Feals good to be home ... But reedy to go back ! I miss the trip so much

This is max , It Is hard to belive but 1 month ago at this time I was in new yourk making new friends and getting ready to go to Ireland . It has been almost 2 weeks From when I got home . I got home safe and sound but it was really weard to be home . The last few minutes of the trip were the hardest . Those last few minutes were going through immigration and customs in Detroit airport . It was rely emotional the kids on the trip were like family to me when I think about it they sortave were my family I had lived with them for 3 weeks so they felt like my sibalings and the leaders felt like parents in a sort of way you would go to them for the same things you would go to your parents for if you had problems or other things . After we got our baggage and went into the wating area at the airport the leaders told us to be quiet . To suprise our parents . Right when the first ones of us walked out into the wating area we heard cheering it was our parents . They all had signs , Ballons , and many more things to make it exciting to be home . After I went and saw my family I went to say goodby to my " new family " it was rely sad and emotional . It was so hard to say good by to every one. After that I went home . On the car ride home I was able to tell my parents all about it . Right when I got home I was still in my travel uniforme and endid up going over to my neighbors to talk to them about the trip . It felt weard to be home it felt like o hadent been there in forever . After that we went out to dinner . It felt rely good to be back in Rochester and having dinner at a American resturaunt. I was able to get over jet page in a few days . And have been getting back in the swing of things . It was rely weard the first few days from eating meals to car rides . I did and still do miss my good friends vary much . A d I plan to get together with them soon. Thank you for fallowing me on my trip . It was the best time of my life . I am alredy planing on ya along with people to people again next year . This is the last blog post :(

Home Sweet Home

Max made it home safe and sound.  Rick and I, Clayton, Ella, Chewy and my parents all came out to the airport to welcome him !  I was able to hold myself together and be "not embarrassing" but wow, was I happy to see him.  He is fed and happily downloading his photos.  He has an entire bag of souveniers to share.  What an amazing experience he had !  More to follow soon.....

Good by Europe :(

This is Max. Right now we are at our gate at Amsterdam airport, waiting to get on the plane home . I am really sad to leave all of my new friends and go hack to America, but I am excited to sleep in my own bed again and see my family and friends.

Last full day in Europe :(

This is Max. Today was a realy fun day . In the morrning we went to a cheese factory and learned about how cheese was made and we got to try many types of cheese too . There were so many types BBQ , honey , spicy , and many more . They were all really good.  From there we went to a clog factory. We got to try some clogs on and walk around in them . We also learned about how important they are to Dutch culture . After that we went on a bike ride on a very scenic suburb of Amsterdam.  It was all green fields with live stock on them it is amazing. We well ended up at the ocean where there were lots of great views . After that we got lunch, then drove back to Amsterdam . There we went to Ann Frank's house.  It was amazing. I read the book early this year for the trip so I would understand it . It was really neat . I got to see all of the rooms she talked about,and also all of the documentation of them at the concentration camps. After that we had some free time ( which I do not like in Amsterdam ) because every thing has to do with the red light district in the souvenier stores . I have seen many things in Amsterdam that I wish I would have never seen in my life . After that we went on a channel cruise in Amsterdam.  It was neat becuse Amsterdam's nick mame is the Veinice of the North . The channels were really neat and historic . It was nice being able to see a really nice section of the city from the water, where you could not see some of the bad things on the street . I do like Amsterdam alot though. I like how much of a green city it is and how most of the people are friendly.  Sadly, tomorrow this trip will come to an end when we leave at 10:45 to walk to the airport and fly back to Detroit, MI. I have mixed feelings about coming home. Part of me wants to see my friends and family and home again . But the rest of me thinks it will be a little unusual not waking up to all of my new friends and many other kids.

Home Sweet Home

Max comes home tomorrow !  I can't decide exactly what it is I feel about his return...relief, excitement, happiness.  Maybe a little bit of everything.  Clayton said this morning that Max had been gone a long time, but it went by really quick.  I think that says it pretty well.  While the time did fly by, it seems like the boy has been gone forever.  I have barely been to the grocery store in the past three weeks.  Maria is cleaning out the fridge and I will be stocking up later today, in anticipation of his return.  Rick and I are passing today discussing what time to leave for the airport and reeling over yesterday's Amsterdam post !  We are ready to have Max back home.  Please pray for safe travel for the group as they head home.

Living it up in the Netherlands

Guess where Max had lunch today for 36.62 ? The Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam.  Not too shabby !  I know this not because I talked to Max, but because I checked his bank card balance and saw todays charges, which included what I hope was a very nice lunch.  Here in the states Max gets a pulled pork sandwich at the Hard Rock.  I'm curious if it was available on their menu and if he went with the usual, or something different. He has been doing some serious shopping as well.  I am going to be curious to see what he comes home with.  I hope there is room in his suitcase for everything.We already decided that the return of underwear and socks was optional if space is an issue for the trip home.  It will be interesting to see what he returns with ! Tomorrow is Friday, Max's last day in the Netherlands. Saturday at 3:50 pm he will be at Metro Airport.  And yes, I am tearing up just typing it.  I can't wait ! Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam :  http://www.amsterdam.info/cafes/hardrock/

2 capital cities in 1 day

Today was a busy and fun day . This morning we left the small town we were staying at near the French Border to go to Brussels . I liked Brussels alot.  It is a nice, smaller city with a lot of nice people . While we were in Brussels we walked around a nice section of the city . After that we had some free time . We Were able to walk around and shop for soviners . I also bought a waffle. You probably all know that Belgium is famous for there waffles but here they are more of a dessert food than breakfast food . The waffle I got had chocolate , strawberries , and whip cream on it . It was really good . Also, when we were shopping there was a statue where you could rub it's arm and supposedly you would get $ and luck in your future.  So all of us were crowded around the statue and a TV crew came up and asked us if we wanted to say we like Belgium and Brussels.  We did and they said that it will be on a game show in Belgium . After that we went to a place to learn about Belgian chocolate. It seemed really good !  He talked about how it was made, where the ingredients came from and how and why Belgian chocolate is unique . Then we went to lunch. It was some chicken . Then we went to the town square and stayed there for a little bit.  Then we walked to the bus and left for Amsterdam . We got to Amsterdam at about 3:30 . We had some free time but it was not that nice. We were able to walk around and buy souveniers, but all of the shops also had things from the red light district.  Yes, there were things for smoking marijuana and they were selling pot and other materials . Me and lots of other people were creeped out . It was also cold and rainy in Amsterdam, so it was reply rough . After that we walked to dinner.  It was about a 20 minute walk in the cold and rain but it was worth it . We got to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe in Amsterdam ! The food was really good.  It felt so good to eat American food . After that we went to the hotel.  I am really happy because it is a Hillton and it feels nice to be in a nice hotel after the long day yesterday and the bad hotel last night :).