I'm feeling the weirdest mix of feelings right now. It's the last night and all of my best friends are over to send me off... But it still feels unreal.
I'm so so overjoyed at one time, but at the same time I am scared out of my mind. I hope everyone feels this way.
A bientôt
-Tucker
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Moins que deux semaines
I am 12 days away from the very first day of the most amazing experience I've ever had.
On the 10th or 11th of August, I will leave San Francisco International Airport and ultimately arrive in Brussels the next day! This feeling is going to make these the longest days of my life.
I haven't really started packing, but I dread what happens as soon as I do. I feel like that is when the major tears are going to come out.
I wish I had better or more words to describe what's going through my mind right now.
This is my last post before I get to Belgium I think! Talk to you all then!
A superrrrrr bientôt!
-Tucker
On the 10th or 11th of August, I will leave San Francisco International Airport and ultimately arrive in Brussels the next day! This feeling is going to make these the longest days of my life.
I haven't really started packing, but I dread what happens as soon as I do. I feel like that is when the major tears are going to come out.
I wish I had better or more words to describe what's going through my mind right now.
This is my last post before I get to Belgium I think! Talk to you all then!
A superrrrrr bientôt!
-Tucker
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Time is like molasses.
so... My last rotary get together in America happened this weekend. It was amazing. It just reminded me of how close this experience brings people. The people in this program are my best friends in the world.
This is also a huge reminder. I only have 2 months left, if that long. I still don't think I am 100% mentally ready. But I also really want to leave more than anything. I guess what I am saying is that right now I am ready to jump off the deep end. I am ready for some hard core Belgian adventuring and I am ready now.
A bientôt
-Tucker
This is also a huge reminder. I only have 2 months left, if that long. I still don't think I am 100% mentally ready. But I also really want to leave more than anything. I guess what I am saying is that right now I am ready to jump off the deep end. I am ready for some hard core Belgian adventuring and I am ready now.
A bientôt
-Tucker
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Outbound Presentation
This morning I did my presentation to the Rotary Club of Windsor. It went pretty well, but I think they mistook my mistakes for actual jokes. That was nice.
In any case, it felt good to talk about my new home and my new family in Belgium. I even got to teach the Rotarians some nice boring facts! It was just a great way to start summer.
It was also great because I got to introduce my friend Hannah to Rotary! She wants to do youth exchange and it was a great start to bring her to a Rotary meeting. I personally think that she would be a great ambassador, but that's just me.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the people who have supported me during this process. Now that I am out of school, I realize that the two months until I leave are going to fly by. It is so close yet so far. So thank you to all the Rotarians, Teachers, Students, Parents... There are so many people that are part of this process. You guys make it possible for me and all the other students to go and build peace and understanding around the world. You all deserve as much credit as the students do.
Thanks again!
A bientôt
-Tucker
In any case, it felt good to talk about my new home and my new family in Belgium. I even got to teach the Rotarians some nice boring facts! It was just a great way to start summer.
It was also great because I got to introduce my friend Hannah to Rotary! She wants to do youth exchange and it was a great start to bring her to a Rotary meeting. I personally think that she would be a great ambassador, but that's just me.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the people who have supported me during this process. Now that I am out of school, I realize that the two months until I leave are going to fly by. It is so close yet so far. So thank you to all the Rotarians, Teachers, Students, Parents... There are so many people that are part of this process. You guys make it possible for me and all the other students to go and build peace and understanding around the world. You all deserve as much credit as the students do.
Thanks again!
A bientôt
-Tucker
Friday, June 3, 2011
Family
So tonight my family went to dinner with a bunch of Rotary Youth Exchange people from Windsor. The reason we all got together was to celebrate the arrival of our Inbound student's family. Solveig's family got off the plane after spending a total of 14 hours in the air, and in 2 days have only gotten 2 hours of sleep. However, they were bright and cheerful at dinner tonight, despite the fatigue. They were so nice! I got tell them all about our Rotary meeting here, and even told them some of the Norwegian phrases I know. It was especially fun because they spoke PERFECT English, so everyone could talk to them without problems (as fun as translating would be for Solveig).
However, their impeccable English made me realize something. If my parents were to come to Belgium, they wouldn't be able to communicate at all. They don't speak French, so it would just be one big confusing frenzy of different languages flying through everyone's head. Even seeing Solveig so happy with her family, this whole night just reaffirmed my family's decision to not visit. Because they don't speak French, it would just be awkward for everyone involved. I think it is better for me personally to keep the two worlds separated anyway.
I know that it is easy to say this now, when I don't even know how hard it is to be so far away from one's family; but I think that I will feel the same way once I am in Belgium too. It just seems like I would not feel as excited to see them since I am in the middle of my experience. I don't know... I just am glad that we all made the decision that they would stay home.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Belgium makes everything as complicated as possible
This video is such an amazing description. People always ask me what language they speak in Belgium, or what their government is like... It's always awkward because that is the hardest part about the country to explain!
Visa Process. Yummy.
Today I had to go through the worst part of my visa application.
A freaking blood test. Not for any normal disease, or for some sort of outlandish infection that would be spread easily. Not Tetanus, Rabies, HIV...
Syphilis. Y'know, the one you can only get from sexual activity. No big deal... but I definitely won't be sleeping around in Belgium. Even if I was ... "active".
But other than that little bother, my visa process is mostly going smoothly. The paperwork is not very hard to fill out, there is just SO much of it. Its OK though, because I am definitely willing to do whatever I have to. This is going to be an amazing journey and every notarized, only-in-blue-ink signature is worth it.
A freaking blood test. Not for any normal disease, or for some sort of outlandish infection that would be spread easily. Not Tetanus, Rabies, HIV...
Syphilis. Y'know, the one you can only get from sexual activity. No big deal... but I definitely won't be sleeping around in Belgium. Even if I was ... "active".
But other than that little bother, my visa process is mostly going smoothly. The paperwork is not very hard to fill out, there is just SO much of it. Its OK though, because I am definitely willing to do whatever I have to. This is going to be an amazing journey and every notarized, only-in-blue-ink signature is worth it.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Skype avec ma famille!
So, my host family and I set up a date and time to skype call... And it was awesome! We did it yesterday, at 1:00pm here and at 10:00pm Belgian time.
It was absolutely amazing! Being able to talk to my family "face to face" for the first time really gave me an idea of what kind of people they are.
They seem so nice! My host father is kind and he seems like a kind of goofy dad.... I love it! It's like my dad :) and my host mother seems a little more serious, but still super nice! I found out that he is a physical therapist, and she works as a nurse. I'm going to live in a medical family!
Most of the time I spoke French, except for a little bit of English with my host sister Laura. This kind of a gave me an idea of how well we would be able to communicate if I was dropped into Belgium right now. It was good, better than a lot of people have probably started an exchange with. But I really think that I should work harder to learn as much as I can. The only time I really understood everything someone was saying was when they spoke very slowly.
It was so cool to talk to them, and I am looking forward to doing it next weekend!
A bientôt,
Tucker
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It was absolutely amazing! Being able to talk to my family "face to face" for the first time really gave me an idea of what kind of people they are.
They seem so nice! My host father is kind and he seems like a kind of goofy dad.... I love it! It's like my dad :) and my host mother seems a little more serious, but still super nice! I found out that he is a physical therapist, and she works as a nurse. I'm going to live in a medical family!
Most of the time I spoke French, except for a little bit of English with my host sister Laura. This kind of a gave me an idea of how well we would be able to communicate if I was dropped into Belgium right now. It was good, better than a lot of people have probably started an exchange with. But I really think that I should work harder to learn as much as I can. The only time I really understood everything someone was saying was when they spoke very slowly.
It was so cool to talk to them, and I am looking forward to doing it next weekend!
A bientôt,
Tucker
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:At home
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Ma Maison!
I've finally seen what my first home looks like! My host sister just emailed me six pictures, and they are absolutely gorgeous! I am so excited. I guess I will have to send some pictures now too... Any thoughts on what I should take pictures of? What matters in Windsor?
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| Horses! I've never had a horse live where I do... trippy |
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| It snows more than I expected! |
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| Lo0o0o0o0o0ove the brick |
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Je suis en attente...
So, about a week ago I found out exactly where I am going in Belgium. While living with my first host family, I will stay in Hon-Hergies, a tiny village that is technically in the north of France (only 800 people!). However, it is only a few minutes from the border, and only a half hour away from my school!
I will attend (most likely) Le Collège de Sainte-Marie, in Saint-Ghislain. This town is about 10-15 minutes away from Mons, the capital of Hainaut. This town is also smaller than my home town, however I will have much quicker access to bigger cities.
My host family is so nice! They are the ones who gave me all of this information. I received a bunch of facebook messages from my two host sisters on Saturday, and it basically made me jump for joy!
I can't wait to leave... It is almost ridiculous! I know I should enjoy the time I have here, but how can I do that when I have such an amazing experience ahead of me? Its like the night before Christmas, but if Christmas eve lasted 4 months, and Christmas day was all year <3
Au revoir!
Tucker
I will attend (most likely) Le Collège de Sainte-Marie, in Saint-Ghislain. This town is about 10-15 minutes away from Mons, the capital of Hainaut. This town is also smaller than my home town, however I will have much quicker access to bigger cities.
My host family is so nice! They are the ones who gave me all of this information. I received a bunch of facebook messages from my two host sisters on Saturday, and it basically made me jump for joy!
I can't wait to leave... It is almost ridiculous! I know I should enjoy the time I have here, but how can I do that when I have such an amazing experience ahead of me? Its like the night before Christmas, but if Christmas eve lasted 4 months, and Christmas day was all year <3
Au revoir!
Tucker
Sunday, February 13, 2011
La mise en place
It is still only February, but I am already starting my preparations for my trip! I found out that I am going to Belgium the 28th of January. All of the Outbound exchange students were given a research assignment about their country, and it is VERY long. However, I feel like this will help prepare me for my presentation to the Rotary Club of Windsor.
I have yet to start French lessons, but I will start soon. My life is just so hectic right now. My family is moving, I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out, schoolwork seems never-ending. I just can't wait until it is summer and I am able to relax... Until I leave around August, then its back to craziness everyday!
Au revoir
Tucker
I have yet to start French lessons, but I will start soon. My life is just so hectic right now. My family is moving, I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out, schoolwork seems never-ending. I just can't wait until it is summer and I am able to relax... Until I leave around August, then its back to craziness everyday!
Au revoir
Tucker
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