I have now been in my new host family's house for a week, and I already feel like I've known them forever. That said, it is a bit of a strange experience changing host families. I feel as if I'm am in a sort of temporary situation, and that any day now I will be returning to my first host family. But while it's strange and I definitely do miss my first host family, I think it's a good thing to change families. From my experience (and many other exchange students that I've talked to), there's a feeling of restlessness, or needing change, that an exchange student starts to feel when things are too expected, there is too much of a schedule, and your exciting year begins to feel not so exciting... Yes, it is hard to imagine feeling bored as an exchange student. Before I came to Belgium, I read blog after blog from other exchange students, and the line that always got me was "It's been pretty boring around here lately". I would say to myself "but you're in another country! speaking another language! how in the world can you possibly be bored?".
What I came to understand is that while, yes, we are having an adventure that we will remember for the rest of our lives, that doesn't mean that every second is full, interesting, and cultural. In fact, I've found that that is the beauty of an exchange. When we have time to be bored, that means that we feel comfortable somewhere, that we're settling in. Part of this year is sitting on the couch watching bad T.V. with my host siblings because there is nothing else to do. Part of it is the hours at school that sometimes seem to take years. But part of it are the moments that make you feel like you are the Queen (or King!) of the universe. The moments where you feel so happy that you're afraid that your heart is actually going to burst out of your chest (sometimes I have to take a deep breath and then hold it just to keep back the huge jump or squeal of delight that I want to unleash!).
What I mean to say is, while an exchange is full of the expected and unexpected, every single moment counts in making this year- whose aspects I am surprised and delighted by each day :)
What I came to understand is that while, yes, we are having an adventure that we will remember for the rest of our lives, that doesn't mean that every second is full, interesting, and cultural. In fact, I've found that that is the beauty of an exchange. When we have time to be bored, that means that we feel comfortable somewhere, that we're settling in. Part of this year is sitting on the couch watching bad T.V. with my host siblings because there is nothing else to do. Part of it is the hours at school that sometimes seem to take years. But part of it are the moments that make you feel like you are the Queen (or King!) of the universe. The moments where you feel so happy that you're afraid that your heart is actually going to burst out of your chest (sometimes I have to take a deep breath and then hold it just to keep back the huge jump or squeal of delight that I want to unleash!).
What I mean to say is, while an exchange is full of the expected and unexpected, every single moment counts in making this year- whose aspects I am surprised and delighted by each day :)
My new room with my new love Chocotoff on the bed :)
My new host mom, dad, and brother (my host sister Marianne isn't in the picture). I love their house, it's so cozy and there are books everywhere :)
Lola!
A beautiful old hotel/café in Brussels that I went to with my friend Michelle, her host sister, her host sister's friend, and her counselor's granddaughter.
Les filles :)