The past week has been pretty good. My second host family is wonderful, and we've been doing a lot of fun things!
Yesterday we went to the sight where the Battle of Waterloo happend. It was so cool to look around and think about everything that had gone on right where I was standing. This is one of the reasons that I love being here, there's so much history everywhere.
I also went to Brussels today with all of the exchange students!!! (this was the main reason that I stayed here instead of going on vacation with my first host family). It was wonderful to meet so many other exchange students. It was really cool actually, looking around the room at all of us and thinking "we are the ones that broke away from the norm and decided to spend a year abroad, we're all here together because each one of us was brave enough to leave".
Brussels. is. so. beautiful. I loved in the minute I stepped off the train. The buildings, the cobbled streets, the smells, the cozy small "rues". It's all so beautiful and different from the U.S. We went to the Grand Palace, ate meatballs and frites at a restaurant, visited parliament, visited Brussels a bit. I still want to go back though! It wasn't enough, I want to really explore... and eat more! Haha. I did get a waffel though, so delicious. I think I'm addicted.
It was so amazing to meet so many kids. There were about 2 hundred there so there was no way that I could have met all of them, but it was still great to see everyone. I think that I will end up being able to hang out with quite a few though :) Right now, exchange students are the best friends to have! You feel like you know each other just a bit already because you are both in the same country, having chosen the same adventure. You're going through the same emotions, the highs and low, and it's so nice to be able to talk about it!
I feel like I've learned so much about myself already. It's amazing who you feel like and what you discover when you're taken completely out of everything that has made you, you. If that makes sense.
Anyway, it was a great day, and I'm so happy that I was able to go! I can't wait for next week when school starts, and I have a real schedule. (Something that I've really learned about myself here... I don't like too much free time for extended periods of time).
Bonne nuit :)
Butte de Lion!
Monument where Napoleon lost in the Battle of Waterloo
Monument where Napoleon lost in the Battle of Waterloo
With my second host family siblings. Marianne, me, François.
I love them already!!
I love them already!!
Chausettes (socks). So cute!
All the exchange students waiting to go to the Grand Palace!
Grand palace! (We couldn't take pictures inside though)
I love the roads and streets here so much