Adapt or Die :)

Ok. So, before I left home last August I knew that this year would be hard. In fact, just to make sure I didn't get my expectations so high that they would undoubtedly be crushed, when I caught myself daydreaming about it I would constantly remind myself that it would be hard, I would even go so far as to imagine problems that could arise. Alas, in my mind all these problems somehow magically disappeared after a few months. Thus I was reasonably annoyed in November when it wasn't particularly easy going. Then I realized that at all the orientations they had told us that Thanksgiving and Christmas were usually pretty difficult and after six months or so we would be adjusted and the time would fly by. This comforted me throughout the holidays. Yet here I am, six months in as of Friday and it's still not easy going. I've realized it's not ever going to be easy going.

I remember at one of the orientations a past exchange student telling us that this would be the hardest thing we've ever done, that for the first week she was on the phone with her parents every night crying wanting to come home, but now that she's done it she knows she can do anything. I thought the hardest part would be the beginning, getting on a plane to leave my friends, family, and my world for a year. Heading off into the unknown, brave and courageous, I almost want to gag when I think about it like that now! Like some sort of romantic story. What I've come to realize is that the hardest part isn't getting on the plane, hell that was easy, the hard part is staying, enduring, living, adapting, finding the inner strength to get out of bed on those days when the very thought of looking out my bedroom window at a countryside that is now familiar yet always strange forms a hard ball in my stomach. Dealing with the grind of not quite fitting in day after day. Feeling like I'm hitting my English-speaking head against the wall. That is the real challenge.

But, of course, it's not all bad! Overall it's been a great month, I've made lots of progress with my French, plus every Wednesday (since I finish school at noon) I go out with Alice (the girl coming to the US next year) and we just talk. It's really good practice for me and her, we speak English when she wants :)Also, I can make some jokes now! Finally haha, I've missed being able to joke around. My relationships are getting stronger and the time is definitely flying by.



As my Dad said (and drew), "adapt or die" (thinking of dinosaurs here) well I'm adapting, but that's the exhausting part.

Help - The Beatles

So today this song came on my iPod shuffle and I realized it is very appropriate for my situation these past few months, so thank you guys...I do appreciate you bein' round :)

As you know, there is quite a lack of natural sunlight here...I'm taking vitamins to make up for it so the only thing truly "suffering" is my complexion. I am SO pale! I'm already verging on transparency, I'm worried that by the time July rolls around I will be completely invisible. When my family goes to the airport to greet me all they will see is a pair of jeans and rotary blazer mysteriously floating towards them.

Apart from that, everything is well here. I finally saw Fanny this weekend! It was fantastic :) We went to see Rien à Déclarer, a hilarious French film about when they got rid of the border control in Europe and it's the story of a français and an anti-français belge, there's more too it but basically it's just super funny. Here's the trailer, my favorite part is when the français imitates the Belgian accent....you'll see which part :)

I love being an exchange student :)

There are many reasons for my sentiments, but at the moment there is one in particular... Let me explain.

I'm in school at the moment. In math we are studying statistics using Excel, so we're in the computer lab. Seeing as I don't like statistics the teacher said I don't have to do the excercises :) so I'm blogging haha, it's a beautiful life! And no, I don't think this is making a bad name for exchange students, I'm not being disruptive, if anything I'm helping the other students, now the teacher has more time to help them! Plus I get my blog out of the way so at home I can fully devote myself to conversing with my host family :)

Anyways, this will just be a quick update. I had a wonderful weekend! On Saturday I was lucky enough to receive a visit from Charlotte (the second student we hosted). We went into Charleroi, got a sandwich, and did some shopping. It was great to see her and we had a wonderful Saturday.

Sunday I went to Amsterdam with my two host brothers in my third family. It was amazing! I took some pictures that I'll post later-I don't have them here at school. We ate at Burger King (they love it and there aren't any in Belgium) and took a tour bus but mostly we wandered around the city joking and laughing. During the two hour car ride I sat in the back with my younger host brother, he just turned 16, and we talked about all the stuff we are gonna do and how much fun we'll have when I move to his house..the poor kid is suffering a bit like Lucy I think, it's just him and his parents. Speaking of Lucy, I will be moving to their house the 12 of March (I think) so those two will get to hang out a bit when she comes to visit :)

Lastly, yesterday was a holiday here! Le Chandeleur :) a day where everyone eats crépes! How great is that?? Though, I can't tell you why, I asked everyone yesterday and no one seems to know. Oh well, it's a wonderful excuse to eat something delicious :D

Well class is almost over (hope this helped you Golden lol)

Talk to you all soon!