September 8, 2006

Dear all,

Tomorrow makes three weeks in Belgium and my first finished week of school. This week school -- wow so, so different, but interesting. To start off, you pack your lunch or go to a café. No cafeteria food. Then there’s the classroom -- I don't know about others but all my classes but two are on the sixth floor, so I have to climb these hideous stairs. And we go up and down. My first day in school I had Spanish. The school put me in Spanish II (and I know no Spanish, lol) so I asked the counselor to remove me.

The teachers are awesome! Well maybe it’s because there’s only two exchange students in my school -- me and a Mexican. But the teachers really didn't expect us to do anything, but Sameria {the Mexican} and I try our best. I wouldn't want to be known as a slacker

Wednesdays school finishes at noon and the kids all get together and do something. But in my case its Rotary and I get together and do something. Thursdays I have three hours of class and then I’m excuse from three other classes for Rotary meetings but I return for one class. Our Rotary meetings are oh so different too.

But the students are the best part of my exchange so far, because without friends, school or the town, everything is boring. I know a few exchange students here who don't go to school, so they don't know the language. They have no friends but exchange students. Oh and when Larry says that everyone tries to speak English with you it is so, so true. My host father is the worst of all the people I have run into. When I try to explain something in French he answers me in English. And students, and teachers at school do it also. Today in school I had gym. Wow so, so different here! You run for 1 hr and 25 minutes and then you walk to and from the stadium and that’s a 1/2hr. So I was about dead. Today the saying came in that Americans are very lazy. My host father says and we joke about it.

Today I went to my second concert in my life (both happened in Belgium.) The band was from Ireland but has been living in Belgium for many years. They only sing English and that’s another thing here. They very rarely hear anyone listening to French music -- its almost always English bands.

Well I am going to bed for tomorrow. The two other girls from my district, Claudia and Sameria, both Mexicans, are preparing a meal from our country and I have to go to the store. so ttyla.

Keep n'touch and check out my ringo page. It’s updated regularly.

~Tracey Tester~