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.