Ps

I totally forgot to say that I broke my leg.

Blah blah

Yeah I haven't posted in a long while i know so yahh... But basically there is too much to write aaannnddd I don't want to write it here because I will definitely offend people, that's what my journal is for ;)

So basically this has been the best/worst experience of my life. Too many things to say, and summarizing it all would not do my trip justice. I shall wait till I get back to sydney before I write anything again.

numbered bullet points

I would like to say that I am an organised person, but maybe thats a little stretch of the truth. But one thing that clears my mind are lists, so instead of babbling about the past weeks in ninsence, I will write it via a list...

1. I wish we had Saint Nicolas in Australia. The festival of Saint Nicolas is like Christmas part 1. You recieve lollies and presents on the 6th December and have fun by the fire place. Its awsome, and Im quite jealous of the Belgies. At Maredsous, they laid all of the long tables out in the couvitrée (huge open space with a massive window, just like the great hall in Harry Potter) Actually, it looked EXACTLY like Harry Potter, without Dumbledore. They covered the table in Green and Red (the colours of Maredsous) and every now and then the whole school would chant their school song! It was so amazing how much they love their school, and how proud they are to be part of it! The atmosphere was incredible, and so was the dinner. After the dinner we went to the hall, where there was a huge stage and movie screen. We all watched the year 12s do a play and then watched this hilarious movie they made. At that time I was thinking, wow, this has been the best night everrrrr. But no, it got eeeevvvennn better. Everyone jumped up on the stage, got rid of all the chair and the WHOLE school had this huge rave, I think the teachers were drunk, I think that the year 7s were high, and I think that the majority of the people dont remember much. I have some awsome photos of everything that night. It was amazing, and it was a THURSDAY. Crazy Belgies. 

2. Weekend. Instead of going home with Gaspard and Dorian, I went home with my other cousin Emilio, who promised me a crazy night out in Bruxelles. It turned out different to what I was expecting but amazing all the same. We left the house at around 10pm then caught the metro into the centre of Bruxelles. We met up  with some guys from the school and everyone got smashed. Prettyyyy funny. Together we managed to find ourselves a nightclub, so thinking that it was a normal one we lined up and got to the front.  I felt extremely uncomfortable though as the people that surrounded me were made up mostly of middle aged men, who looked at me as though I wasnt meant to be there. I nudged Emilio and his friends so many times and I kept on saying in a high pitched slurred whisper, "Où est les filles??? Où EST LES FILLES???" Then they pointed at a "woman" standing a few metres behind us.The "woman" had hairy legs, huge muscles and... a beard. Yes "she" was wearing a dress and a feather boa, but she was definitely not a "she". The guys then ran away as fast as they could, scared out of their minds. It was pretty rude actually, many people here are extremely homophobic. I thought that the gay nightclub story was incredibly funny, but the guys found it as a traumatic experience or something. We then spent the rest of the night around Bruxelles, and its was actually really good. We returned early the next morning to Emilio's house, and his parents are so cool with that sort of thing. I had a gooood time.

3. The Fashion in Belgium is VERY different to Australian fashion. Its extremely conservative. My luggage consists of the things that I would usually wear in winter in Sydney. I cant wear most of the things that I brought here. I often come downstairs in some outfit that I constructed from the clothes in my bag, and often my family will tell me that it is not 'appropriate' to wear that here. It sucks because I literally wear the same thing all the time. People here get absolutely freaked out when I tell them that Im wearing a jumper with just a bra underneath. They absolutely FREAK out. Its actually a bit funny.

4.School. Maredsous. I really do love it here. I think that I prefer going to Queenwood, but being here is so amazing. There are things that I really wish were at Queenwood. The building. The teachers. The boys. The people here. The crazy festivals. The food on Wednesdays. The couvitrée and a million other things here. Ive always wanted to go to a boarding school, but experiencing one, makes me think that I definitely prefer being at a day school. Though, its really lovely being around people that are so nice 24/7 and they are always happy to help for anything. But the rules get really old, and there is a LOT of study time. Seriously a LOT.

5. At the moment it is exam week and so there are limited classes, the only one I went to today was the english class for the year  7s which was a huge waste of time, So I decided to walk around the villiage, (im definitely not allowed to do this) but im so happy that i did. I have never been anywhere more beautiful! the ground is absolutely covered in red and brown leaves and there are castles everywhere and beautiful old mansions, that look like they are out of movies. I was so happy just walking around, i saw an old man across the street who dropped something so i ran over to pick it up and then we had this huge conversation (in french) about australia and school and it was so nice! and i felt so happy because i think it mmade his day :) i then walked to Mauds house(she is an intern like me staying at another persons house and driving to school every day like me) because she is sick, so i went to visit her, and i stayed there for 3 hours and we talked about everything. I then walked back to school with my music really loud, and i was literally smiling the whole way back.I got back to school and grabbed my wallet and bought some maredsous beer for Chris and Salmon back in australia. AND I WAS ALLOWED TO because im 16 so that was really cool. now im at the computer in study time and it is literally pitch black outside and its only 430 in the afternoon, but i literally cant see outside this window.

6. Its my last day today at Maredsous, and there are heapppppss of problems about me staying with Clemence. Sita has been removed from her house because of some complications, they can not see each other, and apparently Clem has been having some intense psycotic episodes. So yeah, Im not entirely sure about what is going to happen, but Im sure eveything will work out. I am very sad that this is my last day. The people I have met here are so incredible, they are so kind and warm, and I was so sad to say goodbye. I really cannot get over how welcoming everyone was. I thought that I was going to make friends, but not become close to them because I would only be there for a month. It ended up being the opposite, ill never forget how much effort they put into making friends with me, they are so genuine, honest and wonderful, and I dont think I can ever put into words how much I appreciate them.  I really hope that I will be able to see them again. 

a scrambled mind

Ok, obviously I havent written here for a while, but im going to try and start this up again. Many things have happened, and some of those things, I cant bring myself to talk about at this moment. I just need to give it time, then I will write about it when I feel ready. Kidding, I need to write about it here or else nothing will make sence so that would be absolutely pointless. My mind is scrambled so im sorry if thats making this post confusing, I think that my mind is scrambled because my computer is upside-down. Im not kidding, its completely in the wrong direction and its confusing me and i want to punch it, but if i punched it i would hurt my hand and break the computer. BUT ITS ALREADY FUCKING BROKEN BECAUSE IT IS FUCKING UPSIDE DOWN. Ok. My neck hurts from turning it into an uncomfortable position so that i can read what i have written so far, which is actually retarded. I am retarded i swear.

Im starting again. Hello. I am still in Belgium. I am leaving in 4 days to France maybe... Ill get to that later on. Many Many things have happened. My Grandma died last weekend. I dont think I can bring myself to write about that yet, because its just really upsetting for me at this moment. Im going to try and focus on the positive things, just like she would have wanted. I think ill start a new post, because this one, well doesnt make sense. I will write a lot about grandma when I am ready, but not just this yet.

the low point

I came here with the mindset that I would not get homesick, that I would be strong and be able to get over any anxious feelings about missing home. Theres got to be a low point though, even in Australia, you cant be happy all the time. I think that I have held up pretty well though, but now I do feel homesick, and I really just want to be home and sleep in my own bed, relax and have a long DNM with every single one of my friends, and my famlily. This is allowed to happen though, I know im allowed to miss my friends and miss my family, its completly normal. I just wasnt expecting to get thrashed on the head so suddenly with the realisation of how much I miss Australia, and the people there. At first I was horrified that I was going to miss formal, because it is meant to be such a turning point in my time at school, but as my trip became a reality, I really wasnt too upset. Then the photos came on facebook, and come onnnnnnn as if im not going to feel left out and a bit devo that I wasnt there with them.  The other thing that has been on my mind is my Grandma. Shes extremely sick, and has been in hospital ever since I left Australia. I want to be at her side, I want her to tell me all her stories, I just really really want to be with her right now. I cant explain how Im feeling, Im crying at this moment, for the first time I have been here. Just thinking about Grandma, and how much pain shes in, and how much pain my mum must be in too. I want to give her a huge hug, but obviously thats impossible right now. Grandma means the world to me, I really dont know how to deal with this at the moment, Mum said that she is really not well, and for her to say that, means that it is probably so much worse. Mum sent me an email explaining how she has been at the hosiptal for days, by Grandma's side, and is just about to leave to give the Chairmans speech at Speech night for my school. I cant imagine how overwhelmed she must be feeling right now. I wish I could do something, but Im so far away that thats impossible. I Just miss how open, friendly and comforting everyone in Australia is, because here it is more tight and almost a bit cold. For example, when I first found out that my Grandma was very sick, I had tears in my eyes and I walked out of the computer room to find my aunt looking at me, she asked what was wrong and I told her, she just stood there. Then said that she would pray for her that night and then walked away. Im not saying that she was unkind, I have just learned that people deal with things differently around here. I know that Ill sound like such a little girl when I say this but, all I really needed/wanted was a hug, and some comforting words like many mothers in Australia. After she left I just stood there, not knowing what to do, kind of shocked with tears running down my face, quite pathetic. This post is full of sadness and it sounds like Im having a shit time and that im not appreciating my situation; but its really not the case. I just needed to write down the bad things, so that I can enjoy the good things, and focus on them rather than dwell on the things that are worrying me.

weekend shenanigans en Belgique

God this weekend has gone so fast, I think I'm about to collapse from being so tired.  I am many things right now: exhausted, bruised, hungover, sleepy, confused and happy... all at once. I guess ill start with Friday? Ok, so, It is the biggest trek from Maredsous school to our house. Its a long bus trip, train, another train and a car ride. So by the time I reached their house, I had to change and rush to a party. The party was once again in an amazing house near Bruxelles, I swear the families go all out with these things. I met so many amazing people and there was lots of dancing. I wore my grandma's bright red coat, and I felt so happy wearing it because I felt as though I had a bit of her with me, she's really sick at the moment and is in hospital, so wearing it was comforting to me. The girls were so lovely and welcoming, I wish that they lived in Sydney! God the boys here are so gorgeous, seriously they are all amazing and have the "classic European look" I do like it here :)

Saturday morning came and my feet were sore from dancing that night. I couldnt get out of bed quicker though because the breakfasts with my family are eizughsnvzkehgozuhsgjdozrgihs AMAZING. The bread, the spreads for the bread, the croissants, the pain au chocolate, the tea, the coffee, the homemade cereal and the home grown fruit. I loved Saturday because I was lazy and I didnt have to do anything till the afternoon. I had a nap, I walked around their country property, I watched Harry Potter 2 en français in their own cinema, curled up with a blanket and a cup of tea. God that was an amazing day. That afternoon Patricia my Aunt told me that I didn't have any adequate shoes for the party that night, so she drove me all the way to Bruxelles to buy a new pair! Once we got back, there was a manic rush to get ready on time again, so I wasn't late for the party. This Party, Gaspard wasn't going to be there because he had something else on, so I basically knew no one! Patricia introduced me to some of the girls, and they were all so lovely.

This party was so full on... The theme was magic, and they hired out a huge place to have it. Ok, so the party was divided up into 3 parts, the first was the Champagne, magicians and talking. Waiters came around offering one glass of Champagne after the other, whilst magicians popped out from everywhere doing card tricks and hat tricks, which was so amazing. The lights were colourful and the music was extremely loud. As the party got on, and more Champagne and wine entered my body, I felt like everything was so surreal and crazy. The next part was the dinner. Each girl was given a card, which matched up to the guy we were assigned to sit next to. The dinner was called "magic box" from a place called Quick, a belgium version of maccas.  Finally some crap food in my body! It was a relief from all the canapes and classy food :) I spoke french most of the time, so I'm pretty proud of myself, even if I made no sense, which is probably what happened. After dinner was the crazy part. There was so many trays of multicolored drinks everywhere, and as soon a I finished one I was offered another.  Gradually my feet hurt less and less from my new shoes and my urge to dance was at a high.  I needed fresh air so I stepped out side, about half of the people were. I really did make a massive fool of myself here, as I stood in the middle of a group of guys, and I was trying my hardest to stand up straight and stop laughing. However I did learn something about myself: I speak better french when I am drunk, weird but true. Definitely one of the best parties I have ever been to.

I slept over with a girl called Julie and Isaline, at another incredible house. There were I think 5 stories, an indoor swimming pool, a tree house, a trampoline and everything you could think of in a house.  They were really nice girls, and they spoke only french to me, which made me so happy, because it really helped.  This morning I went to a place called Aqualibi, its a water park with water slides and pools etc. I really did enjoy it but it probably wasnt the best thing to do the morning after a big night. I still had an amazing time though, I wish we had more things like that in Sydney. Now Im at home in the beautiful house of my cousins, hopeing to relax before school tomorrow. I miss everyone in Australia, and its hard seeing all of the photos on facebook, because it makes me miss them. Buuut on the good side, Im here in belgium having an amazing time, and realistically Ill be seeing everyone soon.

attempt: Alors, j'ai l'école demain, et je dois me revailler à six heures du matin, parce que le bus partira à sept heures trente, et on dois partir la maison avant ça. J'ai besoin de parler le français cette semaine, parce que je suis ici apprendre le français, et si je ne parle pas français chaque jour, cet échange est injustifié. j'essaye mon plus dur, mais c'est très difficile, surtout quand je suis avec des gens qui parlent anglais parfait. Je pense que je m'améliore, parce que je le trouve plus facilement qu'avant pour entendre ce que les gens disent. Je dis les même choses chaque jour: "Qu'est-ce que ça veux dire?" et "comment dit on... en français?" et "qu'est-ce que tu fait?" et "où est-ce qu'on va?" et "Qu'est-ce qu'il se passe?" J'espère que mon vocabulaire deviendra plus grand. Bisous tout le monde.

my accent make things complicated

So I've been here for 2 weeks already. I feel like it has been a couple of days, but then I think about all the things that I have done, and it feels like I've already been here for months.  My french is improving... A tiny bit.  I'm trying so incredibly hard, and I'm such a loser because I'm carrying my little notebook everywhere in my back pocket to jot down things I learn along the way.  I came to Europe thinking that there is only one way to speak French. Lets just say that I was extremely naive. I used to think that my french accent was adequate and more or less as good as it needed to be, this is due to the praise I got from my numerous french teachers at school. I couldn't have been more wrong. My accent is SO DIFFERENT and I actually sound retarded when I stand next to a french person. Not to mention I am slow, and my voice goes up an octave when I speak french.  I have also learned that there are words that sound exactly the same, but mean different things. I literally can not tell the difference, but apparently they definitely can. For example...
Cousin = Cousin
Coussin = Cushion
I found out yesterday that I have been saying coussin rather than cousin the whole time I have been here, and nobody until yesterday corrected me. I have been saying: Je suis ici parce que je veux apprendre le français, je reste ici avec mes COUSSINS, Dorian et Gaspard sont mes COUSSINS.  There are so many other similar sounds in this language, and it is so confusing, and I happen to always choose the wrong way to say things.  I love it when they try to speak english though. Ahhh boys with a french accent... my weakness.

what I have learned in my first week

1. French keyboqrds suck shit. 
I get my Q's mixed up with my A's so I'm sorry if things dont make sense, don't blame me, BLAME THE FRENCH. I find it extremely hard to type.

2. Don't kill yourself after the first day at school on exchange, even though thats all you want to do, because it actually gets better.
I was dropped off at my Belgium boarding school and introduced to the Director.  I forgot every bit of my french, and unfortunately he does not speak a word of English. The only words of French that forced their way out of my mouth were: Oui, and merci (please and thank you). The things that came out of his mouth sounded like this: eighnksjeghziukejghskjqebghiuahegqbkqbgiuqhegjkbeqgiuhsegjkbeiuqvgbkeqgiuqeg. Apparently I agreed that I was from South Africa and that I spoke Spanish. So he introduced me to my first class likewise... It was only after he asked the class if there were any Spanish Speakers who could translate for me, did I say, "oh oh non, um I am, sorry um, Je suis Australienne." The whole class laughed and I sat down thinking "shit fuck shit fuck what the fuck am I doing here?" So not a good start. I sat at the front row, and I literally did not understand a word, I'm not exaggerating in the slightest... not a freaking word. That hour was one of the most terrifying times of my life, I felt like I was going to faint/vomit/cry all at the same time. That whole day I was nodding my head and saying ouuuii to everything people were saying to me. I literally wanted to curl up in a ball and die. To make it feel even worse I was put in a class with the majority of people who were 18 years old. THEN I FINALLY FOUND A GROUP WHO SPOKE ENGLISH. I know that was a bad thing to do because I was meant to be speaking French, but I needed to ask some questions about the school some questions that were really important, and if I didn't know the answers I would not be in a good position. They explained everything... THANK THE LORD FOR THEM. They introduced me to everyone, and all the people that I have met are so incredibly nice.

3. Maredsous is Hogwarts in disguise.
You take one look at the school I go to and you can't help but think... HARRY POTTER. Its an Abbey, with a school inside, they make beer bread and cheese... Its pretty cool.  My first day was so overwhelming that I didn't get a chance to see how beautiful it was... IT IS SO AMAZING. And the people are so nice! I have had one week and I'm known as the crazy exchange student from Australia. When I was introduced to people, they absolutely freaked out when I hugged them, they said that is not normal at all to hug people unless you are in love with them. Okayyy then, I still do it though, because I love the shock people get from it. It makes me laugh. I always thought that my french accent was pretty good, but coming here I have realised how bad it actually is. Everyone laughs as soon as I open my mouth, apparently people find it hard extremely hard to understand me. I am scared that I wont improve that much, I am trying so hard, but it is so much harder than I was expecting. Though, looking on the brighter side, I am learning so much else as well. I am learning what its like to go to a new school, I don't have an exchange student to help me, and with everything in a completely different language, I literally have to do and figure out everything by my self. I have met the most amazing people though, from all over Belgium. I have learned so much about different cultures, which sounds lame, but its awesome finding out everything about people here. These people that I have met are so incredible, and have made my first week such an interesting experience. Some parts of my life at Maredsous have been the best experiences ever and are such a contrast to my first day.

4. Belgium boys are good looking. I am at a school with I think 250 boys and like 70 girls... I think? which was different to what I previously thought it would be. There is an abundance of beautiful European faces where ever you look, which is quite nice, yes quite nice.

5. Champagne is my weakness. My cousin Gaspard, took me to his friends birthday party on Friday night after school. I was expecting a dance floor, with heaps of people, lots of talking, not very classy, you know, the usual. We arrived and It couldn't have been more different. I have been blessed because my cousins family is extremely well off, and very high up in society. I stepped through the door and heard classical music, saw canapes and pearls around people necks, and smelled dinner on a long white table clothed table.  I knew no one, and again, I wanted to crawl up and die. Usually in this situation I would talk and be loud and introduce myself but i didn't want to embarrass Gaspard with a crazy Australian cousin. Also at first glance these people did not seem like the people to take a joke; (remember I said at first glance) I was offered champagne; and sipping it was all i could do to not feel awkward. I drank it, and I liked it, I drank some more, and it tasted even better. I forgot that I was drinking Champagne, and I had quite a bit, because it was literally the only thing I could do to make things and not awkward for me. I began to care less and less about being civil and as we got to the dinner table I begin to rant on and on about everything Australian. They then brought out the wine, which was not the best idea for my situation. To quote myself, "IM FROM AUSTRALIA SO WHAT OF IT BITCHESS!" Thank god everyone else started playing a drinking game after a while, so I was finally not the only one making a fool of myself. Dinner ended and we made our way to the surprise dance floor in their basement. Now it was a real party, with dancing and yelling and I had my first taste of belgium beer "Jupiler". I really don't get this crazy that often, but I'm glad I did tht night, it turned out to be one of the best parties I have ever been to. And it was funny how my first impressions of everyone there were so incredibly wrong, they were some of the nicest people I have met, and they definitely could take a joke, well lots and lots of jokes. It turned out to be an amazing night.

6. Block your ears when you stand within a close distance to a rifle.
My family in Belgium participate in hunting parties frequently. It has been a tradition for hundreds of generations, and they, along with the other upper class traditional families have kept it up. I was asked to wear elegant hunting clothes, as it was an event that was of the highest importance. We ate breakfast in this beautiful ball room with chandeliers on the roof and antlers on the walls. There was a beautiful long table down the middle that sat around 50 people ( the families of the participants) I can't do justice to how amazing this place was. Looking around, we could have been in the 1800s due to the fact that everyone was dressed in old fashioned clothes, feathered hats, hunting boots and leather vests. It was so surreal looking around at everyone. After breakfast the rifles came out and the hunt began. I think that my ear drums have been ruined, no one bothered to tell me to block my ears for a gun shot, therefore I was caught completely off guard and learned the hard way.

7. When a wild boar or deer runs towards you at full speed, drop flat on your stomach and hope you won't get killed.
Thankfully I didn't learn this the hard way. But it was the first thing I was told to do before the hunt started. It's actually quite dangerous business, I they told me stories of those that died as recently as last month! I chose to go with the boys my age and older to walk through the deep Belgium forests in order to scare the animals into the firing line of the shooters, it was definitely an experience that I will always remember. I personally wouldn't make shooting a habit, but I think that it is alright if the shooters aim well so that the animals do not suffer. I also think that this circumstance was ok, as the wild boars (sanglier) are pests to the environment, and would killed anyway. The only part of the day was seeing all of the dead animals lined up with their organs spread all over the floor and blood staining the grass. But other than that I had an extremely interesting day and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

8. When you stop looking, you find something.
I was washing the dishes after dinner last night and I saw the most amazing shooting star, it lasted for an incredible amount of time, and the little bits of twinkle shooted off the tail. It gave me goose bumps. I have never seen anything like it at all. Ever.

Toute seule

I thought that the fact that I'm on exchange would hit me at some point, especially while travel on my lonesome. But it hasn't... I feel like everything that has happened so far has been a dream, it all seems so surreal, and I feel like I'm gliding through it all. I'm currently on the thalys train to bruxelles midi. Looking out my window, its all green countryside, and the sun is peeping through the clouds, I want to stare at it all, but that little pocket of sun is blinding me which makes it difficult. Ok, so the first flight was all good, but far out the Dubai airport is so confusing, then I had to wait there for a couple of hours, which was fab. Blah blah blah so I got to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, and heaved my huge suitcase to the metro station, and hopped on another train. So yeah, that trip was interesting because the guy sitting next to me was casually rolling up a joint and offered it to me... I was like, "umm, Merci beaucoup, mais non" I have no idea if this is normal, but it was a lovely welcome to Paris all the same. Weird that no one found it strange to have a carriage full of weed smoke, I found it pretty funny though. THEN this other guy walked onto the train, AND STARTED PLAYING THE ACCORDION! I was like oh my god this is so cool. It was like a French movie soundtrack, chilling on the train looking out the window with the accordion in the background. It was AWSOME. The high guy next to me was swaying his head from side to side he was such a lawl.

I HATE PARIS NORD STATION and everyone in it. I swear I was like the only one there with a suitcase around about the same size as me, and obviously it's hard to maneuver everywhere. Instead of people accepting that I'm a young foreign girl trying my hardest to decipher the signs everywhere whilst carrying my bag, they all yell and mutter at me in a fast string of beautiful swear words.

Everyone speaks so fast it's crazy! I'm freaking out a little, but I have to stay calm, because when I freak out all my French disappears, which happened numerous times today. It's all good though, I have had a couple of conversations with some French people, short ones, but conversations all the same.

I can't write in this blog when I go to boarding school, but whatever! I'm just excited to meet everyone :) au revoir tout le monde, quelquefois, je vais parler en français, peut-être le prochaine poste! Comme Christina dit:"je suis très excitée"

today

I am leaving today! Not even kidding thats, really, really soon.  The thing is, it still hasn't hit me yet, and I don't think it will, I feel like I'm just chilling through it all at the moment, and I wont believe its actually happening until I step onto that plane. My bags are all packed and Im definitely going to battle with my hand luggage, because Its so heavy and big. I love airports, and Im so excited to experience traveling by myself. I still have to figure out what I'm going to do with my whole blog/diary thing, as I want to keep a record of my whole exchange experience. I think that I am going to continue it in this blog, and add pictures and photos when I arrive back in Sydney... So its going to be more of a "work in progress" type of thing. God I sound so lame.

I AM GOING TO MISS EVERYONE SO MUCH. That is the hardest part I think, for me. I'm not worried about traveling by myself, and I'm not at all worried about not speaking English, I just know that I'll miss everyone so much.  I have decided though, that I am not going to get homesick. Not at all. Thats the end of it. If I start to think about everyone who I miss, Ill stop it and focus on the amazing situation that I will be in.  I'm so excited to read all of my plane letters :) I love how Lucy and Jem organised a goodbye dinner for Sasch and I in Manly this last Tuesday, it was so lovely, and I love how it was a Tuesday night... BADASSES.

hallo... ween

Halloweens on a Monday... What is up with that? Halloween partys are so much better when they are on the weekend... I remember the good old days of trick or treating. I didn't do anything tonight, except for sorting out my little brothers problems with his... Friends. Not gonna lie though, I'm pretty proud of Woody's face, I had a bit of fun smothering his face in blood. hehehh. I wish I could have worn my Sailors outfit that I bought in Japan, but Austin's birthday/Halloween party on friday was not a "go all out costume party", ahh well, mini mouse was adequate.  I have decided that next year, I am going to have a proper Halloween party, one that will be a "go all out costume party".  I better stick to that, otherwise my friends will kill me.

I fucking hate my brothers friends

I love Woody to death, and nothing gets me more angry than finding out how his friends treat him. I mean I'm probably overreacting, but far out they are dickheads. So he's 12 years old, and yeah, he's in year 7 and all, and its Halloween right.  Woody and his friends are off roaming the streets etc. and they guilt trip him into walking all the way back to our house get his pocket money, walk all the way back to them to order and pay for their pizza.  Then all this other shit happened that I cant really say here, and all I want to do right now is punch each of them in the face, then kick them in the crotch.
AHHHH I am writing this here to get out all my anger and frustration, rather than take it out on them, which I want to do so badly.

favourite moment: finally looking at my fisheye photos, gotta love film cameras

This girl is clearly a GOD... hersexymind

This photo confused me until Millie pointed out that shes leading on a table and kneeling on a stool

Caught in the act... This girl was crying because someone was in love with her, and she was upset because he apparently looks like a grasshopper

FWB? hehehhh ily those two

Heavenly Hyatt in Bali

My name used to be "Frangipani Princess" God I was kewl...

Mumma Jude told me that this was the pool where I learned to swim for the first time, ohhh the memories

My brother can be cool <3 I love Woody to bits

la la laa

last weekend in AUSTRALIA

Friday Friday gotta get down on Friday... I finally got to spend some time with Jemma... or Jem because people hate me calling her Jemma. We were in an amazing mood, so we decided to bake a birthday cake for Austin, for his party that night. We felt so nice.  It was Austin's birthday/ Halloween party, so Jem dressed as a cat and I dressed up as a mouse... DUHHHHH. Jems house is full of fun surprises and secret rooms and I find something new every time. I like to chill in her pantry, I feel happy standing in a room full of food. 

The awkward fairy at the top of the cake, love her

Don't you love it when the taxi driver has no clue where he is going, and has to ask you for directions? We were blessed with a taxi driver like that, but to give him credit, he was a nice chap.

My favourite WOM... SALMON, I love him I LOVVVEEE him <3 <3 

Salmon Getting raped by Laura

Saturday comes after Friday.  I had an amazing sleep in Jemma's heavenly bed, I feel like its cross between a water bed and a cloud, and a bubble bath all in one.  I love how we were talking till 2 am, then we fell asleep at the exact same time, we just kind of faded into unconsciousness. I didn't even hear her snore. THANKGOD.

I woke up to find that once again, I forgot contacts... GO ME. I had to squint my way through the morning, If the world stopped tomorrow and we would have to live off ourselves, I couldn't do it, without contacts... I cant wear glasses because thy make me feel faint, contacts are my life, and I legitimately don't know what I would do without them.

ILY Saturday, Chilled at Balmoral and Oli's house with da boyzz... then went to Harriet's AND WE INVITED THE YEAR 9s OVERRRR. God I love them. One of the best nights this year... I fraped Jackie's wall, and not gonna lie, I haven't laughed at myself that much for a long time. She has no legs, I hope her stumps grow back lawl.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY
blah bleughhh lalaaaa
Its lame, I am bored, but I have to stay at hope because I am forced to.  c00l d00ds.

winter winter winter

While everyones pumped for summer, I am off to my second winter of the year.  To some, that sucks... BUT TO ME, ITS AMAZING. I'm a winter person, and nothing makes me happier than standing outside, all rugged up in the cold fresh winter air.  Belgium is going to be freeeeezing, so I'm packing all of my winter clothes... and trying them on...

I AM SAH KEWL

p l a y s a n d m u s i c a l s

So I just tried out for Shore's 2012 musical, "Little Shop of Horrors" and I want to get in so bad...

I swear some of the best times I have had have been from a musical or a play I have been in. I guess I'd better start at the beginning.  My first real experience acting was Alice in Wonderland in year 6. Every 6 years, QWD puts on a junior school play at the Astra.  Luckily year 6 2007 had the chance to be the main parts.  I don't think I have wanted anything as bad as the part of Alice.  The nights leading up to the final cast list were sleepless. I still remember the dream I had the night before, how I got the part, but it involved me killing everyone on stage... Thats cool, I don't sound deranged or anything... I did end up getting Alice, and I was over the moon with happiness.  I think this was the spark that made me so in love with theatre. Of course it was only a junior school play, but in year 6 it was my whole world.  I think the most exhilarating moments of acting are the few seconds before you walk into the lights on stage, then it all goes the moment the spotlight shines. The best parts are backstage with your friends. My Alice memory was that with Lulu, backstage, we used to mimic all the people on stage and silently writhing with laughter.  Good times.

Seussical The Musical.  My freinds will accociate this musical with "BESTIES" I was only the chorus, but it was a good experience especially for a year 8 girl.  It gave me a taste of how productions bring people from all year groups together, and how close everyone gets by the closing night. I also experienced the trauma of the closing night.  The moment its all over, when the curtain finally falls, and the last hugs of your new found friendships. I love how everyone forgets about what group they sit with, or how "cool" they are, and everyone makes friends with everyone without it being weird at all. I always think that we will still stay close friends, unfortunately its quite rare to do so, no matter how hard everyone tries.

A Midsummers Night's Dream, gave me so much confidence to pursue other acting opportunities, and it was one of the best experience out of all the plays I have done.  The audition process was extremely intense.  I got 3 call backs for the role of Hermia, and in the end I was up against the drama prefect Bella Pelosi, who is one of the most amazing girls I have ever met.  I knew I couldn't get that role, as I was a year 9, going against against the best actress in the school, but my heart still dropped when the cast list showed that I received the part of the fairy with 3 other girls.  Reading that sentence in my head makes me look really selfish and full of myself, and that was not my intention, of course I was over the moon that I even got a part at all! Obviously I was a little disappointed at myself though, because I had hyped myself up so much.  3 or 4 weeks went by as the fairy, and I made friends with heaps of girls in other year groups, which I was hoping to do, so all in all everything was turning out better than I had expected.  Then a few days later, Issy and I were called to the directors office to find out that the girl playing Helena would not be able to perform due to another issue.  So Issy and I were up against each other for the part of Helena, a main, who was usually played by a tall blonde girl, traits that I unfortunately don't possess. I spent hours in my dads cellar that night going over the lines ready for the next day for the unexpected audition. The nerves were incredible.  To cut a long story short, I received the part of Helena to my excitement. I had the chance of working alongside Bella who was so lovely and kind to me throughout the whole process. I did get a little overwhelmed at points, as I only had 2 or 3 weeks to learn the lines and blocking, my exams were also the week before the performances, so I had absolutely no time to spare.  My relationship with Jackie grew so much, we went through so much together during the course of A Midsummer Night's Dream, issues completely unrelated to the play.  It was so nice to have someone right beside me at a hard point in my life, especially someone going through the same thing as I was.  It was the start of an amazing friendship between us.  The performance nights finally came, after a stressful few weeks.  It was so surreal. I remember in one of my scenes, where I had my first monologue, I used to take a deep breath, shut my eyes, then walk on stage and see the whole Astra theatre full of people watching me.  That feeling is priceless, and Ill never forget that, ever.

 The day before the Auditions of the senior Shore play of Venetian Twins Jackie and I got a facebook message from Matt, asking us to try out for it.  Not knowing a thing about it, we turned up to Shore not knowing what to do, we got lost and we were on the verge of leaving (well I was).  We found the audition room and auditioned.  We were asked what year we were in and we replied with "year 9" and the director freaked out because it was a year 11 and 12 play.  We managed to get the only 2 female roles anyway, Jackie = Beatrice and I was Rosina.  The play was Commedia Dell'Arte therefore everything was over the top.  I played the part of a prissy, pretentious, snobby lover, It was such a fun role to play with.  There was one scene in which I had to scream at the top of my voice. My favourite moment was seeing the audiences reaction to this, usually the blocking of the ears or the scrunching of ones eyes in pain.  I think it would be hard for someone to kidnap/rob/rape me because not gonna lie, I have a horribly loud scream.  This was such a good experience because I worked with people so much older and more mature than me, (well most of them) and I learned so much from them.  My highlight was sitting outside the drama studio, with a guitar, a harmonica and everyone sitting around singing.  Everything was so serene and chilled, and everything went out of my mind, and I just enjoyed myself at that moment, sharing the happiness with all of the others.  The costumes were freaking amazing, far out, I got to wear a full length 17th century gown with a Marie Antoinette wig and a face full of white make up.  I made so many friends in Venetian Twins and Jackie and I became so close, This was one of the happiest and most amazing points of my life.

We eat ham and jam and SPAMALOT.  So I said before that the other plays like Midsummers and Venetian twins were the best experiences, well Spamalot was by far the most fun.  From Kerry to Tahlia, from Shimmer tights to purple sequins, everything about Spamalot was crazy.  Most of all I loved our group of friends. We made it hell for the teachers and anyone who bossed us around.  All was good because we were only chorus, excepting Angus who was a knight... but blahh still ily him. I hated how we only had 3 rehearsals a week, I wished that there were more.  I loved being around my friends and learning the gossip of the cast. There were the complaints about make-up and there were traumas of the non-existent afterparty, all in all there were dramas, secret love affairs and lots of laughing.  I love everyone who was a part of Spamalot, including good old Kez, alwayz love the Kezdawg. Matt and I used to do interpretive dance behind the curtains, and Max would secretly film Kerry, but Got in big trouble for it.  Jay was amazing at impersinating Mrs Robertson... "stoooooppp talllllllllkkkkinggggg" And everyone made fun of everything and everyone.  THIS IS WHY I WANT TO BE IN LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.  But In a way nothing will ever beat what happened at Spamalot.  God I could write so much more about Spamalot, but I just don't have time for it all.  I MISS IT SO MUCH. I love spam a lot.

So the Monday after the closing night of Spamalot, we auditioned for the QWD musical... Grease. Thankfully I got into the chorus, along with Sim and Holiday, and Jackie as Rizzo.  I seriously despised going to rehearsals, they were so boring and blah and I was quite close to quitting.  The only part I liked was seeing some of my friends from Spammie.  However It definitely got better.  Holiday, Sim and I ended up making fun of everything, and treated it as a joke, which of course makes everything way better! We all became so close to each other, and everyone was so lovely.  Ily my dance partners James and Matt, and everyone else.  The costumes were so fun to wear, and the dancing was so fun, with all the lifts and jumps.  The last few weeks were the best. I ended up having a thing with Aaron, and it was so funny sneaking around the school and getting kinky behind the curtains, definitely one of the highlights of my time at Grease.  The afterparty was so amazing, thanks to Jackie and her parentals ILY LISA! finally we had a good afterparty for once, unlike Spammie.  Its good because we have all remained pretty close, obviously its not like we used to be, but its still really nice to say hello to everyone in the corridors.  Grease started badly, but ended amazing, proof that  MUSICALS ARE ALWAYS AMAZING, not matter how lame everyone thinks they are.