ONLY 9 DAYS UNTIL PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not that anyone's counting or anything) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Thursday, 6 October 2011
First Belgian Rotary Meeting
On Monday night I went to my first Rotary meeting here and it was way different then the meetings I've been to in Canada.
It was at the golf and country club in Genval, and it was beautiful there!
TheDifference's
-there were probably only 4 women in the whole club
-the members were drinking beer and there was wine on all the tables
-a couple of the members were on their cell phones during the meeting
-the food at the meetings in Prince Rupert is way better!
-they don't do 'a good buck' here
- it was during dinner so I didn't get to miss school to attend :(
TheSimilarites
- tons of talking that I had know idea what it was about
-everyone was looking for more people to help with their part of Rotary
- they specially welcomed people from other clubs and special guest (like me! :) )
-you could totally tell who was in-charge
-all the men were dressed like they just came from the office and all the ladies (including me!) were wearing heels (don't worry Momma, I didn't break anything!)
The topic of the meeting was RYE so me and the 5 other inbounds (Mexico, USA, Brazil, Equator, and Argentina) in my club and 3 rebounds (Mexico, USA and Equator) were all at the meeting, and we all had to get up and introduce ourself (luckily my host parents had made me practice the french, and it actually went ok!)
It was almost 11pm when we got home, and me being so tired from just living here ( I sleep well every night, but no matter what I am always tired!) I forgot to set my alarm, so for the first time all year I was late for school! <-- thats kinda a big deal for me because i was late everyday last semester...
It was at the golf and country club in Genval, and it was beautiful there!
TheDifference's
-there were probably only 4 women in the whole club
-the members were drinking beer and there was wine on all the tables
-a couple of the members were on their cell phones during the meeting
-the food at the meetings in Prince Rupert is way better!
-they don't do 'a good buck' here
- it was during dinner so I didn't get to miss school to attend :(
TheSimilarites
- tons of talking that I had know idea what it was about
-everyone was looking for more people to help with their part of Rotary
- they specially welcomed people from other clubs and special guest (like me! :) )
-you could totally tell who was in-charge
-all the men were dressed like they just came from the office and all the ladies (including me!) were wearing heels (don't worry Momma, I didn't break anything!)
The topic of the meeting was RYE so me and the 5 other inbounds (Mexico, USA, Brazil, Equator, and Argentina) in my club and 3 rebounds (Mexico, USA and Equator) were all at the meeting, and we all had to get up and introduce ourself (luckily my host parents had made me practice the french, and it actually went ok!)
It was almost 11pm when we got home, and me being so tired from just living here ( I sleep well every night, but no matter what I am always tired!) I forgot to set my alarm, so for the first time all year I was late for school! <-- thats kinda a big deal for me because i was late everyday last semester...
Brugge
Last Tuesday I didn’t have school because it was some random holiday here in Belgium. So my host mom and my friend Cat’s host mom took 8 of us (me, Cat from Canada, Jocelyn from Canada, Jennie from the States, Henry from Ecuador, Rodrigo from Argentina, Isabel from Mexico, and Fernanda from Bolivia) to Bruges for the day!
Bruges is absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! It is called ‘Little Venice’ and because of the cannels that run through it, and if it is anything close to what the real Venice looks like, well then I best be starting my countdown to Italy(ps. Paris is only 23 days away! )
When we were in Bruges, we went to their version of the Grand Place and it was just as cool as the one in Brussels, went on a cannel ride through the water ways and had lunch while visiting a Frites museum. Then we got to hit up all the tourist shops; where I bought the best shirt ever and then we went a checked out all the free samples at the chocolate shops.
When we were in Bruges, we went to their version of the Grand Place and it was just as cool as the one in Brussels, went on a cannel ride through the water ways and had lunch while visiting a Frites museum. Then we got to hit up all the tourist shops; where I bought the best shirt ever and then we went a checked out all the free samples at the chocolate shops.
The best part of being in Bruges was that it is in the Flemish region of the country so they speak Dutch there, and the Flemish people don’t like people speaking French in their area so we got to speak English all day! I don’t think I’ve ever walked so much in a day (not even when I was in Las Vegas with my momma!) or taken so many pictures before (my daddy should be proud! )
Friday, 23 September 2011
Whata weekend!
My life has started to become routine; same thing err'day.
only the coolest sticker ever!
so we didn't quiet find the museum, but we did find some other cool things:The Polish Embassy,
poptarts! and an international store :)
and the European commission !
One of my classes at school, is called History of Art, and it is possibly the coolest class I have ever taken! We get to look at art all class, go on field trips and the teacher is a total hippy :) Last weekend in Brussels, not only did they shut down the streets to cars, but they also opened up all the museums to the public for free. So as an assignment for the class we were supposed to go with a couple other students and go check out a museum.
On Saturday afternoon me and Tasha ( another Rotary exchange student from the states, who goes to my school, and is in my history of art class!) got on the train in La Hulpe and started heading to The Royal Army Museum of Belgium. My host parents had printed me off a map, and attempted to explain how to get from the train station to the museum, but thinking we were smart enough, and knew our way around Brussels after only being there a couple of times, we decided to not get off our at stop, but first continue on to the Grand Place and explore there for a bit before going to the Army museum...
Well lets just say that we barely made it out of the train station at Brussels center before realizing we had no idea where we were going, and got back on the train to go to the stop that we were supposed to get off to go to the Army museum. But we did get to see a cool band of Ballerina's playing in the train station! :) After getting off the train at the correct stop, we pulled out our handy dandy map, and started walking, but you see the problem with having a map is that you have to know how to read it... which I don't know! Maybe I should have stayed at horse camp, or listened to man tracker?, because then maybe we wouldn't have gotten lost. Kay well really we didn't get lost because we knew where we were, we just didn't know where the museum was... But we did find a international store that sold cake mix, and pop tarts! (two rarities here in Belgium!)
And then on Sunday they shut down the city of Brussels, Genval and La Hulpe to cars, so a group of 10 exchange students, and our hosties (host parents) got on our bikes and biked about 15km through the city, and went to the Grand Place, Manneken Pis; which I have to say was kind of a disappointment. Like I knew it was small, but holy cow I almost had to put on my glasses to be able to see it!!!
Manneken Pis
checking out one of many sight scenes from the day
Brussels! <3
btw; only 36 days until Paris! :)
only the coolest sticker ever!
so we didn't quiet find the museum, but we did find some other cool things:The Polish Embassy,
poptarts! and an international store :)
and the European commission !One of my classes at school, is called History of Art, and it is possibly the coolest class I have ever taken! We get to look at art all class, go on field trips and the teacher is a total hippy :) Last weekend in Brussels, not only did they shut down the streets to cars, but they also opened up all the museums to the public for free. So as an assignment for the class we were supposed to go with a couple other students and go check out a museum.
On Saturday afternoon me and Tasha ( another Rotary exchange student from the states, who goes to my school, and is in my history of art class!) got on the train in La Hulpe and started heading to The Royal Army Museum of Belgium. My host parents had printed me off a map, and attempted to explain how to get from the train station to the museum, but thinking we were smart enough, and knew our way around Brussels after only being there a couple of times, we decided to not get off our at stop, but first continue on to the Grand Place and explore there for a bit before going to the Army museum...
Well lets just say that we barely made it out of the train station at Brussels center before realizing we had no idea where we were going, and got back on the train to go to the stop that we were supposed to get off to go to the Army museum. But we did get to see a cool band of Ballerina's playing in the train station! :) After getting off the train at the correct stop, we pulled out our handy dandy map, and started walking, but you see the problem with having a map is that you have to know how to read it... which I don't know! Maybe I should have stayed at horse camp, or listened to man tracker?, because then maybe we wouldn't have gotten lost. Kay well really we didn't get lost because we knew where we were, we just didn't know where the museum was... But we did find a international store that sold cake mix, and pop tarts! (two rarities here in Belgium!)
And then on Sunday they shut down the city of Brussels, Genval and La Hulpe to cars, so a group of 10 exchange students, and our hosties (host parents) got on our bikes and biked about 15km through the city, and went to the Grand Place, Manneken Pis; which I have to say was kind of a disappointment. Like I knew it was small, but holy cow I almost had to put on my glasses to be able to see it!!!
Manneken Pis
checking out one of many sight scenes from the day
Brussels! <3btw; only 36 days until Paris! :)
Question Time!
Sorry for not writing in awhile, but I've been so busy, that I just haven't had time... But I promise I'll start to find time to write! and lucky for you I have another blog to be posted asap
So what have I been up to since I last posted?
Well, let's see, I have been going to school, getting into a routine, going to zumba, hanging out with friends, exploring my town and just living life.
Tomorrow I have my first scouts activity of the year, and on Sunday there is a festival in La Hulpe; which is practically where I live, that me and my hosties are going to check out.
Today I had french lesson's with my Nun, and they are going pretty well. I have them next week too, the only problem is that she gives me homework :(, and then I had gym class, and then I had all afternoon free because my English teacher wasn't able to come to school today and my school doesn't have substitute teachers, so when your teacher isn't there, then you just don't have class! :)
When you read my blog, do you ever have questions for me? Ever wonder about my life here, how I get to school, what has been the biggest change, or whatever you think of when you read this?
Well I was talking to my momma the other day, she had the best idea for a blog! Who ever reads this, or is my Facebook friend can send me a question, and then once I get enough questions I'll write a blog to answer the questions. Sounds good?
here's a link to my facebook so that you can message me a question :) https://www.facebook.com/jbradbury14?sk=info
So what have I been up to since I last posted?
Well, let's see, I have been going to school, getting into a routine, going to zumba, hanging out with friends, exploring my town and just living life.
Tomorrow I have my first scouts activity of the year, and on Sunday there is a festival in La Hulpe; which is practically where I live, that me and my hosties are going to check out.
Today I had french lesson's with my Nun, and they are going pretty well. I have them next week too, the only problem is that she gives me homework :(, and then I had gym class, and then I had all afternoon free because my English teacher wasn't able to come to school today and my school doesn't have substitute teachers, so when your teacher isn't there, then you just don't have class! :)
When you read my blog, do you ever have questions for me? Ever wonder about my life here, how I get to school, what has been the biggest change, or whatever you think of when you read this?
Well I was talking to my momma the other day, she had the best idea for a blog! Who ever reads this, or is my Facebook friend can send me a question, and then once I get enough questions I'll write a blog to answer the questions. Sounds good?
here's a link to my facebook so that you can message me a question :) https://www.facebook.com/jbradbury14?sk=info
Friday, 9 September 2011
It's story time!
Everyone that knows me back home, knows that I am a bit of a germ freak, and boy oh boy is Europe getting to me.
First of all, no where I have been yet have I seen hand sanitizer. Back home you find it everywhere, at school, in the change room, at the grocery store, the movie theater, and heck I've even found it at rest stops on the highway, but I've been in Belgium for almost 3 weeks(wow times sure goes by fast!) and I haven't found it anywhere expect for in my purse.
Second; so I don't know if it's just because my school is old and small or if that's how all bathrooms at schools in Belgium are but... The bathroom is multi-gender, nothing like fixing your hair in the mirror, with a group of guys waiting to go to the bathroom standing behind you watching or, walking to an empty stall and seeing a guy standing with their back towards you peeing, because they didn't close the door when they went into the stall. And before you go into a stall you have to remember to bring in toilet paper from a huge roll on the wall by the sink, because there is not toilet paper rolls in the stalls. My question for this is "what happens if you forget to bring it with you?, then what do you do?" Also the bathroom NEVER has soap in the dispenser, or paper towel in the holder so no one even attempts to wash there hands...GROSS;thank goodness I brought hand sanitizer with me :) Another things is that the bathroom door is always left open, so as soon as you come out of the stall people in the hallway can see you.
Note to self- always make sure your fly is done up, and you don't have anything stuck to your shoe before you leave the stall.
Now after sitting in class all morning, tiring myself from translating, and not understanding any of what is going on, I was really looking forward to having double blocks of gym class this afternoon. While looks like my slights were set a tad bit to high... You see my school doesn't have a gym, so I didn't quite no where I was going to be having my gym class at, so when the bell went for gym class to start, I followed another girl who is in my class and she started walking towards the gate, leaving the school grounds, and onto a public bus...
Turns out that you have to get on the bus, that the school hires, and drive for about 8 minutes to a HUGE sport complex, and that is where gym class is held. The complex has an outdoor soccer field, an outdoor running track, a high jump and long jump set up, at least 2 squash courts, a gymnastics area, 3 fields that you could play indoor soccer, floor hockey, or basketball on, a restaurant, a climbing wall, 4 or 5 rooms for yoga or zumba and about 10 change rooms! The only things it's missing is a hockey rink :(
While after following a group of girls around looking for our change room, and almost getting lost in the maze of the place, going up 2 sets of stairs, across a covered walkway which is overhead a road, and then down 3 sets of stairs, we finally found our change room. For gym class we have to wear these 'lovely' mandatory school designed baseball shirts, running shoes and some form of bottoms; either shorts, leggings or pants.
I'm hoping that as time goes on gym class will become more competitive,and energetic. Today we spent more time getting changed,and waiting for the teacher to start the class, then actually doing anything gym class related, finally we stretched for a good 5 minutes, and that was gym class for the day. Then we went and got changed again, and got back on the bus to go back to school.
Tomorrow I have Inbound Orientation for my district, so I'll be writing all about that shortly after, and there will be new pictures on facebook too! On Sunday morning my host family has asked me to make them a 'Canadian Breakfast', don't know what that will entail yet, but I'm hopeful it will be successful!
Everyone that knows me back home, knows that I am a bit of a germ freak, and boy oh boy is Europe getting to me.
First of all, no where I have been yet have I seen hand sanitizer. Back home you find it everywhere, at school, in the change room, at the grocery store, the movie theater, and heck I've even found it at rest stops on the highway, but I've been in Belgium for almost 3 weeks(wow times sure goes by fast!) and I haven't found it anywhere expect for in my purse.
Second; so I don't know if it's just because my school is old and small or if that's how all bathrooms at schools in Belgium are but... The bathroom is multi-gender, nothing like fixing your hair in the mirror, with a group of guys waiting to go to the bathroom standing behind you watching or, walking to an empty stall and seeing a guy standing with their back towards you peeing, because they didn't close the door when they went into the stall. And before you go into a stall you have to remember to bring in toilet paper from a huge roll on the wall by the sink, because there is not toilet paper rolls in the stalls. My question for this is "what happens if you forget to bring it with you?, then what do you do?" Also the bathroom NEVER has soap in the dispenser, or paper towel in the holder so no one even attempts to wash there hands...GROSS;thank goodness I brought hand sanitizer with me :) Another things is that the bathroom door is always left open, so as soon as you come out of the stall people in the hallway can see you.
Note to self- always make sure your fly is done up, and you don't have anything stuck to your shoe before you leave the stall.
Now after sitting in class all morning, tiring myself from translating, and not understanding any of what is going on, I was really looking forward to having double blocks of gym class this afternoon. While looks like my slights were set a tad bit to high... You see my school doesn't have a gym, so I didn't quite no where I was going to be having my gym class at, so when the bell went for gym class to start, I followed another girl who is in my class and she started walking towards the gate, leaving the school grounds, and onto a public bus...
Turns out that you have to get on the bus, that the school hires, and drive for about 8 minutes to a HUGE sport complex, and that is where gym class is held. The complex has an outdoor soccer field, an outdoor running track, a high jump and long jump set up, at least 2 squash courts, a gymnastics area, 3 fields that you could play indoor soccer, floor hockey, or basketball on, a restaurant, a climbing wall, 4 or 5 rooms for yoga or zumba and about 10 change rooms! The only things it's missing is a hockey rink :(
While after following a group of girls around looking for our change room, and almost getting lost in the maze of the place, going up 2 sets of stairs, across a covered walkway which is overhead a road, and then down 3 sets of stairs, we finally found our change room. For gym class we have to wear these 'lovely' mandatory school designed baseball shirts, running shoes and some form of bottoms; either shorts, leggings or pants.
I'm hoping that as time goes on gym class will become more competitive,and energetic. Today we spent more time getting changed,and waiting for the teacher to start the class, then actually doing anything gym class related, finally we stretched for a good 5 minutes, and that was gym class for the day. Then we went and got changed again, and got back on the bus to go back to school.
Tomorrow I have Inbound Orientation for my district, so I'll be writing all about that shortly after, and there will be new pictures on facebook too! On Sunday morning my host family has asked me to make them a 'Canadian Breakfast', don't know what that will entail yet, but I'm hopeful it will be successful!
A day in the life of...ME! :)
Before I left for my exchange I knew that things like what I would eat for breakfast, and how I would get to school would change once I got here, but I never realized how many things would actually change, and how big of an impact these changes would make on my everyday life.
'ring, ring, ring' It's only 6:40am, and way to early to be hearing that awful sound, but nothing I can do about, time for me to get up, and have a shower. Then I get dressed, do my make up, and go down stairs for breakfast;which always consist of a nutella sandwich and a glass of milk :) then my neighbor comes to our house, and picks up me and my host sister and drives us to school, on his way of dropping his kids off at school, and then continuing on to work.
School starts at 8:20am, so once I get dropped off I go inside, and sit with Tasha(another Rotary exchange student from the States) until the bell goes, then I go to class, and sit for what feels like forever, and finally it's recess time! For recess I have a peach, and this chocolate cookie thing that looks like a wagon wheel (which BTW I haven't found here:( ) on the outside but actually isn't, and all the students have to go outside, which is really cold! I think it's time to buy a winter coat!, and you know it must be cold, when a Canadian is complaining about how cold it is :D Then I go back to class, and sit through another 2 hours before is lunch time.During lunch break I meet up with Tasha, and today I met another exchange student in my class, from Columbia, so she came with us today, and we go down the street to a sandwich deli, where Tasha gets a sandwich. My lunch usually consist of a Peanut Butter and Jam sandwich; but I don't know what I am going to have while I wait for my momma to send me more peanut butter?, carrot sticks, a granola bar, and a juice. Then we stop at the knock off 7-11 store and get a snack, before having lunch in the park.
Then we go back to school, and usually after lunch I have English class! Which is the best class, because I don't have to translate :) After school me and my host sister walk about 10 minutes up a really long hill! to the train station, get on the train and ride it for about 25 minutes and then walk 15 minutes home. Once we get home I usually have snack (tea and cookies) and then go on the computer, or attempt to do homework, until dinner.
Dinner here usually is a meat that I am not used to eating in Canada, rice or pasta and a salad. I've been in Belgium for more then 2 weeks and I've only had chicken 3 times:'(, it's not very popular here, at the grocery store it gets pushed all the way to the far end, and I never see people with it in their carts. After dinner I make my lunch for the next day, and then go to bed and read.
Boring and lame day;I know, but being at school all day is tiring, and it is usually to late after school or dinner to do anything.
'ring, ring, ring' It's only 6:40am, and way to early to be hearing that awful sound, but nothing I can do about, time for me to get up, and have a shower. Then I get dressed, do my make up, and go down stairs for breakfast;which always consist of a nutella sandwich and a glass of milk :) then my neighbor comes to our house, and picks up me and my host sister and drives us to school, on his way of dropping his kids off at school, and then continuing on to work.
School starts at 8:20am, so once I get dropped off I go inside, and sit with Tasha(another Rotary exchange student from the States) until the bell goes, then I go to class, and sit for what feels like forever, and finally it's recess time! For recess I have a peach, and this chocolate cookie thing that looks like a wagon wheel (which BTW I haven't found here:( ) on the outside but actually isn't, and all the students have to go outside, which is really cold! I think it's time to buy a winter coat!, and you know it must be cold, when a Canadian is complaining about how cold it is :D Then I go back to class, and sit through another 2 hours before is lunch time.During lunch break I meet up with Tasha, and today I met another exchange student in my class, from Columbia, so she came with us today, and we go down the street to a sandwich deli, where Tasha gets a sandwich. My lunch usually consist of a Peanut Butter and Jam sandwich; but I don't know what I am going to have while I wait for my momma to send me more peanut butter?, carrot sticks, a granola bar, and a juice. Then we stop at the knock off 7-11 store and get a snack, before having lunch in the park.
Then we go back to school, and usually after lunch I have English class! Which is the best class, because I don't have to translate :) After school me and my host sister walk about 10 minutes up a really long hill! to the train station, get on the train and ride it for about 25 minutes and then walk 15 minutes home. Once we get home I usually have snack (tea and cookies) and then go on the computer, or attempt to do homework, until dinner.
Dinner here usually is a meat that I am not used to eating in Canada, rice or pasta and a salad. I've been in Belgium for more then 2 weeks and I've only had chicken 3 times:'(, it's not very popular here, at the grocery store it gets pushed all the way to the far end, and I never see people with it in their carts. After dinner I make my lunch for the next day, and then go to bed and read.
Boring and lame day;I know, but being at school all day is tiring, and it is usually to late after school or dinner to do anything.
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