with school's Musical Club to watch Rent, The Broadway Tour. Google it. aha

to chicago again

waiting for the train

yeay train's here

getting on

on the train

got our tickets

walking to the theatre

the original cast

the theatre.

they don't allow us to take pictures inside like where the stage is.

Ms. Williams, my english literature teacher

that's all (:

you're the ten i see

2009-04-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

Tennessee! Elene, Solayman and I took a week off school, the week after spring break. Haha. So we got an extra week off. =D
Their parents have a house there so we stayed there. My host mum took me and her sister stays in Tennessee so we picked her up on the way too. Deeksha and Madina's family went as well. So one big happy family.

Back in the 70's, my mum's family hosted an American exchange student in their home. So I contacted her and we met for dinner in Tennesee. Was really cool to meet her.

That's her and her 2 kids, Sophie and Rosie

Next morning left to Lake City. That's the house.

So the first place we went to was Clingman's Dome, The Smokey Mountains

On the way up. Stopped for lunch.

It was like 20 miles from the starting of the mountain to get to here.

Me and my host mum

all the kids

meet Tavia, Deeksha and Madina's host sister

It was another walk like a mile until we reached this thing then walked up that thing.

the whole walk was steeeep

but worth it.

once we got back down

the drive back home, we stopped here

the next day

meet Rekia, Madina and Deeksha's other host sister

at the top

going back down

next place, Rock City

The Needle's Eye

Mushroom Rock

Swing-a-long bridge

swing, swing from the tangles of my heart (8)

even when your hope is gone,

move along, move along just to make it through (8)

See seven states!

tulips

Lover's Leap

Up next, Ruby Falls. The guy that discovered the falls crawled through this crack for 6 hours!

Finally, Ruby Falls. He named it after his wife.

They made it all dramatic with the lights. haha

Imagine that. 260 feet below ground.

Noone nows where it comes from or where it goes.

We were all craving pizza!

The end.

It was a good trip.

I took tons of pictures, didn't post all.

Hopefully this is a good enough summary. (:

Chicago, again

2009-04-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

Chris took Fati, Bernard, Ihsan and Fatima and I to Chicago for CBYX reunion which is the Germany-America program Anita is on. It was for American returnees that went on the program to Germany. Only 5 of us went cos it was spring break, everyone was gone. We still had fun!

macho

the girls

outside Holiday Inn

on the way home

longing, wishing, waiting

we woke up that morning and look what's back!
snow!

preeeetyyyy

it was cold... and wet

rosy from the cold

Chicago, Illinois

2009-03-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Finally! Got to check out Chicago =D
I was really excited and it turned out to be great, had a really good time (:

The red sign says to Chicago

from Miller station

to Millenium

walking the streets

stopping for a picture

The bean!

under the bean

we're on TV!

outside Sears Tower

jumping off

i know, bad picture. but it's Forever 21! *inside joke

Navy Pier

laughter

dark picture. see that tiny bit of colour on the building on the left?

this was what was on it

Excalibur Club

picture says it all...

Picasso!

Eternal Flame

Theatre

Multicultural Week Opening

2009-03-30T11:41:00.001-07:00

Hey. Multicultural Week just ended. Here's some pictures of me and the other exchangers but none of what we did for the opening. Aha sorry. Chris took those pictures with her camera. She makes copies for us at the end of our stay. So this is all I got.

before

after

Here's the only group picture I have, without me in it. Haha. Supposed to be only River Forest students but Venda still went in the pic. She goes to Portage High School.

Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Indonesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, American (not exchange student), Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Philippines

*not in picture : Fati, Ghana

Madina and Fatima

Venda

Suna

Deeksha

Sita

Ihsan

Dimitry and Adit

Alex

Yigit

and Norman

aku telah terlalu lesu untuk menari bersama bayang-bayangmu

2009-03-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

So since took me so long to update, 2 posts today! After school yesterday, went biking with Elene and Solayman. We went to the library first to get some books and movies then decided to bike around the lake nearby.

It was all muddy and stuff at this one place.

The lake. No geese that day though.

Little stream

Aha. Solayman caught a fish, he let it go.

Elene

After the lake, we were biking around the neighbourhood and came across this place.

We were saying we found our Terabithia.

Y'know like that book, Bridge to Terabithia, or if you've seen the movie.

Solayman pretending this was his house.

donkey what?

2009-03-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

sorry haven't updated in so long. here's what's been happening besides normal school and just hanging around.

Donkey Ball! brought to you by Edison High School Yearbook (;
since i'm in yearbook i was assigned photographer! YES! got to see all the action happening in the gym... oh and take photos :P Was running around the gym the whole night.
so check out my high school gym. i like it (:

I managed to stop and snap a picture with Melissa.

She's in Yearbook too.

and with Valarie. In choir with her.

Yes. Real people. Real donkeys.

GO YIGIT!

Edison students went up against the Guns & Hoses (policemen and fire fighters)

Free rides for kids during half time.

There's Yigit and his host bro.

It was pretty cool i guess.

Haven't seen people playing basketball on donkeys before so it was a pretty different experience. Haha

you're my rocket to the sky

2009-02-17T19:37:00.000-08:00

push me out and see if i can fly.

Challenger Learning Center with the exchangers! Chris took lots of pictures. We were all pretty occupied. We had to conduct a mock space mission, "Rendezvous with a Comet", specifically comet Encke. So we were split into teams and had our own jobs to do. I was in MEDICAL TEAM. HAHA. Was pretty fun. Did tests and stuff to make sure everyone was healthy in space.

This astronaut was actually from Indiana.

He's been to space like 7 times.

Inside the Orbiter

I got blocked!

That's just half of us.

So in the middle of the mission, the navigation team (Bernard and Solayman) found an unidentified object and we decided to go for that instead of comet Encke and we discovered our own comet and named it Exchangers C'09! =D

After Challenger, some of us went for a movie. First movie in the cinemas in the US! They wanted to watch either Pink Panther 2 or The Uninvited, so you all know which I voted for. In the end it was a tie so we flipped a coin. Pink Panther 2 it is!

That's where you buy tickets.

And that's where you buy popcorn and stuff.

The inside is just like any cinema. It's free seating though.

Today after school, me, Elene, Solayman went to the library.

We walked.

and walked...

and reached! Haha, it's not that far actually. That's what the library looks like.

these four walls

2009-02-17T19:09:00.001-08:00

Helloooo... is it me you're looking for? (8)
Aha. Anyway, here are some pics of Thomas A. Edison Junior Senior High School (:
Couldn't take that many pictures, was in a rush and didn't get all my classes but here's a few to settle your imagination for now (;

My locker. 1179.

Walk by this mural everyday.

The lunchroom. First thing I see when I walk into school.

Edison Eagles (;

Hallway. Edison colours are red and black.

Art room!

I sit in the middle of the first row.

pelajar cemerlang HAHA

Some past students painted on the walls.

Supply room.

Guess I'm painting walls wherever I go!

Homeroom.

This is the only class where I sit at those kind of tables.
The rest are those where the table and chair are joined.

the circle of life

2009-02-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

On friday went to Chicago to watch Disney on Ice at United Center!

Michael Jordan statue outside the center

Of course my favourite was The Lion King (:

Hakuna Matata

It was paaaacked.

me and Suna... and Dmitry's fingers

This is the same place the Chicago Bulls play at.

Finale. Some story about Tinkerbell.

Pixie dust.

Second star to the right and straight on till morning.

oh and look, just today...

what happened to the snow??

that's Elene btw.

it's green!!

what a lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you

2009-02-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

Heys. Here's some late pictures that I should've uploaded awhile ago :P
forgive meee.

postboxes. 2637.

fayette street.
walking in a winter wonderland.

that's actually a frozen lake.

see the slight light at the back? sunrise.

The day before Norman, Bernard and I started school, Chris took us to help out at her school, Evans Elementary.

This is the class i helped out in. Miss Pope's kindergarten class.

The school looks like that. Sorry no pics of my school yet, but it pretty much looks like that from the outside too.

That day the snow came up to 19 inches.

Later on in the day when we measured again, it was 23 inches.

We were sitting on snow.

Best students. haha xD

omg snow!

exchangers

2009-02-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

Hey again (:
So 17 of us exchange students went to Indianapolis for Youth & Government. We got to go to the State House and we wrote bills to present and try to get passed. We got to debate and express opinions and vote for bills. Those in supreme court got to discuss cases. I didn't take that many pictures because Chris ( my local coodinator) took a whole lot and well, walking on the street, I couldn't stop much cos I'd block everyone and it was cold. haha.

First picture, I wanna tell the story aha. We all went to dinner at a food court the first night. Some went straight to the asian food stall. Me, Bernard and Norman went to the stall beside the asian one cos thought of eating something different. Then couldn't help looking at the food at the asian stall. We all went "It looks good." So yeah. We gave in. haha

Sita

The State House

Elene and Fatima

Reminded me of GOH JUNE LING. xD

Madina

Dinner.

Norman. Notice the hair? Not black anymore. Cherry black. haha

Elene

Venda, Fatima, Deeksha

Ihsan

Adit

BERNARD! He got Best Legislator! So proud!

He did great. Seriously.

Not to forget Solayman who was awesome as Chief of Justice!

All of us with a representative from the state.

Top row : Solayman, Dmitry, representative from state, Deeksha, Elene, Norman

Second row: Ihsan, Yigit, Teri, Adit, Bernard, Alex

Sitting: Suna, Sita, Venda, Fati

maybe there's beauty in goodbye

2009-01-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

hey everyone! here are the pictures. there are a lot so take your time looking through them (:
starting from pre departure orientation to KLIA to frankfurt to washington dc to chicago to indiana!
enjoyy.

all 40 of us
at the PM's office in putrajaya. the lady there is his representative.

KLIA departure hall with departure group

Emilia, Arif, Amirratuz, Jia Yin

Frankfurt Airport, Germany!

Bernard and Jan

Leaving on a jet plane

Jia Yin, Fiona, San, Arif, Azelli, Hui Yin, Teri, Sok Peng

nice sky right? really pretty.

Dulles Airport, Washington DC

whuan lye, jaya and arif

nik and liyana

nik. so happy :P

blue plus yellow equals green, yellow plus red heart equals to orangish peace. (: get it?

chapstick, chapped lips and things like chemistry

this was funny. all control macho for the picture, once click already all ran off. cold! xD

the recreation room. air hockey. was a tie, 5-5. :P

the cafeteria

those under AYA

nafis

diane

fiona

deanna and ken

walk together, talk together
all ye people of the earth

(AFS song lyrics)

janina

bernard

sharmaa and jaya

deanna

clockwise : deanna, eva, nilo, teri, sharmaa, ken, jaya, nafis, whuan lye

Malaysian Embassy, USA

Union Station

Welcome poster (:

host parents, mum anne and dad steve

Ohare airport, Chicago.

There were these cool lights but i couldn't get a good picture.

Seee. it's like rainbowish.

and electrifying.

my room

view from my room's window

guess what i did today??

sleding!
so cool xD

at the top

the hill. riverwood park

at the bottom.

getting up

snow angel!

someone else's angel

madina (uzbekistan), me (malaysia), elene (republic of georgia) and solayman (philippines)
all exchange students

my neighbours

my house

more neighbours

the cars

backyard