Winter is coming.

Well, it is getting cold in Belgium, there is no snow yet and the leaves are still on the trees, so technically it is fall, but winter is definitely coming. The increased amount of darkness is one sign, I would like you to observe the following photos please

Absolutely gorgeous sunset no?? I think so, the only problem I had with that sunset is that I took those pictures as I was leaving school. Take a moment for that to sink in.... On Mondays I am released at 5:00 PM (17:00) and by the time I walk down to my after school French class it is dark out. I am not complaining though because the view is really good all the way there! 

Not a whole lot happened this week, so I haven't got much to report. I had fun with my theater troupe, attended a Rotary dinner at the usual schwanky establishment, I am going to a birthday party this afternoon and visiting a new town Monday. So what can I write about right now? Oooh, my grades came in! They were terrible, except for gym and English, I aced gym, which until now I did not realize was a graded subject and I got 15 out of 20 in English. Only because our tests had portions that required English text to be translated into French. I feel I have to explain that because it is a tad embarrassing not to score 100 percent in your own language. I am hopeful that my next grades will be better because as my knowledge of the language improves I can actually try to participate more in class. Admittedly it is a little weird to be trying to get good grades when I have already graduated but my teachers don't like it when I just read Harry Potter all class, even if it is in French! By the by, did you know that in French Hogwarts is called Poudlard??? And that Hufflepuff is directly translated into Poufsouffle!? It's hilarious! I have been reading the fourth book for quite some time now and it has been very good for my vocabulary, not so much for my pronunciation as I tend to read everything in a Spanish accent, but hey it's progress! 

Ok, sorry I don't have anything more to write about, next week I will have a ton of stuff so tune in then! I have an exotic dinner to attend. But I would like to end today by asking you who read this to ask me questions, what are you curious about life in Europe? I would love to be able to answer anything people might be wondering. Well, until next time then, and remember, no matter how tired you are, never sit on a bench after it has rained, that is not a mahogany shine you are seeing, that is water...

Vacation!!

Hello again, it's that time of the week. I have been a very busy kid! And you know why? Because it is
Autumn vacation here in Belgium! Meaning I have been enjoying a week of no school! And using the free time to explore more of this here country I am in. I went to Louvain, not to be confused with Louvain le Neuve, with a group of exchange kids. We saw the sites, explored a building or two, and experienced the most radical weather I have seen yet. It went from sunny to rainy every few minutes, sometimes it was sunny and raining! And the wind, oh my was it windy, the kind of wind that makes this happen:

But I have come to expect strange weather from my host country, even grown fond of it..... Enough small talk, behold, pictures!

I am afraid I cannot yet fit in completely as a local since I take pictures of so many things, but I really want to show everyone what I see!

Right, Louvain was Monday, Tuesday I went to Mons, again with Rotary kids (we all like to get together) and we did the same thing :) Tour the city, explore buildings, have a good time!

Of course, we are KIDS, so we do like to monkey around a bit:

That was Tuesday, Wednesday I went bowling with some kids from my school, yes, bowling is a thing here. Friday I went to have dinner at my second host families house out in Gesves with my current host parents and brother, Saturday we went to my third host families house in Mallone. Then I went to a dance with my future neighbor Lucy there in Mallone and slept over at her place. And finally Sunday (today) I went to Louvain le Neuve with my host dad to tour the Hergé Museum!!!

As an avid Tintin fan I have to say that it was really cool to learn a bit about the author, I didn't know much about the man before. I am not going to throw facts about him at you, that's not what I am her for, but I will definitely recommend the museum, it is really well done, plus admission is free the first Sunday of every month AND they gave me a free book. A nice free book, that was pretty strange for me actually. I also recommend paying a visit to Louvain, Mons, and Louvain le Neuve if you are ever in Belgium, they are all incredible cities, that are just different enough to make it worth a visit. Sorry if this is a rather short post, it really was a good week. Tomorrow is the start of school again, which means I will be making up at the usual time of 6:30, that promises to be painful. Have a nice week guys! See you next Sunday, Bisou!!!!