Forgive me. I am testing this for now. One would hope that it works.
For all of you that want some discriptions of my day to day life, and aren't getting them through email or so on... this is what you'll have to be content with. Unless of course you send me an email, or a letter or something to that extent, which I love to recieve!! And will reply to even if it takes me a while.
For those of you who don't know, I am currently living in Tontelange, Belgium. I go to school in Arlon, which is the nearest bigger city around here. Belgium is an itsy bitty little country. Especially since I've lived in Canada all my life. For example; The drive from the coastline to Arlon, the longest distance you can drive in Belgium basically is about three hours. Take into account that they drive 130 km/h here. That distance in Canada would get me from Quesnel to Cache Creek. Being this small as well, Belgium is naturally close to many other european countries. Another example; This Sunday I played basketball in Arlon, which is 10 minutes from my house. After I showered at home, we went shopping in Luxembourg, which is two minutes from my home. But wait, there is more. After another quick stop at home to pick up my host brother we went to France for supper, which is about 20 min from my place. Incredible isn't it? I wouldn't have even made it to Lac La Hache at home. The people here find it difficult to believe that I drove 6 hours to Vancouver to get to the airport. Paris is a little over two hours by train from here.
Sometimes though, I forget that I am in Europe. I am reminded by the smallest things though. I was sitting in class the other day when I heard an emergency vehicle siren. It sounded like the European ones do in the movies. That sort of thing is what reminds me that I'm somewhere different. You may be thinking, "Come on, there's another language that she's listening to all the time." That's easily forgotten when I'm not paying attention, and the people are the same in spite of it.
The language is coming. Here there are many people who speak English so I don't really speak French as much as I should. But i'm really starting to try now. And I must always remember not to say the 's' at the end of the words. I've been here for a little over three weeks now. Just coming here seems so long ago. This summer in Canada feels like a long long long time ago. It's odd being a Canadian (or really any sort of foriegner I suppose) living in a different country. I find I identify more with ANYTHING that I find or see that is Canadian. At school on the map I look at Canada first, not because I'm homesick, just because it is a place that I know better than anywhere else.
School here works differently than Canada. And I desperately wish I had a map of the school. There are 8 blocks during a day, 5 before lunch and 3 after. School starts at 8:00 am and ends at 4:00. We have a recess (HOORAY!) and lunch is an hour long. Each class lasts about 50 minutes I think. However, from there things get complicated. I am taking 2 hours a week of geography, religion (don't even laugh okay) and gym. 4 hours a week of History (there are only 6 people in that class, the rest of the world only takes 2 hours), Math, French, English (easiest class in the world!!) and Economic science. Then I take 3 hours a week of science, which means 1 hour each of physics, biology, and chemistry. I'm finally glad I didn't take earth science (physics people from Routtu's class last year will get that) because I answered a question on the first day of physics that no one else knew. Turns out that if you spell energy with a ie and say it with a french accent it's the same word. Thank you Mr. Routtu.. and if I'm thanking teachers I might as well thank Csiz too because I know some of the background stuff (albeit from a Canadian angle) around world history. Oh and a probable thanks to the French teachers?? =D I have no idea how students have any idea where to go in the school. Occasionaly the class will have a room listed. So I follow a person up 5 flights of stairs through a door down a narrow corridor up a wooden staircase, and down a creeky hallway to a room. Other times I follow people who seem to know where they are going when something isn't listed.. I'm convinced something is being telepathically communicated here. And of course there are the times where we find the teacher and the teacher doesn't even know where she is going. My school is right down town as well so we can go out for lunch. I buy a sandwhich for 2€50 mmmmmm are they ever good.
I take the bus from near one of the other schools in town. Taking the bus is an interesting experience. The buses that we take here are public busses and all of the students take them. I have a bus pass, and seem to spend a great deal of time standing on the bus. The other day I got on the wrong bus (YaY Me!) And got out on a road where I knew I could get back from. Out of curiosity I climbed over the ditch and onto an open spot of grass. From there I noticed my town and decided it was much quicker (and funner) to go cross country. Guess who got home before the proper bus did! Yay me!
Anywho, I'll think of more things to post later.
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