July 7, 2013 - Back "Home"

Well, everyone is telling me "Welcome Home!", but the problem is El Segundo doesn't feel like home anymore. I was born and raised in this town, but after a year away it doesn't feel the same. I have lived in Sandefjord, Norway for 10 months and that feels more like home. Don't get me wrong no one can replace my real family, but in Norway I learned the language and made friends that I love to bits. The hardest part of the whole year was leaving.

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My Class in Norway

My Host Family!

 

 

My Best Friends in Norway!

The Other Exchange Students in My Region!

I have gone to 2 years of high school in El Segundo and 1 in Norway. I learned so much and grew as a person over my year abroad.
The first thing I said when I came out of the airport in New York was "It stinks!" Norway has some of the freshest air in the world, and New York some of the worst, so I nearly choked coming out of the airport.  Then, after a night of sleeping in the New York airport we took our flight back to LA. Sleeping in the airport wasn't fun, but I did get to eat a donut! And let me tell you, I am convined the US has the best donuts...
It was extremely strange to hear people speaking English. In Norway, for the most part, I would speak Norwegian, but even when I did speak English I would still hear Norwegian being spoken around me. I have yet to get used to that.
My mom and sister met me in the New York airport right outside of customs. It was so strange to see them. In ten months I have only seen their faces over skype, but to see them actually standing there was so strange. On the flight back we got first class, so that was super nice. 5 hours filled with food and movies, but that meant I got no sleep. So I was still running on adrenaline, in a matter of 4 days I only managed to get about 4 hours of sleep. My dad and brother came in the car to pick me up and when I walked in the house there were balloons and streamers and a sign that said welcome home.

In New York - Arriving in the US

On the flight landing to LAX

My sister and me on the flight home (she stole my scarf)

Welcome Home Becca!

After I got home and everyone was excited to see me, I took a nap! Then, afterwards my friend came over and we hung out for an hour or two, then me and my family and friend went over to our friends', the Olson's, house for a bar-b-que. They were excited to see me again also. Before I left they were like a second family to us, and it seems like nothing has changed.
The weirdest thing is I walk or drive around town and I feel like I know no one. On one hand it feels like nothing in El Segundo changed, but on the other hand it feels like nothing is the same.