Pic est Mort (and Other Tradgies)

So the hedgehog died.  Granted, we didn't have it very long, and all it really did was curl up in terror and shuffle around the garden, but that was a sad day.

Life as an exchange student is crazy.  Emotions are totally out of proportion, and mood swings happen about as often as family meals.  There are times when everything seems to go against me (the language, for example) and other times when it feels like you completly belong.  I've had horrible days when all I want is to curl up and cry because I really miss my friends and family and moments when I can't even imagine leaving this country.  With the other exchange students, there is an instant conection, which I totally didn't believe until I felt it.  I think it's because we're all battling the same emotional roller coaster.  I just want to be friends with all of them, hang out all the time, and never, ever say good bye.  It's so weird for me, but I already love them, after just a few conversations.

Speaking of which, I didn't have school on Tuesday, so a bunch of exchange students and I went to Anvers/Antwerpen/Antwerp for the day.  It was a lot of fun, but we didn't have much time.  We hit up the Diamond Musame, where we saw the world's largest uncut diamond and a lot of other sparkly things.  After, we walked to one of the cathedrals, but you had to pay money to go inside, so we just hung out, bought cheep flags, and bonded.  I said this before, but I love them.

No big deal or anything, but that's the train station.  It's even prettier on the inside.

School in Belgium is hard.  More difficult than Valley, less difficult than Central.  In fact, I actually understand some things in school, just because I already studied them.  Every time I have science, I thank Mrs Stroope for AP Bio.  I didn't understand it in English, but now I have a chance to comprehend in French.  Mostly, though, I just sit there in class, trying to take notes or hear something that I recognize, but I usually end up writing (which I've always done in school), and I've already finished one short story. 

Went kayaking with the exchange students in a really beautiful part of Belgium yesterday, and my arms are sore today.  I really like kayaking for the first hour or so, though.

I have so much more to say, but I'm tired from too many days with not enough sleep.  I may or may not write another time this week, because this is just a short post.

Until then,

Greta