Lots of Public Transportation!!

Well, I think that when I get home I am definitely going to miss all this public transportation! Why does St. Louis not have more of it!?! It is really wonderful!
Tuesday, I went on a run on le Chemin. It runs right along the back of our house so it is very accessible; I think that it is very similar to the Katy trail. Lots of bikers, walkers, runners, and the occasional horse. It was lovely. Then I got to go on a long bike ride on the same trail that afternoon with a girl named Celine, who will be going to my school this year. She was very very kind and we became friends very quickly. That evening was my first Rotary meeting-- and we thought that meetings at Greenbriar were nice, this place is a gated mansion!! It was really fun-- I met a lot of people who are willing to help me, and they all complimented me on my French which was encouraging :)
Wednesday we woke up very early, 6:30am, to take the train to Brussels for an afternoon of shopping, picture taking, and fun! I went with Pauline, and friends Gauthier and Odile. They were all very very nice and included me in everything. We stopped at a cafe in the afternoon for fun Belgian drinks as well which was lovely!!! We didn't end up getting home until about 8 and then I stopped by a woman who Nicole cuts her hair, and we talked with her whole family because her daughter was in town who did Rotary in Nebraska, married an American, and now the two are raising their 2 daughters bi-lingually! They were very sweet. Unfortunately, we found out that my sister failed her exams and will now have to go to my school this year :( She's very sad.
Thursday, I took the bus and the train to Brussels again for the Rotary meeting with all the Belgian exchange students. We saw the Hotel de Ville and the Parliament. It was fun, but I missed speaking French all day! It was weird with so much english, but most people know hardly any french yet!! I am very lucky I think!!
Today, Friday I am taking the bus to Brussels a third time to see a big sporting event. I really don't know the details but they say that I will love it because I am athletic! I hope so! I am having a blast and wake up everyday smiling!!

Totally exhausted but having a blast!

Ok, I have been incredibly busy but I will attempt to catch you all up.... Although I was very tired, I did go to the dance Friday night, which was actually really fun! It was called a Soirée Mousse so about every five minutes they sprayed everyone with foamy bath bubbles! We were soaking by the end!
Saturday I had to sleep in until noon because I was utterly exhausted, but my family understood completely so they let me sleep. I woke up, and from noon till about 8:30 that evening I worked on the farm with my dad, Benoit and some friends who work there, Fredo and Gauthier. I know so much about cows! It's crazy; I never thought that I would have already learned so much!!! And after a hard day of working my mom, Nicole drew me a bubble bath :) Now that's the life! Then Benoit, Nicole, and my sister Pauline and I went out to a very fancy dinner, with four courses,  and ended up not getting home until about midnight! It was still a wonderful day, and I learned so so much.
Sunday I got up at a reasonable hour, 8:45, and because Pauline failed her big exam at the end of the year, she has been studying really hard because for the re-takes, and couldn't do anything, so I spent the whole day with Benoit and Nicole. We drove about 40 minutes to a big open air market and bought fresh fruits and vegetables, and then we went to see "the smallest village in the world". I don't know what constitutes a village or if it really is the smallest, but it was really cute, we went on a hike, had a picnic, and looked around in all the little shops. When we came home, Nicole took me on a little bike ride to meet Celine who will be in my class-- I am really glad that I know someone in my class now! Then, we came back and had dinner, and Benoit told me that that evening a baby cow was going to be born and he asked if I'd like to come see-- so OF COURSE I SAID YES!! So that night at about midnight he said that the baby was coming, so we got dressed and hurried out there and  I saw this baby cow coming out! It was gross, but also so cool! It was a little boy, and they had just asked that day what my brother's name was, so they named the baby cow James:) That was really fun!
Ok so today, Monday, I ran a lot of errands with Nicole, we went to the bank to set up an account, the grocery store, set up a cellphone account, and then I got to see my school! There was a problem though, the school said I wasn't enrolled, but we had all my papers and we showed them! Nicole was very proud that we showed them that we were right! Then in the afternoon I worked in the farm with Benoit; I am really getting really good at setting up the machines to milk the cows and I am getting used to the smell!
It has been wonderful-- I am really looking forward to this next week!

I Have Arrived!!!!

After a very long day of flying and layovers, I have finally arrived in my home for the next year.  I was blessed as well because my family told me that it has been rainy for the last 3 days, but today is bright blue skies and sunshine!
My family met me at the airport with flowers and their little dog, Choupette and then we looked for their brand new car which is a silvery gold mini cooper! So fun! I landed at about 7:15 so on the way back home from the airport (about an hour drive) we stopped at a little cafe and had Pain au Chocolat or a croissant with chocolate inside. When I got to our house it was like a fairy tale. There are green pastures surrounding my big stone house that it over a hundred years old.
My mom Nicole had to go to work in her hair dressing salon and my dad Benoit had to go work on the farm. After I unpacked, my 15 year old sister Pauline and I took a walk and we visited her grandma who lives about a half mile away. When we came home I met some of my Pauline's friends, Audelle and Gauthier. Around 12:30 Nicole came home and we all had salmon for lunch, it was delicious!
Then Pauline, Gauthier, and I took the bus into town to go shopping. When we were coming back I started realizing just how tired I was! I am looking forward to taking a nap in a minute. Tonight Pauline has invited me to a dance which she is super excited about because normally her parents don't allow her to go to them because she's too young, but they're making an exception because I'm here. I am having fun and hope to continue to!

Eight Days Until I Depart!!

(This is a picture from my Bon Voyage party. My close friend Jordan,on the left, is also doing Rotary and will be staying in Germany next year.)


Just over a week and I will be in Belgium! There is still so much to do! saying goodbye to all my friends and family is just around the corner and I know that that is going to probably the most difficult part of my adventure to date, but I know I am ready! Right now I am trying to figure out how to set up absentee voting because I want to stay politically on top of things in America. I am also realizing that I have over-packed! How do people expect an 18 year old girl to pack for a year?? They've got to be nuts! More to come soon, the adventure is just beginning!