I AMsterdam!!

Well, I had a wonderful three day trip to Amsterdam with 47 other exchange students! We left early on Thursday morning from Brussels and started out by going to the Johannes Vermeer museum in Delft, where I saw the Girl with the Pearl Earring Painting. It was so beautiful! Later we arrived in Amsterdam and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and after walked through the famous Red Light District. It was a little disturbing...and the hotel we stayed in was so great! I shared it with girls from the U.S., India, Japan, and Argentina.

Alright so Friday morning we went to the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam and went to a synagogue and museum. In the afternoon we got to visit Anne Frank's house. It was very emotional but I feel so lucky to go there, I read the Diary of Anne Frank a few years ago and it really was so unreal to get to see her house...and the bookshelf that hid her secret room. She was trapped in that house for about two years! Friday night we went to the Van Gogh museum and I got to see his famous painting of the sunflowers...so beautiful.

Saturday was unfortunately the last day but at least we had beautiful weather! Sunny with blue skies...perfect for our canal ride :) After we had free time to look around the city a little more and buy souvenirs.

So I really enjoyed my three days there....and I hope to go back one day! :) And if any of you are planning to visit just make sure you watch out for the many bike riders!!


Now I am counting down the days till my next trip...Spring break in ITALY! :) But for now I have a lot of things to keep me busy in Belgium!

Cute shoe :)

Exchange students!!

Vacances :)

Ahhh vacation is here...I slept in this morning till 10. I love it, I feel like I never have the time to sleep in. I spent the weekend in the North of France with my host family...so beautiful :) We just went to the sea and walked around and enjoyed the sunny weather. Although it was still cold! I was wearing jeans, socks, boots, gloves, a hat, a scarf, two sweaters and a big jacket. Gotta love the European coldness :) I want it to be summer already so I can wear a bathing suit and get a tan! ;)

Last weekend I was lucky enough to go to Switzerland and see my mom. Wow, it was a much needed break. I was so happy when I saw her arriving in the Zurich airport...and when we hugged and began to talk it felt like no time had passed between us at all, even though the last time I saw here was 6 months ago. We stayed in a perfect apartment in the town of Fribourg...and spent our days shopping, talking, and eating :) She was amazed at how much European's eat bread! By the time we left on Monday I think she was looking forward to returning to California and eating a huge, healthy salad and I was looking forward to returning to Belgium for the chocolate, waffles, and fries :) Really nothing in this world can compare to them....

Tomorrow I will be spending the day in one of my favorite cities, Brussels, with my Belgian friend :) I think we will go to the cinema and do some shopping. I am so excited because I haven't been to the cinema in foreverrrrrr! Even though it's in French I still love it :)

This Thursday I will be leaving for Amsterdam with about 40 other exchange students. Looking forward to it....I am so addicted to traveling now! I will write another post when I return from my trip and explain how Amsterdam was.

The beautiful North of France :)

Mommy and I in Fribourg, Switzerland

View from our apartment

And also I wish everyone a Happy Mardi Gras!! 

"So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."-Mark Twain

Il neige/Vive la greve!!

Bonjour mes amis! I am so happy today because I don't have school and when I woke up I saw SO MUCH snow falling outside my window :) Today is a national strike day in Belgium so there are no buses or trains running. That is the way most students get to school so my principal decided to make today a holiday for us. Thank goodness! I need some extra sleep and I don't like my class schedule for Monday's: French, Geography, English, History, and Religion. I really don't understand anything in Religion class.

This Wednesday I will be leaving for a three day retreat with the rest of my class. It's basically to just get to know one each other better and to have a chance to build better relationships. I am looking forward to it....and we will go on hikes and do yoga too!

Well I hope it continues to snow like this...it makes everything look so magical! Tomorrow I will give English lessons at lunch so I need to prepare a topic to talk about. It's so fun teaching :) And in 11 short days I will be in Switzerland! Yaaaaay so exciting!

There is so much to be happy about...and I hope that all of you can find happiness in your life as well.

So beautiful :) This is the view from my bedroom window!

That's it for now!

Over 5 months in Belgium!

Hello everyone! Wow, it's been so long since my last post. I enjoyed my Christmas, New Year's, and 19th birthday here in Belgium. It was a little hard being away from my family and friends from California but at the same time it was AWESOME because I was celebrating these fun holidays in a foreign country!

New Year's Eve I went to my friends house with about 30 other Belgian friends from my school. We danced all night and drank champagne. I have a feeling that 2012 will be a great year :)

For my 19th birthday my host family took me to a yummy Italian restaurant where I ate penne pasta and tiramisu. My friends at school made me a birthday cake and Saturday night I had some friends come over for dinner and a sleepover! We also went to a karaoke bar and sang "Lady Marmalade" Haha such a great song :)

Right now, I am living with my second host family. It was hard to leave my first family but I will be able to see them again soon and I still see my sisters at school. I am leaving for Switzerland in a couple weeks and after that Amsterdam! Can't wait :) I love traveling...and I get to spend my spring break in beautiful Italy! So ready for pizza, pasta, and gelato!

So basically my exchange year is halfway over and I am really depressed. I don't want this to end. Who knows when I will ever be back in Europe and especially Belgium? What am I going to do without this delicious chocolate and fries? And beer and cuperdon's and taking trains to different cities whenever I feel like it? And speaking french and shopping at amazing stores and meeting people from all over the world? Ok well I am just going to enjoy the rest of this year as much as I can. I LOVE YOU, BELGIUM! And all of my readers too :)

Making a special wish for my 19th birthday :)

New Year's Eve with my friend Kamo!

Euro Disney in Paris with Nana, Kamo, and Tiarna! Such a beautiful and memorable day.

XOXO

Liege, December 13th

Please pray for the people that lost their lives in Liege yesterday. I was not there but some exchange students were and they witnessed the bombs going off and the shootings. It is very scary to think about and I hope everyone is staying safe!

Here is a link with the info:
 http://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-belgian-attack-rises-4-154123200.html

Final Exams

I just got home from my French exam. My teacher had me write an essay on Christmas in America. So easy! I'm beginning to really like exams here :)

Last Friday I had my English exam. I read two different articles in English then replied to questions in French. After, I had my oral exam where I spoke in French about taking a gap year. This Wednesday is Geography. I have been studying and last night my host mom helped me with the concepts that I couldn't understand. It's a little difficult when the book is in French ;) But actually I find this subject to be interesting and I'm looking forward to see how I will do on the test. Friday I have another oral exam for English. I will be speaking about some topic in French. Next Monday will be my last exam! It's English again, I will read articles and write about them in French.

Christmas break is almost here! I'm going to Euro Disney in Paris on the 20th, hanging out with exchange student and school friends, and spending time with my host family before I switch families in January!

My class at school :)

Family

This picture just made my day :) My parents went to San Diego and Los Angeles over Thanksgiving break with Ohm, the exchange student from Thailand that is living at my house. Whenever I hear from my family it makes me feel not so far away....Love them so much!!