Hey guys!
Well, I’m STILL on holidays :D I now understand why Americans are so obsessed with their ‘summer holidays’ they go for bloody ever!
Before moving into my third family, I went to Austin with the Clarks to see the bats! In Austin everyday at dusk, the bats which live under the bridge fly out. Its quite extrodinary as it is the largest urban coloney of bats in North America. While we were there we also visited the State Capitol.
I’ve moved into my final family, the Williams, :) I’ve been here for a little over a week now and it’s been fairly full on but in a good way. I had SO MUCH STUFF! I hardly know where it all came from! I bought another suitcase, so I two suitcases full of stuff as well as two bags and 4 boxes! In this family I have three host brothers but only one of them is living at home, Brock who is 18 and just arrived back from exchange to Brazil. I also have my own room here, which is nice! Cindy, my host mother, had even set a little platter of cheese and fruit as well as a vase of flowers for me on my desk when I arrived! Oh, and if anyone wants my address let me know :D
Last Thursday I went with Cindy (my host mother) and Brock to an Americana/rock concert in Canyon Lake which is a tiny little community about 20 minutes out of New Braunfels. I actually enjoyed it, which I was surprised about because I generally do not enjoy Country or Americana although I’ve kind of gotten to the stage where I can listen to it without crying. I think maybe also that this band had a large rock sort of grunge influence helped.
So on the weekend I went with Brock to Pleasanton, a town about an hour and a half away. It was the Cowboy Homecoming. There were rodeo type things during the day, like bull-riding and stuff and at night bands would play and people would dance – two step! I spent two nights down there with Dalyn, who just got back from exchange in Darwin and who I had met in Australia. I stayed at her house Friday and Saturday night. The Friday night Eli Young Band was playing and because Dalyn’s mother and aunt were working backstage I got to meet them and got an autographed picture :) 
The following evening was a little more exciting because it was the dance. Again a country band I didn’t know was playing, but I got to meet a lot of Dalyn’s friends and family as well as the new exchange student from France who is being hosted in Pleasanton. Aaand I got to wear my cowboy boots all weekend and got some two-step practice in as well as learning a few of the spins, good fun! It was SO GOOD to be able to hang out with another Australian/Texan half-breed! She could totally understand all the little differences and actually has heard of, appreciates and knows how to dance to The Presets xD
Dalyn also came to New Braunfels and stayed Tuesday night. Nothing too exciting was happening, we just went shopping in San Marcos and San Antonio on the Wednesday after rotary. The whole family went out to the lake on the Tuesday afternoon along with one of my older brothers Zac who was living at the house again for a few days as well as Eitor, the Brazilian guy who is being hosted by the downtown rotary club.
Aside from that I’ve started going to the gym when I can as one of the members of the rotary club gave me and Caro (new German exchange student) free memberships for 6 months :D :D going to the cinemas and the river with friends. School starts up again Monday, so I set to make the most of my free time!
