august happenings

So a ton has been going on... (I mean this in the least egotistical way)

Some words about Brugge... It is heaven on Earth. This is not an over exaggeration. Everything was gorgeous and everybody walking around was gorgeous too. I took more pictures in a matter of hours than I have taken the whole time I have been here. I have already decided I am going on my honeymoon there...
The 23rd (tuesday) I climbed probably the largest hill ever. It was probably 4 blocks of stairs that were in honor of the trek soldiers in Liège took to gaurd the city in the 13th or 14th century. It was pretty sweet... and my host father and I climbed all the way to the top! I literally was sweating and panting but the view was so worth it. Then we climbed a little more to a WW1 and WW2 memorial. It was pretty epic and was my workout for the week.

Things are kind of weird without David (my host brother that was here for a week). Just kind of... I think my host parents miss him too. Actually I am sure they miss him a lot!

After the trek, I went bowling with François and his friends. It was pretty fun... I was actually one of the best bowlers. Which is hilarious... because I am beyond bad. The alley looked just like an American building and they played American music the whole time. It was very un-European but I had fun regardless (even if I didn't say a word really at all to voice this- story of my life). After bowling I went to a birthday party for Benoit (the younger brother of François). It was a lot of fun and I met some new friends that I will be going to school with :)

The next day we went to WW2 memorial for the American soldiers killed in war. It was pretty epic for me for some reason - actually anyone who knows me will not be surprised. Everything was so well manicured and conidered "american soil". It was incredible how well manicured and respected it was. I had some tears in my eyes for the amount of pride I felt for my country. Keep in mind my friends - I am not a very patriotic person but in that moment I was. We think that everybody hates America (which is sometimes very accurate) but when it comes to WW2 the country of Europe really has respect for America - don't quote me on this. Belgium in particular has an enormous amount of respect for the soldiers who risked/lost their lives in WW2. It was this huge emotional wave over me almost. This isn't just historic for the people of Belgium and Europe - this is life. I have been to a lot of places that still have Sherman tanks from WW2 as a memorial for the American troops and for freedom. I was joking when I asked if I could climb on top of one but my host father's response was "You can do whatever - it is yours!" You will also find little monuments for the civilians killed in war and political prisoners. The people walk past these monuments everyday... maybe noticing maybe not... but the history has not been lost. They live it everyday. The World Wars have still a lasting consequence to this day... it is still present in the people and in the land. When I was walking through the cemetary I was talking to my host father about how I had read that the German cemetary was not as respected as the American one. He looked at me kind of strangely and said... well yes? He told me the people of Belgium give money to the American memorial/cemetary and only a few give money to the German one - thus it being not as well kept up. I found out that the hatred for Germany is still very present... but wears away with every generation. They (as in Belgium - a generalization) look at WW2 as a unneccessary war that wounded the country and people too much. I found it as a shock for some reason that there is still so much hatred for the Germans - but then I remembered this just happend in 1945. Sorry that was so long - this is a deep interest of mine.

I went to Durbuy and La Roche (which are both about 30 mins south of Liège). Durbuy is legit the smallest city in the world. It is precious! LaRoche is a pretty historic city ... it has a Roman castle that was used by Napolean and the Germans. It is a ruin but it is a very strategic castle. The city sits high in a valley with hills all around and with a river going through the city. It was very hard for the Americans to win back this city in WW2 because it is so hard to get to. There are only a few entrances into the city and the winter does not help.

Went to Brussels yesterday with the other 200 exchange students in Belgium. This is a lot! And not an exaggeration! It was pretty sweet though to hang out and meet everyone - atleast attempt. I loved it. It was really cool because we got to sit in the Senate and the Representatives room - this is kind of a big deal. We went through the palace too! Which has a random science part where you can play with things in ... random but cool. I totally met the Prince as well... pause... not. I wish. I wore a nice, black dress for him and everything (which I borrowed from my host mom!). We looked so silly the 200 of us walking around in our blazers all flared out with pins. Some people would stop us and ask where we were from and take pictures - it was epic. I really saw so much and am really happy I went.

This was a long one! Going to an overnight thing with Rotary tomorrow in Huy (pronouned "we") for all the exchange students in my district which should be really interesting ...

Must go for Supper !
xoxo
Mallory - oh update on my name! nobody calls me Lory. Although my name has morphed into Ma-Laurie (that is how it is pronounced in French). I am still struggling to say this when I meet new people...
Anyways - bye!