Ma Maison

This is my house!

 

more pictures later…

My neighborhood

Yesterday, or maybe the day before? It is hard to remember, I went to a dutch-speaking town and went to the mall with My mom, sister, and her boyfriend and there were a lot of expensive french brands and belgian brands to see. Afterwards we walked to see a river in the town with some old towers by it. Very beautiful!Today, my host father took me to the “wine store.” It was a huge room with a lot of wine/whisky/rum/champagne.. and huge bottles of it too. Very interesting. haha. When I got home I went on a walk with my host mom and we saw a lot of beautiful things. The neighborhood here is very pretty. They call deer “Le Bambi” because they don’t know it in English and I think they like the movie. There are a ton of gardens and a lot of sunflowers :) Also, I saw one of the nastiest/biggest spiders I have ever seen. I think I almost cried. I tried Belgian beer for the first time, and “pink” wine. We had Boudein for Les hor d'ouvres. which is some sausage thing. I’ve learned that you don’t ask what is in things, because often times you don’t want to know. But all the food here is delicious and I’ve learned to always eat with a knife and a fork in hand. And when eating spaghetti, you use a fork and a spoon.

 

Le Premier Jour

I arrived at Brussels at 8am, and could not find the right baggage claim, so that took awhile, but I saw my host parents and they are very nice! They listened to Michael Jackson’s “this is it” album the whole car ride home. They speak a little English and it helps a lot. When you meet people here for the first time you give them kisses (bisous bisous) doesn’t matter who it is. everyone! For appetizers we had something that I think might have been duck liver… I couldn’t quite understand. We drank champagne and wine from Greece and they all said “Bottom’s Up.” For dinner we had spare ribs.. the cooking here is delicious. And so is the chocolate :) Earlier that day my host dad and I drove to Lille, France to pick up Blandine and her boyfriend Thilbaut from “le gare” the train station. Lille is very big, and the buildings are all really old and beautiful. I saw the opera house, and I saw a European McDonald’s.. very different than ones in America! The population there is about one million. I woke up early this morning and went and saw my school and went to the bank and computer store to pick up my sisters new computer. I attended my first Rotary meeting and not very many people spoke English which was difficult but I could carry on a few conversations in French. Pierre, I believe he is the youth coordinator for the local club wrote out something for me to say in French in front of everyone. They said my accent was good and I will learn very quickly. Hopefully. It is exhausting trying to understand everything! In my town there is only a street that separates the Dutch and French speaking regions, but they say everyone speaks French.

  I am in love with Belgium! Everyone here is so nice, and everything is beautiful! And delicious!

Mouscron, Belgium

Thanks Rotary!

I leave in 8 days for Belgium and there is still much to do! Especially packing. Today I attended the weekly Greater Albany Rotary meeting and met a lot of wonderful Rotarians. Without Rotary this trip would not be possible, a thousand times thank you!

It's official!

My visa was approved and I have my itinerary! I fly from Portland at 8:30 a.m. on the 17th of August and go non-stop to Philadelphia and non-stop from there to Brussels where I'll see my first family for the first time! A whole 24 hours of traveling... 8:30 a.m. on the 17th to 8:00 a.m. on the 18th. Said some of my first good-byes today, thanks to everyone who showed up at my going away party! It was much appreciated and it was great to see all of you before I take off!