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

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!

Brugge

Brugge is too pretty for words...

too much going on to write!

Sooo things are happening and I don't have time (don't have energy) to write. But I will write a bit for my faithful followers :)

It is weird to think that I have been here for a week... c'est bizarre!
I don't really know how to organize this week but I will try to do it in the most logical manner. I think I will talk about all the major happenings... oui?
So the next night after the festival in Liège (the 16th) all of my families deicided to throw a surprise 'dinner' for me. It was so nice! We had an appertiff at the Bran's house. I got a tour of their house and I attempted to speak my franglais... which I have to say has improved in a week but I still have trouble understanding when boys speak french. They are a really nice family :) After the Brans we went to the the Gaier's (which is where I am living now) for dinner. It was so nice! My other host family was waiting for us at the house, the Favero's! They are so nice too... and I met little Emma and Tommyboy... so cute. I wanted to have Emma teach me her French but they both left early. Everybody was speaking very fast and it was hard for me to keep up but I still really enjoyed myself. I thought it was a one course meal so I had like second helpings thinking that was it. Then they brought the second plate but it was pasta so ofcourse I ate all of it :) We were going to go to the Favero's for ice cream but everybody decided to just stay and talk instead. It was interesting because everybody has a different accent and speed when they talk. It was hard to keep up! I am glad all my families know each other... a lot of my rotary friends don't have this. I am very happy with all my families... :)
The next night we went to the Favero's for ice cream and I got a tour of their townhouse... I do not know what it is called. It had 3 floors! It was nice and I again saw Emma and Tommyboy. They are too cute for words... like seriously (and I don't even really like kids so that is saying a lot when I think they are sosososososo cute).
The 18th I went out with some Rotary friends.... it was really fun! I added 10 numbers to my phone... hhaa just like they Rotary Camp told me to do. They are really fun and I met another boy going to my school. The oldies (since they arrived in january) showed us all the cool places and gave a quick tour of the city. Which by the way, I have no idea how I am going to get around by bus... like seriously I am more scared about taking the bus than going to school! ugh... another challenge for me :) The oldies tell me I will get it in a month... so that means I will understand it in 2 months. Super! The next day I went shopping with a new friend to get the necessities in Belgium. I am not kidding you - everybody here wears a variety of boots/flats + skinny jean/tights + leather jacket/zip-up hoodie. So, I went shopping for the necessities! All I really need now is a bigger purse (shoulder purses are not european my friends) and a leather jacket... or fake leather.
Last night (the 20th) my host brother, David, had a going away party. It was a lot like the normal American party but I had so much fun! Everybody was really nice and the girls were really helpful when I didn't understand something. Again I found it true that I literally can not understand anything boys say... it is really weird and makes me look really mature that I just stare at boys when they talk to me. Welcome to my life... I am laughing as I have finally come the realization of all this.
Today I got up to go shopping (again - it has become an issue) with Rotary friends. It was really fun and all we really did was walk around the mall area. The simplest things I really enjoy now. I like it :) Just spending time with new friends that you share so much in common with is really nice... I don't know. I feel like I am already changing!
Ah! David is still up packing... maybe my typing is keeping him company! It will be weird without him... He leaves for New York tomorrow for a year! I'll miss you, David... if you are reading this :)
Tomorrow Brussels then Bruges! yay :)

Sorry for not being very timely :) I will try to update more often ...
Au Revoir

Finally in Belgium!

bonjourrrr!
I have arrived safely and happily :) It is very hard for me to type on this french keyboard and I am very tired (it is midnight here). Also sorry about my english... it is only the second day and everything I think and write I think of translating....
The flight was so long but I met a lot of new people. All the rotary people are very nice and I even met a boy who graduated from East! C'est encroyable! It was funny because the man I sat next to on the plane was born in Belgium and hated it.... while I had not even been to Belgium and already loved it. It was very funny to me but not to him...!
Layovers are horrible and when you get an opportunity to have a 7 hour layover.... you should not take it (especially if you have to pay for the wifi).
My bags arrived safe and sound and I was way too happy about this :) It took me forever to pack AND to meet the weight limit so if I had lost them I would have been mad and sad!
When I saw my family I was so happy. I gave them all a kiss on the cheek and a huge smile. That is all I do know! Smile and smile and smile! It rained all day and still I thought it was the best thing ever... my family may think I am crazy? I was laughing all day today because we went to the 'flea market' in the rain and I realized Americans do not know how to hold an umbrella ( my new word of the day that I said probably 100 times = parapluie). I thought it was funny with this simple realization because I kept hitting people and dropping rain on them. It rains all the time here so I must master this 'sport' as ma maman says.
Yesterday, when I arrived at 7:30, I took two naps throughout the day! I broke the rule.... sh! But before the naps my family took me to the top of the hill overlooking the valley (where Liège is in) and it was beautiful! I wish I had taken a picture.... but left it in the car :/ It looked so quiet from far away but when we were actually in the city it was so busy and full of life! It made me smile and want to walk around in it forever. After lunch I took another nap and decided to go out with my host brother (David) and his friends. It was a good decision! I had so much fun and I tried to speak French with little luck of being understood so I just watched and smiled. Maybe everyone thinks I am crazy! The French I learned in school is so different from the French they speak here. I am lost... but still smile! I have really started to love language that I so desperately hated in high school. I like the way it twists my mouth into different ways it is not used to. But back to last night! It was a huge party for Liège because of the national holiday.... so everyone (young and old) come together to have a good time in the streets with music and lots of laughter. I met François (my other host brother who is 18) and all his and David's friends. Except the I only really hung out with 4 of them because it was so crowded! I danced and had so much fun with them making fun of my pathetic attempt at French and me teaching them English slang. I even had a 'dance' with an old man who bear hugged me.... the boys thought this was hilarious (which it was). We went home late and I almost peed my pants in the car because I didn't remember/was too embarrassed to ask where the bathroom was. So on my first night in Liège I had a narrow escape from peeing myself in the back of a car! That would have seriously been awful!
Today I woke up and had 2 pains des chocolats (mon favori!). I was in heaven. We went to the flea market after and mon père showed me all the old buildings. I don't think he knows how much I love history until I took a picture of a plaque explaining that Napolean stayed a night at that house (Bonaparte Babe?). After there was a parade for the city of Liège and even though it was raining everyone was there! And I again was able to practice my umbrella sport :) There is a famous marionette named Tchantetes and everybody loves him! He has all these outfits and a wife and he works for Charlemagne. It sounds silly but it is true! There are huge giants of him in the parade that are very heavy to lift... I know because I tried to life these giants! It was a lot of fun :)
Alors! I am very tired now but I really enjoy my new family and they arre very understanding :)
Their house is beautiful and everything is modern and clean! They are beyond nice to me and I really enjoy just sitting and talking with them all :)
Ah! I am so tired. This is all for now.... sorry about my horrible writing and my excessive amount of exclamation points... haha I love them these days :) Also I will put up pictures when I can figure this computer out. My computer is kind of worthless because they do not have wifi but I do not mind ... c'est ne pas grave!
Au revoir
a + (this is a quick way to say à bientot... )

VISA ARRIVED!

Salut!

My Visa arrived! Finally! When I saw the package I was so excited... "this is actually happening" I thought. If anybody is wondering... a visa allows me to live in Belgium for a year. I have 364 days to enjoy the beautiful Belgium then I have to get out! It is like a stick-on piece of paper in the back of my passport that has all these dates and explanations for why I will be there for a year. It is so legit! I had to take another picture for it and wore my skull and crossbones shirt (woot woot senior shirt) which thank goodness didn't show up on my visa. I'm sure the people at the embassy were like... uh? But as long as I got it in the end!
I have finalized my flight plans also! That was making me nervous but it is all worked out, now. I leave KC on Friday morning and fly to Washington DC... where I have a 7 hour layover! Suggestions on what to do for 7 hours in an international airport?! I have family in DC but don't think I can leave the airport. Oh well... I will be meeting up with 25 other Rotarian exchange students from across the US going to Belgium. I can make friends and practice my French. My flight to Brussels is 8 hours and I arrive in the morning of Saturday. I will let you know how that goes! When I flew to France last summer, we flew through the night too and got there in the morning and I was a mess (for a good 3 days). Hopefully I will be able to sleep this time... but I think I will be too excited!
I started packing! I have two 28 inch suitcases that are huge and very cute. They are brown and have pink and baby blue flowers all over them. I have already packed one suitcase and think it is overweight! This is going to be a challenge. I have so many things I want to bring but I need to narrow it down... a lot!
I am very excited to meet my families =) I will let you know more about this another time. Must go to have dinner with a friend - for the last time! That is the weird thing but with the technology these days I know I can stay in touch with people!
Must run!
a + (this is "talk to you soon" in French slang)

Mal & Lory

thoughts

Bonjour!
So, I have been thinking that my last post was rather weak. I didn't do a very good job.. maybe it was nerves. Here I am again. I promise to do better with my updates when I am over in Belgium... but my life is rather uninteresting at the moment. I am here in Kansas City and it is grossly hot... that is probably the most interesting thing going on today.
For those of you that do not know me very well... it is nice to meet you =)
My name is Mallory and my friends in America (that sounds weird) call me Mal. This is not a very good nickname to take with you into a French speaking country (Mal means 'bad' in French). Can you see my host mom calling upstairs yelling, "Bad! Bad! Come down for dinner, Bad." It just won't do. My full name is hard for people sometimes to say even here so I decided to cut all the problems out and go by Lory. It is almost like an alter ego! I like it way too much. Although it will take some getting used to... everything in my year in Belgium will take some getting used to. It will just be one more thing - that I don't mind. More about me... hmm... well I have just graduated from high school. That is very cool... right? I love love love history. Anything historical I can not get enough of (especially European history). Is it weird that one of things I am most looking forward to doing is going to the battlegrounds in Belgium? Ya... that is kind of weird. I also enjoy anything international (United Nations, European Union, Olympics, FIFA World Cup, etc. ). I am a dork but I also like being with my friends and making new ones! I hope that didn't jinx me for making friends in Belgium... !
I have been in contact with all 3 of my families. They are all so nice and I can not wait to meet them! I am beyond happy =)
I have yet to get my Visa... which is somewhat of a problem since I leave next Friday. But I will keep my fingers crossed. I have harassed the traveling agency multiple times in the past few weeks (note: it has take over 8 weeks)... hopefully they will get the message that I kind of need it very soon! It is stressing me out... breathe Lory.
Enough about me... for now =)
Stay loyal my five, fabulous followers!
-Mal & Lory