Three Weeks Gone By = Too Fast

I AM LOVING EXCHANGE!!!

Now that I have this out of my system, here is the low-down :)

Since the last time you heard from me... I went to a Rotary "campout," started school (found out Chemistry here SUCKS), went to Liege [;)], went to french lessons (kind of), concert at The Spirit of 66, birthday party, and a Rotary Moules dinner (I did SO MANY dishes), and well, I just ate a LOT of food...

Alright, I don't have enough time to write a bunch about all of these, so I'm just going to put some pictures and short stories :)

first day of school: CRMT

Rotary campout: Ate a lot of food, went on a nature hike, got locked in the attic room, and ate a lot of food, oh and found a friendly draft horse 

Les Filles :)

the view!!!

Nature walk...

did I mention food!?

un cheval!

My first basket ball game...No really, I'm serious!!

^^ Liege! oh fun times :)

School Friends (yes mom, I do actually have friends ;)

The Spirit of 66 (popa chubby is the band)

Moules lunch thing

General update... thing

Basically... I am just great. Like, I love Belgium so much (that sounds so typical teenager) but it really is! I love this place, the food, the people, the culture, the fun it is all so amazing and this opportunity is one of the greatest things my mom has been able to give to me (thanks mom, I am so very lucky to have you!!) 

You guys are probably wondering about my host family too eh? Well, here's the deal, they are so basically like my real family that when we are at events I'm just like, "have you seen my parents??" Seriously, they are great. I get along so well with them, my parents that is and my host sisters of course (they are amazing!)  They make me feel right at home, it is the best I could ever hope for!

Also, I have already met my next two families, they seem pretty excited to have me in their homes! One of my future mothers even told me today (in French) "I can not wait until you are in my home!" Her saying this made me so happy, it is great how everyone here is so accepting and nice to us. 

I also can't believe I have already been here three weeks! Soon it will be a month, then two, then ohh I don't want to think about it! haha I am having a great time, learning a bunch, making friends, going places, it is truly awesome.

Alors, this is getting way to long so I'm just going to post this thing before I accidentally delete it and have to start all over...

If you have any questions or just want to talk post a comment or hit me up on email/facebook/skype (I will try to respond but, you know, exchange life and all)

Okay, that's it. See you all another time!

Bisous, 

Holli 

Oh how I LOVE BELGIUM!

Hi Guys! It's just me again, updating you on life as an exchange student! :)
A lot has went on my first week here! I went to Brussels, and had an Orientation of my Rotary district!
The orientation was on Saturday and it was quite fun but reallllyyyy hot! I met lots of new friends and I was able to meet up with the ones I made in Brussels! Over all, It was a great day. Here are some pics of orientation:
Me with some exchange student friends!
My host mother, Isabelle, and I. She is the best!!
Maxim and I. He is a Belgium rotex, he went to Japan and is very funny and nice!

Another group of Exchange friends! They are all so nice!

Alright, so then on Sunday I went into town with my family and some friends of their's, we had lunch and drinks. After that we went to an Agriculture exhibition! Some photos...

 I tried a beer at lunch, my host mother said I could try one, it was okay, but a little hard to finish (which I did!!)
I got to see my favorite sport at the ag fair! Show Jumping!! whoo! a little side story... I REALLY HAD TO USE THE RESTROOM. So I practically run to the line and am waiting and there is a quite handsome boy in front of me holding his show clothes and horse's boots, so when it comes time for him to use the restroom he turns to me and starts talking to me in rapid French asking me to hold his stuff. So I replied in French that I really didn't understand and was sorry. So basically he just shoves this really nice stuff into my hands and goes to the bathroom while I am standing there waiting almost wetting my pants and I had to go so bad that I just gave him back his stuff without even getting his name... It was HILARIOUS!
What do you know... I ran into an exchange student! Lucas! He is so nice :)
We had our host parents go into this, Isabelle and Alain, they are definitely the best! I love them so much they are awesome :D
Oh and I saw a bunch of John Deere's! Whoo!

Okay so now it is Monday, tonight we (all of the students in Herve) go to French lessons in Verviers, I hope it will be fun. Also, on Wednesday, I start school!! But it only goes until about noon on Wednesdays... But I am hoping to have lots of fun!

Okay, I am going to go now!

See ya and love you guys!

-Holli

My Time in Belgium:Brussels

Yesterday I went to Brussels with all of the other exchange students! It was so fun! All three of the districts were there for a total of over 250 exchange students!! I made a lot of friends and everyone was so nice! I also traded a lot of pins, so now my blazer is getting full! (YAY). 

We went to the royal palace, parliament, and I think the court house or something like that, and ate lunch (of course!). I'm going to keep this short so here are some pictures haha

my first beer in Belgium...

in front of the royal palace yesterday

New friends in Brussels!

LUNCH!!

All of the students in Parliament

The head of Brussels parliament (I think) and I!

Fanions from basically everywhere...

 ALL of the Exchange Students!!!!!

Belgium... FINALLY

After a long time of waiting, three airplanes, and countless hours spent in airports I have finally (as of Sunday) arrived in Belgium! 
My host family is THE BEST, they are so nice and understanding, we have a lot of laughs! Also, Olivia, another girl from the U.S. lives here to with my host family she is really awesome too!
Most of all, Belgium is beautiful, the history, the landscape, the architecture... it's amazing!
So far I have visited an abbey (with a crypt)and we also ate ice cream (la glace) and had beer(bière), which I didn't like (Je n'aime pas!). We went for a walk around the neighborhood and saw plenty of cows and other animals (J'habite a la campagne). Today, we went to town and visited the bank, and a pastry shop (I had an eclair) AND ALSO MY SCHOOL!!! My school seems very nice, it is five years old and the people are very nice too! The headmaster told me A LOT of information about school, and how everything works (in French and if I didn't understand then in English). When we got home Olivia and I played a little game of cards, then went for a swim IN THE POOL! It was cold, but not that cold. 
Now, I am very excited for our Rotary trip to Brussels on thursday, we get to visit the palace!! 

anyway, more to come soon!
à bientôt
Holli
the view from my bedroom :)

BELGIUM BOUND: August 24 2013 DBQ -> BRU

Hey Friends,
After a lonnnggg wait I have FINALLY received my Visa! It came in the mail today and boy, was I excited!
So, here's a little bit of a story. It has taken forever to get this thing! I first applied for it after I got back from France in June. I finally got it all ready to go in the BEGINNING of AUGUST after I received my guarantee form from the Belgium Rotary. Here, the Rotary had misplaced my paperwork/application so it took a while to get the GF. SO, thankfully the Belgium consulate pushed my application through and they and the wonderful ladies at Tzell got it all done in just about one week. Then today, the thing that will change my life forever arrived on my doorstep in a nice big, white, envelope. THANK GOD.

Anyway, now I will be leaving this Saturday and arriving on Sunday in Brussels, I CAN'T WAIT. But before that I have a lot of packing to do, friends and family to say goodbye to, and a Government course I have to finish. One thing I got done for the week: SENIOR PICTURES! My wonderful cousin Tony and his beloved, Sarah, took about five hours out of their busy schedules to parade me around downtown in the warehouse district, a farm, with horses, and the school football field. And when it was finally all done, WE WENT TO HAPPY JOES. Can you say DELICIOUS?! I can! I am so glad that those are finally done and can't wait to see final edits! Hopefully there are some good ones hahaha.

Alright, more stories/pictures/adventures/stuff to come later so I will see you all later! In the meantime, here are some pictures of BEAUTIFUL FRANCE!

France Trip: 12-27 June 2013

Waking up at eight o'clock in the morning this morning, I found my packing list in the myriad of papers I had stuffed into my backpack at the end of the school year. Being only one day away from leaving, it was most certainly time to pack my bags for the 15 day French trip that I have been attending meetings for since October.
After diligently going through the packing list and picking out this or that to but into my bag, I started to carefully put things into it. By the time I was finished, I still had room to spare and my bag was still not to max capacity (a whopping 50 pounds allowed by the airline). All this took me about four whole hours (I ended at about 1:30).
Ok. So finally I was done with packing and ready to get my butt out of the house. It was clearly time to call Jimmy. Or, well, text him. It was totally a hot day out today (80 ish). Knowing this we planned to go ice skating, as my last day in america for a whole two weeks this was a great way to use my time up (hello, who wouldn't want to go ice skating with the best boy friend ever?!). After skating, we got ice cream at Cold Stone (whoo!). Today I also went to visit my VIP soccer kids, I swear, they get more and more amazing every time I see them! Now I'm just chilling on the back porch with my family, waiting for the steaks to get cooked to perfection (I love my family... and their cooking!).
Alright, now that I went through THAT boring spiel, I AM SO READY FOR FRANCE!
Until next time,
Holli

Before packing

the Middle, "I am ready to put stuff in this suitcase now" stage.

the after-ish stage of packing..
(the bag isn't full!!!)