Goededag! I just wanted to write to you all and let you know how I am doing. I have already been in Belgium for a little less than a month and it has been nothing less than perfect.
Goededag! I just wanted to write to you all and let you know how I am doing. I have already been in Belgium for a little less than a month and it has been nothing less than perfect. I arrived on the 8th, late. My flight was delayed in Seattle and we ended up leaving like 5 hours later than scheduled so I arrived in Belgium pretty late at night. My jet lag was absolutely horrendous, I was sleeping all day every day for about 3 days straight. I didn't have much time before I left for Italy on the 12th. Oddly enough, Europeans like to travel at night so we left Tongeren at like midnight and drove straight through the night and trust me when I tell you that it is very uncomfortable to try and sleep in a Fiat 500. Italy was absolutely amazing, we only made one pit stop along the way which was in Pisa and my host family took me to the infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa, not as big as I had expected. I was hoping to do a little more traveling around but my family said it was far too hot and when we left the sea side to go into the actual town of Grosetto one morning, I understood what they meant. However, we will be going back in December for Christmas and they said we would do some traveling and touring around then so I can wait :)
We had a giant national conference for all of the exchange students on the 24th of August, I got back from Italy on the 23rd so it was a busy time. It was really cool to be able to meet all of the other exchange students and to see everyone come together to explore the city of Brussels. Attached are just some of the many pictures from that day.
My first host family is so wonderful, I absolutely love having a sister. And I was fortunate enough to meet all my other families when my host mom invited them all over for a party that they threw for me on my birthday, the 26th of August. I am excited yet a little nervous for my third family, living with three boys may be a bit of a challenge but I am up for it.
School started on September 1st and I didn't understand a single thing but I am taking separate Dutch lessons from 9-12 every weekday and then I will go to my regular school and join all my classmates in the afternoon so it will be nice to be in an immersion class and that way I can get more accustomed and integrating into society will be a lot easier.
Anyways, that is all that has been going on with me. Homesickness hasn't really been that bad, I don't want to go home and I don't miss home, I just miss all my people and I just wish they could all be on this journey with me. This is however part of the process so I must trust in the process.
Thank you a million times for everything you all have ever done for me, I truly couldn't of done it without you :) 1 month down, only 10 more to go! Speak with you soon, thanks.
Much love,
Tara
