Thursday, 16 August: Day 3

Alright, there's a ton of stuff that happened during the 2 days that I've been here, and I'll write down what I can remember from my journal and my memory. Ok, so getting to the airport was probably the most nerve-racking part for me. Once we walked in the airport, I was so nervous I told my dad to wait inside the door for me; I thought I was going to be sick, so I ran right back outside to the grass and just kinda stood there for a few minutes. I calmed down some and didn't throw up (yay!) and we continued to go through security and all that fun stuff. On the plane to Belgium, Everyone was either speaking French or Dutch, and I couldn't understand any of it... But there was an older woman looking around for people to help her get her bags in the over-head. I helped her, and we both spoke enough of the other language to say "Neither of us speaks the other's language", if that makes sense, haha. Anyways, she was grateful, and she had the cutest grandson ever! I couldn't understand him, but he sort of sang his words, idk... but it was cute. :) Then getting off the plane, I met a woman coming back from the Olympics, going to Vermont. It was nice to meet another American, and she was super nice. We swapped business cards, and she gave me an Olympic pin! (very cool) I went through customs in less than 5 seconds. There were no lines at any of the counters, and the guy just said "Oh, you are exchange student, enjoy!" and stamped my passport and sent me along. On the way back from the airport with my family, there was not much to look at except trees and highway, until we got into the village of Herve, and then to Chaineux. All the buildings are so cool looking, I absolutely love it! The first Belgian food I tried was a waffle, and let me just say the rumors of their greatness have not been over-exaggerated. Then I got a tour of the house, which is also very lovely! I am noticing a ton of differences already, and I'm not sure how that makes me feel. I think it is cool to see the differences, but it makes me feel somewhat ashamed of America, and how wasteful we can be... Anyways, the next morning I woke up super early cuz of jet lag and all that jazz, and 20 minutes later, I heard the cock crow several times, which was pretty cool. I've never heard it in real life, just through TV. And I layed awake for about an hour so I went out back and played guitar some, which was nice. Then I fell back asleep. When I woke up, I met my host sister's boyfriend and my host brother, which was a little weird, cuz I heard guys don't bissous,(kiss) when they meet, but in Belgium they do. So that was strange at first, but now I am getting used to it. Then my host parents took me on a little tour of the area, which was wonderful. (later, when I told them thank you for the extraordinary day, they said "oh, it wasn't extraordinary, you know, it was just a little welcome" ) But really, it was great. So this tour: we drove around and looked at the hills and scenery and such, then we went to an Abbaye that has been there since 1216! It was restored in the 1600's, but still, it was incredible! We went to an art exhibit in this sort of "wine cellar" cave and then we walked around a 27km trail and saw more scenery. We saw a bunker from WWII and lots of cows (les vaches). Then we returned to the Abbaye for une bier et les fromages, which were amazing! The beer was brewed on the site since the monks were there, so for like the last....idk, but hundreds of years. It was really cool.Then, we drove a little bit more, and on the way, they told me "we are taking you to a little piece of America". And I said "To the American Embassy? But that's in Bruxelles!" But it wasn't the embassy we went to. It was an all-American cemetery from WWII. I didn't take any pictures of it b/c I didn't want to be disrespectful, but if you want to look it up, it is called "Henri-Chapelle Cemetery". It was incredible, I was speechless. There must have been over a thousand markers, each one with a name and rank on it. I wanted to cry, it was so overwhelming, but I didn't want them to think they were making me sad by taking me there. It was a very nice gesture and a cool thing for them to show to me. Then we returned home and for dinner, my host dad's brother (I think, or maybe my mom's sister...? I only know that their son is the nephew of my host parents) Anyway, their family came  over for dinner, and it was very enjoyable. I tried 2 different wines from the wine cellar my host family has in their basement (so awesome!) and we had great food! "Bar-B-Q" they called it, but it was really grilled pork and ribs, not with any sort of BBQ sauce. :) But it was very good. Fortunately, their nephew spoke pretty good english, or else they never would have been able to explain these two stories to me: 1. The nephew went to a concentration camp museum type thing, and there was a plaque to remember a guy who died, who lived in the nearby area of our village. His name was "Jean Baguette Boulengerie" which loosely means "John the bread baker". Boulengerie=bakery and of course you know what a baguette is. Anyways, Jean had a son named "Miche?" which is also a type of bread. So when you think about it, its not really funny, and you know you shouldn't laugh, but they laughed about it for like 5 minutes before they could try to explain it. And it was pretty funny. And story number 2. At the same museum, there was a work camp where they sent a ton of people as well, and when he was trying to explain "quarry" to me, I nodded and made a gesture like I was swinging a pick-axe, and his dad who was also sitting across from me went "YES, EXACTLY! HI-HO, HI-HO!" and he started singing that song from snow white and the seven dwarfs. HAhaha we also all felt like we shouldn't be laughing but it was hilarious. Now it is the next morning and I am home alone b/c everyone is working, so I have some free time to write and upload photos. The photos will be next. Anyway, I have really enjoyed being here, and have already had lots of neat experiences. Next time I get a chance, I will update the blog again! hope you all enjoy hearing about my adventures! 
Love to all!