Exams are over!!

I officially finished all of my exams yesterday.
In recap.
First was history, not too bad.
Second was geography. The first half we had to draw a map and write two essays. I didn't have enough time to finish the essays, and I didn't entirely understand the directions, but it seemed to go over fine.
Religion was third. All except for one question, it wasn't too bad.
Fourth I had math. It was fine, I think I understood all of the questions, hopefully I passed.
Fifth I had French. I had a slightly shorter exam than everyone else, but in all I feel like I did the best I possible could, and I'll be happy with the result.
Sixth I had English. We had to create a skit (we being the exchange students) talking about all of the material that had been covered over the year. This ranged from meeting new people, The Christmas Carol, and Bob Marley. My teacher was very impressed with the result.
Seventh was biology. I was very disappointed, this exam was a lot harder than I was expecting and I am not certain that I passed.
But that's life.

Last night one of the teachers at school, Madame Gallo, took me, Eduardo, Emma, and Mikayla to a one man show she had written and was starring in. It was in Brussels. We drove out there with her, hung out backstage, went to get something to eat, watched the show, and hung out afterwards. It was really fun and her show was hilarious. It really made me miss theater. And on the plus side, I understood practically everything, which was nice.

This weekend I do not have anything grand planned. Most of the Belgians are still cooped up studying, seeing as none of them finish before Monday (Flemish test).  Hopefully I'll do something fun with some other exchange students.

Next week, however, is serious party time, as everyone has finished their exams, and then it is Christmas.

And then my parents and sister come. Yay. Life is grand :)

today I appreciate: clean, white snow

Exams, Saint Nicolas, and MORE COLD

Hello, hello, hello. Bonjour. Salut. Ça va? Moi, ça va bien. Mais je suis très fatigue, et un peu malade. Mais, ne vous inquiétez pas! Comme habitude, tout va bien.

I am slowly losing my mind here, children. My family is coming soon. I will see my family in 21 days. That's nuts, isn't it?

I had two exams today. Geography and history. History was fine. I wrote an essay about why the Nazi's helped the German economy. Geography I made a map of Germany. You'd think we only study Germany, huh? Well, not the case. I also had to write an essay about the United States economy surrounding the Great Depression. There was one question between the two tests combined that was specifically applicable to Belgium. I didn't know the answer.

This weekend I celebrated Saint Nicolas. Friday after school Géraldine's scouting group went across the road to play games with the children who live in the children's home. Then Saint Nicolas came. If you're good, you get clementines and chocolates. If you're bad, a black man beats you with a stick, or something like that. Very politically correct, I know. Saturday night I spent the night at my third host family's house. Then Sunday morning I was awoken (after a solid six hours drifting in and out of consciousness) by my lovely little six year old host sister giving me a kiss and telling me there were chocolates on the stairs, and I better get up quickly! We got to open presents, play games, and eat candy. Not bad for a Sunday morning. They even served bacon and donuts for breakfast! Then I came back home (or, to my first host family's home, I suppose) and got a scarf from "Saint Nicolas" as well as more chocolate.

And trust me, all the chocolate is good for me. I have officially gained too much weight, a serious diet is commencing immediately (unfortunately for me this diet is often broken by a few pieces of chocolate, fries, or waffles) and HOPEFULLY Emma and I will be joining a gym soon. I'll keep you all posted.

I have two more exams on Thursday, and then next week the TRUE exam schedule starts. Monday is math, Tuesday is French, Wednesday is Biology, Thursday is English. Or maybe Biology and English are switched around; I can't remember. Regardless. These exams each last four hours, and then we are free to go for the day. Most likely to simply go home and study more for the upcoming exams. It's lovely. Luckily for me, I am finished Thursday, seeing as I opted out of taking Physics and Chemistry (too difficult), and the week after are all classes that I am not enrolled in.

So. In summary. I will take History (original version, the same as all the other students), Geography (part one was today, part two on Thursday), Math (the same version as everyone else, obviously), French (a simplified version), Biology (the same test as the rest of them) and then English. I am required to take two exams according to Rotary, and four exams according the school. So don't worry, I'm doing my best to go above and beyond, although opting out of Chemistry and Physics is a little weak of me.

I'm doing my best. I am sick. I have a headache and a sore throat, but nothing serious. I should get more sleep, I think. I'm always tired until I'm ready for bed, and then I can't fall asleep. And lately, even once I'm asleep, I've been waking up at least a few times each night. Sometimes to nightmares, sometimes unexplainably. Hopefully this gets better once all the stress of exams goes away (and if you couldn't pick up on the sarcasm, I'm not actually stressed about exams. Although he was actually making fun of me when he said it, I full heartedly agree with one of my friends that "participation is the goal, passing isn't quite as important".

I hope everyone is enjoying the weather. It is cold here; I don't like it. I am still wondering why I didn't decide to go to a warmer country, that way I could have taken a real vacation. Not to mention if I had the opportunity to wear something other than four sweaters, leggings under jeans, and a huge coat all of the time, I might be a little more concerned about the fat that is accumulating under all of the layers I am forced to wear due to all the cold in Belgium.

However. It is getting late (almost 9:00)! And we all know (or at least, I know) that after I "say" I am going to bed, it takes about another two hours to successfully get in bed, with the lights off, and finish texting (yes, yes, yes, my texting frenzy I was known for in the United States has not disappeared). So. I bid you all good night, hopefully I find the courage to post again soon, although don't expect any interesting news. Exams are consuming our lives. Yippie.

P.S. I just successfully tuned a guitar without a tuner. I'm pretty proud of myself. I'd like to start playing again. Give me a hobby other than french verbs, sit ups, and facebook.

today I appreciate: guitar

glowy bracelets...

So... I've been very bad about writing, again.

Saturday night was a friend's birthday party. It was really fun. We had to have an item of "flash" which would give us a free drink. Some people went all out (anyone remember Ladislas? He was decked out in an Elvis outfit), but Geraldine, Manon, and I decided to use some glow in the dark bracelets that my father so conveniently gave me before I left the states. They were perfect :)

I didn't end up leaving the party until around three in the morning. I got a solid four hours of sleep before I was woken up for the hunt on Sunday. I was a tracker. I gathered up my warmest possible clothes, a pair of boots, and a long wooden stick and joined a large group of people walking in a straight line through woods and fields and small ponds. It was thoroughly entertaining. But here is my question. Do people do things like that in the states? There were about 30 of us all together, with maybe about 10 actual hunters.

Monday and Tuesday I was off of school. Both days I ended up in Liege, Monday to see Harry Potter and Tuesday to go shopping with Emma. 

Yesterday, Wednesday, I went to Germany with Rotary for a small Christmas fair type thing. There were a bunch of little stands selling trinkets. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed spending time with the other exchange students, even though I was FREEZING!

today I appreciate: bright lights, big city