So it's been over a month since my last post, I should probably make a new one!
For the last three weeks, I've only had a Monday at school once. The first one was because of a general P. A. Day sort of deal, and the second was because all of Belgium (well just the unionized workers, I guess) was basically going on strike for the day, including some teachers. But this week monday was a pretty interesting day. In the morning, the bus in front of mine was spitting flames and the kids on that one ended up being evactuated onto my bus, and then later on, in biology class, there was a bat flying around our heads until the teacher opened the window and it flew out.
This week at school we've had a presentation by a police officer about drinking and driving and the importance of wearing a seatbelt, a presentation about alcohol and "responsible drinking" knowledge, as well as a demonstration about the effectiveness of normal seatbelts with a rolling car. The car was attatched to a sort of machine that made it barrel roll in place. It was very fun, but aside from the fun, it also makes you think. Because you have to put on the seatbelt, and when the car spins, the seatbelt really keeps you in place in your seat. If I hadn't been wearing a seatbelt, I'd have been flying all around that car and it wasn't even turning as fast and violently as it would be turning if it was a real barrel-rolling car accident. So yay for seatbelts!
Today I went on a feild trip to Namur with the students of 6ème général. In the morning we went to the Wallon parliament. I thought it would be more exciting than it actually was. It didn't last very long, and only actually went in one room. Our guide didn't help to make the subject matter much more interesting either. He spoke so quietly I had to strain my ears to catch half of what he was saying, and I was busy using a lot of that energy trying not to fall asleep. The afternoon would have been just as exciting as the morning had I not bent the rules a little bit. So after the parliament, we went to an expo for university and other after-high school options on what to do with your life. Autumn and I walked around a bit, checked out a couple different places, but after 10 minutes we found ourselves with nothing to do, since we'll be going to university back in North America, and therefore aren't really interested in learning about the programs here. During our little walk, we crossed a friend who asked us why we came on the field trip when we could have stayed home and slept or gone shopping or done whatever instead of being bored all day. So Autumn and I said "hey, we could totally go shopping!". We had three hours to kill, preferably not in the post-secondary expo, so we found Alejandro and went to the centre ville. It wasn't far - nothing in europe is far. I ended up buying a cute blazer, Autumn got a purse, and we picked out some nice pants and a scarf for Alejandro.
Upon our return, we found out that we probably weren't supposed to have done that. We didn't get into any trouble or anything (I don't even think the teachers knew we had gone), but we probably could have if they knew about it.
Today I also got an e-mail from my travel agent informing me that I have to choose my date to go back home withing the next two weeks. In two days, I'll have been here for 6 months; my exchange is already over halfway done! I don't want to think about going home at all, but that's all I've been able to think about. All I seem to dream about anymore is going back home. I don't like it at all and I wish I could just stop thinking about it. Some of the dreams are good at the time like seeing my family at the airport, getting back home, or sleeping in my bed again, but most of them suck, like having to be away from Belgium, going to get my old job back, going to university, having to study, wanting to speak french... I always wake up with a frown.
This last part of my exchange is just going to fly by I know it. I have things planned almost every weekend from now until the end of April, uncluding almost 18 consecutive days of travelling. Being busy makes time fly, as well as my oldies have said that it's the last part that goes the fastest. I believe them. At least I'll be making the best of it!
I really love my host family! They're funny and kind and I enjoy being with them. And I helped my host brother fix a part of his accent in english. He's not the most gifted in the foreign language department, and would enjoy life if he only ever had to speak french. He still gets good grades and everything, but his accent isn't the best. Yesterday he asked me how to say "theif". Words with "th" aren't very easy for francophones because, in french, we don't have that sound. I basically taught him how to do it, because every time he tried it either came out as an s, z, or t. He did it right a few times, now I just have to make sure he practices saying it right :)
For the past two weeks, the cold here has been insane! Well not insane, just not enjoyable. It's usually -10 or less in the mornings, and it never gets above zero during the day. People seem to think that I must not be cold because I'm from Canada. Yes, I've been living through winters like this almost every year, but yes, I do still get cold!! I think the maiun reason why I'm so cold is the differences in how the house is heated. Back home, I was always warm in the house, but here, I'm usually cold, even inside. I think that the radiators they have in (almost) every room to heat the house don't work as well as the central air systems we use back home.
I also just got two colds in a row. Just as one was ending, this one I have now started. This would be the 5th time I've had a cold in 6 months!! It's ridiculous!
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