So, this is it. I'm definitely moving toward the end of my stay in McMinnville, Oregon, USA, and it has been the year of a lifetime! I'll stay away from doing a complete summary, but instead, let you know what the past few months have held for me.

Some of you might remember the fact that I had auditioned for the school musical Guys and Dolls and that I got the part of Nathan Detroit. (Those of you that don't know the play- it's the comic lead!) So, I've been in school from about 7am-6pm most days since January- which, as you can imagine has been tiring, but, overall, very rewarding.

Initially, we were due to perform at the end of February, but due to cast replacements and severe snowstorms that kept us out of school, it was postponed until Easter weekend.

I'm not going to lie, it got to the point where I wished it was over already, for the entire duration of my stay with my second host family I was in rehearsals every day, which ruined any chances of getting out of McMinnville, and it turned out that the whole rehearsal process took about 4 months (which, at the time, was about 50% of my stay in the country).

When it did eventually arrive, however, it was a great success, (despite my questionable ability to maintain a consistent New York City accent) and the friends that I've made from it are some of the closest I have here.

Also, I went skiing with all of the Rotary district's Inbound and Outboud YE students in Eastern Oregon in February, which was incredible enjoyable, despite the fact that it was my first attempt (my balance is hardly first rate, but unlike iceskating, snow is nice and cushioned when one falls on it!). We also visited an elementary school, and it was amazing to be able to tell the kids about my home country, and have them be so interested in it. I've recently mailed the huge thank you poster/card they made me for when we left. Pictures of the insanity that is an American school 'recess' are included.

Next week is the Rotary District conference, that all exchange students have to attend. I know this is going to be a quite difficult time for me, as it is the penultimate time all of the students get together, and it is these people that I am truly going to miss- it is highly likely that I'll see my friends from McMinnville again, as I foresee visiting in a few years time. However, it is likely that I'll only see a handful of the exchange students again, and even that will only be if I really apply myself to having them come to the UK, or organising a trip for myself.

At the end of that week, on May 5th, is the great American institution- Prom! I have my tickets, I'm ordering my tuxedo tomorrow, and I have a date. (and that is a completely different story altogether- but just know that it involves getting her friends to spy on her, serious planning, and more nerves than before performing Guys and Dolls) It will be great to see all of my friends, amazingly overdressed, for one of the final times the whole Senior class is together.

But even now, when I think of it. I can't quite believe that Prom is just under 2 weeks away, and, as sad as it is to admit, the end of my year is rapidly approaching. Not that I'm not hopeful for the future, a busy summer, and a university await- for the start of a whole new experience of living away from home... just with debt!