When you're happy like a fool, just let it take you over, when everything is out, you gotta take it in

West Virginia county has been rated one of the worst places in the USA, small town mentalities and such, and a lot of people don't even know the county exists. What Fahad was talking about once, that when his friends found out he is coming to study in WVU, they tried to convince him out of it and scare him with the stories.

What I found from one interview once: "What other people call weaknesses, I see as strengths. Are we poor? Or do we value other things besides the accumulation of stuff?

Are we “clannish”? Or do we care about our families more?

Are we obese? Or do we just love home cookin’?"

A lot of what people talk may be true, but first of all, at least Morgantown is a small town that has strong spirit, people are friendly and positive and keep together. The administration and the systems do not indeed often work, but when willing to fight for your rights and be persistent, you'll manage. It is not my place of choice to raise a family, but for students it is perfect, it is a true-spirited college-town for having the most fun and gaining some of the best experiences and memories for life!

We started the first week of december with an early wake up, 6.45 and off to rec to train with the girls and a nice fresh breakfast at Towers, this kind of waking up is not my cup of tea, 9.30 is more than enough! It was Ashley's birthday on tuesday, so we let her pick a movie. "Tangled", as she is a complete disney fanatic. It was kind of sweet, even the guys had to admit that! And the main character is called Eugene! :')

On thursday I was feeling a bit sick and not in the best mood so I was ready to stay in when Amir (Malaysia) convinced me to go out with him, went to Fat Daddy's sports bar, and at least on game days it is so much fun, the last minutes of WVU vs Florida football game were on, it was close, 27:27. On the last second, literally, the last second, WVU kicked and the kick was good and we won!! People went nuts! We went to Bent Willey 's, met with some of his friends, danced. Hassan was also there, his crazy carefree dancing always makes everybody laugh.. At some point they put on a country song and everybody started doing some line-dance thing - again, exactly like in the movies. 

When Jack, Emil, Chris and Caner came, we just sat down, talking and goofing around, until Chris wanted to show us the secret place, the best view in Morgantown! We went all the way up the hill, to the edge of the town, even from up there it is beautiful.. but it was freezing!! Days are still fine but at night it's minus degrees and quite some of them, so we were running around and being stupid to get warm! Continued our way up and made it to some broken old stairs, walked all the way up, and there were two old frat houses, bot of them were deserted - condemned! We were at first just standing on the porch enjoying the view of the town, some friends of the guys joined us, when Chris found a way in.. Into an old frat house we went. Were completely in the dark, the house was huge, were walking around, found a lot of ancient stuff and writings, the guys were trying to scare us, randomly people bumped into things that made noise.. and Emil was filming all of it, so we have quite a nice home-made horror movie right there!! At some point Jack got lost, we were trying to find him, until Chris "got lost" also.. very funny guys.. found them from the top floor, where if you climbed out of the window, you could stand on the roof, so there we all were enjoying the chilly starry night.

One night discovered there's a french club meeting in the living-room of our house, Michelle convinced me to go check it out and I found another Estonian lady, we chatted for hours, I really like her sarcasm and thought of Estonians, it is exactly what I think. Later went to Kane's with Sven and Tito, goofed around and in the end made it to KA's Frat christmas-party.

I was ready for the winter after coming back from New York, but seems the weather has other plans. Although the nights are freezing, during daytime, it occasionally surprises with +20 degrees celsius. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt is perfectly fine.

As christmas is all around us, we decided to go ice-skating with Jessica, Ashley and Natsumi. It was so much fun. It was actually the first time I wore figure skates, usually I have had the hockey skates that support a little more. We got to the rink with a ute, like it is common in WV. Sitting in the trunk, wind blowing in our hair, laughing and almost falling out when Chris hit the brake too suddenly.. Met a lot of interesting new people and taught Kenzo and Natsumi to skate. We have to do that again!!

In the late afternoon, went to Caro's place with Tito. It has been a while. Omar (Marocco) was there as well, we just laughed and discussed relationships and people. Went to celebrate Jack-o's (Australia) birthday at Morgantown's Brewing Company, out of nowhere started talking about which people from I-House would be which characters from Lord of The Rings or Harry Potter or who would be of what use when a zombie attack occurred.

Went to a house party at Laura, Alex and Mercedes's place. I got the guys lost while going there, although I perfectly knew the way, it was just the wrong bridge. The party was great, saw a lot of familiar faces, laughed and danced. Things almost got out of hand, when one of the guys got too drunk and was sure somebody stole his wallet. They went outside and he was causing a scene. He wanted to call the cops but luckily for everybody else he was just not able to do that. "I am not kidding, do you think I'm stupid, my wallet is stolen, give me the number of 911, what's the number of 911, tell me, NOW!!!" Ended the night with a sandwich called "fat bitch". That name has made me laugh in tears before, when the guys used it randomly in a conversation and as I did not know what it was, understood the topic a whole lot differently.

When we actually started doing the community work for our leadership project, it came out the organization gave us wrong information and we couldn't go to the children's organization we wanted, had to have a new plan quickly. Ended up in the Bartlett's house, which is a homeless shelter. The living conditions there are terrible and the staff does not seem to care much. They let us volunteer, but our whole plan and concept had to change. Went upstairs to the second floor, headed to clean the kitchen.. when we discovered several families there, with a lot of kids, after talking to the staff and the parents and making sure that the kids want to color, paint and make christmas decorations, we brought all the stuff we had from Brooke's (Usa) car and started working with them. The kids were so sweet! They opened up and started communicating with us pretty quickly. The girls had a lot of attitude, but the small boys were just adorable. They had good manners and knew how to be thankful and appreciate little things. There was a girl who had really deep thoughts and could draw so well. Also, in the end one of the kids was asking advice from me. It made us all feel good, that the work we did actually meant something.. we left all the materials to them when we left, so they could draw and play other times as well.

We are all studying downstairs in the I-House these last days and disturbing each other all the time, but it's a good way to deal with the pressure caused by the exam-week. Once around midnight, we all needed a break, so went for a beer at Boston Beanery with Vivi, Chris, Jack, Seb and Fahad. Spontaneously refreshing! Only in America, the owner lets us in, serves us the beers and then says that they are actually closed.. still he let us sit there about an hour, we had the bar for ourselves.

Can't believe the semester is ending. The only thing that keeps me from getting way too emotional is the fact that I'm staying in the States.

Had a christmas/going away party in Arnold's lounge. Altogether decided to have an unofficial after-party at Cellar.

Thursday was my time to freak out and almost have a nervous breakdown. The day of the big presentations for our leadership exam. Firstly, a lot to do. Secondly, everything seemed to be going wrong. In the end, we still got the prezi done, managed to upload the pictures, everybody had a ride and found dr. Taylor's office. I am also sorry for the people I managed to get angry on while finishing my report on last minute. Cathy's brother picked me Martin and Rayed up and we found the place quickly. The atmosphere in the building was positive and everybody seemed to be motivated about the work they had done. All the projects were sweet, full of ideas and it seemed people had put their hearts into their work. By the time it was our group's turn, I had calmed down and could talk freely, our presentation went well, and the feedback was good. It most definitely was a valuable experience!

At night went out with Laura, her friend Dan, and Amir to a bar called Chick'n'bones to celebrate. A typical american small-town'ish bar, I really haven't been that much into these kind of bars before, the night was good and the shots we had, were just so delicious!

The weekend itself included Leo's (France) birthday, a crazy party at Kane's, relaxing saturday with hookah and great music while doing homework with the guys at Kane's (which I believe is the only right way to study), wvu vs miami basketball game a movie-night of "Lord of War". Hugo recommended it, it was exciting, but as we later concluded (and Hugo did not agree) was not very realistic. I really enjoyed it tho, but I have to watch it back a little, as I have a good 15minute long hole in between, where I managed to fall asleep. Honestly, not of boredom, but just exhaustion.

Shawna (the founder of I-House) hosted a christmas dinner for the internationals at her home. Her house is amazing! Like a winter wonderland, firstly the design, secondly the perfectly decorated christmas trees, all other decorations.. a big table, with a christmas village built on it, delicious food (+my favorite dessert -cheesecake - the real cheesy American one. "Juen what's on your cake??" "um.. cheese...cheese... and.. cheese?") and eating all together, later playing some ping pong with too many people on one table and playing some Chinese gift opening games and exchanging presents, it created a warm cosy feeling!

At night.. I have avoided going out on tuesdays for the whole semester and on finals week, a day before my last final.. I gave in and went to Shooters. Good music, dancing, 1 dollar mixed drinks and Yuengling beer, some table football with Sergio (Spain), Ali (Turkey) and Seb (France). Guys having their pool tournaments, just pure fun. When a little after midnight I was thinking about going home, Kane and Tito decided to come, so I stayed and ended up going to his place, some more interesting conversations and "Final Destination 5" Disgusting! I wonder how I could sleep after that. Kane had his last final at 11, so we came back downtown, I had until 3 to finish my essays and have my last exam.. And now I'm done.. Everything went well, I know I should be happy, and I am.. but a little empty feeling is taking over.

Everybody getting their finals finished and in the end nobody really caring, study at daytime, go out all together at night, sleep is for the weak.. I think I can count the hours we have slept this last week in two hands fingers.. but it has been more than worth it! Wednesday night traditionally at Cellar. Left when they turned on the lights, goofed around on the street, wanted to go to a gaybar, it was closing, headed to Kane's and just talked until couldn't stay awake anymore.. Vivi woke us up before 8 am.. went back downtown, early breakfast with the girls and wanted to watch a movie downstairs, I remember maybe the first minute of it, woke up when the movie was over and people around me were sleeping as well. In the evening went to Zach's place on Forest avenue, took our regular spot on the balcony and just talked, of course the most random topics came and the most incredible arguments.. The night was amazingly warm, not december'ish at all! Headed to Ky's lounge after that. Managed to be there until they turned the lights on again and basically kicked us all out. Went to eat and near I-House saw a burning couch up the hill.. sure went up there! The police was present, we just started talking to them and were there until the fire department came and put the fire out. Around 4.30 am went back home and found fresh baked cookies in the kitchen. Everybody was eating them until Marcus asked, if they are any good. Everybody yelled "NO" but kept on eating.. Instead of being reasonable and going to bed, Yuki brought his guitar and we headed down to the basement to the laundry room with Jess, Ashley, Fahad, Paolo, Yuki, Seb and Kevin and played guitar, sang and listened to Kevin's funny stories about I-House ages ago.. To bed 7ish and up before 10 to make pancakes.

On friday feelings started to take over as Jess and Ashley were leaving in the morning. In the evening headed all together to Mountainlair to have a greasy and unhealthy dinner, and waste our 'meals-plus' extra money, mostly we got free smoothies, but Marcus for example bought 16 cheeseburgers (which turned out to be extremely useful later at night). 

Went to play pool with Eugene, Kane and Krasimir, but there definitely was something in the smoothies, we were acting soooo stupid :) Final party was at Shooters lounge. Absolutely everyone came there and when we are out, time flies and of course we did not leave before it closed. Had so much fun, but also managed to cry a few times, I never guessed that many emotions from the guys, when Juen started crying or when Vianney later was hugging me and did not let go. I am gonna see most of them again next semester, but some of them are leaving and the feeling is unbearable. I truly love every single one of my people here! At the house, started talking downstairs until fell asleep there. The couches are not that uncomfortable. Juen, Vianney and Federico left early in the morning. After what we discovered a surprising guest in the house. Justin. A guy without pants just came to the living room and asked where are his pants. Nobody knew who he is or how he got in. Creepy. He was very confused himself as well! I guess he had a good night at least ;)

Saturday was hard, people one by one leaving, at the same time having to deal with packing and having every song playing reminding of something, until we decided with Emnet we can't listen to music anymore. Me and her are leaving sunday night with Jack-o and Marcus, as most people, so one more night before having to survive more goodbyes.

Had a lovely dinner with the guys at one american restaurant. After that decided to do something fun and as our first choice hookah bar was closed (Morgantown is literally dead during breaks), headed to Shooters once more. Played foosball, me and Emnet beat Fahad and Paolo! In the end went to Omar's place with him and Didi, with these guys it is just possible to laugh in tears over anything! Really awesome people and it was great to see them before the end of the semester as Omar is going to Hong Kong for the next semester. At night we were trying to watch "Immortals" in I-House, it did not really work, nobody could sit still or shut up, so we were just goofing around, watching random videos and talking. Fell asleep a little after 4, but woke up at 7 as some of my dearest were leaving again. Went to Blue Moose cafe to have a last breakfast together. At first Dan was supposed to leave at noon, so we had no idea where to stay until 5pm, but it was really nice of him to stay with us until 5. He found some meat in the freezer, we went and bought some bread and the guys started grilling burgers.

Last good byes in the bus terminal really killed us. Luckily Marcus and Jack came to Pittsburgh with us. Around 8 pm were there, went to eat and just talked until they left for NY at 10.30, we had until 2am. Trying to stay awake, watched "Horrible bosses". Funny! When we at last got into the bus, the 6.5 hours went super fast, I think I have not slept as deep and as much for a long time, randomly woke up at stops, because the drivers voice was so loud, but other than that even the uncomfortableness of the seats didn't keep us from sleeping. Said bye and see you soon to my dear roomie and managed to find my way to Dulles Airport from DC city centre and now am at the moment waiting for my mom to arrive! :) Drinking a strawberry-banana smoothie and listening to Chris Daughtry. Before having experienced it one probably can't imagine how hard this kinda good-byes are (I know I couldn't!) but this past semester was 100% amazing and for these memories I would go through the hard good-byes any time again.