The Adventures of a First-Time Flyer

    It was almost exactly one year ago that I began investigating the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.  It is absolutely astounding to me that I am in Belgium!

    I would call the process of flying for the first time painless at the airport.  Though we requested from the travel agency to use the Charlotte airport, Atlanta gave us no trouble on Saturday morning.  Both of my parents were able to wait with me at the gate until it was time to go, though I suspect my mother being completely decked out in pink warrior ribbons memorabilia had an influence. 

    This was the beginning of the Elizabeth-Trio in Belgium.  It turns out I was not the Elizabeth flying from Atlanta to Brussels!  I met a Rotary Youth Exchange Student from Tennessee going to Belgium with the Belgian student her family hosted.  She was going to stay with a Belgian family for three weeks before beginning her exchange in Spain.  Both students were named Elizabeth!  I am incredibly thankful for Belgian-Elizabeth and Tennessee-Elizabeth for guiding me through my first time through customs. We left for our various destinations after finding our respective families.

I finally arrived in Brussels!  I was greeted by my host family immediately after the baggage claim to take me to Comines.  Bruno, Christine, and their daughter, Lise, had a sign for me to find them.  I had also emailed them a picture from the Atlanta waiting area of me with my luggage and the clothes I would wear when I arrived in Brussels.  Thankfully, both of my host parents and my host sister speak some English.  They are incredibly kind and understanding.  My time with them has only increased my opinion of them.  They were also incredibly merciful and allowed me to nap for three hours before lunch after arriving at 8:00 AM on August 10th.  It has taken me a full week to adjust to the six hour time change, even with an alter sleep schedule before I left. 

    In order to keep me awake the rest of the day, they took me to a local amusement park/zoo called Bellewaerde.  I will admit it was disorienting seeing everything in French or Flemish, but I don’t think that feeling is bad.  It made me think about how places can adapt to function with multiple languages.  From roller coasters to strange animals, the park was delightful!  It had elephants, lions, tigers, other various animals and an excuse to introduce me to various French phrases that are too awkward to ever attempt a round of charades to ask. 

   That evening, we went to Ice Mountain.  It is literally an indoor ski slope attached to restaurants and stores in Comines.  I’m pretty sure it’s well known in the area.  I was introduced to Christine’s parents, and they proved my theory grandparents are always fantastic!

    The next day I slept in and then accompanied Christine and Lise grocery shopping and met Christine’s brother.  Later, I once again met my host grandparents.  They do not speak English, but I communicated through my dictionary and charades.  Christine’s father pulled out his set of world maps and Christine, her parents, Lise and I had an almost-conversation. We eventually understood where each of us had been and had family.  It was a good day for getting into the rhythm of Belgium and seeing the role extended family has in daily life for my host family.  I’ve seen my host grandparents almost every day this week.

    I also attended a Bible Study with Christine.  I should probably say I went with my host mother and my dictionnaire.  Listening to people read the scripture and worksheet in French helped me get a better sense of rhythm, diction, and pronunciation.

   Later we went to the Belgian beach and I had my first encounter with the equivalent of a little red rider wagon on steroids for kids.  

The different types of carts are available to rent at the walkway by the beach.  The paved portion is actually cobblestone in intricate shapes and patterns.  What made the devilish contraptions the most fun was the only way of riding them was on the walking path.  In fact, that was the only available place to ride them!  I would compare it to a video game where you dodge people, but that is actually exactly what you do. 

   The next big excursion was my first trip into Lille, France.  My camera wasn't cooperating due to my own incompetence with the memory card (thankfully now resolved) so I have no pictures.  It was an entirely surreal experience to be surrounded by such magnificent architecture and variety of shops.  All of the streets were different types of stone, while the structures soared overhead.  The buildings were obviously out of their original era, but were updated on the ground floor with florescent windows to trendy stores.  Here is a photo, courtesy of Google, of the town square where I enjoyed my first experience at an outdoor café in France. Imagine me with ice cream under the black structures in the lower-left hand part of the photo. 

    I say this part for future exchange students, and not out any sense of regretting my decision.  I can't wait to look back and see how far I've come from my first week.  That was the first day that left me feeling completely out of my comfort zone.  Christine’s friends who came with us were extremely patient and knew a few words in English, but it was the first time I was confronted with constant conversing, which I am unable to understand as of now.  I mostly communicated through two or three words I looked up in my Dictionary as a reply to each question.  I am working hard to communicate better.  I really remember the words that take precious minutes to find.   It’s like I’m learning French!