The First Week of My New Life

Everything is going wonderful!

I saw the school I'll be going to starting in September. It's called Collège Don Bosco. The way they number the years is different over here. I don't remember exactly how it works but I think it goes something like this: In Elementary school, the grades are numbered from one to four, Middle school is one to two, and High school is one to six. There are also grades before elementary. It's like preschool. I can't remember what that's called here though. My school is a little bit smaller than BHS but they have a lot more grades in one school. All of the students go to the same school. This seems to be an advantage because they don't have to deal with changing schools from elementary to middle school and then again to high school. I met the principal and vice principal. They both seem very nice. I know a few people who will be going to my school which will help to make friends. I hope I'll be able to make more friends quickly.

I went to a fair on the 18th. Every year they this fair goes for a month. They have rides and games and all kinds of treats. I ate escargot and beignets. (not together) they were both really good. I went on one ride with Margaux and her boyfriend, Kim. It was really fun. Then they asked if I wanted to go on a different one. No one else wanted to so I went by myself. but it was still fun. I don't understand why people are always so surprised when I do crazy things. That's just who I am!

My French is improving. Every time I say a complete sentence in French my family congratulates me. They say, "c'est une belle phrase." which means that is a beautiful sentence.

On the 19th, Guillaume showed me around Brussels. There was an Opera House that started a rebellion. One of the lines kind of lit a spark in the people. In the Grand Place, there is a building that has a tower. My host mom told me that the architect who designed the building jumped from the top when he saw that the tower wasn't in the center of the building. We went inside the Cathedral of Saint-Michele. It was really cool. Guillaume asked me what the difference is between Catholic churches and Mormon churches. We talked a lot about Mormons. People over here think that Mormons are like Amish people. A long time ago there was a wall around Brussels. It's mostly gone but there are still some parts of it left. There were a bunch of skaters who would skate in the center of Brussels and they broke some things so the people decided to make a skate park. The Justice Palace in Brussels is the biggest gathering place for lawyers and stuff in the world. We went to a little park and saw some people filming a movie. I thought that was pretty cool. We saw the king's palace. He actually has two. One where he works and one where he lives. We also saw the king's garden. There was an era, some sort of expedition, when Each country built something in Belgium to represent their country. We saw the Japanese tower and the Chinese tower.

I went to a goodbye party for Margaux's friend, Allissia. She is in Ecuador now. I will live at her house sometime during the next year. Alyssa, the Californian who is here, is living there now. People were playing a bunch of drinking games. It was really fun just to watch. I was asked if I wanted a taste and Margaux explained to people that I can't because of religion. I thought that was very nice of her.

We had another party for Margaux the next day. I really like being around her friends they are very nice. The only problem is that all of them are graduated...

I finished the first book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. When I finished it, I decided to give it to Margaux. I hope she likes it as much as I did. I can't wait for Catching Fire to come out in paperback so my mom can send it to me. I'll probably give it away too.

On Sunday, Margaux left for Pennsylvania. Everyone cried at the airport. I remembered what it was like when I was leaving. I felt a little homesick then. Everyone here has treated me like family. It makes me feel more at home.

Today is the first day of school back home... (hope everyone's having fun) It's weird not talking to people. I feel isolated.

This is an AMAZING experience! I'm so glad I got this chance.

It's a small world after all!