Holla Days

Well the holiday season is officially here! There are many traditions that are different here then in America and vice versa.
1) Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas is a holiday here that doesn't exist in America. It occurs on December 6th. For about a week before the day, children put their shoes in from of the fireplace and Saint Nicholas (like Santa) will make bring them a small goodies (I forgot to leave my shoes out 6/7 days.. whoops!) and on the 6th the children go downstairs to find a table covered in chocolate, games, and games. Since Saint Nicholas fell on a Friday this year, we went over to my host grandma's house for dinner. She had a table of goodies laid for for my sisters, their cousin, and me. SO MUCH CHOCOLATE. And that isn't even our real Saint Nicholas! We will celebrate tomorrow so we have the entire day to enjoy.

2) Saint Nicholas de Rhetos
Saint Nicholas de Rhetos is for the 6th year (seniors) students (there is also one for the University students). The students buy white lab coats and spend weeks decorating them with their favorite pictures and signatures from everyone they know (I bought mine 2 days before...). On the day of the celebration the kids make the most disgusting food mixtures they can think of and have a giant food fight. I was expecting some eggs, flour, ketchup, ect., but in reality there was all of that plus vomit, fish, tripe, and other extremely disgusting mixtures. Gross. After the giant food fight the kids all follow a float that has someone dressed up as Saint Nicholas through town to a field that has a DJ and bar. They then spend the rest of the day drinking and partying covered in vomit and fish. It was an interesting experience for me... if anything the egg was good for my hair :)

3) Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving doesn't exist here because it is an American holiday. I wanted to celebrate anyways, so we had a Thanksgiving:) It was a good learning experience for me... I now really appreciate how hard my mother works for make it perfect. I (with the help of Joisy) cooked a turkey, stuffing, greenbean cassareol, candied yams, chicken gnocci soup, and apple pie.  We invited over my host grandma, Joisy and her host family, and my rotary counselor Fred and his wife. It was really nice to get everyone together and talk about life and everything we are thankful for. This past year has given me a lot to be thankful for:)

Happy Holidays!!

“I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you`re proud of, and if you find that you`re not, I hope you find the strength to start all over again.”

Skye

Lessons Learned and Memories Made

Salute!!! 

Storrrry time!

Some boys in my study hall think it is hilarious to come up behind me and tickle me (I absolutely hate it). So today I wanted to know how to correctly say I don't want to be touched, so I pulled out  scratch paper (which happened to be one of my thosands of bussiness cards) to write "Je n'aime pas etre touché" (I do not like to be touched). I threw the card back into my bag not thinking anything of it. Then later on my way home, some kids on my bus that always hear me speaking English to another exchange student in my town, finally grew the courage to try to speak to us. One of the boys was asking all kinds of questions about Los Angeles. Like if I knew the Staples Center or what the current temperature was (he actually whipped out his phone where the current conditions were bookmarked). He also asked if Wyoming was in (yes in) or near Los Angles. It is really hard to describe how big America is, to a person who lives in a country that takes two hours to drive across, so I took out one of my handy dandy business cards that have a little map of the US on the back. I circled Wyoming and pinpointed LA for him. Guess which buisness card he got. "Skye Irwin. USA. I Do Not Like To Be Touched". 

I have been feeling rather philosophical lately, so here are some tips I have realized about life.   

1. Only you have the ability to make yourself happy. So don't waste the ability or let others interfere with your happiness. 
2. Trust your gut. If you think you are on the wrong bus and it is pitch black out, ya better ask the bus driver. Even if he doesn't speak English or French
3. Say please and thank you, especially for the little things. 
4. Take time to be a child. Yesterday I found myself at a park with my little sisters and their cousin, running around in the mud playing an extreme game of hide-and-seek+tag+foursquare+catch(with a giant tennis ball). I think it is near impossible not have fun with a bunch of laughing 10 year olds. Or if you see something yummy in a window, you should probably indulge ;) 
5.  Let go of the things that don't matter. All the what "What ifs'" and "Maybe I should have" and "I looked really stupid" can weigh you down and hold you back. There will come a point in life where you think to yourself (or maybe outloud to another person) "You wanna know how many shucks I give? Zero". 

Live today like it is your last!

xx,

Skye

Fearless: My Last Two Months

Bonjour!!

Today marks 2 months exactly. 64 days since I left my house and drove to the airport with my parents (and two lovely friends Abbey and Jessi). I still have absolutely no regrets for choosing to do this exchange. Only that I should have convinced more of my friends to do exchange as well. 

I feel like I have grown more as a person in the last two months, then I have in the last year. I am more mature and accepting of people and situations then I have even been before. And in addition to being more accepting of people and situations around me, I am also accepting of myself. I have confidence is what I do and the decisions I make. 

To recap the last two months, I have been to France three separate occasions, made a ton of new friends (both exchange and Belgian), halfway learned a new language, gone to concerts,  and have eaten my weight in all the delicious Belgian food. I have learned to take trains and busses. I have been completely lost... but learned how to navigate through a foreign city.
One important thing that I have learned during my stay here so far is to be fearless. And by fearless, I mean to take chances, say what you feel, give your love to everyone you meet, and stick to what you believe in. I realised that everyday we encounter so many opportunities to do new things, but we hide underneath what is comfortable to us. We shelter ourselves with our friends and materialistic objects. After being in put into a foreign world, where everything is a little uncomfortable, I have been able to see that: 1) You can never really be bored 2) We have the ability to learn just about anything 3) You have the power to better yourself everyday 4) You from 5 years ago has nothing on present you 5) You have gotten through so many moments you thought it was all over. 

I hope you all have the chance to travel someday, and that you take that chance. It was once said "The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page". I could not agree more. I have come to realise that a bad day here is better than a normal day anywhere else.
I am so happy to be here, surrounded by people I love and love me too. I could not ask for anything more perfect right now :) We will never be younger then we are now... so go EXPLORE.

DAVID GUETTA!

My Rotary Club is BEAUTIFUL!

Skye

Life is Good

Well, I have been here for nearly two months! I can't believe how fast time flies. My first month here seemed to drag on forever, but now it's like time is passing by like pages in a book. I have had some crazy adventures and done so mnay things.
A few weeks ago Joisy and I took a train for 40 minutes to Namur just to get a Starbucks. We were 'whitegirl deprived' haha. It was definatly worth it though. We reminised how easy it was to swing by Starbucks on our drive (in our own cars) to school. It was definatly a freedom I took for granted. But on the contrary I feel like there are things we take for granted no matter where we are. For example, Joisy and I went to Liege yesterday (French course was cancelled in the afternoon) just for Chinese food (it only cost 3€!). Being able to just hop on a train to go shopping or out to eat at a cheap restraunt is definatly something I love here.
School is actually really good. I only had one really bad teacher, and I think she was only bad because she hated all exchange students, but luckly I no longer have her class. For the most part my teachers ignore me, ask if things in America are different then here (duh), or make fun of my American accent. I like school because I have been able to make really good friends. I can't really have good conversations with them yet, but they try to use their English and I stumble through French. They really like to hear me (well Joisy and I) speak French. When I practice a speech in study hall, they all stop to listen (and correct me). One thing I need to accomplish is going to a school party.  A lot of people in my grade the Rhettos (Rhetto=Senior) throw partys like every weekend, at their house or in a public building. I get invites all the time, but I am still hesitant to go, knowing my French isn't great and I am not super close with anyone quite yet.
My French is still pretty terrible. But I am still proud of myself for learning so much. Sometimes people even praise me for speaking in French :). I think the pronunciation is the hardest part. My Spanish class is the biggest mind game ever.
Fashion here is also really different. Girls wear leather boots and skinny jeans. Not yoga pants and Uggs. -_- Some girls even dress like they are in a fashion show, with heels, a skirt, and leather jacket. I feel really out of place in my Toms, jeans, and flannel, but I think every part of being an exchange student is being out of place. On the plus side, I really like to shop, so soon enough I will be a boot wearing Eurogirl.
Last week I went to France again with my school. It was for a "religious retreat" for 4 days. I really didn't want to go at first, just because the idea of it really worried me. It turned out not to be as bad as I thought. I had a really great time bonding with some of my classmates (they love having their hair braided!). It was a little uncomfortable at first, but I survived :).
Well that's what I have for now! If anyone has a blog idea, that would be super helpful!

xx,
Skye

30 Effervescent Things About my Exchange

So I woke up sick this morning (my throat is killing me!) and decided to stay home from school. To celebrate my survival here for over a month (and my love for my best friend!) here are 30 effervescent things about my exchange so far:

1. I have realised a lot of things about myself.. both good and bad... but mostly good :)  
2. I am in love with Belgian food! Mmmm chocolate and bread <3
3. I have a really great host family <3
4. I actually quite enjoy taking the trains now
5. The clothes here are wonderful (but really, REALLY, expensive) 
6. I am now really glad my parents taught me how to be savvy and responsible 
7. I love that the Euro coins go up to 2 Euros
8. I can never tell if it is a cow 'mooing' outside or my phone buzzing....
9. My village is really beautiful 
10. There is a huge river that runs through my town... and I get to cross the bridge to get to school everyday
11. Eclairs
12. Banana Eclairs
13. There is always an endless amount of parties and things to do
14. It is super easy to travel in Belgium
15. I have already been to France twice
16. H&M
17. I have learned so much French! In the beggining I barely knew how to say "bonjour" (hello), "merci" (thank you), and "bonne nuit" (good night). 
18. Everyone stares when I speak English in public with my exchange friends... even the cows stare
19. I have been introduced to two really great Belgian bands: Stromae and Puggy
20. My Belgian friends! :) I love them!
21. My exchange friends! I am in love with Australian and New Zealand accents <3
22. A Belgian specialty called "Américain". It is steak tartare. Kinda like tuna salad... but with beef.. raw beef
23. I have realized all the things I take/have taken advantage of
24. My dream came true and I have younger host siblings
25. I am always tired from listening to French all day... 
26. There is no such thing as a 'lazy day at school'. No more Uggs, Nike shorts, and hoodies on Fridays :P
27. I have touched the ocean
28. Beer
29. Chocolate
30. Waffles

xx

Skye

France, Friends, School, and More

Bonjour amis!!

So, let's start off with my last endeavour, France. I went back to France last Thursday with Rotary (my host club, not students, except Joisy). This time I went to the north of France, to a peninsula by the ocean, called Le Crotoy. It was my first time every seeing the ocean. I was completely amazed. It was gorgeous. It rained the entire weekend (except the day we left of course), so it was a bit of a hassle dealing with the weather, but it was all worth it. During the weekend Frederic (my counsler here) said "You will only do this once in your life". It really made me realize that he was right, I am lucky, most people will never see the things I have the chance to, and for me to complain that the weather isn't perfect and I'm a little tired, is completely selfish. During the weekend, I drank hot chocolate with every meal (even when we had seafood), had three course meals every meal (the first thing I did when I got home was went to the scale! Not too bad!), and stayed in a house with people I had never met (Rotarians). On Friday we went to a nearby city for a boat tour (it was just like you see in the movies... gorgeous! Even with the rain!) and to visit the church, Notre Dame Amiens. The church was like nothing I have even seen. It took 68 years to build (back in like 1400). The architecture, decor, and size was utterly amazing.  GAH. On Saturday we woke up early and went for a nature hike through the peninsula we were staying at. We walked through a marsh to another city where we took a train back. The hike was beautiful, despite the cold weather and all the mud. During the hike we stopped for lunch. A picnic lunch the 'Rotary' style here included: wine in wine glasses (for the adults), hard sausage, cheeses, procuttio, and of course baguettes. Very fancy. :) On the car ride home I had a realization.. "I am both adding and crossing something off my bucket list everyday". I am so blessed to have this!

Second, school. First off, my (little) hand hurts from all the note taking I have been doing! I am so used to typing! In Cody I was so spoiled to have such great classrooms, learning materials, and a laptop. Second, I don't even know what the notes I am taking are saying. I usually just copy off the person I am sitting next too (lord knows if I am spelling right). All the kids in my classes like to ask me questions Constantly. And most of the questions are the same.. "Is Wyoming by California? Closer to New York? What is your take on your contires gun control? Do you get a free gun when you open a bank account? Your family has 'more' than one gun?! Have you ever shot a bear? Do you take a gun to school?! Do you know what basketball is?". Let's just say my answers are getting more sarcastic everytime I hear the same question... ;)

So the other day I texted Abbey. Yes, texted, off my Belgian phone. I don't even want to know how many of my precious minutes it cost. I had a free period and was sitting alone on the stairs, and realized how much I longed to talk to 'my people'. By 'my people' I mean my friends and family who I have grown up with. It's hard to describe the feeling of leaving behind all the people, places, and things you have become accustomed to.

Another realization: I have becoem accustomed to being here. It hit me tonight while I was in the shower (the best thoughts always come in the shower of course), that it feels normal to do 'regular things here... like: take the public bus, walk like 5 blocks to school, shower (at night), sleep, and eat in my house here. I also have become really familier with my town now too. At first, I thought my town was huge (massive!), but now I know a majority of the shops and how to get from one place to another.

And to finish it off... a list of things they don't have here (and I miss... kinda)

1. Peanut butter
2. The Beta (a coffeehouse in my hometown... I want a London Fog!)
3. Starbucks
4. American Eagle nad Victoria Secret
5. Under Armour
6. Hugs
7. Backpacks (I carry an oversized purse to school)
8. Nail Salons (I finally got my gel off!)
9. Seventeen Magazine
10. Sanuks
11. 
    

School and Everything else

So on Monday I started school. -_- School is very different than in Cody. Class starts at 8:20 and finishes at 16:00. Classes are only 50 minutes long, and vary from day to day, just like in college. There are two buildings at my school, because there are too many students for the space (grades 8-12). Also, if you have gym class (like I did), you walk like 6 blocks to another building (like I had to), in the rain (which is very refreshing but ruins your hair). School is extremely difficult for me, because the teachers talk very fast and use words I have not yet learned. I have a statistics class (which could be very easy), but I cannot read the word problems to figure them out. Yesterday in French class (like English class in the US), I could not understand the book the students had to read, so I could not answer the discussion questions. Instead, the teacher made me write a paragraph in French about why I chose Belgium to be my country. Using my dictionary, I was able to make out a couple sentences (although they were the furthest things from being correct), and I was feeling pretty good about myself. At the end of class the teacher had me stand up and read my paragraph to the class. -_- That was the hardest speech I have ever given, but in the end it was for my benefit.

I found this folder at the store.. should I get it?! ;)
So in my little town Huy (pronounced like 'oui') there are two other exchange students plus me. Deanna arrived in February and will leave in December, she is with a program called YFU (YOuth For Understanding). Joisy, arrived just a couple days after me and will leave around the same time (she is also using Rotary). These girls are literally my soul sisters! I love them to death and we stick together like three peas in a pod. It is still really hard for me to leave my friends in Cody (I still get the urge to text them every time something exciting happens), but in the end, if I had never done exchange, I would have never met these amazing ladies (or my amazing host families).

It's starting to get chilly here! I am going to have to invest in a bigger jacket and better shoes then I brought (I have to walk a block to the bus and then 3 or 4 blocks from the bus stop to school morning and night).

Joisy and I were talking the other day, and she asked me "Is this where you pictured your life 2 years ago?". I have to admit.. HELL NO. I would have pictured myself playing tennis and going to football games, sitting on the senior wall and sleeping my my (wonderful) bed. I do not in anyway regret this decision. I thank myself everyday that I did it. It was defiantly harder then I expected, it isn't always rainbows and butterflies, but I can already feel myself becoming more responsible and honest everyday.

I am off to France now for  couple days! Leave me feedback!
xx,
Skye

Observations

Bonjour!
There are many things that are different than the US. Traditions, cuisine, family structure, and people in general are all different. At the birthday dinner I attended the other night, I was asked 1) If Americans eat vegetables 2) If we are allowed to own guns and the gun control regulations. Both of these came to a shock to me, but after thinking about it, there are many prejudices about America that  I had never noticed before.
Anyways, here are a couple customs I have learned (and love)
1) A kiss on the cheek to greet and say goodbye. Even men kiss other men and children kiss adults. I find it a very friendly (as are all the people in Belgium) way to greet someone, even if you don't know them. It is much less formal than a handshake.

2) When you are finished with a meal, you place your silverware together on the plate. This shows that you are done and no longer want to be offered food. Also, at restaurants, it signals the waiter to come take you plate.

3) Meal times are quite a bit later. Breakfast is whenever you can, lunch is around 2 o'clock, there is sometimes a dessert or snack around 3, and dinner is between 630 and 7. There is a lot less snacking, which is helping me (I am 2 kilos down! haha), and I haven't eaten fast food since I have been here!

Also, yesterday I went to Liege. It was probably one of my higher points. :) People were very friendly and helped me from each train and bus. It was one of the most 'responsible' experiences I have ever had. Public transit is easier/harder than it looks.

 A 'Liege' waffle (graufe)

The Feeling of Friendship

Bonjour! This post may seem a little dramatic (it really is/isn't). Some of you may know the feeling I am about to explain, or perhaps not, or perhaps you are experiencing it with me now.
Today, after being here 10 days, I have made my first friends. I was defiantly craving the feeling. The feeling of being around people your age, with common intrests, who want to know you, as much as you do them. People who want to know where you are from, your stories, your passions. People whom you can laugh with at silly things and cry with during hardships.
I had my first Rotex meeting  today. There are probably 60+ (probably many more) kids in my distict. They are from all countries; USA, Mexico (like Dora), Venezuela, New Zealand, Canada (Canadian boys are so tall!!), and many other countries. Joisy (my 'sister'. A girl who lives in my town) and I met many new people and put faces to many people whom we have met online. They are having the same struggles as I am, as well as the same pleasures. I never knew how unbelieveable it feels to be able to talk at a normal pace, to kids my own age.
After the Rotary meeting, my host family and I went to the birthday of my host fathers goddaughter and godson. Let's just say I now have very high expectations of birthday parties. There was champagne, appitizers for appitizers for appitizers, a divine pork dish, and an ice cream cake that would put every Dairy Queen to shame. It was a family party, so I met all the cousins of Marc's goddaughter (and her sister), whom are around my age. Everyone was so polite and loving. The kids my age asked me all kinds of questions, and I them. They also helped me learn new vocabulary (and laughed along with me as I butchared it).
Friendships is (the beginning of an infinite list):

1. Greeting with a kiss
2. The moment when you look as someone as say "that happened to you too?!"
3. Using sharades in place of words
4. Wanting to be with someone, even if you don't speak the same language
5. Giving an hour of your time to teach someone the word "knife" in French
6. Drawing every animal you can think of and labeling them 
7. Love

Leave me comments of how you can personally describe friendship!

xx,
Skye