About Time

Alright I think it's about time I posted on here, honestly I have started several posts (which means I've typed in the title and then lost interest) but I never seem to be able to finish them. I am suffering from a serious case of the lazies. I have a hard time getting myself to do anything!

In spite of this lull, I am getting better with French. Besides the fact that several people have complemented me on my progress :) I have noticed it myself-which is even better! It's gotten to the point that when I'm sitting in the "cafeteria" eating lunch with my friends (yay friends!) I can follow their conversation, and though I don't catch every word, I can totally follow what they're saying! Also, now when people talk to me they speak at normal speed (I think) and I understand, but the weird thing is that when I try and think back on what they said (right after they said it) I think it in English, of course, so I always catch myself wondering if they spoke to me in English, this thought is always followed by a miniature panic attack (I hate it when people speak to me in English) and then the realization that my brain must have just gotten really fast at translating French to English! It's really a weird thing, but I'm taking it as a good sign.

Earlier today I went shopping for sweaters with my host mom. Yes, I was in desperate need of sweaters, let me explain the situation to you. First off, it is definitely true that humid cold is way worse than dry cold, and secondly, my school apparently does not believe in adequate heating...maybe they think the cold stimulates brain activity? I have no idea, but imagine sitting still in a chill room for two hours and then having to stand outside in the cold for twenty minutes during "recreation" then going back to a cold room! It's awful and once I get chilled it's really hard to get warmed up again. So I decided to stick it to the cold and wrap myself up in layer after layer of warm, loving wool. We just drove to Anderlues (which is actually where my next family lives) because there are a few shops there, but if you really want to go shopping you head to Mons, they have a shopping mall there! So anyways, as I was saying, we went to Anderlues and in the first shop I found quite a few sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and turtle-necks that I liked...until I looked at the price tag. In this way I truly am my father's daughter. But really who would pay 30 euros (about $40) for a long-sleeved shirt! The second store was the same story, and I was starting to think I might just be warm enough if I just layered all four of my long-sleeved shirts from home....when we went to lucky store number three! It was the Belgian version of Ross, and I was in heaven! I ended up getting seven warm articles of clothing and a few packages of thick wool socks :) Needless to say, I was quite literally skipping as we went back to the car to come home.

Which leads me to the next thing, I way over packed! As I was sitting on my bed lovingly eying my spoils I looked at my shelves, already full of the thin shirts I brought from home that will rarely, if ever, see the open Belgian air. I came here thinking it wouldn't be that cold, after all, I'd checked the internet and it gets colder at home! I guess I should have listened when they said wait till you get there to go shopping....but on the bright side this is another reason for little Lucy to come visit me...and bring an extra, empty, suitcase :)

Mousse au Chocolat, les Americaines, and Mysterious Allergies.

It's a well known fact chocolate is a good cure for a case of the blues, but I am now under the impression that the absolute best cure is mousse au chocolat! And not just any mousse au chocolat, but the kind you make with your host mom :]

It's true that I've been feeling a little down lately. It's bizarre and kind of comes in waves, sometimes I just find myself unmotivated and a bit pessimistic and I think the cold gray weather isn't helping. Literally the other day I was daydreaming about shorts, tank tops, and sunshine! But really it isn't all that bad, I just keep myself busy by going for a walk, going for a run, or cleaning up around the house, and now I have found the ultimate cure, and though it is no good for my waistline, it is excellent for my spirits! :D



Alright, on a happier note :] I think I am really making progress with the other kidsin my class at school. I actually feel comfortable claiming to have actual friends here! I mean, they've all always been nice to me but just civility doesn't mean a friendship. I have no doubt that my (slight) progress in French is helping, being able to communicate is crucial haha! So about once a week I go to the 'sandwicherie' just up the street from the school with the girls in my class to eat "Americaines." Weird huh? That's a tye of sandwich here, but I've never seen it before, and of course it's a little weird to eat something called 'an American'.....Just yesterday Eduina commented on how bizarre it must be for me because she can't imaging going to the states and having people be like, "Oh! You've got to try a Belgian!" :D


Eudina and Alice

This last Thursday Mano took me to the doctor to figure out what I am so allergic to here and get me some medication in case I have another reaction, and you'll never guess what it is. Sagebrush!! Well, not exactly sagebrush, but it's in the same family and the main difference is that it's so much more damp and humid here, that's why I was never allergic at home. Crazy huh? So basically I'm finding that I'm a lot more like Mom than I ever thought. Not only am I cleaning more but now we have the same allergy! Honestly, it's kinda freaking me out, next thing you know I'll start buying pants that come up to my ribs...YIKES! I love you Mommy :P

Déjà en Octobre

It's only been October for five days and I already have so much to tell you! But alas, I have caught the lazy bug, I'm finding it difficult to finish anything I start and this is taking an enormous amount of will power, so it'll just be a quick post :]

Let's start with Friday. After school I Mano took me to meet my mysterious second family! Yes, believe it or not they do exist! For those of you who didn't know, I didn't even know their last name until last week so meeting them was a pretty big deal :] They live in Anderlues, which is about 15 from my current house, and they are oh so nice! There are five kids in the family, three boys and two girls, so it should be a pretty big change from my current situation. It was definitely a reassuring experience, and now switching houses, though sad, isn't quite as intimidating.

Now the weekend. Apparently it was the weekend for Maggie to pig out on amazing Italian food! Which is totally okay with me :] There are a lot of Italian immigrants in the region of Belgium I'm in (a lot of them came here originally to work in the coal mines) so, of course, there are tons of amazingly delicious Italian restaurants :D On Sunday after eating an wonderful breakfast (fresh croissants both regular and chocolate) with the whole family, I went with Mano into Charleroi to the "Sunday market" to restock our fridge for the coming week. It was so cool! I mean I guess it's like a farmer's market in the States but, I think, more endearing since it's in Belgium and it's windy cobbled streets lined with old brick buildings crowded with people meandering along while the vendors yell out their prices :] We bought a lot of fruit, cheese, and lunch meats, oh yes, I will be well fed indeed this week!

And now school. I can't remember if I've told you, but my school never has subs, if the teacher is gone we just don't have that class. Pretty sweet eh? So yesterday my English teacher wasn't there (I don't know why) so for two hours I sat in the cafeteria with another girl in my class. Overall it was extremely boring and I wouldn't even tell you about it except for this: Eduina commented on how much better my French is getting! I could have hit the roof I was so happy :] It's really good to hear that I'm making progress because from my point of view it's very difficult to notice since it's something I struggle with daily. When I got home yesterday Tiffany had arrived. Tiffany is a young girl from Luxembourg who is doing a sort of job study and she is staying here all week and working with Mano. So for the week it's a house of four girls (plus the animals) oh, I feel so at home! :]