blog wont work. and wont let me update. hold on my faithful followers

Oh hello...19?!

Happy Birthday to meeeee!!
I can't believe I'm 19! How weird is that??
Mallory Moment - already? yes - on my birthday I went around telling everyone next year I would be 2 centuries (thinking that a century was 10 years). The Belges were a bit freaked out and when someone finally corrected me I tried to blame it on my french... so embarrassing. But now back to how I am so happy I spent my 19th birthday in Belgium with my friends ... even though I missed my family and friends back home.... I was really happy this year :) I couldn't have asked for a better birthday... honestly!! I think Belgium even knew it was birthday because it was the first sunny day we have had in a long time. It was so nice and I didn't even need to wear a jacket during the day at school... actually it so nice I WANTED to go on a run, because I could without a parka and snow gear. Thank you Belgium for finally getting the weather right on the one day that it was important to me... you're the best :)

Now my week so we can get to the birthday festivities :)
On Wednesday, I went to the movies with my school to see "Desert Flower". It was in English - which I think I got a lot more out of... since it was one of those movies that is a little intense. It was about this woman who grew up in Somalia and escaped to London, where she became discovered and then became a top model... and she suffered from the cruel practice of Female Genital Mutilation. It was really eye-opening and intense for me... so I'm glad I got to watch it in English instead of reading the subtitles the whole time :) Then after this, I met up with Margaret and we wen to fix my phone. Such a Mallory Moment... for the past week nobody had been responding to my text messages and I thought that everyone was being really rude or just really busy. It didn't even click in my mind until a week later that none of my messages over the past week have been sent to anyone. Real cool. So, when I got it fixed everyone received all the messages I have been sending at once. Benoit got 15! Hilarious... and really awkward to explain to the dozen of people being like, "um, ya... why didn't you respond to this 5 days ago?". Then after this moment, we went to meet all the newies! Which I must say was a bit of a let down... maybe because they aren't like our oldies. I don't know ... It just made me miss the REAL Aussies even more. Sigh.
Thursday I had a horrible sinus infection and for the first time in Belgium ... I went home sick from school. Gasp!! I was literally dying and came home and slept from 11-5... I wish this was a joke.
Friday! My Birthday Party! My First Party I (semi) Hosted in Belgium! I miraculously finished school at 1 instead of 4:20 and went to the mall with my two good friends from school (Noemie and Delphine). We ate lunch and shopped and just hung out :) I love them. Then after this Noemie and I went into town and met up with some other people. It was so fun and everybody was in such a great mood. Around 8, we all went back to my house and had a good party! I felt so special to have such good friends :) Earlier in the week, the girls were asking me what I wanted for a present and honestly I didn't really want anything so I told them a picture of all of us? And they made the cutest little collage of us over the past few months!! It was the best pictures... from my first party with them to last weekend... it was perfect and so meaningful. It almost made me cry... I really do consider these girls my friends for life. My other good friend from school got me a wicked pair of socks... since I always wear really bright, colored socks (which apparently is not normal). Socks are now my trademark ... haha I'm that cool. It was a good party :)
The next day I woke up kind of early to clean up... and let's be honest, I pretty much did all the cleaning. Which is fine. It was technically my party, so I can't complain too much. My parents (Isa and Alain) left that morning - at 7, ouch - to go skiing in the Alps and around 2 I caught a train with Mollie to go to Margaret's house for the night. To again, celebrate me turning into a grandma. Marge has a new family so it was a bit different than the other times, but we still had a blast! We were actually supposed to go to a soiree (party) that night but when we went shopping with her host mom for dinner we found so many things (like, salsa?) we wanted to make and bake and eat that we decided to stay in instead. Can you say fat? I'm so glad we did though! I was exhausted from the night before and I wanted to just chill with my girls and catch up. Marge (I stirred and Mollie was in charge of the music) made me a special dinner of shrimp scampi and then we attempted to make ice cream - fail. We were so grown up eating pasta and drinking white wine... for like 2 minutes I actually felt like I was at my mom's book club... but let's be honest, we were giggling like 5 year olds the whole dinner. I love my friends :)
Sunday, I got back into town around 3 and got home in time to pack my suitcase to head back over to the Gaier's (my first family). I have to move for a week because my parents are out of town and they didn't want me to be left alone with the boys and blah blah blah. So, I am here for a week. Which has been fun to catch up and compare notes on how I have changed. They really know me well so it is fun :) Lisa is on a ski trip also this week - so things are not completely the same... but pretty close. I have missed my bed here! It is really big and I forgot about it somehow when I moved. Oh, the little pleasures of life here.
Monday!!! February 7th, 1992... the day that the European Union was formed AND the day that I was born :) Coincidence? I think not! I wore a pretty dress (not just because it was Monday) and when I walked into school all my friends sang me happy birthday... so cute. I kept getting messages from people all day saying sweet things and I couldn't stop smiling ;) Benoit was really cute and gave me my birthday present from him and Francois during school... it was 2 DVDs of Shrek! I have this sick obsession with Shrek - and so does Francois - so it was really made me smile :) Oh little brothers! (Oddly, I have really missed them this week and skyped them on my birthday after school.) When I went home, I had so many messages from people at home I thought had forgotten about me and from people here that I didn't even think knew me... It made me happy! Then to complete the happiness, I went on a run in the woods and in the lovely sun. I felt so good and happy after :) I even got up the courage to weigh myself and (drum roll please) I have lost 3 kilos! Yay me! (Only 98 to go!) Right as I realized this, it was time to go out to dinner for my birthday. For some reason, I thought we were going to eat Chinese and when we got to the restaurant and sat down I was like, "Wait, Is this Chineses?" Marta was like, "Does this look like a Chinese Restaurant?" And the answer was no - it was an Italian restaurant.... and just as good! I had an amazing appetizer with spaghetti scampi and then completed the meal with an amazing ice cream and chocolate sauce. The ice cream was to die for and I think I could have just eaten that all night... to say the least - I was stuffed like a pig and it took me forever to get to sleep that night! I have not eaten that much in a really long time... my poor body.
Tuesday was not so fun. I stayed up really late on Monday and was just beyond exhausted at school. The sun was out again though :) So, I took advantage and made myself go for a run again. I really can't help but like running when it is nice out... even when I am about to pass out from fatigue.
Then yesterday, I went to the University's library with my Science Sociales class. When you are a rheto (senior) you have these huge presentations you have to do in each class you are taking. Like in French class - everyone has to read a book and then in a group of 3 they have to present the book to the class and it is a huge part of their grade. Everyone has been freaking out about these "expos" ever since we have been back at school. Some of them are due in June - like the Science Sociales one. We have to write a 10 page research paper on a question under any subject we want related to the class. Of course being the lazy exchange student I am - I went to the teacher and asked if I had to do the paper too. She looked at me all weird and was like, "Well, yes? Why wouldn't you have to? Your french will be even better in June!" Super! So, then I had to figure out a question related to something we were studying and something I'm somewhat interested in. I decided to compare the Social Security System (mainly the Healhcare) of Belgium with the system of America... and then to add the thoughts of the Americans (democrat and republican) on the subject, why it is complicated to change our current system, and why it works in Europe. I was so excited with how intense my question was and how it is actually something that is an important issue right now. The next day after I picked it out, I told the teacher and she was so impressed also that now she wants me to give an oral presentation to the class since it "is such a big issue".... along with the 10 page paper... all in French. So, now... I'm kind of regretting my question since it is more than I think I can handle. Yesterday when we went to the library, we were all looking up our questions and most people have really weak questions... like one girl's is "why do people become vegetarians?" I'm too smart for my own good! This is what happens when I put in a little bit of effort! Lesson learned. Yet, the paper is still due. Cool. Oh, and oral presentation. Super.
After school, I was going to work on this blog since I was overdue! But then Marta and Larry came home and were like do you have plans tonight? I didn't have any plans and then the next thing you know we are mini golfing! And then had pizza after! It was a cute little bonding moment and a reminder that my golfing skills still suck on another continent. So, that is why I am updating everyone a bit late!!
Today was pretty lame... it rained. Only eventful thing was I went for another run... and completed this blog!! Score.

Pictures later!
All for now
Mal

Details in the Fabric and (New) Love for Techno

Hello Hello Hello Everyone

Today, I am literally shivering as I write this. For some reason, I just can't get warm. I think my body was used to the little bit of warmer weather we were experiencing and now that it is going back to being bold ... I'm now wishing for Spring to come faster! Which doesn't mean I don't love my snow... but my body can only take so much of this humid winter that Belgium seems to be very good at.

I'm currently listening to one of my favorite songs by Jason Mraz ("Details in the Fabric"). I used to listen to this song a lot during the first few months here. It is pretty much a song about just letting things go and that what you might be freaking out about is something that you don't need to worry about... like details in the fabric. Whenever I would be stressing out or worrying or crying over the things in my life that I shouldn't be wasting my time with ... I would listen to this song. I feel like I am not the same person I was when I listened to this song 4 months ago. I feel like now when I listen to it, I remember the hard times I had. This song helped me remember to just breathe... and calm down. Now, I feel like I'm telling this to a good friend... like it is my advice. One of the lines is,"Hold you own. Know your name. And go your own way. And everything will be fine." I feel like that is my own personal chant now... what saved me from myself and reminds me that I am strong on my own. I mean, just look how far I have come...
:)

On Friday, I went into town with my friends from Rotary and then later on met up with Belges. I changed my mind so many times this day... from not going into town at all, to only going until 8, and then to taking the last bus home. I like how spontaneous things can be sometimes :) I had an amazing pita also (drooling now). All the college kids were in town (including Francois) since they finished their finals this week so it was fun to see them so happy after watching my brother study so much for the past month!
Saturday was the day of the concert! During the day, I just got caught up with e-mails, facebook, and skype. Then around 5, I went over to my friend from school's house (Delphine) for dinner with Pamela (from Costa Rica) and Daniel (from Columbia) before the concert. It was fun to just chill before going out... and we made Mexican food in honor of Pame and Dani! It was cute :) We left her house around 9 and got to the concert around 9:30. Let me attempt to describe this concert... well there are 3 techno concerts in Belgium every year... and the TransArdentes is the one after I Love Techno (in October) and before the Ardentes (in July). If you love techno, electro, or dupstep then you have these dates down - but the concert in July is more commercial music. Each concert has so many artists, is just huge, and people come from all over Europe for just a few hours of this incredible "ambiance". This year, the TransArdentes had 12,000 people and I must say that it is the smallest of the three concerts. I knew it was going to be huge, but I had no idea how crazy and amazing it was going to be. They had 3 rooms (indoors) where all these different DJs would be playing from from 7 pm to 6am. So all night, we were changing rooms to where there was the best beat and just moving with the crowd of probably the trashiest European people you can imagine... but even with that said... I loved it. I loved how I was in this huge, legendary concert, with my friends, running into other friends in each room, just going with the crowd of people dancing like crazy, and in Belgium! I don't even really like techno but it was just like one huge party that you couldn't help but be a fan of your ears ringing the whole next day. It was amazinggg and Benoit and I left around 3:30... which means I, of course, slept until noon.
Sunday was pretty chill. I Skyped people and then around 5 went to see Harry Potter with my parents and Francois. - yes, in French. and yes, Harry Potter is still in theaters. I never read the books past the 3rd one and I don't think I have understood a single movie without a Hogwarts fan telling me the story plot before... so seeing it in French was just another added bonus to my confusion. I kept poking Francois and asking him to explain it to me... it was funny. It was such a good movie though and I really enjoyed it :) Then we came home and watched the finale of Desperate Housewives. My Sundays are going to be so different now without the Housewives to give my night a little drama...
Yesterday was freezing (today was worse) and I finally watched Slumdog Millionaire!! Oh My Goodness. This movie was so good... I don't even know why I hadn't watched it until now! I understood pretty much everything (since it was in French) and it really was so good. It was another bonding moment with the family... :)

All in all a good week!
I am writing this earlier than normal (like anybody notices) because tomorrow I am going to the movies with my school to see Desert Flower (yes, another movie. I think this whole blog has been about movies!). And then after, I will be going into town to meet the Newies... since I am now and Oldie!! This is kind of a big deal... and I will have new friends to teach the ropes in the streets of Liege :)

All is good here and I'm wishing the Midwest "Bonne Merde" (english translation - "good shit" but the belges say it as goodluck and it is badluck to say "merci" after somebody says it to you!) with the blizzard coming in! I hope it will be nothing like the amount of snow we had here around Christmas!
A tantot :)
Mallow

One of those days

Hello Everyone!

Today is just one of those days that I kind of love life, a whole lot. I had an amazing past week and now I think I am running out of words to describe happiness without it sounding like I'm bragging.
Today, the sun came out. Actually, let me describe the weather patterns of today - freezing this morning, slightly sunny at noon, hailing/rain/snow at 2, and then the sun came out at 3 just in time for me not to have an excuse for why I shouldn't go for a run today (and yes - I did go for a run). I am just in this constant state of happiness and smiley-ness... I wish I could explain why. The only explanation I have to describe what I'm feeling is called a 'kairos-high' (shout out to my Karios family and for those unaware of what "karios" is, I'm sorry.). I am just proud of myself, impressed by myself, surprised by myself, finding myself, and loving myself. I think I might be falling in love with myself... ?

Last time we talked it was Wednesday, so on Thursday I had a writing exam at the University for my french course. It was supposed to be a 2 hour test but I completed it in an hour and half. It had 2 listening exercises, 2 reading comprehension exercises, and then at the end you had to write a letter to somebody at home describing you life here and stuff like that (while using all the intense verbs and vocabulary you can). I wrote a letter to my Mommy. I think I did pretty well... we shall see! I'm really proud of my French and I'm happy it is finally starting to show that I understand things and can communicate. Even if my grade proves otherwise, I'm still proud of how far I have come! I plan on continuing the course... so I can improve even more... :)
My brother Francois (18) is at the University studying medicine to be a eye doctor. He has been studying for the past month everyday for like 8 hours and tomorrow he will be finished! Here, when you are in University you have your finals after Christmas and they last all the month of January then you have the month of February pretty much off. Which is nice for Francois since he will be celebrating his birthday (my birthday is 2 weeks before his) for the first time on a holiday! Speaking of birthdays, my birthday is coming up :) Can you believe I will be 19? That just sounds old... especially since I still feel like a 16 year old. I hope I don't feel like a 16 year old all my life! But ya, 19 is old. I think I'm going to have a party at my house... :) I'll keep you updated on that one!
Friday was epic. I had one of the best nights with friends :) So for those of you who do not know me, I am one of those people that is really bad at networking (as in calling/texting people to organize something or making plans in geneal). I just have this phobia of texting and inviting myself places because I start thinking that maybe they don't want me to come and blah blah blah. Which honestly - I have no idea why I think these things, but I do. Friday night the whole school was invited to this huge masquerade party for these 2 girls birthday. I was planning on going but didn't know how I was going to change after school and I didn't want to go alone. So on Thursday, I networked it up. In French! I organized a ride to my friends house to get ready with the rest of the girls and then to go to the party with them afterwards. I was so proud of myself! I really am changing :) I also networked it up with another group of friends to go after school to get a mask. I got a kitty mask! With whiskers - it was so cute. After the mask shopping, I went over to my friend's house to get ready with the rest of the girls. It was so chill and fun... we gossiped away, gave outfit advice, and put the finishing touches on our make-up. It was again like the times I did this with my friends at home before dances... I love that I have friends to do this with here. I just felt part of the group... more than "felt"... I was part of the group. After this bonding moment, we went into town and ate. Yes, I did where my kitty mask in public (just for laughs). After this we took the bus to the party...this bus was so packed they couldn't get the doors shut. There were maybe 100 teenagers on this bus going to my party and another one. There was this one little, old lady on the bus. She was so cute and I think actually enjoying the teenage, Belgian night life. We invited her to come to the party but she said she couldn't... So cute!
At the party, I had sooo much fun with my friends! Everyone was in mask and just having so much fun! I danced the night away with my girlfriends and it was literally like a movie scene :) I laughed, smiled, danced, and spoke so much french :)
On Saturday, I slept in :) Around 5, Margaret came over and then Mollie's dad picked us up around 6 and we went over to Mollie's house for the night. I was beyond exhausted from the night before, but I still enjoyed spending time with my friends. We hadn't hung out since Margaret's birthday party mid-December! A lot has happened since then, so we got all caught up while watching Friends episodes and reading american, gossip magazines. It was a good night.
Sunday, I got home around noon and around 2 I went with the family to Isabelle's brother's house for a big party for all the birthdays in January/February (apparently there were a lot). This family is the best... I really love them so much. They all told me my French has gotten a lot better just in the month I have been staying with the Brans (yes - it has been over a month). They are just so welcoming and make me feel like I'm part of the family. It was so cool because for the dinner we just had dessert - pies, cakes, ice cream, pastries :) Of course, I was in heaven! Francois didn't come because he was studying for a final the next day so Benoit and I got to bond. Isabelle's brother (Jean-Marc) is really into music and he has electric drums that are connected to the computer with some snazzy software. For my lack of technical/musical terms, it was pretty legit. I am not the musically talented girl, but I couldn't leave the room while he was playing or anybody else. It was so cool to me! He can make all his own songs by mixing sounds and then adding his own compositions... I think my mouth was open the whole time. Around 7, we had to leave so the boys could watch Desperate Housewives (not a typo on the 'boys'). It is funny, at home I never watched Desperate Housewives but here I watch it every week!

Then back to school this Monday... but it wasn't that bad. I got caught up on all the gossip of Friday night with the girls :) I got my class picture (the senior class is like 300 people but the kids I am with all day is what the picture is of - try to find me!) I think I am really starting to love school. Not so much the learning part, but just being with my friends all day :)
Then yesterday, it rained on my walk home. It was super. Jerry and I went to our first Rotary meeting without Matilda. It wasn't too weird... The Rotarians now are being really inclusive and talking to us more. Not that they didn't talk to us before - but I think now they are more interested since they finally realized we will be there until June! Oh Tuesdays with the Rotarians... :)
Today, I was finished at one and I went to the mall to get my hair cut. ALONE. I spoke french and successfully got my hair cut :) I only said once, "I don't speak French very well." Last time I got my hair cut, I went with my Belge friends and kind of had a hard time communicating what I would like to happen to my hair but today, I was on it! I was super proud of myself and then I came home and went for a run with the sun. I'd say it was a successful day!

I'm really excited for this weekend because there is a huge concert called the TransArdentes that is happening Saturday. Tickets are really expensive but Pamela and I got them for 15 euros less than they were selling for. Score! It is a concert of techno and dupstep stuff... not really what I listen to but it is a concert in Europe... and I am only here for one year and want to take any opportunity I can. Why not go? Exactly my thoughts :)

So yes, it is just one of those days were I want to put a nice little quote to sign off with...

It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about. ~Alan Ball, American Beauty, 1999

All for now!
Mallory <3

Where is the good in goodbye?

We only part to meet again. At another time, maybe in another life or in another day.

This past week I had to say goodbye to all my friends who live in the Western Hemisphere (as in South Africa, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand). Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye? Life is like that, I guess.
My oldie (Matilda) and other good friend (Dominique) left on Thursday for Australia. On Wednesday, Jerry and I got a note to leave during our free period and we hopped on a bus to go say goodbye to our oldie one last time before she left. We went shopping earlier in the week and we got her a crown (since she is the queen) and a picture frame with the 3 of us at a Rotary meeting. She seemed to like it. I also threw in my chocolate stash that I decided I don't need any longer taunting me - keep your fat jokes to yourself. It was so weird though saying goodbye to her. We don't know when we will meet again... and it will never be under the same circumstances as now...it is just bizarre to me. What is more bizarre is that I can't text them randomly asking them a question or asking if they want to hang out in Liege next week. Their numbers are still in my phone... but they just won't be responding to my texts.
On Friday, Jerry and I (again) got a note of dismissal to go to Brussels to say goodbye to the rest of the exchange students leaving. There were about 15 kids all leaving on the same flight this past Friday and we went with a huge group of people to watch them cross through customs and wave one last time goodbye. I wasn't as close with anyone leaving on this flight... but it was still really emotional for me. I cried when I was watching everybody go through customs. I don't know why, but I think I was crying more for myself than for my rotary relatives leaving. Does that make me sound selfish? I saw how all their friends and families had come to see them off and how much they had impacted the people's life just through a few months. They were dragging their extra luggage that wouldn't fit in their bags, screaming English/Spanish/French across the airport as their last words of love, and crying to the point where their eyes were going to be bloodshot for the next few days but I thought it was beautiful (sorry, hippie I know). I was thinking about how I will be doing the same thing in 6 months and who will be crying at the airport over not knowing when they will see me next. It was just really powerful for me... I want somebody to have an impact on my life and I want to have an impact on somebody's life like that. Maybe I already have... maybe I will have more but just made me think about all the people I love and who love me. These next 6 months are going to go by really fast and now I really have to live them up... with no regrets and no looking back or forward. Just living and loving.

Now that I have written my paragraph of living in the now I must write about the weather. It has become a custom.
This weather has been very in tune with what is going on in my life. On Thursday after school, I walked home in the rain. Literally, I walked through the door dripping wet and it took me a good hour to have dry hair again. It really added to my mood of saying goodbye to my good friends. Not. It isn't snowing anymore here though. Instead it is hot and muggy and then maybe an hour later it is raining. So weird. This Sunday, it was really nice and sunny out and it felt like a spring day. Who has ever heard of it raining and being hot (hot as in I contemplate not wearing a jacket in the morning) in January?? Dear Belgium, you continue to surprise me. Especially with your odd weather patterns. I love you anyways but maybe let the sun out a little more.

This Saturday, I went for a run in my new neighborhood and caught up with e-mails and facebook. At night, I went to a going away party for my friend who is leaving... not because he has completed a year abroad but because Rotary is making him go home. Things are complicated but in the end of the story he is going back to Texas instead of staying with us in Belgium. He is actually one of the kids I met in Arkansas for the training on living abroad that was sponsored by Rotary. When I first met him I didnt think we would be hanging out here but now I really consider him a close friend. Belgium won't be the same without him.
Sunday I slept in :) Around one, friends of my family came over and we took a little drive to the Ardennes (forest in Belgium - famous for the many wars fought there) and went for a walk. A walk that took about 3 hours... and I loved every minute of it. It was a really nice day and for once the sun was out and shining. I was really happy and took lots of pictures. I wore my sparkly boots - which were a big hit. They were all making fun of them until they realized they weren't from America but 100 % Belge. It was fun to get some fresh air and it was a good bonding moment with my family :) The part of the Ardennes that we were at is close to Spa (yes, the famous Spa) and we stopped to drink some of the Spa water. The Real, Famous Spa Water! It was actually disgusting and tasted like a penny. I much prefer filtered water with the label of "Spa" on the front than the real water. I hadn't been to Spa since my very first day in Belgium so it was nice to go back conscience and awake. The friends stayed for dinner and we had the customary Belgian, large dinner meal of Racklettes (this is the meal where they have a mini grill on the table and we cook our own food and melt our own cheese). I love it. I don't know if it is really customary but every time a large group of people get together in this country it is most likely going to be a racklette meal. Maybe because it is easy to just cut up slices of cheese and put out lunch meat. Either way - I am a big fan. It is Swedish.

Monday was lame. But the sun was out so for lunch I ate outside with friends. That was nice. After school, I went for a run and I got up the courage to weigh myself and I lost 2 kilos (which is like 4 pounds). High Five!
Yesterday, I had an interview at the University for my french course I have been taking. I felt like I did really well and the teacher told me I spoke really well. Which made me feel better because I finally feel like I have turned the corner with my french and I'm glad other people are noticing too :) French is starting to become easier ... I just had to give it time and put in a little bit of effort. I'm proud of myself.
Today I started the day off with 2 hours of obligatory attendance to learn about safe driving in Belgium. It was just kind of weird since everybody in my class is 17 and only one person out of 30 have a driving license (you have to be 18 to have a license and it is really expensive here and you have to got to a certain amount of auto school to even apply andddd you have to get a 41/50 on the test.. which is really hard to do, I guess). I learned a lot about the system here ... and it made me remember how much time has gone by without me driving. It is weird to think that a normal day at home I would drive to and from school (25 min drive) and maybe more... and here I don't drive at all but enjoy public transportation to the fullest. I miss driving... a lot... but I appreciate public transportation here and enjoy the alone time I get with my music. Just another life here. Which I think that has been clarified many times already though. My bad. We had a half day today and then I just came home to do things... like write this blog. Love you my faithful followers and I hope you appreciate how much time I put into you!

Just one more quote on saying goodbye that I found and made me smile ... and it goes nicely with my artsy tree picture.

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you
Until we meet again!


All for now. Hope everyone is doing well :)
Mallory

Hello 2011.

Hello Everyone! And Hello 2011!

I think this is the longest we have gone without talking! So sorry my faithful followers. I'm going to try to update everyone in the most functional way possible... I'm hoping the outline will help (this is not a joke - I do have an outline).

Finally all the snow has melted away .... which now Belgium is enjoying this weird, cold rain. It is super depressing and I am really starting to miss the snow. When we were driving to the Alps, the sun came out and I started spazzing out because I honestly don't remember the last time I have seen the sun. Maybe sometime early in November?
Okay. Enough complaining about the weather. I just had an epiphany that I'm halfway through my year. A lot of my friends also doing an exchange have had this mood of wanting to go home and since that the holidays are over June will come by so fast and they will happily be home. Which - the thought of going home in a few months actually nauseates me. Not that I don't want to go home! But just the fact that I literally only have a few months here. That is crazy. So now I really want to do all the things I told myself I would do. And I'm going to do it :) I feel like I have this new breath of happiness and strength and confidence... I just want to go flying all over Europe speaking french and smiling. Okay, I'll admit that was a bit hippie-ish but I literally have been so happy lately that I don't know what to do with myself. Sorry to brag :)

Now the spark notes of my past days in the Alps and Belgium :)
On the 30th, I went over to the Gaier's for a Christmas and New Year dinner. It was kind of weird to be back and being a guest. I don't know how to explain it. Not weird bad, but it was not the same feeling when I was living there. They were really nice and Larry made all the things I love to eat. It was an all out dinner - complete with lobster :) I was a happy little fatty. I left presents in my room for them when I moved so they gave me my presents for Christmas when I came over for dinner. I got 2 cooking books - one for quiche! Love quiche. And a nail filer -it was one of my goals to stop biting my nails - and money and movie tickets. It was really nice and made me smile since they just weren't some random gifts... they were specifically for me. I really appreciated it. I had a good time and then went back home to my new family with my bag of goodies :) It was a nice, little visit.

Then New Years!! It was so much fun :) I had my exchange student friend from school (Pamela) and Marge come over before the party and we all got ready together. It reminded me of getting ready for dances with all my friends at home. We would all crowd around the mirror telling each other how to do our hair and taking pictures and making predictions on what would happen that night. It was like that with us 3 girls and it made me miss my friends but happy that I have new ones to share the sport with. I wore my new dress from H&M and new, gold shoes from Maastrict - which is a sad story considering that they are now unwearable after just 6 hours of having the time of my life in them... poor shoes. I felt pretty and very in tune with the theme (Black and Gold). Pame, Marge, and I ate some appetizers with my family and then we took off for the party around 10. It was amazing. There were about 300 kids and I'm happy to say I knew over half of the people there. It was quite a way to start off the new year and I couldn't be happier I spent it in Belgium dancing the night away with my friends. We (as in us 3 and 12 other Belges) got home to my house at 4 in the morning ... and woke up at 9 in the morning for breakfast. That was an interesting breakfast! We all looked... super cute and well rested. NOT. We all were a hot mess and I was beyond exhausted. After everyone left I took a shower and a nice long siesta. Then around 4, in good Belgium tradition we wished the family a Happy New Year. On the 1st of January, it is custom to go visit your family and wish them good blessings for the new year. We went over to Alain's parent's house and enjoyed a waffle. So Belge. Then with our sleep deprivation, Benoit and I boarded a bus at midnight with 115 other students for a 13 hour ride to the French Alps. I hate buses... and I was a fussy mess from my lack of sleep the night before. So.. the bus ride was not as fun as it could have been but I sat by my friends and tried to enjoy it as much as I could. We had lots of gossip to chat about from the night before!
Around 10 in the morning, we were rolling around the wonderful French Alps. The sun was shining from behind the high peaks and onto the white snow. I was in awe... by the Alps in general and that the Sun was functioning just a few hours away from my lovely little country of Belgium. That day we didn't do any skiing - thank goodness.
The next day we all got our ski gear on and tried out our groups we had been signed up for after completing the easy question of, "How many weeks have you skied?" I thought this question meant ... "How many weeks have you skied in your entire life?" So I answered that as 2 weeks. Which is false... but I didn't remember this until I was falling down the first slope... the first green slope. I fell at every slope through out the week and I have bruises on my body that I don't think will ever go away. But I am proud to say that I never cried once from falling too hard ... and I always got up with a big smile. Because let's be honest - sliding on your butt all the way down a slope not on purpose is pretty funny.
I have so many Mallory Moments I could write a book on just these 5 days... and I know you are all dying to hear about them. So story time! Gather 'round children! So the first day, we had to walk up a hill to get to the beginning of the ski resort - now keep in mind my physical shape and not buying the guide on how to successfully walk in ski shoes- by the time we got there I was sweating and was just following a herd of kids I thought looked Belge. We all piled into this line and I figured I would just wait to see what happened at the front of the line and instead to focus my attention on my breathing pace. As I know now, I was actually in line for the "tirefesse" (which a direct translation of this word is "pull ass"). It is a poll that you put in between your legs and you sit on this little part and it pulls you up the slope. It is quite the invention! But somehow I missed learning about it in school and was completely unaware of how this poll worked. So ofcourse, when I got to the front of the line I held it with both my hands and was awkwardly pulled up half the slope and then with a nice bump my arms gave out and I went tumbling down. Yes, the tirefesse was stopped because of me. And a nice ski teacher greeted me not saying hello but asking where I was from. I'm sorry I embarrassed you America. I am happy to say I finally conquered the tirefesse after just stopping it one more time.
My skiing skills are a joke but I had so much fun. Every time I fell it was hilarious. I put on quite the show. My good friend was in my ski group so we had lots of laughs. It was fun to make new friends and become better friends with everyone. This week was so amazing and I'm so glad I went - I was a bit stressed out on how things would go when I first signed up. Although this was one of the best experiences, it was really hard for the girl who needs a good 8 hours of sleep each night. We would ski 5 hours everyday then stay up very late and then I was blessed with a girl in my room who coughed the whole night. Making me the most tired I have ever been in my life. And the french 24/7 was exhausting as well. I sadly never cried from falling on the slopes but instead I cried from exhaustion one morning at breakfast. But you know what? Who has time for sleep when you are having the time of your life? You can always sleep when you're dead.

I'm proud to say I spent the first week of 2011 skiing in the Alps with my Belgian friends, falling all over myself in an attempt to ski, and crying at the breakfast table. I really had so much fun on this trip and I would do it over in a heartbeat - even falling all over myself part I thought was skiing.
Oh! And Benoit and I had our first brother sister fight - over a wet towel. It was cute and ended in a hug. This shouldn't be a big deal but for the only child - it kind of is. I won't make this into a "appreciate you brother and sister whenever you fight" paragraph but ... I so easily could.

The sky trip came to a close and it was sad to leave the sunny Alps and come back to depressing rain and school. Blah. School.
Sunday I just caught up with e-mails and facebook and went for a little run in the neighborhood. It is really quiet here and nice to just go for a light jog. Plus since all the snow has melted now, I really have no excuse to not go for a quick run...
Monday I wore a dress to help me with my Monday issues. It worked :) It was fun to see all my friends that didn't go on the ski trip at school... and it was just as great to see all my friends I spent my time with on the ski trip. I really have made friends for a lifetime here. We had a soiree the last night and my good friend's little sister came up to her and asked her who I was. My friend responded by saying I was the American exchange student. The girl looked shocked because she thought I was a Belge but didn't think I went to our school and that was why she was askign. My friends were all like, "You're one of us now!" I couldn't be happier to be mistaken for a Belge.... I know how to pull off the skinny jean and side bang pretty well now :) I think my integration has been successful. Check!
Today was the last Rotary meeting for my good friend, Matilda. She goes back to Australia this Thursday (which I'm hoping I can go to the airport to see her off - since I have no idea when I will see her next). The last meeting wasn't sad... just kind of weird that the next meeting it will just be Jerry and I. That is just weird. She will be missed :(

Tomorrow all the exchange students are going into to town for maybe the last time we will all ever be together. Super depressing. I hope I don't cry...
I know that whatever happens in the years to come that I will always have my Rotary relatives ... I love you guys :)
Sorry - I'm quite emotional these days.

All for now. Hope that lived up to everyone's expectations !!
Happy New Year!
Mallo

WHITE CHRISTMASSSS

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Joyeux Noel!

This Christmas was very very very white... it snowed maybe too much! I am amazed here at how much snow can come from the sky. It is kind of ridiculous. We were snowed in on Christmas Eve... I have never been snowed in in my entire life.
It didn't feel like Christmas though. Even with all the family gatherings, snow, decorations, Christmas tree... It just didn't. I am not saying that I didn't have a fabulous time... but it just didn't feel like Christmas. I guess Christmas never really feels the same without your family... I think that was it. I wasn't sad at all - which is a good thing! It just doesn't feel like it happened. And that January is in a few days?? Where the heck did all my time gooooo?? I will have been here for half my time in January... that is just freakish. I still feel like it is October... but then again I feel like I have been here for so long in that I have really grown up since I've been here. It is hard to explain... when I talk to my exchange student friends it is the same feelings.

Okay. It has been awhile since we last chatted so I have a lot to fill you in on!! So much has happened!! I have brothers!

The 21st was the last day with my family... it consisted of me packing my life away into 2 suitcases. That was a failure... so it became plus 5 little bags and my 2 huge suitcases (I packed for a year in). It was absolutely ridiculous the amount of things I have accumulated over the past 4 months. I have bought so many things.... ughhhh. I think I'm going to have to send all my winter things home in the spring just to make it into 2 suitcases for when I leave for real. So after probably the most dysfunctional packing experience I have ever had... my family had this little March de Noel in Liege thing planned. They have it every year for Larry's work where they rent out the skating rink and give all the employees and their families money to go get what they want to eat or drink. It was really fun! I got to meet all the people Larry talks about and finally got to go ice skating!! I went with Marta... and I am actually better than I remembered being :) It was fun to just skate around in circles and be like a little girl (for 20 minutes). That night was fun and a nice ending to a good 4 months at the Gaier's house.
The 22nd I was all set to move... but I didn't actually move until the night. So I just ran errands with Marta all day. And I finally went to a class for Lisa's speech (Logoped?) that I have put off for some reason every Wednesday. Since Lisa can't speak very well... it is a place for her to practice through games and exercises. It was really interesting and I wish I would have gone earlier... it helped me with my french a little bit, I think. Then at night the Gaier Family and I (and my gathering of bags) went over to the Brans for dinner. It was really nice and a smooth transition of families ... :) I was really happy and smiley the whole dinner. It was nice they organized the little dinner for me...
The 23rd I unpacked my life and into my new room. My room here is very different... it is kind of like a dorm room... for one person. And oddly - I like it a lot. It is very simple and cozy and it feels like mine. I don't have very much storage space but that is okay... it hasn't become that much of an issue since... let's be honest... I am not the most organized person even with storage space. My (new) parents, Isabelle and Alain, were at work all day the 23rd so I bonded with my new brothers all day - as in we both respectfully spent a good amount of the day on our own computers. It was great. I did a little bit of wii ... alone. I convinced Benoit (17) to build a snowman with me since it was snowing so much and he finally agreed - but the snowman turned into a snow ball fight. It was funny and exhausting. My other brother, Francois (18), is at the University and his exams are in January instead of before Christmas - like everyone in high school - so he spent a lot of his day studying... or attempting to study. I don't think it is weird to have brothers... it is fun. I have been laughing a lot more here and I think my French is getting better. They are my friends... that I live with. I don't know if that is what is like to have brothers but they aren't too annoying yet :) Just another experience!
The 24th was very snowy! Benoit and I had to go school (yes - something about going to school on Christmas Eve is sick) to get our grades from our exams. He did very well! And ... me... not so much. Here, it is all out of 40 and if you get in the 30's you are a genius and in the 20's is just okay... but if you get below a 20 you get an "echec" - which is bad. I only got one! I was happy! I did pretty decent. Benoit did better than me in English and I did better than him in French. It was funny. That night we were supposed to go to Isa's family for a Christmas Eve celebration - but we were snowed in and just celebrated at home. It was nice :) We exchanged gifts and it was so nice and simple... I got 2 cartoon Tin Tin books (cartoons are kind of famous in Belgium and Tin Tin is a famous Belge cartoon) to practice my French with! I was so happy :) I gave my presents from KC to my family. My new dad got a Chiefs jersey, brother got t-shirts (which they actually wear), and my new mom got a cute, blue royals sweatshirt. They seemed to like them... and everything fit well! I was just really happy even if we were snowed in. Then at night we just chilled and watched the Blestier Awards - which is like the bloopers over the past year and it was really funny. I followed along pretty well... !
On Christmas Day we went over around noon to Alain's family's house for a lunch/dinner. There were a lot of people and it was hard at first to follow along but I did my best :) Sometimes I get really overwhelmed when a lot of people are speaking French at the same time... but I think I am getting better at just going with it and trying my best. It was a really nice dinner and the family was so nice to the random girl from America. I even got a little present. It was a magnet and said something in French about picking a flower everyday for happiness. It was cute. Then we exchanged gifts and chatted a bit. You really only get small gifts for Christmas here. The big gifts are at St. Nick's. A really traditional thing here is to have for desert this like log looking ice cream cake. It is delicious :) It was nice to be with a new family and yet still feel part of the family. After we left and went home... didn't have dinner since we were all stuffed like pigs! Especially me! We watched this comedian that they love. He is a Belge and does skits with hidden cameras. He is just this nasty guy who just messes with people - it is hilarious. I was laughing the entire time and I know what I'm asking for for my birthday present :) That is a good thing right? When you can follow a comedian in French? At least it is a step... !
The next day (26th) we went to Isa's family for a little gathering. All the cousins were young so it was cute... with Alain's family they were older than us. So it was fun to speak baby french with the little 3 year old :) The family was so nice! They got me a very nice scarf from H&M... I love it! The lunch/dinner was where you cook your own meet and melt your own cheese on this little grill on the table... it is awesome. I love dinners like these. I was so happy. The family was really cool and we looked up my house on google earth - which I have never done before! It was cool to see my house (and my car that was sold the weekend after I left - I miss my car!) and then they showed me their house and the other family member's houses. It was a good family moment and I felt like the family... and it has really only been a few days since I moved in. Then after we left and went home and just chilled and did our own thing.
In between these few days I was able to skype my grandparents on my mom's side. Big Deal! It was cute to skype them and they got to meet Isabelle and Francois :) It made me smile. I was glad I got to see my family :) It felt a little more like Christmas...

The 27th I kind of needed to get out the house and speak English so I went over to Margaret's house for the night. We made snowmen, talked to the cows, and just chilled. It was fun and we watched a hilarious movie (Date Night?). In the morning we went for a run... which I don't even remember the last time I went on a run since this snow is ridiculous... so that was a fail for me but I was nice to get out.That day my family was going to Maastrict for the discounts and it just so happened that Margaret could come so we all went to Maastrict for a little day trip. In January, all the big name stores have huge discounts after the holidays and Maastrict is a huge shopping town soo I think everyone and their mom went to the "solde". I bought shoes for my new year's party and a sweater that was 100 euros but was on sale for 50. I had to buy it :) It was a fun bonding moment and it was fun to have Margaret with us! After this it was kind of just like, "Oh, by the way Marge, you're spending the night." So my parents went to a party and Benoit went to another one. Francois stayed home but he had his girlfriend over and so Marge and I were the awkward younger sisters with that situation. We made no-bake cookies ... but instead of oatmeal we used frosted flakes... which turned out to be the biggest fail. Nobody ate them and they were just kind of weird tasting... have to admit. Everybody blamed it on me since I'm the horrible cook... which I just laughed about. Oh well... our next cooking adventure will be better! I actually helped Isabelle tonight with dinner... and she let me actually cook it cook it... like not just stir things! I was happy I helped and it was a little bonding moment for us :) I'm learning slowly here! I'm coming back a whole new woman... let me tell you that!
Then today Marge and I slept in... really late since we stayed up talking to people on skype and watching a movie. We were supposed to go into town ... but that was a fail and we just chilled at home until like 3 trying to figure out things for our upcoming trip to Paris :) Which it looks like I won't be able to go... but I'm trying to figure it outtt!

I think I have filled you all in very well :) I won't be able to update for awhile since I am spending a week in France skiing with my school and hopefully, from the 8th until the 9th, I will be spending this time with exchange students in Paris... cross your fingers!
All is well and I don't think I have laughed so much or smiled so much. When I went to school to pick up my report card my friend came up to me and was like, "You look like a different person! You are so happy!" I just smiled away. I am happy. And I am a different person. :)

All for nowwww. Miss you all and happy holidays! Hope Santa was good to everyone this year :)

<3