Early on this week I was feeling really down and I missed home a lot, but by the time Wednesday came around I was feeling better, and by Thursday I was in a perfect mood again. Having friends here really helps. Monday was a horrible afternoon for me, but I didn't get as sad as I could have been since I had some people there comforting me. My friends here in Belgium are awesome. They have told me that they are all there for me, and if I ever need anything or just someone to talk to, that I can go to them, and they all want to make sure I have an amazing year here. I am truly glad a fell into a place and a school with such wonderful and warm people.
This past week at school had been different. I didn't have much in the way of classes, because my french class was doing an exposition in the library all week on jewish children who were hidden during WWII. I had to summarize the story of one of these children, and talk about it to all the other classes who came during the week. Of course, all in French. It was difficult for me to get up there in front of people my own age and teach them something. I would have had no problems in English, but I totally wasn't confident with my french. I had everything written down, so I knew what to say, I just felt like I had the worst accent ever or that no one understood what I was saying. It was the worst to present to a group people who were indifferent. They weren't really paying attention, or they were looking at other things, and I just wondered what the point in me even talking to them was if they weren't going to listen. But I made it through a week of presentations unscathed, and now I have a better idea of how to prepare for next time I have to something like that.
On Thursday night, I went to another Rotary meeting. I got there at 7:30, and I got home at 11:45. These are seriously long meetings. But it was an important one because that was the night the governor was visiting. At one point, during his speech, he asked if anyone knew, in English or in French, Rotary International's theme for the year. Excited to actually know somehting, I blurted out "Reach Within to Embrace Humanity" before anyone else really had the chance. I always get very surprised looks when I actually know the answer to something. Another notable thing about this meeting was the appetizer. It was something I'd never had before, but it was absolutely delicious. I didn't understand the part during the description of it where they said raw meat, but I'm sort of glad that I didn't. Because if I had known beforehand that I would be eating raw beef, I would have said no. All I head was beef and I was like "Bring it". Anyway, it was very thinly sliced raw beef with shaved parmasean cheese on top, and I'm pretty sure there was some lime juice in there. It was amazing!! I -think- it's called Carvacio, or carpacio... I'm not sure.
On Friday night, I went to my second host sister's birthday party. I didn't really know anyone there, so I felt a little out of place, but it was good. This was the first time I actually met her in real life. But I met a bunch of new people, and I can actually remember almost all of their names! I'm getting a lot better with names now. It was hard to remember everything when I first got here because there was just so much going on in my head at once. Translations, names, faces, places, words, everything. So much new information was entering my mind at once there was no way I could have been able to remember everyone's name the first time meeting them. But now I think I know the names of every single person in my class :)
But I talked to my future host mom a bit. She's nice, and she seems very motherly, but fun at the same time. I think I will enjoy living with that family. That night, I slept at their house, in my future room. They're still using it for some storage since I won't be living there until December/January, but it's very big, and it has a big circular window :) I like it. And I don't know if I was just tired, but the bed is comfortable too.
I also met my future host dad, but I didn't talk to him too much. And I have already met and talked to my host brother via facebook, and he was at the airport with his mother when I first arrived. We also both go to the same school, so we say hi when we see each other there.
This morning I got home from my 2nd family's house and immediately went to a dance class with my host sister. This was the first dance class I've really taken (one week when I was like 7 doesn't really count-especially since I don't really remember it) and some of the girls there have been taking dance for 13 years. So I wasn't exactly awesome at it. But I think I did okay for my first time. And I know I will be very sore tomorrow. I'm probably going to go back again next week. It was enjoyable over all, and I'll probably get better each time.
Tonight I have a barbecue to go to, and I know most of the people there, so that should be fun.
And next week we have a random holiday on Tuesday, and I plan on going to Brussels with some exchange students on Wednesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment