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

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

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. 

 

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.