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