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

sweet, snowy vacation

Hello Everyone!!

I am currently suffering from cabin fever.
This is the most snow that Belgium has ever received since 1970. I wish this was a joke... but it is not. My family here keeps saying it is because I came and I love snow way too much that is record breaking amount of snow comes this year. This is a good possibility for the massive amount of snow. Like honestly, I have never seen so much snow in my entire life. I love it! Although I am kind of upset with it since I'm snowed into my house and I really wanted to go into town to celebrate the end of finals with my school friends. Oh well. The buses aren't in service (a big deal) so I can't get in. Blah! That is fine. I would rather be stuck in a warm house than in a cold bus on the side of the road because of the snow and ice.
I wish I could stop talking about how this snow is so epic... but it really is. For everyone! Not just me! Yesterday, I built my first snowman (bonhomme de neige) here. He was so cute! He had a little old man hat and a little scarf. And for the first time, I actually used charcoal for his eyes and mouth and a real carrot for his nose. I loved him and during the night the snow pretty much covered him up... but he is still there :) I got a package from my mom just in time for the massive amount of snow. In it was lots of hats, scarves, and mittens... thank goodness. Apparently my apparel for the snow was not cool! North Face is not popular here at all... so I really needed to get hip, new, and warm things. Thanks mommy ... I mean Santa :) It is weird that I will be moving in 2 days and that Christmas is in 5 days! For some reason... even with all the snow and decorations... it doesn't feel like Christmas for me. I would like to give you a better reason than that my real family is not with me...but I think that is the reason it doesn't really feel like Christmas for me. Maybe within the next 5 days it will get better... or on the day? I'm not homesick ... at all. It is just more of ... "Oh? It is Christmas already?" feeling.


So now my weeeeeek. Woo!
I was supposed to have a final in Science Sociales (psychology). Keep in mind I actually studied for this final which I thought was on Tuesday. Like - legit studying for hours, reading, and looking up all the big words I didn't understand. It was really productive and I was so proud of myself for actually putting in effort since my brain doesn't remember how to study anymore.
So then on Tuesday, I get to school and I don't see any of my classmates but I run into my teacher and I ask her where the room for the final is ... she just looks at me and is like, "Mallory, the final is Thursday...?" She said this in French obviously but then tried to say it in English because I looked so confused. But no. I understood but I didn't understand how stupid I could be! In that quick moment I realized I had German today... not Science Sociales. I didn't study a single thing for German because I thought I had all Wednesday to do that. So, I ran around like a headless chicken to find my German teacher so I could explain how I'm a stupid exchange student who doesn't understand schedules. He was understanding and let me take it on Thursday after my Science Sociales test. Thank goodness. Not that an extra 2 days really helped me with my German test... I am such a failure when it comes to German. The only way I might have passed the test was because when I listen to it I can comprehend enough since all the nouns in German are exactly the same in English - just spelled all weird. So ya... Welcome to my life. I'm so stupid sometimes it is hilarious. At least I laugh at myself... right?
After this classic Mallory Moment, I just went home and did exercises on YouTube to learn some German. Successful? Let's just say the most advanced I got what learning numbers. Then after a few hours at home I had to go to a Rotary Meeting in Liege at noon. This was a special meeting because my oldie (called this because she was here for 6 months when I arrived - thus I'm her newie... along with Jerry from Texas.... since we are all in the same club) Matilda, from Austrailia, is leaving in January and was presenting her year to our Rotary Club. So this was my chance also to present the powerpoint that I have had since 3 months ago. This is the same powerpoint that I had to do instead of going to the sea with my family on the last sunny day... Rotary is a bit annoying in this department I must say. Well, since I of course didn't update it it was just over my old life in Kansas City and those things. So, compared to Matilda's amazing powerpoint filled with all the amazing things she did this year - mine was a failure. I have only been here for 4 months... so I at least had this excuse for why my presentation was "not fully developed" and I have to do another one in the summer before I leave - along with Jerry. My presentation was okay... I did it all in French - with some mistakes. I have trouble with public speaking... so I was proud of myself to do a speech and to do it in French! Yay me! Like my blazer? I am kind of more proud of my blazer fill-up success than my French speech...is that bad?

Wednesday I didn't have any finals so I slept until noon and just went into town with some friends ... :) I had a lot of fun. I was home by dinner and in time to put in a little more studying for my 2 finals the next day.

Thursday I finally had the Sciences Sociales test (for 2 hours). I think I did pretty well. I wasn't the last one finished - or the first. I felt like I wrote well in French and understood all the questions and stuff. We will see. It is cool to actually do well on a test in another language... I don't know how to explain it. But I was just really proud of myself. Science Sociales at my school is not an easy subject... and there is a lot of reading and just a lot of information to take in. I'm glad I put in an effort :) Then I had German, which was such a fail. Whatever... I tried my best :) After these finals, I happily went home and spent the rest of my day watching Gossip Girl online for a few hours. I have a problem... I know. But this is what I do. I work hard and then I have to escape and bring my brain back to mush so it doesn't self-combust. It was necessary for me to watch maybe 7 episodes in only a few hours. Necessity people!! Don't judge... just saving my brain. Must I go on my rant again about burning out and ruining my life?

Friday was Marge's 19th Birthdayyyy! And the day a lot of snow was falling! I slept until around noon again and then hopped a bus in time to make it into the city by 1. Marge's family had this great idea that Mollie and I would surprise her at her house at night along with her other friends and host family friends... so we told Marge we both couldn't do anything at night but we could hang out with her during the day (so it wouldn't be completely obvious). So we all hung out in the city just shopping around together and talking... Marge and I are going the same New Year's party so we went shopping for Black and Gold things. I bought a very cute dress that I can't wait to wear! I have had my eye on it since I found out what I was doing for New Years... and I finally got it! After this, we went to get tea at this environmentally friendly restaurant in town... and other exchange students met up with us. It was nice to just sit and chat together. After this we pushed Marge on to her bus and Mollie and high fived because we got through the day with only a few slip ups. Quite impressive for us :) Then we hung in town a bit longer then hopped on our own train headed for Marge's town and we were picked up by her parents. Some friends of Marge's from school came too and we all stood with candles in the dark at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her to descend... yes, like a cult. She was really surprised though and Mollie and I were greeted with, "You guys are so weird!" Successful night and we all enjoyed a nice fondu with friends and speaking French. So much fun :) I was happy we did something special for Marge and all got to be together!! Yay for moments like these that are never ending in this country I call Belgium.
That night we had fun and stayed up wayyyyy to late to function properly the next day. We are such girls.
The next day we slept in and Marge dragged Mollie and I out of bed to be productive. We went for a walk around the farm in the snow. It was amazinggg and so pretty. We took so many pictures and had so much fun just walking in the snow together.
I think on that walk, it finally hit me that I am in Belgium and this is my life and that these are the friends I would have never met if I didn't do this. I am so happy here and even though some things here really suck sometimes... I'm still disgustingly happy. I'm happy that I got up the balls to do this, I'm happy I have people that support me, I'm happy I have new friends that feel like old friends, I'm happy that I am completely myself here, I'm happy that the simplest things have become the best things, I'm happy that I'm in Belgium for a year, and I'm happy that I'm living my own life for maybe the first real time.

I'm disgustingly happy here. Check off the list of my goals this year.


All for now - must go eat lunch :) and possibly go for a little sledding with Larry and Lisa since the sun is out.

Mallory

I don't know the word "studying" in French.or English.

Bonjour!

All the snow has melted away... which is quite impressive considering how much there was! But no worries though... we are getting some this Wednesay. I still love it... but my feet are starting to not be so much of a fan. I bought new boots but they seem to be more for fashion than practicality... damn my girl instincts. Currently my right toes are numb... and considering that I was outside maybe 30 minutes ago, I think I have a problem. Super.

So finals have started here! Woo! Love finals! I love them sooo much!! Especially in French!

Sorry for that moment of insincerity... that is not at all how I feel at all. I mean it is not like I enjoyed finals at home or anything, but here I find it extra inconvient. I try so hard to study for Science Sociales and the complete Social Security System of Belgium explained in (only) 50 pagess and I try so hard to study verb congegations in German to even form a sentence ... but I just can't. Does this make me sound like a baby? I think I am one. My brain is in another mode and it is winning in the argument, "Should I study or not?". I have had this thought ever since I have been here that I will learn as I live type thing... like French will come to me through life and I'll learn at that pace. So, I think I have tried to apply this to other subjects I'm studying in school... which is not good. You know what my faithful followers... you can judge all you want. I have worked my little (big now) butt off since middle school and studied every single night while doing sports and working. I managed all these things while managing high grades and being a productive member of society without doing anything (too) horrible. And I'm tired and this is my year to actually live and be lazy and be happy and be me...and I'm okay with this. I mean... if you continue this way in life you sooner or later get really burnt out and maybe this burn out is at a horrible time in your life and ruins your life! I am just trying to save my life here.

While this was a mildly convincing declaration to not study and shows my rebeliousness (is this is a word?)... I am also a good student who trys their best (as the exchange student motto goes). After this blog update, I will go study for my Science Sociales exam tomorrow. I hate it how conflicting my morals are... and how easy it is for me not to study.

Now my week in a nutshell...:)

Tuesday was a normal Tuesday. I wrote an essay (for my English class but I wrote it in French) last week and I recieved a pretty decent grade. I was so happy and proud! 22/30! This sounds bad for my school in KC's standards but this is actually really good... nobody in the class got over 24... well besides Jerry who got a 26/30 when he wrote it in English. I was proud of my writing and the teacher was really impressed.

Wednesday was uneventful and a half day. I just went home and chilled. I am so cool. I know you are jealous. Again, should have been studying for my French exam the next day but I instead did other things. I'm a horrible person... I know.

Thursday was my French exam. My first one in Belgium! The teacher was really understanding of the exchange students and made us all a special exam. It had 3 articles from some newspapers in Belgium over the same topic but a different point of view for each one. We had to answer some factual questions and then write little short answers to a few questions asking our opinion on the article. The articles were about these 2 teenagers who robbed a jeweler and the jeweler killed one of the robbers (who was 16) in self defense. It was a really big deal because the jeweler wasn't getting tried for murdering a 16 year old. So one article was saying how the 16 year old was a good kid, and then antoher on how the jeweler doesn't have to be tried for self defense. So being a good American, I defended self defense in one of my short answers ... which might have turned into a short essay. I think I did okay... it wasn't too hard for me. It was something I have done before at my old high school. The others used a dictionary but I didn't... this may be something to brag about if I did well. But we shall see.

Friday I didn't have school. The math exam was that day... and since that is the one class I literally don't understand anything... I exempted myself from that little joy of a test. It is weird because I used to like Math (if I was at the right level) since it is the same language all over the world. But let me tell you something - that is a lie. It is not the same! So instead of exercising a different part of my brain, I slept in until noon. High five! Then in the afternoon, I met up with some friends in town and just chilled. It was fun to just hang out and enjoy the marche de noel with friends :) It wasn't anything crazy but it was still great. I laughed a lot. Mollie (from Kansas) came home with me and I had my first sleepover at my house! Epic! We had so much fun :) We just chilled in my room on the computer doing stupid stuff and attempted to watch a movie. This was an epic fail... but it was fun still for the little part we did get to see. I was excited to have somebody stay at my house since for the past 4 months (officially 4 months tomorrow) I haven't had anyone really over. I was glad it was Mollie :)

Saturday, we slept in until like 10 and then Mollie had to go to the train station at noon. I did a bit of studying (or atleast attempted) and then Larry came home with the Christmas tree! A real one! It was perfect and so pretty :) We decorated the house and I helped decorate the tree. It was a cute bonding moment. Christmas is not so much about the gifts here but more about family... not saying that it is not like that in the states but the kids all receive big gifts on December 6th or January 6th (day of the 3 magis who visited Jesus) here instead of on the 25th. I think that is cool. The house looks so festive now and everytime I see the tree I smile. It is just so cute! It looks fabulous in the light or in the dark... that says something. That night I stayed in and had a very French meal with the family. What does that mean you ask? That means my friends that I enjoyed FROG LEGS. Yes! Everyone was right... they do taste like chicken! But I must add that they have the consistancy of fish. I helped Larry make them and I couldn't stop laughing. They looked like little people legs with a butt and everything! It was just really funny to me and I enjoyed taking lots of pictures. I liked them... but I couldnt eat them often or anything. They are very unique :) Just another experience under the belt!

Sunday was pretty uneventful... besides my failure to study. Blahhhh... whatever. Last night we roasted marshmallows and watched all the big series here (Desperate Housewives is kind of a big deal). It was fun to roast marshmallows in the fireplace and eat so many you feel sick :)

Today, I had my English exam but I took it in French. Without a dictionary again. There was a listening section and then the other part was writing an essay. The essay part was surprisingly easy and I was one of the first one finished... even when I wrote it in French. I am starting to wonder if this was a bad thing or a good thing to be finished so early. The listening part was just really confusing. I had no idea what was really going on... but I found out it was linked to a text they had to read and that that might be why I was really confused. I am pretty sure I failed this part of the test - which is pathetic since all the listening was in English. More funny though... I am currently laughing out loud at how lost I was in and English listening test. My only excuse is that the guy had an Irish accent... haha

All for now :)

Talk to you soon! Wish me luck on my exams... half way done!

SNOW...and other winter delights

SNOW SNOW SNOW

so much snowwww... and I love it way too much.
Happy St. Nicholas! December 6th. This is probably bigger than Christmas here - atleast for the kids. St. Nicholas is only celebrated in the Flemish, Northern countries of Europe though - which Belgium, being a bit of every culture, fits into this category. (France doesn't celebrate St. Nicholas) So anyways - the children put out their shoes the night before and St. Nicholas comes and brings them little games or chocolates or Speculoos for
being good all year. It is a big deal. It is also a big deal for the college kids here... as in another reason to throw a huge party. It is a tradition for all the college kids to wear white jackets (like butcher's jackets) and cover them in marker and such. They stand in intersections or really anywhere public collecting money
( pocket change)... for beer. This sounds weird - but it is true. When they don't receive money (as in coins) they throw flour and sometimes eggs - normally kids younger than them. Everybody older though gives them their change because they remember when they were young and did the same thing. So for the past month, these crazy, college kids have been running around collecting money for a huge party where they buy beer with the donated money. It's crazy. Today, my school was swarmed by past students now in college celebrating St. Nick's in their colorful smocks. I was a good girl and gave money to my brother (Francois - who goes to the University of Liege) and his friends celebrating. It was funny because it really isn't for the coins but just the tradition... it sounds weird but everyone (even the kids who get hit with flour) look forward to it. It is especially unique here in Belgium how they celebrate St. Nick's so I was glad I could experience it.
Yesterday, I came home to a nice little gift from my family - I mean St. Nicholas. It was lots of chocolate and even a little pocket money. It was so cute and it made me smile :) I totally forgot and it was an extra special surprise for me.

Saturday, I went to Margaret's house and yesterday I don't think it stopped snowing all day. Hard core snowing - let me clarify. Marge and I just sat there in awe and then decided to go sledding (on a piece of wood and half a shovel). That was an epic fail but it was fun just walking around in the massive snowflakes and talking. We didn't build a snowman though! Missouri has its fair amount of snow but I have never seen anything like this. Everybody here is kind of in shock too... I guess it hasn't snowed like this in 15 years!! Nobody knows what to do with themselves... this is not an over-exaggeration ladies and gentleman. I felt so bad because Larry was supposed to come get me at Marge's at like one in the afternoon and he got stuck in the snow and had to walk home from the highway. So much for a nice, relaxing Sunday for him! I ended getting picked up at 8 - so Marge and I pretty much had a whole other day to hang out. It was so much fun! I know you are all waiting in suspense to know if I actually got to see one of the sixty cows... dramatic pause... yes, my faithful followers I did get to see the cows. AND pet them. AND feed them. AND ride one. For a lack of a better saying, I was all smiles. Marge and I got to feed them the morning meal and then we petted them....for some reason I didn't realize how big the heads actually are on a full grown cow. They are kind of massive. The little babies were so cute!! Then Benoit (Marge's host dad) let me sit on one! I was in shock to actually be sitting on one and it felt so weird... the poor cow. After this little excitement of my life, we went on a tracker ride along with Benoit to help shovel the snow. I even got to drive it - as in sit there and hold the steering wheel as if I really had control.... but still. Kind of epic in my book. Marge and I got in the little shovel thing and Benoit lifted it up so high - like to the second story! It was so cool to see so far while all the snow was falling around us. After this little adventure Marge and I made a cake - without a recipe, which I guess is really hard to do successfully. Everyone loved it and I might have taken a piece home with me and currently be eating it in memory of my great weekend.
Margaret is going to University of Arkansas, like me. It kind of official that we will be rooming together next year. It was so cute because - after we were done baking, playing with the cows, and playing in the snow - Marge decided to be productive and do homework. We were both just chilling in her room listening to music and talking about random things every once in awhile... then it both hit us this is what college is going to be like. Her working on homework- but actually on Facebook- and me not even pretending to be working on homework but on Facebook. :)
Then around 8, Larry was able to defeat the snowy roads and come get me. It was sad leaving since all day Marge and I thought we would be having another sleepover but... Another time :) This next time Mollie will be with us!! We missed her so much :(

Ok - this is really out of order and I kind of did it backwards today but I really don't care. Now my week in a nutshell :)
Tuesday was really nothing special. The only interesting thing that happened was that the teachers went on strike because their salary was cut. All the Belgian teachers salaries have been cut... so they went on strike. A strike like this would never happen in the states. So I guess it was a cultural moment for me... and a free hour to play new card games with friends :) Then after school, I went to my French classes.
Wednesday (My Mommy's Birthdayyy) I went to Aachen, Germany with Rotary. They had this cute little Christmas Market (Marche de Noel) and it was full of all these Christmasy things. I have never been so cold in my entire life though...ugh... like seriously. I was on the brink of crying maybe 5 times. It was painful. Nobody was really well prepared for this little temperature drop since we were all at school, and thus it was worse. I forgot my scarf and mittens and that was the stupidest thing ever. Neither hot chocolate nor hot wine could get me warmed up... we kept stopping in random shops to try to get rid of the numbness - that was a lost cause. Cold here is different than where I am from. It is much more wet than dry and thus bone-chilling. My body is so not used to it - but it has another 3 months to get used to it! I love the winter ... but this is taking some getting used to. Germany looked a lot like the north of Belgium... which I kind of like a lot. Very clean and proper ... but old and yet new at the same time. It was so funny because when my friend was taking a picture of me this random German lady came up to me like she knew me and posed for the picture - it was kind of awesome. Best part of the day.
Thursday was not very exciting either. A lot of my teachers were sick (not sure if this was in relation to the strike earlier in the week) and thus I had like 4 hours free during the middle of the day. I decided to go home and catch up with things then I came back for the last 2 classes. That sounds bad - but that is my attitude during the end of the week. It was relaxing to go home for a few hours then go back to school... then french class.
Friday was again full of free hours since some finals started on this day. Instead of going home during my 4 hours free, I went to the shopping mall with my friends. We went shopping for things to wear for the huge New Year's party. The theme is Black and Gold - thus I had to get some gold accessories. It was fun to hang out with my new friends - are they still considered new? I felt so Belge :) It made me happy. Then after school, I went to the city with my exchange student friends. I didn't stay out late since it was freezing and I wanted to chill with my family since I wouldn't be there Saturday night. Not very exciting - but most of the Belgians are studying on the weekends because finals are coming up. I actually just found out today that I have a French final this Thursday. I should probably be doing that (since that is what I told my family I'm doing right now) but instead I have decided to dedicate this time to updating my faithful followers. I think the word for that is dedication? Yes, yes it is. Or is it procrastination?
Hmmm... I'll ponder on this as I eat my St. Nicholas chocolate. (Don't even ask how my weight loss is coming along.)

Oh and I officially move on the 22nd of December to my new family :)

All for now :)
Stay warm - and if you are in a warm climate this lovely winter... love it for me