One Month!

I MADE IT!


It's been exactly one month today since I arrived in Belgium.


I am especially excited to write this blog because it consists of my favorite vacation to date; a weekend at the sea in the north of Belgium, a short visit in Holand, and a day's vacation in Bruges.

This first picture is of the canal shared by Holand and Belgium. In this photo, I am standing on the Holand.















In Holand, there is a great shop with flowers on the first floor...












a waterfall between the first and second floor...

















and every kind of fish you could imagine on the second floor (they even sell eal) !











This is a typical cheese shop in Holand.
















This is one example of the cheese they sell.






























This is a rack of clogs outside a shop in Holand.




































This is me outside a gorgeous old windmill that has been restored into a restaraunt.























Apparently I was the only one ready for this picture, but beside me is my sister Pauline and my brother Olivier (unfortunately, Caroline stayed home sick).

This is a street in my favorite city in Belgium; Bruges.

A carriage in Bruges.

This is an old bell tower (The Beffroi) whose bells are still manualy rung to this day.

The sign reads "Salvador DALI". This was my first major suprise; there is a permanent exhibition for countless original paintings, sketches, sculptures, and other creations by Dali, himself.

I am lucky enough to have a host father who appreciates the arts. He took me into one of the most amazing rooms I have ever been in. This is a picture of the exhibition.

Here are just two examples of the hundreds of creations displayed.

A performer in the streets of Bruges.

Bruges is nicknamed "The Venice of the North" the reason displayed in this photo. We took a boatride around the city.

The weather was perfect.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any more beautiful, we passed a family of swans.

I was nearly speachless for the entire weekend we spent in Bruges. It was by far one of the best experiences I have had so far in my exchange. Our next trip to the "Venice of the North" will be this winter; I can't wait!

During this month I have realized how fortunate I am to be an exchange student in such a cultured country as Belgium. Although I still have a lot to experience, I feel that I have picked the perfect place for me.

smiles from belgium

My Third Week

This week was my last few days of summer and the first day of school. (A picture from the first day of school is shown on the left)

On the Wednesday before school started, we took a trip to the Château (castle) Seneffe in La Louvière. There is an anual flower exhibition at the castle and we were lucky enough to visit for the last day of the expo.

My last day of summer vacation was spent with my host sister, Pauline. We took a train into Brussels to go shopping before the first day of school. It was the perfect breather before my life completely turned upside down.

I experienced the biggest case of culture shock since my exchange began on my first day of school.

I attend the institute of Saint Joseph, which is within walking distance from my home in La Louviere. It is a small Catholic (but public) school; there are about fourty students in my "senior" class. Unlike in the states, we have a schedule based on the number of hours for each class during the week. For example, I have eight hours of math every week; this means that I could have 3 hours on monday, nothing on tuesday, 1 hour on wednesday, etc. Respect is also a big deal in Belgium; in the beginning of class, we stand by our desks until the teacher allows us to sit. Also, if an adult happens to walk in, the whole class stands and the process is repeated.

Without the laws of separation between church and state, there is a Cross on the front wall in every room and we even have a religion course! This does not bother me in the least; however, it is a big change from school life in the states.

The most difficult thing for me at school is balancing making friends when there is a serious lack of vocabulary, and attempting-and failing-to complete assignments in French without making words up. My first class was four hours of French. I remember that the first assignment was a dictation. I completed it, and, after reading it over, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. What I had produced was not French. I must be honest; after realizing how far I had to go, frustration hit, I cried. It was the first time I had cried at all since leaving my family in SC. I don't think anyone in the class noticed, but that was certainly a low point for me.

After convincing myself that this is a normal process, that all exchange students experience the same hardships, and after a good amount of sleep, I was, and am, sure that bearing with school would become easier.

Overall, it was an interesting week and I am certainly looking forward to the next.

smiles from Belgium

Coca Cola is universal (Brussels)

Fast food resteraunt "Quick"

The street to go to shop in Brussels

Flower Expo at Château Seneffe

A "mall" in Brussels