Update

I love Belgium! Over the past 19 days I have done a lot already. I've gone shopping in Lille, France with some friends who I know from school and went out with them. I went on a bike tour of Brussels that lasted ALL day. Despite the fact that I had to wake up at 6 AM after going to sleep at 1:30 AM, it was still a good day. I got to know some people from my host Rotary club better and the day was followed by a catered dinner in the town house of the president of my host club which looked over all of Brussels. This past 3 day weekend I went to Lessines to visit Ashley who is from Eugene. We ventured out to a Dutch speaking town, which meant we could speak English. The day included shopping, and going to a cinema that played the movies in ENGLISH with Dutch subtitles. It was refreshing. On Sunday we toured a castle which was very beautiful. However, the tours are usually boring. On Monday we took the train to Brussels and shopped some more (thus adding to the low number in my bank account.) I had American fast food for the first time since I've been here. It was subway. And I definitely don't miss it. The food here is incredible. I tried Speculoos spread for the first time and I fell in love. I think I've fallen in love with all the food here. Trying to avoid gaining kilos is just not an option here. Considering they eat chocolate for breakfast everyday here.

School is still boring, that's unavoidable in every country. The days are long, but all my friends are really nice and funny so the days go by quickly. Most of the time... during physics, chemistry, biology, and french.. it goes by VERY slow because I might as well be taking chinese.

“The American”

I’ve been getting used to the pointing and the staring now. Everyday I usually come across this: “Look.. The American”… “Look she’s from the ‘states’” And I’ve also been the center of numerous McDonald's jokes. Someone asked me if my hobbies included eating McDonald’s. I’ve also been asked if I eat hamburgers and hotdogs everyday. The second statement wasn’t a joke. They were serious. It is pretty funny to listen to what they envision America to be. They were amazed that my school in America has lockers, and that we have a football team. “It’s just like the movies” according to the girls in my class. ha ha. And a lot of people want to go to America and have a “graduation” and go to prom. Here the school is much more difficult. And the handwriting! Oh, the handwriting. To me ..scribble..scribble..scribble.. doesn’t mean anything, but to everyone else it is biology notes, or math notes, or economic notes. So my notes are doodles.

These pictures are from my day trip to Bruges with my family. Bruges is famous for making lace, and it’s Belgium, so of course the chocolate! The chocolate swans were my favorite!

 

School

I thought I had it rough in America... Here School starts at 8:30 and ends at 4 in the afternoon and sometimes 5.. no fun classes. All chemistry, math, biology, languages.. ah la la! Very difficult.. I couldn't understand these classes in English and now I am taking them in French. But my grades don't matter so I usually just try to understand the french. Everyone at school is really nice and it's helping my french to speak with them. Here instead of going from class to class, I stay in one room with the same group of kids and the teachers move from class to class. Also, no smart boards or technology in the class room.. just chalk boards and no decorations or anything.

Le Palais Royal

Last Thursday I visited the Royal Palace in Brussels with the 3 Rotary districts in Brussels. The palace was very beautiful and I wish I could’ve taken my camera inside but it wasn’t allowed. I have a few pictures of the outside. After the palace we visited the Town Hall and from there we went to visit the House of Representatives and The Senate which was very cool and it was really pretty on the inside, I saw the “president” of Belgium. In quotes because just recently there has been some issue with the Belgian government and currently there is no official government. Just King Albert and his wife who have no actual power, they are just symbols for the country. On Sunday I went to the airport early to say good-bye to one of my host sisters who is leaving to go to Amityville, Long Island for the year and it reminded me of when I had left for Belgium. very sad. My french is coming along but it will be better once I have been in school a few months.. My first day is tomorrow, the 2nd, and I start at 1 o’clock and go to 4, only for the first day. Normally I start at 8:30 and go to 4. I hope all goes well.

Backside of the Palace The Palace Gates The Palace View of Brussels Statue  Walking to the town hallInside the House of Reps.. or the Senate.. they look the same.

Tournai with my younger host sister and older host sister’s boyfriend