17h09
Today my two other host siblings - Erika and Alexis - arrived. Amaury, Benedicte - my host arents - and I woke up nice and early to go get them. Afterwards we stopped for breakfast at le Pain Quotidien, in Jambes - a town not too far from Arbre, my current town. I hadroissant with a chocolate filling, as well as regular bread with a white chocolate spread, as well as yogurt with fresh fruit, as well as a huge cup full of delicious hot chocolate. Fate being fateful, our server was none other than Carole-Ann, the Belgian inbound student to southern Arizona last year, who I had met at one of the Rotary meetings. It was crazy to just run into her on accident. The food was great and I ate more than I should have.
Anyway, Erika and I hit it off. She's my age, just having turned sixteen. According to Benedicte, I will be in the cinquième grade with Erika. I had it in my head that school started the first of September – this coming Wednesday. It starts the 6th, the Monday after tomorrow. Apparently I go to register this coming Friday. So I still have a solid week of vacation before school starts!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Driving's never been so fun
22h03
Going backwards in time a little bit, the plane ride over was extremely uneventful. The most exciting moment was probably when I was offered wine with my dinner on the overnight flight from Dallas to London.
Today we went to Ikea. I would explain how different or similar it is to those in the US had I ever been to an Ikea in the US. However, I do have to mention a couple differences – the roads!! They not only have smaller lanes, which I remember from being in Europe before, but they have roads that seem basically like one lane roads, but are not. I remember the first day driving home from the airport to pick up my host brother from where he was sailing, driving on this tiny road wondering where the road was that took cars in the other direction until I figured out that was the only road. Also, Belgians construct their roads to be obstacle courses – they are full to twists and sharp turns, blind spots, but also random speed bump type things and fences that stick into the road to make it less wide – to remind Belgians to drive slowly, my host dad told me. From my limited experience so far, it doesn’t work. At all. You don't drive in Belgium if you aren't willing to Claim and Capture your Place on the road. (capital letters on purpose.) If I get a chance to take a picture of the obstacle course, I’ll post it here. Forgot my camera again.
Going backwards in time a little bit, the plane ride over was extremely uneventful. The most exciting moment was probably when I was offered wine with my dinner on the overnight flight from Dallas to London.
Today we went to Ikea. I would explain how different or similar it is to those in the US had I ever been to an Ikea in the US. However, I do have to mention a couple differences – the roads!! They not only have smaller lanes, which I remember from being in Europe before, but they have roads that seem basically like one lane roads, but are not. I remember the first day driving home from the airport to pick up my host brother from where he was sailing, driving on this tiny road wondering where the road was that took cars in the other direction until I figured out that was the only road. Also, Belgians construct their roads to be obstacle courses – they are full to twists and sharp turns, blind spots, but also random speed bump type things and fences that stick into the road to make it less wide – to remind Belgians to drive slowly, my host dad told me. From my limited experience so far, it doesn’t work. At all. You don't drive in Belgium if you aren't willing to Claim and Capture your Place on the road. (capital letters on purpose.) If I get a chance to take a picture of the obstacle course, I’ll post it here. Forgot my camera again.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Cats are just as important as anything else
So far, so great. I enjoy being here – everything is still new and different and I am enjoying it. The Bronchart/Dewulf/Thomas family is extremely friendly and welcoming. I have yet to meet the two older children of the five, but the three younger children are so excited to tell me things and see me that it makes me feel really welcome. I was afraid they would all be afraid of the strange American living in their home, but that’s not the case.
As one might expect, everything here is green. I think I’ve only seen the sun once since I’ve been here, and that was this morning. It wasn’t even really seeing the sun, it was just sunlight peeking through the clouds. It rains almost continuously, but so far I rather like it.
The family has two cats – Grosschat and Blabla. Grosschat is sleeping on the couch across from me. He’s well suited to his name (it means fat cat) – his large nature reminds me of Garg. Blabla, a totally black cat, resembles my cat Grillo not only in color but in coordination as well. He fell into the small pond they have outside their house as he was drinking.
I promise pictures are to come soon - can you believe I left my camera at home on my first trip to Brussels? All the exchange students in Beligium met for an official welcoming and tour of the Royal Palace, the Grand Place, and the House and Senate. A tiring day, but interesting.
As one might expect, everything here is green. I think I’ve only seen the sun once since I’ve been here, and that was this morning. It wasn’t even really seeing the sun, it was just sunlight peeking through the clouds. It rains almost continuously, but so far I rather like it.
The family has two cats – Grosschat and Blabla. Grosschat is sleeping on the couch across from me. He’s well suited to his name (it means fat cat) – his large nature reminds me of Garg. Blabla, a totally black cat, resembles my cat Grillo not only in color but in coordination as well. He fell into the small pond they have outside their house as he was drinking.
I promise pictures are to come soon - can you believe I left my camera at home on my first trip to Brussels? All the exchange students in Beligium met for an official welcoming and tour of the Royal Palace, the Grand Place, and the House and Senate. A tiring day, but interesting.
I'm here! ...Right?
8h57
I'm here! (And it's still raining). I just looked out the window and saw the pouring rain. I had a strange feeling this morning – this is my second morning here. I woke up and as I woke up I had a semi-subconcious thought. Wow, that was weird; I dreamt I was in Belgium. I opened my eyes and was almost slightly surprised to discover that I wasn’t in my bed in Rio Rico. I almost said home, but this is my home as well, now.
I'm here! (And it's still raining). I just looked out the window and saw the pouring rain. I had a strange feeling this morning – this is my second morning here. I woke up and as I woke up I had a semi-subconcious thought. Wow, that was weird; I dreamt I was in Belgium. I opened my eyes and was almost slightly surprised to discover that I wasn’t in my bed in Rio Rico. I almost said home, but this is my home as well, now.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Grand Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Cedar City
This is a trip my parents and I took in mid-July. We left on a Thursday morning and drove most of the day to meet up with some friends at the Grand Canyon. 
We arrived early evening and set up camp.
Emma, Vicki, and Greg came on over to our campsite and we hung out for the rest of the day.
The next day we drove out to see the canyon.
We stopped at a couple lookouts. It was a hot day, but clear and perfect for viewing the gorgeous canyon.
A one lookout involved a short walk and another a short hike. We got back to camp in the evening and spent the remainder of the day there.
The next morning we were greeted by a Kaibab squirrel. A rather crazy one who seemed to enjoy bouncing off trees.
We got up early(ish) to hike down the canyon a little ways on the North Kaibab Trail. It started to rain as we headed down, but never rained harder than a sprinkle. It was perfect weather. We ended up making it about four miles down.
By the time we reached the end, for us, it had cleared off just in time for us to head all the way back up. We made it up, though, by mid afternoon. We enjoyed our last afternoon, night, and morning at camp or the visitor's center. The next morning we slowly got going and drove out. After a picnic lunch at a rest stop, we said goodbye to Vicki, Emma and Greg.
My parents and I headed on over to Cedar Breaks. After looking around a bit we set up camp.
We then came back to the lookout for sunset. The dimming light seemed to set the reds of Cedar Breaks on fire.
All of the park seemed to be in bloom. So the next morning we went on a wildflower hike with a very knowledgeable volunteer.
We arrived early evening and set up camp.
Emma, Vicki, and Greg came on over to our campsite and we hung out for the rest of the day.
The next day we drove out to see the canyon.
We stopped at a couple lookouts. It was a hot day, but clear and perfect for viewing the gorgeous canyon.
A one lookout involved a short walk and another a short hike. We got back to camp in the evening and spent the remainder of the day there.
The next morning we were greeted by a Kaibab squirrel. A rather crazy one who seemed to enjoy bouncing off trees.
We got up early(ish) to hike down the canyon a little ways on the North Kaibab Trail. It started to rain as we headed down, but never rained harder than a sprinkle. It was perfect weather. We ended up making it about four miles down.
By the time we reached the end, for us, it had cleared off just in time for us to head all the way back up. We made it up, though, by mid afternoon. We enjoyed our last afternoon, night, and morning at camp or the visitor's center. The next morning we slowly got going and drove out. After a picnic lunch at a rest stop, we said goodbye to Vicki, Emma and Greg.My parents and I headed on over to Cedar Breaks. After looking around a bit we set up camp.
We then came back to the lookout for sunset. The dimming light seemed to set the reds of Cedar Breaks on fire.
All of the park seemed to be in bloom. So the next morning we went on a wildflower hike with a very knowledgeable volunteer.
She pointed out some of the more obvious flowers, like the columbine.
However, even for the easier to name flowers, she gave us information about them. For instance, this paintbrush has very bright red leaves, not petals. The flowers are actually the small green shoots in amongst the colorful leaves. However, for each flower we could name there were fifteen more that we couldn't name or perhaps hadn't even notice before. It was very enlightening. After this guided hike we drove down the canyon to Cedar City, about an hour away.
We got to our rented house that Monday afternoon and spent the rest of the week watching six fabulous productions at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
About midweek we headed back up to Cedar Breaks with my Aunt Sylvia, who was watching the plays with us. We went on a short hike up there. Early on the hike we noticed a marmot just hanging around. We saw another one on the hike, as well.
The trail was a loop centered around this pond. It was a nice day and a beautiful trail. After the plays were over we stayed with some other friends, Rob and Kezia, in Rockville for a night before heading on home.
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