September 24, 2014
Good afternoon everyone!
I just finished my first month here in Belgium! First off I just wanted to start this update by saying that I’m so happy here. I’m having the time of my life so far! I’ve made a bunch of friends (both Belgian and Exchange Students), joined a soccer team and I’m blessed to say that my host family is really incredible. They help me, and give me advice on how to navigate the French language and the Belgian culture. I started school a couple of weeks ago, and boy, it’s very different. It’s a lot more strict than CHS. Even though it’s very hard to be surrounded by people speaking a language you don’t understand, and in a school where you don’t know anybody, I’ve learned to adapt and hopefully soon I’ll be thriving in my school, having friends helps a lot. My French is improving everyday, I’ve definitely gotten better since I’ve first arrived. in my school there’s also a girl from California (Humboldt) and a boy from Taiwan!
The Rotary Club here is very different. It’s a lot of older men, and they meet every week, but I’m only allowed to go to the club once a month. It’s a little difficult to communicate with them since I can’t speak the language but regardless they’re very nice! I live in a VERY small town called Thy-Le-Chateau, but it’s easy to take a bus to Charleroi which is the third biggest city in Belgium. Charleroi is special because even though it’s a big city it’s also named “the ugliest city in Belgium.” It’s a bit dangerous to wander though, so I avoid going into the city and stick to the la gare (the train station.) It’s very easy to travel to and from Charleroi, places I’ve traveled to so far are: Brussels, Mons, Liege, and Namur. In October I will be going to Paris with my host family and hopefully visiting London and staying with a good friend from Corvallis! I’m also planning a trip to Italy and Prague through Rotary and a trip to Greece with my school!
Although I miss my family and friends a lot, I’ve had a lot of help adjusting to this new life with the help of both the exchange students and the Belgian friends I’ve met. Between the exchange students we’re all just a giant support system and I’ve met friends from all over the world! It’s incredible to be in a place with Brazilians, Peruvians, Americans, Turks, Canadians, South Africans, Australians, Germans, Danes, Taiwanese, and Japanese people… Just to name a few countries!
When people say that being an exchange student is “the hardest job you’ll ever love” it’s so true. It can be frustration, exhausting, confusing and downright hard but through all those moment you learn to be a better person and you’re forced to learn the language so your experience gradually becomes better! I’m so blessed to be in this beautiful country with a supportive group of people behind me to make sure I have everything I need and that I’m having a good time. If you want you can follow my blog (andrea-le-chateau.tumblr.com) to get a more day to date idea of how my exchange is going.
Talk to you guys next month!
Andrea Uribe
