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Our laptops, side by side.(Mine's the one with the Downton Abbey picture. :-D) |
In lack of the promised podcast, which has vanished in clear air, here are my answers to all the questions you dear peoples left for Emma and I. It'll have to do for now; even though it's written down, and even though it's just me - and even though there's no genius, insanely talented personality next to me.
I'm going to answer the questions in the snappy, quick and short way because gosh, my to-do list is piling up and up by the day, and I have to squeeze this in my morning. (I make my own rules. I'm terribly bossy.) Also, I NEED to get some writing done, because I haven't done anything serious writing-related since summer started and that's almost as shocking as Matthew Crawley being killed off on Christmas day.
What has been your favourite thing/activity
to do together?
Visiting libraries is what we did the most of. That, and watching Downton Abbey Season Two.
Did you have any cultural shocks on coming to
America?
Not really shocks, like, 'HEEELP GUYS THIS IS SCARY'-shocks. :-P But yes, I suppose I have noticed things such as, 'Wow everyone loves their trucks around here' and so on.
Favourite thing about summer?
Ice-cream and strawberries and holidays.
Could you tell us a
funny/unexpected story or moment that happened?
Well, here's a funny one. (We think it's funny; you might think it's the meh-est story about two friends being together ever.) Emma and I were walking around in some touristy place, and we walked past a hotel with a very very long porch. At one side of the porch, sitting on a chair, was a man. On the other side of the porch, sitting on another chair, was another man. And they were having a conversation. I don't know why, but it was so funny - they were yelling stuff like, 'Hey! Where are you from?' (We just wanted to tell them to sit next to each other and moderate their tones. Make life easy for yourself, mates.)
Can you try to imitate each other's accents
for us??
We did, and it kind of sort of worked. Apparently my American accent is funny.
How much of what you talk about is
books/movies/tv show related?
I'd say about 99%. (Just kidding. Maybe 50%. :-P) (We did really talk about other things. No really.)
Are you near the same height?
Indeed so. I am just the sliiiiightest bit taller. (10 days older, you know.)
Who of you is more like Anne, and who more
like Diana?
Diana's a chump, but both of us flatter ourselves when we say we are more like Anne. We have the imagination, and all that.
Do you have a movie/book you enjoy bashing
together?
We have loads. (Especially Narnia.) We also bash a lot of movies we haven't seen yet but we just know we won't like, like Star Wars. (WAIT LET ME SHOW YOU A PICTURE):
Did you develop any inside jokes?
Sure. It's humanly impossible to not develop inside jokes when you're staying at someone's house for three weeks. Some of our inside jokes are: "Feel Better Josh!" (from a Blimey Cow episode) and "Take the book. Then we can talk about it. And then we can talk about LIFE, and how we feel about it." (from Fiddler on the Roof) and the word "wedding" in Anna Bates' voice. Just don't ask.
Naomi, what was the oddest thing about
America to you?
The oddest thing about America to me will always be the politics. (This is when Emma told me to shut up, and I did.)
How late was the latest you stayed up
together?
About twelve? Because there was a party. Really though, we've been good about going to bed fairly on time. Because the next day there's a new day and we don't want to be dead tired, and we want a morning, sooo.
What's your favorite/least favorite thing
about America?
Favourite: The people. They are the kindest and warmest ever. Belgians are like iceblocks. Least favourite: Those two people running for president; you know you know.
How many movies/TV shows did you all watch?
Okay, so. Here's what we watched: Downton Abbey Season Two (alllmost all of it), Downton Abbey Season Six Christmas Special (I DIED because DA is OVER), Miss Potter, Austenland (we didn't finish it; it was too weird), Somewhere in time (I actually loved it), The Journey of August Ru- King (the Ru bit is an inside joke. Apologies), an episode of the Waltons, an episode of Little House, and the first two episodes of The Paradise (which we LOVED. Sam is our favourite.)
So to answer your question: About nine different things.
What do you think of the accents here in
America? Cool? Not cool? Weird? Amusing? Uncultured?
Cool. Dey is cool. (Some are weird, but most are cool.)
What was your favorite of the activities you and
Emma did together?
Barnes and Nobles, and going dancing.
Was the weather very different from the weather
in Belgium, or about the same?
About the same.
What's one thing about America that you
wish you had back home?
English Country Dance groups. Emma has one she goes to about every week, and I've been going with her - and it's so much fun.
What's one thing that you could DEFINITELY
do without?
Ha. *stares* *whispers* The Politics. (Not that it's all rose-coloured politics-wise around my countries right now.)
Do you have anything you'd like to say to other
internet best friends who are praying they get to meet each other someday?
We did have very wise words, and those were: Don't give up! We thought it would never happen, but then somehow we got to meet in person as seventeen-year-old-girls! Also, have fun while being apart: the friendship is super precious like that, too. Write cool long emails, have chat sessions, and send letters. Be creative, and be there for each other. :-)
Were you homesick at all, Naomi?
Near the end, yes. But it wasn't too bad - I tried to live in the moment and seize the day and just enjoy my stay as much as I could.
Did you two stay up late most nights, or
did you go to bed at a reasonable time?
Preeeetty reasonable, I think.
Were you ever bored during your visit??
No, actually. We always knew what to do. Sometimes we had to talk about what to do, but we always knew what. Our to-do list was a long one.
Did you find out anything new about each
other that surprised you?
Not reeaaally. Well, Emma has a very funny voice she uses to talk to her bunnies, and her cat, and I didn't know that. :-P
Can you do your best Dowager Countess
impersonation?
We did; and mine was terrible. Emma's was gold as she imitated the Dowager trying the phone.
Can you tell us a joke?
Yes. Yes, we can. (Oh you mean, you want us to tell you one?)
Give us your best attempt at an Australian
accent!!
Personally, I am terrible at that; but I can say, "G-day mate. My name is James" pretty well. Emma can say "Jessica" in an Australian accent, because of some movie she watched.
What is a particular habit or quirk etc that you were
surprised to find out about each other?
Really -- there isn't anything is particular. But Emma did say that she loved the find out what my laugh is like; and that it's very 'high.' (#Accuratedescription.)
Strawberries or (whipped) cream?
STRAWBERRIES DUH.
Will you pretty please sing for us????!!!!!
Darn it, you missed Emma's solo of On My Own. It was really good. I WANT EMMA'S VOICE.
Which one of you is more outgoing?
We're both pretty similar, but maybe I'm slightly more outgoing, especially with strangers.
How many strawberries have you consumed
today?
Probably a lot. We basically ate loads every day. Say nothing and I'll be your friend forever.
What did you and Emma think of each other
when you first saw each other (like at the airport)? THE FIRST THOUGHT.
Darling, there wasn't a "thought." If there was, it looked something like this, "AQUEIUQSGHQGHEQUTQRUTGQRUGQRUIGQRUG. WAIT WHAT."
What do you think of Emma's family, house etc.?
Ahhhhh I love them and I love it.
What literary characters do you think you
are most like?
Emma's answer for this was Lizzy from the Lizzy Comes Searching books by Lynda Byler. (And gosh, I relate to Lizzy too, so much.) My answer was Alice Grace Ripley from Wonderland Creek.
What period drama character's wardrobe do you
think you would love to have?
Scarlett O'Hara's wardrobe was my answer because IT'S SO MUCH FUN. (Emma's answer was Kerri Russel's from 'The Magic of Ordinary Days.')
Would you believe me if I told you cookies were
picked from trees by a chipmunk and sent to the supermarket in a tiny plastic
rocket?
This question. 10/10. Emma believes you, I don't.
Did people comment much on your accent?
Um, yes. Once a man asked me how I was, and I said, "I'm fine thank you." And he said, "Oh, just keep talking. I could listen to you all day." I thought that was funny, because I've never even particularly liked my voice/accent that much! Also, at Emma's cousin's graduation party, a little boy came to me and asked me if I came from London. That tickled me. :-P
What did you think of American food?
I do have to admit most of it is more sugared/salted, but around Emma's house we had strawberries and it was delicious. :-)
Talk about the bunnies!!!
*Naomi hands microphone over to Emma* (Well, there are six. Cotton is the only boy, and he's Emma's favourite. There's one black one, and her name is Mammy. For reasons. The remaining four are called, um: Brett, Ashton, Phemie and... and... I FORGOT. Emma, say it in zee comments.)
What movies did you watch together that one/both
of you hadn't seen before?
I watched several movies I hadn't seen before, but one we both hadn't seen was The Paradise. I LOVED it. Man, it's PRETTY.
Ok, so when will you meet again?
Hahaha. Well, there a no plans yet, but Emma would love to come and visit my place. So who knows, maybe the following year.
Secondly, what would the Darcys call their
children?
Probably Henry, George and Jane, HA. Or something like that.
Thirdly, what has been your favourite American
meal!?
Sadie's mint ice-cream. Just... so GOOD. (Yes, that's a meal. Be quiet.)
I would love to hear about
your firsts (first word, first time on a plane, first kiss, etc)
My first word was probably 'Mama.' My first time on a plane was on the fourth of June, and it was exciting and tiring and I had a dreadful headache so that was fun. My first kiss was when I was like, five minutes old and my mum smothered my face with kisses. In all respect, it was disgusting.
Did you have more fun perusing Emma's movie
collection or book collection? Were there any shocks about movies/books she did
and didn't own?
Ha, no, there were no shocks. I knew her bookcase and movie collection almost by heart. And yes, I had a lot of fun in both domains - we probably used more of her movie collection than her book collection to pass our time, though.
Are there plans in place or forming for Emma to
come visit you?
Not plans, but yes, ideas. :-)
What kinds of interesting food did you try out?
Was there anything that grossed you out? Or that you that made you say,
"I'm going to take this idea home with me and share it with my family and
friends!"
Sadie (Emma's sister)'s ice-cream! I made it for my family two days ago, and they loved it just as much as I did. #Hit.
Thanks for all the questions guys!!