Changing Weather

Saluttt

:)

The weather is changing so fast here! Just a few days ago, I was sweating on my walk home from the bus stop and now I am shivering as I practically run home to get inside. Crazyness my friends. But I like the changing weather. I am not a summer girl and really prefer automn and winter :)

Enjoy the new fall colors design !!

Things are still going well. School is exhausting me so much it is not even funny. I feel as though sometimes I can't even enjoy things because I am always so tired and just want to go home and sleep! Oh well. Things will not be so tiring in a few weeks... right? That is what I'm telling myself. School is still hard for me and I attempt to do a lot of things without much success. C'est la vie! I am surprisingly not stressing out about my lack of success though in school and am focusing on other things ... like making friends and learning the language better. Which is improving every day... I think. Probably not. I took another placement test today for night school at the University and it was an oral placement test. The guy was so rude to me when I was speaking in French. To me... I thought I was doing well but he just looked at me like I was speaking Chinese and said "Okayyy?" - you know in a question form as if nothing I said made any sense and asking to repeat what I said would be pointless. He was super nice. Not. But whatever... I tried my best :) This phrase has become my slogan for a lot of things here.

So the weekend now!! I had a 4 day weekend! Monday was a national holiday ...

Friday I hung out with my friends from school and then after a few hours I went and hung out with my older host brother and his friends. They are both really different so it was cool to get to hang out with both groups in one night. I was so tired by the end of the night though...

Saturday I got up and went to see a very famous Fort in Belgium. It was awesome because we pretty much had our own tour guide the whole day! His name is Philippe and he is a childhood friend of Larry (my host dad) and knows so much about forts...and he could talk about it all in English. Bonus. Oh! And he did a year abroad in Southern Missouri... another bonus! He is so passionate and you can really tell he enjoyed showing us around and giving us the inside story on a lot of things that most guides don't include. So now about the Fort. This was new for me to learn about also... but Forts are made with the intention of holding off the enemy so the real military can get prepared. When you have a fort you know that one day you will have to surrender but the delay is worth it in the end. So Belgium - in between the WW1 and WW2 - invested a lof of money in forts and fortification of it's borders. The fort I saw took 7 years to build and was taken over by the Germans in 6 days. I was in shock when I heard this but it is true. The fort did it's job though in delaying the Germans and now sits empy as a very well preserved piece of history.

On the inside it was like a jail... I was so scared - with the lights on! It was just winding tunnels of cement and creepy rooms that gave me the chills. It was so scary because for maybe 2 minutes all the lights went off and I seriously almost peed my pants and almost started crying. We were so far from the entrance and so far underground... to say the least I don't think I have been that scared in a very long time! I don't know how people could live like that though... it made me appreciate the sun when I came out.

There was artwork all the place (in the captain's chamber, cafeteria, and gaurd's room) that was soo cool. It made all the cement and coldness more human. You forget walking around that it was more than just a fort - it was where 1,000 men were kept just waiting for somebody to attack and missing their families and old lives. It was a whole new perspective for me ...

Then that night I went to a party my friend from school was having. It was fun to meet new people :)

Sunday was really fun! We went to a festival and it was huge!! It was so much fun and all we really did was walk around - but I loved every minute of it. I can't describe it in English but in French you call it "ambiance" . Everybody was so happy even though it was rainy and cold and everything was in fall colors. I don't know - I just felt like I was part of my family (if that makes sense) and couldn't stop smiling. We bought a huge "american" pumpkin and we are going to carve it one of these days. They don't do face carvings or digging out the insides here - so a bonding moment through a cultural exchange is soon to come my friends! After this festival we went to another festival for my area I live in (Tilff). I was complete with 26 geants - the really tall people that are symbols of the area/city and the strong men carry them on their heads! The symbol of Tilff is a leek - don't ask why - and everybody eerily looks like the KKK in their costume but it was so unique and cool the way they get so into everything. I love the customs here :) They are so different and special and normal! I loved it! Oh and the symbol of my area (not for sure) is the devil so that was fun. Larry kept going up to people asking if I could take a picture with them and their costume with the opeing line of "she is an american" as if that is an excuse for random pictures. I thought it was hilarious... and so true! They lit up once they knew I was american!

After this we decided to go see a movie since Lisa and I didn't have school tomorrow. Three movie theatres and 2 hours later we were at home without seeing any movie. It was such bad luck! Then we decided to watch one of the movies I brought with me on the dvd player but it didn't work! By this point it was beyond bad luck and we just laughed. We ended up watching "Overboard" - my favorittttee movie - on my laptop with it dying only once! It was a good bonding night :)

Then Monday I slept in until noon and then went shopping with my friend Louisa.

I'd say a pretty good weekend :)

Oh and Mallo has stuck. At my school, for your last year of school (senior -> rheto) you get to purchase a sweatshirt with all the names of the rheto class. On my sweatshirt sleeve will be my new nickname :) yay!

All for now!!

Happenings

Hello Everyone!

So currently I am supposed to be studying for a Science Sociales test - but clearly that is not working out so good for me now. I think it is a psychology class ... which I actually understand but it is torture for me to actually do work. I need to get in the school mode again... asap would be nice. My first week of school was last week and it was beyond a shock for me. It was really rough for me to adapt to how different everything is. It is just a mixture of a lot of things and it hit me really hard. It is hard to grasp the idea that I will be in this school for a year and that one day I will understand French. Other drastic changes are that I actually have to plan my outfit for the day and put make-up on! Yes everyone - I am becoming one of those girls. It is a nice change though. I always felt like my high school years were not like how movies portray high schools to be like - so now I'm actually in a school that you think of when you think of a high school. It is fun but hard for me to adjust to. I am starting to make more friends though each day. I am trying to sit by a new person atleast once a day - so far it has been great at meeting new people!

I have had so many Mallory Moments in school it is starting to become an issue. Last week, I was passing a note (yes ... bad... I know but sometimes I get so bored) and decided to throw it instead of doing the normal passing and ofcourse hit this girl in the back of the head. It was super. Lets just say she won't be my best friend anytime soon!! Oh and my french progress ... hmm ... well I understand a lot more than people think I do but I still can not show that I understand. So, all the teachers I'm sure think I am beyond stupid and speak to me in English even when I understand. I think I am getting a lot better at speaking though. I can carry on a pretty decent conversation but at the end of the day I am sosososo tired. Like seriously - it is not normal how tired I am. I was walking to the bus the other day complaining how tired I am and this girl said that everyone is tired just as much as me and I wanted to scream .. um no! I have to do all that you do and translate it in English and speak in French and convince people I'm not stupid!! French Fatigue will be the death of me.

This past weekend -

Friday, I just hung out with friends... :)

Saturday, I got up nice and early and went with my family to Brussels. This was my fourth time in Brussels and the first time I actually saw the Atomium! It was pretty awesome to see it after hearing so much about it. For those who do not know about this unavoidable icon of Brussels/Belgium it is an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times. There are 9 spheres (18 meters in diameter) connected by 20 tubes and is supported by 3 enormous pillars that are 102 meters. It was built for the 1958 World Fair in Brussels. This was a really big deal because it was post WW2 and all the nations were in one area celebrating peace... the Atomium symbolizes/refers to the power of nuclear energy in full development at the time and which was intended for peaceful use. The Atomium continues to embody its ideas about the future and universality, half a century later. This is the most fascinating thing to me... it seriously takes your breath away the same way it did in 1958 and what it stood for and stands for are still a current theme globally.

Then after this, I went to my first wine tasting (Marta kept calling it a wine degustation)! It was really interesting and the Belgians thought it was great to teach the American girl all the fancy ways of tasting wine. You can call me an expert now. Everyone was so nice and I even got invited to go to stay in Paris whenever I wanted with this family... :)

After about 5 hours it seemed like at the wine tasting we went walking around Brussels - along with every other tourist I think. It was packed! I have never seen so many stereotypical Belgian shops in my life - chocolate, waffles, and beer galore. Nobody should be surprised that I am a whale now. Oh! And I finally saw the Manneken Pis - which is so small. I had such high expecations and it is literally the smallest thing ever. But I still thought he was cute :) Then we came home late and I went to bed pretty early.

Sunday, was another early day. I got up even before Marta and Lisa did! Very rare. We went to a mid-century castle called Franchimont. It was a lot like the castle at LaRoche but I thought it was in better condition. It was such a nice day and the sun was shining on the old stones - all I wanted to do was take pictures all day long! The ruined walls looked gorgeous against the bright blue sky. I even went into an old bunker! It was kind of scary but it was in such good condition is hard to believe. Ofcourse I had to climb maybe 100 stairs to get out of it though.

After this we went to a farm that was having an "End of Summer" party for the local area. It was like a carnival with everybody eating, drinking, and just enjoying life. I loved it. The local shops brought all their items like jam and wool products. It was so genuine and human :) Oh!! And highlight of my life in Belgium - I petted a baby cow!! For those who do not know me that well I have a sick-obsession with cows and they are everywhere here and everytime I see them I pretty much scream "Vache" with too much excitement. My family has become accustomed to this and knowsI love them - in fact they bought me a cow patterend pencil and for my house keys I have a cow keychain. But I actually petted one!! C'etait chouette (It was cool) !!

But after this I went to a concert in town that is free because of the celebration of Walloonia. Belgium doesn't have that many famous singers but they do have one guy who is actually a big celebrity named Stromae and his most popular song is "Alors on danse"; It is heard atleast 3 times a day no matter where you are. I love it - it is a mixture of pop and rap and he pretty much only says "alors on danse" the whole time but the beat is awesome. Anyways, he put on a concert (as in 3 songs) and it was so much funnn. I went with some girls from my school and I really felt Belgian :)

Then school this week :/ it is going better than last week though!!

I actually have a routine going ... !!

Oh gosh you will love this. One of my teachers could not remember my name so I said, "It is like calorie with an M" and now everyone quotes me. It is super :)
I have a nickname now also... Mallo. I think it is cute but we will see if it sticks

Talk to you soon :)

First Day of School and other excitements

Bonjour!!

First Day of School was today for me- keep in mind a week later than everybody else. It was not at all what I thought it would be like...it is hard to explain. I thought people would be more walking up to me introducing themselves since I was the new girl or like making a fuss over me. But nobody really did. Which I am totally okay with! I think it wasn't like that because I have been introduced to a lot of people at AFS ( my school) through out the month I have been here. I don't know.
School was just as awkward and confusing for me as you would think! Like seriously - I just followed random people around all day and tried to speak French and comprehend. It is so different from Sion - it was a bit overwhelming for me. I tried to keep smiling but by the end of the day I was so exhausted! Everybody is so nice though. Louisa ( my host brother's friend) has been such a good friend in showing me around and introducing me to her friends. I am proud to report that I did not eat by myself at lunch!
My courses change everyday but today I had 2 hours of Math. I was literally dyinggggg. It was horrible. I understood the graphing but I can't read cursive when it is written on the chalkboard (yes - every classroom has a chalkboard) so it was pretty much a loss cause taking notes. But i tried!! I had English today too... the teacher pretty much begged me to help be an aid. He is a really cool teacher and you could tell all the students enjoyed his class. I felt like a celebrity for a minute but then I had to stand up in front of 34 students while they asked me random questions so they could practice their English. You would think this would be easy for me but this was the most exhausting thing I did all day! I had to think really fast and respond to their questions in perfect English along with being a good representation of the United States. It was beyong stressful and I'm sure I was bright red the whole time I was up there... which was 45 minutes!! My English was being judged (which apparently is not correct English) and then my answers were being judged by people who I have never even met before. It was definately a first impression! It was weird because the students were like me when I am trying to understand French... when I responded to their questions they really had no reaction to what I said. But I knew they could understand me. It was nice to be of help to the class - I actually felt special and it gave the students an opportunity to find out more about me. My other class was French - which I didn't understand. Typical. Then I had P.E. for legit 2 hours... and I didn't bring my gym clothes or shoes so I just sat there the whole time. Which I am really happy I did because I was sooo tired. I have to do it tomorrow though :/ Then I was finally let out of school at 5:10. Longest school day of my life. I rode home on one of the most crowded buses. It was so against fire code - like seriously I was smashed up against an old man and kept nudging him whenever the bus door opened because I was pretty much standing in the entrance of the bus. Ya - it was super. All in all a good first day :)

This past weekend was a thrill ride! All the museums and historic interest places (like castles and such) are open for free or just open in general in celebration of Waloonia - my area in Belgium. Which is awesome! So on Saturday morning I got up with the fam to go to see a castle that normally is closed to the public. It is like a farm castle and was not in the best of condition - but it was still so pretty. While we were looking at some random artifacts in one of the rooms and this cute 11 year boy came up to my host dad and wanted to show us around. He lived in the castle! It was really interesting for him to show us his point of view of the castle and how he feeds the owls up in the rafts! To him the rooms of the castle are where he has halloween parties not of any historical interest... it was a cool perspective. And I found out that my host mom (marta) was raised in a Belgian castle as well when whe was young! It wasn't the most beautiful castle or the best kept up but it was really genuine and human... I didn't want to leave!
After this we went took a "sky-trolley" (I can't think of the word) in Huy to the fort. For once in Belgium I did not have to climb! It was really cook to see the view from the car. Most cities in Belgium are in valleys so you can always see everything when you are high up. It was scary but so worth the view. The fort in Huy that used to be occupied by the Germans and used as a prison. The prison was occupied by prisoners of war and political prisoners. Most of the people who stayed in the cells had no idea why they were there and some were there for no reason for 30 years. It was really depressing and it was hard to walk through the cells without being emotional ...
Very contradictory - where we went next was probably the most beautiful castle you could imagine. It was full of antiques and was in the best condition for being so old. It was really breathtaking and there were even brides and grooms walking around taking wedding pictures. The landscape was done by the same person who did the gardens of Versailles. It was heaven. Story of my life though - my camera died like after a half hour at the place. I got a few good pictures!! Then after I went to a party at Jerry's house with other Rotary people. It was really chill and I finally had a good burger I have been craving since I got here!This day was full of contradictions but it was very interesting!
Sunday morning it woke up early and then took another nap. I was really tired since I am getting over a cold... :/
We went to a museum full of all the Waloonia artifacts you would want to know. It was intense. It was really interesting because a part of the nunnery (which was turned into a museum) was remodeled in a very modern way. I guess all the museums and historic places in Belgium decided to renovate in a modern twist to add their own piece of history to the building. Which is really a new idea. With all the wars - they have been constantly rebuilding the same way but now they are accepting the present and using it with the old. It is amazing to see the mixture of new and old. It was fascinating to me. I love how they are adding to history with a piece of now - but later it will be historic! Sorry - another historic rant. I'm in heaven here.
All for now
I am beyond tired
Ma-Laurie

Septembre Scolaire

Yesssss... it has been a while since my last update! Sorry! The only excuse I have is that I am seriously having the time of my life :)

Last weekend, I went to Huy with my host Rotary District here. It was so much fun to meet everyone and hang out more than in Brussels. Plus it was a smaller group of people (100 students from all over!). At night the Rotary Club rented a dj and a keg and we had a dance party! It was literally so much fun and everyone was soaking from dancing so much - it was gross. We also got to chill and talk with Rotexs (people who went for a year of exchange over a year ago) and rotary kids who just got back this summer. It was really interesting to hear their stories. We also went over all the rules we have to follow - which really stressed me out. I also filled up a lot of my blazer with pins! I look so cool :) It is really cool to have your blazer covered with random things. So am working on being "a cool rotarian".

This week I also started my french course at the University of Liège. It is a legit course - and counts for credits! We took a placement test last monday and out of 4 levels I am in level 2. .Which I guess is for the people who "attempted" to take the test because level 1 is for the people that didn't even take the test. I am the youngest person in my class and the only one who speaks English - everyone else is from Italy or Spain and is 24. But whatever. After the written placement exam there was an oral exam and I had to explain to the professor that I wasn't a student at the University but an exchange student and was really in high school (which I guess is not normal) So ofcourse the lady thought I didn't understand the question and kept asking my major. It was beyond complicated. But my placement is perfect and I am really learning things and using them! Before when I took French it was for a grade, but here it is not for a grade at all so it is a different way to learn. I like it. It is kicking my butt though. I am currently procrastinating on writing an essay... shh!
The first day of high school was today - but I didn't go. I am actually not going all week because of my French course (which is from 9-4:30). The principal thought it would be more productive for me to go to the french course instead. So Jerry (the other exchange student with Rotary from Texas going to my high school) and I will be going to school a week later than everyone else. As if we couldn't stand out anymore! But I am very thankful for the course :)
It is now September and I am still not in school! This is bizarre! I got out of school in the middle of May and I won't go back until the middle of September! Longest summer of my life... no complaining on this end :)

In my down moments I get really homesick. Which I know nobody wants to read about - but this is my life. I just really miss my parents and the random things like calling them when I am waiting for my bus or something. Just communicating like the way I did at home? You know? I didn't appreciate that as much as I should. I am trying to stay as busy as possible... which really helps!!
It is not that I want to come home at all though! Ha that sounds worse than I meant it to be ... it is just that I am still adapting and the homesickness is just a part of the experience. I love Belgium and want to stay as long as possible here and am really enjoying doing things for myself and feeling an independence/confidence I have never felt before. Finding who you are takes some sacrifice... right?

Update on my weight - I have gained weight! My pants still fit though ... so I don't think it is too noticeable... yet! Ugh.
Update on "Mallory Moments" - I have had so many it is hard to keep track of!! The other day, I decided to go for a run (after eating too much chocolate) since it was sunny... and when it is sunny in Belgium you have to take advantage of it. So, I put on my running shoes and started to head out the door. Marta (my host mom) stopped me and begged me to take a rain jacket but I said "Oh, No! I will be fine if it rains!" . 15 minutes out from the house, it starts pouring. Probably the hardest it has ever rained in my 3 weeks of being here. It was so hard I hid under a random tree on the side of the street for like 10 minutes. I am sure the neighbors were questioning who this girl was. So, after 10 minutes I decided to suck it up and jog home. Then I got lost! I called Marta and she had to come get me on the side of a major road during rush hour while I am soaking wet. Mortifying! We both laughed so hard on the way home... classic
Update on public transportation - Success! I was so scared... but now I love it :) I feel so free and it gives me some alone time to my own thoughts after stressful days.

This weekend was seriously .... crazy busy! And I loved every minute of it :)
Friday - I had a full day of school at the University and then after I met up with my host brother (Benoit) and his friends and we just hung out. I met more people that are in school with me at Chenée. I really like them and they are fun. I am slowly getting over my phobia of hanging out with people younger than me!!
Saturday - We got up really early and went to the battle site of Waterloo. I am such a dork - but it was seriously awesome. I was drooling over Napolean information! Shout out to my AP Euro girls. Since my mother (real one) asked me what Waterloo was and if it was even in Belgium - I will take a moment to explain. This was a battle that took place on 18 June, 1815. The battle of Waterloo is regarded as one of the greatest battles in European history. It marks the final confrontation between Europe (the British and the Prussians) and France (Napolean) and the fall of Napolean which paved the way for a new era of peace in Europe. Both sides suffered extremely heavy losses. Some 9500 men from both sides died and 33000 were wounded. So ya... it was a big deal.
Their is a monument that was erected between 1824 and 1826 that is a Lion Mound. It is dedicated to the soldiers who died and Prince William of Orange who was wounded in battle - note that he was not killed. At the top is an enormous lion weighing 28 tons! So once again - I climbed the 226 steps to the top and enjoyed the view of the best preserved spot where 300 000 men from 7 nations met in battle. The lion symbolizes the new-found peace in Europe. We also went to an awesome wax museum and a huge panorama that captures the battle is such a unique way through huge paintings! C'était chouette :) - this is Belgian for it was cool. Then that night Laurent's (host dad) family came over. Everyone was so nice and we talked about history and I enjoyed my first all cheese meal! I love goat cheese! I actually could comprehend a lot of what everyone was saying ...
Sunday - I got up at 6 am to go to a theme park with my other host family (the Bran's). It was in Germany and sooooo cool! Like seriously ... it was not a joke theme park. My neck still hurts from going on so many rides! It was really fun to spend time with my other family :) They are super nice and I get along well with both François and Benoit - I think!! We were at the park when it opened until is closed. It was so exhausting to hear french all day in a noisy theme park but I think I did ok... haha
I had a swell weekend :) today was hard though. I am so tired!!

All for now
please leave comments if you want me to cover anything that I have not! Sorry for being so tardy :)

Love
Ma-Laurie