Mes amis, vous êtes inoubliable et je vous aimerai toujours

On Friday, we had our "Spectacle du Rhétos".  We put on a show with songs, dances and skits, to all the other years in three shows during the day, and a fourth show at night for family and friends from other schools.  It was amazing.  We have such a talented group of people this year.  So many of the songs and dances were beautiful and the skits were hilarious.  I filmed the whole show twice, and I took so many pictures. I'll never forget it. But during all the preparations and repetitions for the show, as well as doing it for real in front of an audience brought many of us close together.  There was such ambiance, love, and positive energy surrounding us.  Like all grades, our Rhétos (6th year students = grade 12 = senoir year) have their cliques and separate groups, but everyone is accepted.  Of course, it's easy for me to say that.  I like to think that I am friends with everyone I know here.  I have nothing against anyone, really.  But these Rhétos are such a tight-nit group of people, and I love that I feel a part of it.  Anyway, for our spectacle, the closing act involved all of us singing our "chanson de Rhétos" together.  It's a beautiful song written by a fellow Rhéto, Alice.  Each time we sang it, there were always multiple people crying.  It really represents our year.

This point in the exchange year, after the holidays, is the stage where everyone says that your friendships in your host country start to get strong and you have good friends and real relationships... it's completely true.  I really wonder how I will ever be able to leave here with my heart intact! I love my friends here so much, and they love me too. In the past couple weeks, we've been realising that this year is coming to an end.  For me, it's my exchange year, and for my Belgian friends, it's the Rhétos.  Next year, everyone will be separated, whether we're going to different universities, going on exchange, joining the military, or going back to our own country. In realising this, it's kind of an emotional time.  None of us are ready to let go.

Saturday, the day after our spectacle, Alejandro had his birthday party.  Many of our friends were there and it was a lot of fun.  But a few still had these emotions and feelings of sadness about this year coming to an end.  It's true that we still have over 4, almost 5 months left together, but it's hard not to think about it all the same.  At one point during the evening a few of us were pretty emotional and there was a lot of hugging and crying.  As much as it sucks to cry about having to miss your friends and be away from the people you love, I find the good side in it.  I love all the hugs - Belgians don't usually hug.  Hugs are like a special occasion thing.  On Saturday night I realised how much I am cared about here.  I realise how strong these friendships are becoming, and how they will never end, no matter how far apart we are or for however long we don't see each other.  That night I made many promises - many promises I am going to try my hardest to keep.  Some of them were easy, things I can do no problem, like never forgetting people, keeping them in my heart forever, keeping in touch, and skyping often. But some were harder, like saying that I'd come back every year to visit.  As much as I would LOVE that, I don't know that it's possible or realistic to come back every year.  There are many other places in the world I want to see. I want to travel to South America, Australia, etc. and visit exchange friends there, and I only have a limited amount of time I'll be able to do that. I'll have university and work as well.  I probably wont be coming back here every year.  But I know for sure that I will come back, and more than once!

I love my friends here. They mean so much to me.  They have been kind and welcoming since day one.  There's always someone willing to help me out, or someone to talk to if ever I would need it.  In just 6 short months, we have shared so many amazing moments together.  Even the simplest of things, like going out for chinese food as 4 people in between shows for the spectacle have so many good and funny moments that I will never forget.  How am I supposed to survive separated from these amazing people?

Myself and Isabeau

Damien and I

Aurélien, Myself, Nicolas, Damien

Paloma, Autumn, Myself, Fernanda

Pauline and I

Paloma, Alejandro, Myself, Andre, Autumn

Me, Damien

Autumn, Me, Loic, Ludo, Estelle

Me and Polina

Sophie and I

Andre, Nicolas, Emilie, Me, Damien, Paloma

Me and Alice

Manon and I

THE best Rhétos

A bunch of us after the last show of the spectacle