Mandee Barrett

Home

2009-08-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

I am home and getting everythong together.
I start at Taco Bell today, the 15th, at 5pm
I have my Rotary Presentation the 18th
School starts August 20th
The 21st I am off to Hot Springs for a Rotary camp till the 23rd.

and thats it thats the end of this blog.

thanks, its been real.

All's said and done.

2009-07-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien - Edith Piaf

2009-07-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

    I'm in England
I Love it
I Love Wissa and Matus
I Love Katie
She kinda stands me
Sad to leave
Happy to get home

Bruxelles 2009

2009-07-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

Ouaaaais

PRAHA JUIN

2009-06-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

So just got back from Prague.How I loved that dang city.History and shopping = SCORE.I was there with kids from all over the world , Austrailia , New Zealand , South Africa , etc. all of whom were exchange students in Belgium.All of whom have touched my life.

Jenna who taught me a little about being a little more relaxed and partyish and even straightened my hair the best its ever been straighted.I love that girl she could make me laugh for ever.

Then ofcourse Karen who I had never really know before from Brazil who knew and loved Rascal Flatts and I almost like cried when she played god bless the broken road for me on her IPod.I didnt think I'd miss country music at all ! Karen was hillarious and I am going to miss her.

Also I got to talk to Jaime from Paraguay . He and I had a lot in common exchange wise. Like his Rotary conseleur is freaking cool and named Freddy just like mine was and a lot of other concequences had happed throughout our year.It was so good to have someone to relate so closely with!

Alison was there and it is always good to see her or anyof the other girls who were at my outbound camp!I shared a room with her the last night and we ended chatting up about religion.

It was just really good to see everyone and chat with people who really have been in similar expierences.I think it was about 40 kidsish.

The trip was too short. 3 days of Prague 2 days in the bus.However annying that bus trip was it was all worth it.Have you ever been to Prague?No? You should.The buildings are all breathtaking. And also, the shopping wasnt half bad either.The food was always good and even if you end up not liking chzeck food there is KFC.There arent KFC's in Belgium.Can you imagine?

Pictures soon!

The day I got home was thomas' 12th B-day I cannot belive how old he is! I dont know who gave him premission to grow so fast!

In other news
Tonight is Marinas Birthday. I bought her something in Prague ( but I wont say what until tommorow because she reads my blog) That will be fun but also sad because its the last of the last time I have anything planned with my lunch table girls.

The 30th I am going to BXL with my OTHER lunch table girls ( I had two sets) to see the atonium which I have never seen.
Then the 1st-12th I have nothing planned.But I will fill those days up soon don't you worry.
Then the 13th : LONDON Yeah, I am Happy.Yeah , I am Sad.
Then the 28th I go Home
Then the 1st I have REbound camp until the 3rd
Then school starts the 19th.

P.S Marina , Je te kiffe, tu sais que t'es vraiment la bienvenu chez moi QUAND TU VEUX ma belle!
P.P.S Fanny,Je t'avait deja dit!Si tu veux payer le cancelation de le billet, un appartement et nouritture pour moi je le raterai!
P.P.P.S Alice , T'es trop forte.tu va me manquer beaucoup plus que je vais te manquer- c'est promis.

We be jammin'

2009-06-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

Kendie Kiwi, Jenna Aussi,Yours Truly

Last weekend was "le fete de doudou" ,I went in the afternoon after all the fun had ended to Mons to meet up with friends who had been there during the craziness.Including my "newie" Jenna from Australia whom I have never told yall about, but is a super cool cat and I am apparently resposible for her in some way since I am her oldie (even thought shes two years older than me..but eh.)and also Kendie who is equally awesome and wears cute dresses,and Sergio a columbian who isnt in the picture but is a super great guy.

Tuesday My good friend Halima and I spent the best day ever together. and I mean best day ever.It was beautiful out the sun was shining we saw a good movie did some good shopping (new dress from H&M - 20 euros and sandles which yall will see pictures of while I am in Praha and some belgian knic-knacks from here and there ) and just hung out. Je te KIFFE Halima! Halima wrote me a note saying that "Charleroi seemed sunnier with me" ,but I think the sunshine comes with her not me!

Today was my Last Exam . I capitalize the 'L' and the 'E' because it was almost as important as the "Last Supper".Or atleast in my mind.It was History and I gotta say for someone who DID NOT study at all I did well.Actually even compared to those who did study I did well.I didnt study because Ive been busy Belgiuming it up the past mont

My teachers all know I have tried this yeah and more importantly I know I tried because I wanted to try to A)learn french B) Try not to be totally behind next year in class and C) If i didnt study I think my brain mightve been turned off you know...use it or lose it.After exams I went to the park with some of my girls. Next month I'll be posting a video of Steph telling an awesome dreamstory.We talked took pictures and ate frites.Perfect Belgian Day!

NEXT BLOG :

I am going to Prague tommorow after a barbeque organized by my history teacher for my history class.I'll be in Prague for five days.

I Love my mom

2009-06-12T11:52:00.001-07:00

My mom sings me a shirley classic!
Bet she didnt know my sly skype saving methode.

mom.wav - Mommy Barrett

Life.

2009-06-12T02:03:00.000-07:00

Par le vitre, le paysage defile

Sitôt vu , sitôt disparu.
Le paysage défile.
Il n'y plus de temps pour le regretter. -MULPAS

To Do list
Math exam Wednesday
History exam Thursday
History class party at noon Friday
Leave for Prague at 4:30 ish p.m
Prague until the 24th Monday
Marinas B-day sleepover the 25th-26th
Brussels the 30th Tuesday
12 days
London the 13th Monday
15 days
Go home the 28th of July
hug everyone
spend time with everyone
and then in no particular order
SAT
JOB
CAR
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH
FINISH TWO YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL IN ONE

But all I can do at this moment is stress.I cant hurry up and get anything done on my list now. there is nothing I can do except soak in a tub of anwious waiting for everything to happen and be hella fun all at the same time.

Breath in. Breath out.

Mandee Barrett

Jittery June 2009

2009-06-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

I go to Wissas July 13th and get home the 28th.HOME HOME.

Yeah, Jittery doesnt quite explain it.

I've been freaking out about taking pictures of everything since the lasts days of school are passing me by.I've been trying to stock up on my souvenirs and all that. Whats left for me in Belgique? Exams,Prague,Marinas sleepover,England.HOME.Ah!

Going to district conference tommorow.Wearing skirt.Will take pictures ; ) .

XOXO,

Mandee

2009-05-17T01:36:00.001-07:00

Guess who finished her rotary presentation?!

Mandee

View more presentations from guest2283f2.

Allemagne - May 2009

2009-05-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

May 9th and 10th

I don't know what the weather looked like in Arkansas or whereever it is youre reading this from May 9th and 10th ,but I can assure you it wasnt as good as in Germany!

(Photo:Worlds biggest cukoo clock at Wiesbauden)

May 9th Freddy,Carine,Eva, and I headed off to Germany right after attending Evas Fancy Fair.Which is a school show we might call a spring sing were all the kids dance.Eva did a little ditty to "Mamma Mia" with her class.SUPER CUTE (as Eva always is). so got in the car.We made pretty good time especially considering that we hit 30 minutes of trafic to get around a plane that had hit the road at Liége.We made it to the German hotel something called "the yellow flower" or something else silly in english.Freddy and I walked in to get the room Fred had bought online. We were at the wrong hotel.So then we drove to the good one unloaded our stuff and headed to lily's.

Lily is Freddys long lost ,but refound cousin. A couple of years ago her son ,Sunny, called Freddy to tell him he had a cousin they found eachother.Freddy and Lily are Croatian by blood and they went on vacation a while ago there.freddy had apperantly been to her house a couple of times because he knew how to get there without the GPS.Even Eva knew what gate to open to get to lilys appartement.

Lily is a fun lady.I know this and I have never even talked to her.Why not?she only speaks German. Freddy speaks a little German and Carine a little less but understood just as well.Me? NIEN!But Sunny spoke English so we got to talk and he translated while Lilly read my future in my coffee cup ! SO COOL.
(Photo: Freddy, Dog ,Lilly ,Lillys hubby)
Sunny is a cool cat too. He writes and likes sailor moon. His english accent was so adorable.Sometimes I just wanted to pinch him!

The next day we went to Wiesbauden.The city of my birth and my golly it was B-E-A-U tiful!I'm gonna go back.I have to!After a long day of walking around this town we went to the airforce base where I was born.We didnt go on base (We couldve if I wanted) but the lady at the gate told us the hospital I was born at no longer existed.All I really wanted was to like know I was in Wiesbauden y'know? and I was. COOL

So then we said goodbye to Lilly and headed home. We got home at 11 and I didnt sleep in the car and I had walked around all day so I was super tired going to school the next day was REALLY hard.

sorry about all the CAPS I did in this post.Thinking of the perfect adjectives is hard so that'll hafta do.

Mandee

Mellifluous May

2009-05-04T07:20:00.001-07:00

April 21st I moved to Farciennes to be with my 4th and final host family.Dominique and Cecilia are my parents and I have a younger host brother Thomas who is 10 and Cedric who lives across the street.

This weekend Thomas was ...communion-izfied?Yeah, okay, communionizified.So,Sunday morning we went to the church, and him and the 5 other children that were also being communizified were communionizified.They've taken classes called cathichism ( No,really, I didnt make that up ) and they sung a sung and read scriptures and took communion.

That took about like 30 minutes and then everyone went to their individual parties.thomas' party was pimp and it took an extreme amount of work from his momma all weekend. The Communion was for 30 minutes and the party after lasted until like 11 at night . Fun timesss.

Next weekend is GERMANY with Freddy Carine and Eva. Gonna go check out my roots and all that.Headed off to the motha' land.(I was born there ,dummy) So, Ill be inserting pictures and info plus tard.

Then what? The 21st and 22nd is congé from school.

XOXO,

Mandee Barrett

Je KIFFE cette photo!

2009-04-26T08:05:00.001-07:00

J'ai fait des bonnet rwochje

2009-04-15T01:39:00.001-07:00

mm M , fait le petit grenouille

Originally uploaded by mandeebarrett

April 4th started a grand adventure.I left the house with Daniel Henriet who is my rotary guy.The Henriets had been ever so nice as to invite me skiing in the south of France with them.After being told MANY times by MANY people stories of exchange students breaking bones or turing into vegetables on ski t

rips either in France or in Italy ,I was nervous.But, I am certainly not the girl to not go on an adventure just for a silly risk like bone breaking or vegitable becoming.

So we headed out.The ski trip was with Daniels wife,dominiques, work. Here, you can plan a trip with friends family or an organization and take a 'car' just about anywhere.I,the daughter of Daniel (Gwen), and her girlfriend (Justine) , Took the bus and Daniel,Dominique and their daughter took the real car. In the 'car' there where about 40 people on the bus including young people who,littl

e did I know, would turn out to be really cool buddies for a week.

I am skill a horrible skier but I got better The pictures will speak a thousand more words than I could ever say but they also missed out on alot too.

Calvacade:Sadly,going skiing meant missing calvacade (carnival in my town) . It last a week and i missed all but the last day which was yesterday if was a super fun day.

First off I met peter and Julie. Peter and his wife are from england and he is the authour of 'ali le zebre' which is a book privately published by him and written as a birthday present for his wife.The story is about peter, who loves football but hates the glory of it all.He doesnt follo big teams just ones who wear black and white and have good followers.He travels the world meeting new fans and making friends who include Pascale and Freddy fans of the charleroi sporting team here in Belgium whos mascot is a Zebra.On there way back from home,Peter and Julie are in the airport and a little zebra ends up catching thier heart and endsup going home with them to live in england.

The story is more about this too cute for words zebra coming into their home and adapting to a life outside of the airport gift shop.

Freddy is my host dad and so he had a copy of this book in which Peter has made a small dedication and even signed.I read it and really did fall in love with this little zebra fella. And was super hyped when I found out I'd get to meet Peter ,Julie and Ali the characters from the stry for real.

They tuned out to be great people in 'RL' and we hung out during calvacade which was awesome for....

Fireworks

Happy people

Cute kids

Nice music

and an UNEXPLAINABLE ambiance.

Calvalcade and the gilles in general are hard to explain.There is alot of folklore and culture and fun wrapped into it. If you want to know more you should buy me a cup of coffee at books a million sometime and talk about it.It needs that much of a setting to get the whole picture.

Fred alwys jokes around about how Obama is visiting europe at the moment but he is missing out on Calvacade.It really is a shame.

SO the pictures are flikrd so click here to see 'em

XOXO,

P.S. I GOT ALL MY PLANE TICKETS! ENGLAND-DENVER-ARKANSAS, HERE I COME!

P.P.S not looking foward to leaving just having the dates lets me plan and be destressed.

Mandee's March Madness

2009-03-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

This is Amelie Notomb and some of my friends.I had written a long blog about the whole day at "foire du livre" in brussels but somthing happened with blogger so it disappeared into Internet crap land.Needless to say I don't want to type it again.Just know that it was a STELLAR day.

Mons I went to mons the 20th with my history class.Its a really historicy town architechturally speaking but has some really cool super new space looking buildings in it that my hitory teacher kept making comments like " Its a question of taste!" about. I loved the old school/new school idea- and thoght that Mons was a buidiful place.There was also lots of sun that day. My history teacher gave us a tour in the morning and we pretty much had all day to shop eat and play with all the people I really like from school ( My history option class - 5éme C pour la vie ! ) This picture is me and sarah hugging the poles at the train station.

The next day I went to Waterloo with Monique ,the wife of Elie, a rotarian whose house I was staying at for the weekend.Waterloo is a monument on the-you guessed it-battlefield of Waterloo. Its steeep hill with steps up to it leading to a lion ( who is holding a globe in his paw and is apparently keeping the world in order so another battle like waterloo doesnt happpen again).When I put the 's' at the end of 'step' I meant it! There are 226 stepS leading up there.If my legs werent throbbing already read on for what I did the next day!

Durby adventures is this HUGE park of like white river rafting and rock climbing and tree hugging kind of stuff.The Rotex in Belgium planned a day there for all us inbounds.We did 4 high ropes courses, a big 'ol zipline ,and a maze. High ropes courses were super cool! I loved every minute!The zipline?In-freakin-credible! The photos of me on the zipline will soon be up on my flickr but for now my bruised knees should do you over! Pretty ROCK-n-Roll , eh? Get it? ROCK and roll? Still got it.

Today is Evas' birthday! Shes FIVE! Can't belive it. My little girls growing up so darn fast! I painted her what my mom would call a prayer box and bought her some candy and a birthday pencil.I think I'm more excited about her being five than I am.It is always hard for other people to be as hyped as I am for things.

So that folks was March Madness.Not really a whole lot of madness going on I just like alitteration.Whats in store for April? absolute awesomness and assonance! No,really, I'm heading to france the 4th of April for a week to go skiing and then I'll come home to go to carnaval with the Kovacics and after I'm moving to my fourth and final host family the Violas !

FDL et abonnement

2009-03-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a really super day and you just wanted to Blab about it , but when you got home and had someone to tell and/or got to your blogger login page you had nothing to say? I really like that.Nothing over the top humongorius happened.Just happy.

Dont worry I wont get all hippy dippy or philantropical on you, just saying i'm happy. Is that alright With you?

I shouldnt have said nothing good happened because good stuff is happining.Got a bus pass.headed to a big book fair thing this weekend.Its the annuel "Foire du livre de Bruxelles" and I cannot wait. I'm buying a new journal and might just permit myself a few books if I find nice prices and from the things I've heard about the festival-I will.

Also, I got a bus pass.I really like taking the bus, but paying 40 euros a month just to get to school really got me thinking about how school really isnt worth paying that much to stand surrounded by little kids playing thier cell phne music.There's a french rap song that goes "ça fait mal, ça fait mal" 800 times and they replay it over and over.And somehow I am usually down wind from the smelly guy and a couple of inches from the guy who just put out his smelly belgian cigar.But thats just during the busy days/hours.So now everythings under control I pick the seats were no one can sit with me and I don't have to pay a but load.I got my Belgian I.D a while ago too.But, I'm wearing the same sweater! Ouch! Quelle faux-pas!

But nothing WHAM! spectacular happened just chillin'.

This morning a woman who works at the convienant store I go to a lot was all "So.. you enjoyed binche?" (reference to last post)

Carnaval 2009

2009-02-25T01:40:00.000-08:00

Oh man.

Carnival.Binche.Amazing.Pushed infront of National Television camera.Saw my 1st gilles.Pretty spectacular day.

Full video here : http://tinyurl.com/Mandeeatbinche (2nd video)

Pictures here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandeebarrettbelgium

Also! I've moved!Im at Freddies house now.If you are an avid reader (and I am sure you are ; ) ) You know the Kovacics already.But you well be hearing and seeing more and more soon!

XOXO,

I have the best friends ever

2009-02-12T07:48:00.001-08:00

BEST IDEA EVER
Originally uploaded by mandeebarrett

ARKANSAS:Brittany and Daily made this big project for my birthday taking pictures of people holding this sign It was great to see everybody that I havent in so long.so cute! The pictures of everyone are on flickr so you can check em out.

BELGIUM:My lunch table friends made me "take a walk to go check on something for mr surkol" / "oh I have to go pee come with me" / lets go look at the birds-they're BELGIAN!" So they could put the finishing touches on a card! Its super cute and they wrote really witty things inside AND I UNDERSTOOD!

So, yeah, Im seventeen.coolness.

Now that you know someone cool and foreign

2009-01-31T12:23:00.001-08:00

Holla
Originally uploaded by mandeebarrett

I reckon it's hightoime to drop some knowledge....

Tabernack -Canadian French- (exc.)Crap! (person)Trailor trash
Battachinkway- Italian(ish)- High five!
Nomjdajuii-Wallon (Fr-Nom de Dieu/Name of god) exclamation,if your Mandee or another cute American you use it in every way you can.It kinda gives me wallonian street cred..
kocham- I love- polish
Ya rhewm -add an extra "eeee" in there and yell it out when you see a hot guy on the street.Make sure he isnt Turkish or he may understand.If you know what I mean.

American freak

2009-01-22T09:49:00.001-08:00

New photos

American freak
Originally uploaded by mandeebarrett

click the link on the sidebar Ameriiican freak.This is just a quick post to say hi and that I am alive!I am just as bad of a blogger as I thought I would be.But I have a journal full of stories I cant wait to reread and share with Arkansans soon!

On the 17th my host Rotary club hosted a Soiree American fundraiser thing.It ended up being a lot of fun! My BFF's Freddy and Joël were there and said sweet things to me that I really needed to hear! I hung up a big ol american flag (and a little one that hid a sign that said "no playing music in this location" ) and hung out with rotarians all night.

Oh and then Joël hit me! repeatedly!No, jk.but really-he pushed me around in this game and slapped my dang hands!They were red!like lightning!Joêl also has a cute little family like Freddy-his with wants to come to Arkansas and when I said she was welcome anytime I meant it!

and Eva-
I love this little girl I need to remember to take pictures with her. She is Freddys daughter and I just love her to DEATH.Whenever I get all "omg i miss Cameron" ish I can just think about Eva. She asked Freddy If I could be her big sister! holy crap! yes I can darlin'! Ive never had a little sister! woo.I love eva.

Now im off to watch "a predre ou laisser" or french "Deal or no deal" .

3.1.09

2009-01-03T01:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a blog?It's super stressful.If you want to actually be updated email me and I will out you on my newsletter list.So much easier.

Vacation is almost over!actually it is over since it is Saturday and I start school again Monday so its not vaca its just a weekend.

They say that I have gotten over the hardest part of exchange.They also say the launguage is a piece of cake after christmas.I gotta tell you all night christmas day I was thinking "Do I speak french yet?How 'bout now? and now?".

Also, I suppose I will tell you about Christmas.The traditions here are pretty similar except for christmas wake-up-ion.You spend all night eating and talking with family and at midnight you give everyone 3 bisous and say "Merry Christmas!" and then present time like usual and then talk time and then bye bye time.It was really fun and the food was yummy. I spent the wakeup-ion with the mom of my host dad Jacques and christmas lunch with the mom of my host mom Laurence.I ate stinky cheese and didnt want to hurl!I think I am acquiring the taste-does that make me european yet? Being able to say "Oh thats an acquired taste"? Hope so.

New years was bizarre.My friends Steph and Sarah who you can see on my flickr invited me to spend a quite new years just hanging out somewhere.Somehow I got taken to a bar.Sarah helped me shorten my dress to just above my kneees because Steph said I looked "sisterly" and "nunish".Then steph makeuped me.I didnt quite understand how I got in. apparently some bars let 16 year olds in but someone on the street said this one didnt.I danced with steph and sarah and a group of stephs friends and at midnight every body yelled and gave bisous.First and last night club I think though.Outside there was a huge sex store and I saw a sterotypical hooker.Not quite the place I call a good hang out but ,hey,Europe.

X-mas, New years, What else is there to know?Oh I need to know about yalls Xmas' and New Years.

Also 3 days until January 6!
January 6 is the Birthday of Phillipe and of Miiiiiike!
It is also my official one year birthday with Rotary!
On Jan 6th of 2008 I was nervously walking into two day interviews in Little Rock!
Just look at all the exclamation points!
Ahhh!
I love birthdays!

For my mom and sister!

2008-12-12T06:15:00.001-08:00

ROCK BLESS YOU

2008-11-09T02:02:00.000-08:00

Good morning and rock bless you!I say that because it was the name of a rock festival I went to last night.

I dont feel like typing anymore.

Love ya's

Belgian mentality

2008-10-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

Belgians are fun people.I think a really good word for them is nonnationalistic.They will be the first to tell you why their country doesnt work and why their weather sucks.But,they would never think to leave.Belgians stay in about the same neiborhoods for the most part and have friends that went to like birthing class with.

They say that their country is having huge issues with the lingusitic bariers seeing as there are 3 official laungages (which I think should be changed to four because people who speak one of the offical launguages first also know english but not one of the other laugages-get it?)But I dont see a large problem there because as trandution technology(the ability to throw on headphones and have whatevers being said to you trannslated in real time by a real person) strenthens the problem weakens.

They also say that the weather is horrible.Up until the last weak Ive been going to school in a shirt with a pull over in hand and rarely wearing it while the others are bundled up like the michelin man.I think if you think you are cold you are cold.They say that it only rains when the work day is over and it is good weather during the work day but I have found just the opposite.Perhaps I am a good weather fairy to this country because its been good for the past 3 months.Silly belgians-gotta love em.

Right now its SNOWING.love it .love it .love it.

2008-10-05T02:10:00.000-07:00

Tuesday is the day.I promise I will start a super cool photo project for the blog and my scrapbook.PROMISE.I want to spend the whole day taking pictures of things that inhabit my every day life here in Belgium.I wont be doing it Moday because I am out of school for a strike.I do really like school but breaks are pretty fantastic.

In my history class I have to write what americans would call a thesis or super long detalic paper on some subject in history and it is our choice.My history teacher is a really nice guy and I think he doesnt expect me to do work-when I turned in a test in which I had only answerd one question ( What is the definition of histoire?L'histore est la discipline de qui etude la passé des hommes et presents une tableau de leurs porteés sociale) he was impressed.Well, I was too but most of my teachers think I'm pretty stupid.Anywho the thesis, I am going to do " The history of Belgium and The history of the states-a comparason. Even though the teacher doesnt think Im doing it I am so going to rock it.

So, to do list:

Super cool picture project
Rock out in History

When the dogs bite...

2008-09-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my new favorite things :

Frites with Riche sauce
Manneken Pis
Gauffres
NUTELLA
Dinant
Namur

I have some new pretty pretty photos for you to look at including some new crafty goodness :)

Quoi du neuf ?

2008-09-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm missing out on everything in the states! So - Quoi du neuf? Whats new? I want to know everything! Email me with who is dating who , whats on TV , where you went today- It may seem like a boring email to you but to me it is really good to feel a wee bit connected.

Sorry, if I dont respond to your Emails yall, I pretty much just have time to E-mail mom and MAYBE blog and that is about it-but she like raised me so I owe her a line everyonce in a while.BUT I will get back to you I pinky promise!

P.S.
Having Mandee withdrals? I'm sure you are! Be sure to take a peek-a-boo at my photos because thos are quick and easy to update.

24th day - You need to update too missy!

2008-09-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

I havent updated in a while and my inbox is bombarded with family emails of concerns.So allow me to clear the air and answer some of the questions that I got from the few emails I was able to skim.

Where are you? are you dead in a ditch? have you been kidnaped by aliens? are you really just at brittany's house?- (quote from my mom)-Belgium.no.no.no.

Have you started school? How is it? - I have started and boy, is it different. So many little tiny things are different that I notice something new everyday.Chalkboards,advertisments,whiteout, it is ALL different.The people are so nice and really goofy ,which I dig alot.

Laungage-A lot of the kids take english and can say things like how are you what is your name what do you think of belgium, and thats really helpful for when I dont know a word in a sentence I can act it out charades style and they know enough english to get it.But, when they can't guess it it is pretty awkward since I spent all this time doing like an interpretive dance for nothing.

What do you do with your days? - I am in BELGIUM! It doesnt matter if I am exploring Brussels or on the couch reading "femmes aujourd'hui" ,a belgian magazine, I am discovering new exciting things daily.And it is all fun.tommorow though I am going to see MAMMA MIA with some kids from school which should be fun - Pierce Brosnan speaking french. YUM.Actually, EW he is like old.

I love you all and wish I could update more.

I made it?

2008-08-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Its hard to update with these tricky french keyboards but I will try .

I still dont belive I am here,I kinda always thought my exchange would fall through but it didnt it worked out.weird.

I decided that I want to make lots of money so that when I grow up i can buy my mom a house in england or a cabin some where or a big house in Alaska...or maybe all three to try to make up for what she has done for me.I love my mommy.

I also am loving belgium.I think everything in Belgium is sweet.the chocolate, the beer (not that I have had any mom ),the people,even the air.Everything is sweet.

Pictures: I will put up pictures after the first because I have used all my allowed space on flickr.

schools monday

Photos ,Photos ,Photos!

2008-08-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

All the other exchange kids are doing it!

My Rotary Corner includes all things Rotary.Gifts ,flags,papers,nametags etc..

Pins - I dont want to giva ANY awys but I guess I will have to part with a few of them

All the clothes I am bringing.also three pairs of jeans and a business suit.

These Calendars serve as Planners and when I am done they will serve as scrapbook pages -best idea I have ever had.

Pre-depart overview (August 5th)

2008-08-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

I have the wierdest feeling right now.Through all of my exchange preparation process from January 5th and 6th of this year when I went to interviews and untill recently I have been drowned in FEELINGS like never before.Nervousness,intensity,excitement,sadness,anger,confusment,fatigue.My thoughts have been on Rotary for the past (excuse me whilst I check the calendar) seven months.But now,recently I am so peaceful about it all.Leaving family and friends and familiarity for a year to live and breath Belgian and speak FRENCH doesnt feel so dang scary.Sorry for the emo rant - its just a pretty big deal.

Friends & Family- I miss them already I am sad for every minute I am at home and Cameron (my nephew) and I arent playing. I feel guilty about leaving him.I like to think I make him happier than anyone else.

Host Families-Have I told you how much I love my host families?No?Let me just say I love them a bunch.I appreciate them so much and I cannot thank them enough.The E-mails I have recieved from them have been so nice and in a video call to my second host mother and host sister she said this

" Mandee tell your mommy that for the next year I will be your belgian mommy and will take care of you for her!"

HOLY CANOLE! how sweet is she?! I just welled up a bit there!Also, in her beautiful Belgian accent (which is beautiful by the way) she sounded so ..so...sweet!No other words.My first and third host families have said such nice things through E-mail.I cannot wait to be welcomed to their homes! Did you notice all those exclamation points? there were a lot. excuse them,I just am very "!!!!" about them!

French-Man, my french is getting so dang good.It was decentish in school and I am sure another semester with Madame Robinson would have me at a higher level-but for sort of teaching myself for the summer I am doing well.I think I will be able to understand proficently and speak enough to say "Hey girl! Wassssupp" ("Salut coucou! Ca va?!" ).I have been lisening to so many french podcasts and they have been ultra helpful.

Rotary- I love answering questions about Rotary and their youth exchange program! It is cool to think about the fact that one person who reads my rotary youth exchange shirt and asks about it may tell their friend who has a daughter who would love it or something.At my Rotary club meeting a few weeks back a new member was asking me about it and told me that he would talk to his daughter (that I know ) and ask her about it and get back intouch! and then another woman at the district confrence picked up a hosting brochure after Hannah(Poland) and I had talked to her! It's incredible to think that I may have changed some exchange kids life by getting a mom to host him/her! People in Rotary do it like everyday in bigger ways!Rotary is reason #4of a bout a billion as to why I want to have an awesome position at a company!

This is a long blog -pardon moi!

Departure

2008-06-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Wow so this is pretty much blowing my mind.I can't stand to sit and think about my exchange.

August 20th 7:30am.What will you be doing?Where will you be? I will be meeting my new family and friends at the Brussels airport.

On August 18th I want to TRY to go to C.H.S for what will be their first day of school.I don't know if it will work out but I am hoping
I will get to say goodbye.

49 days in the states people. fouurty dang nine.

Blows my mind.

ALSO FABULOUS NEWS HERE: I am going from LR Airport to another american airport straight to Brussels woohoo! No stops in like foreign lands whew!

Passport and AVHS

2008-06-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

WAHOOO

Ok so the picture isnt as good as remember with the whole billboard for a forehead fiasco and the huge zit thing. None the less it is my passport! Isnt it lovely?

In other news, I am looking in to Arkansas Virtual High School (AVHS) in which I would be able to take some classes that I am required to take in Arkansas yet will not be able to receive in Belgium. I think I will take Math and English through it and then take whatever classes I still need ( If I fail something in Belgium,which is inevitable) during my senior year also online.

There are two pitfalls to this If I do take these classes it may take away from social time in Belgium I wouldnt want it to and I think that it is possible for me to do I just wouldnt want to risk it

Building close relationships to host friends and family is goal #1

And also, my mother doesnt think I should take my lappy.I think I should.I think my lappy could work as a friend or a foe a tool or an obstacle.I dont know.

Wait, woah, Whats going on here!?

2008-05-01T17:21:00.000-07:00

Allow me to catch you up so far.I'm Mandee , and I'm headed to Belgium. Don't know where it is? Actually thats not uncommon at all.Whichis kinda sad since it's an AMAZING place.Or so I have heard.

So there it is in all its tiny glory. Thats it, the dark green speck.
Why Belgium?If you were an exchange student
coming to america ( ) where do you think you would

learn the most of american culture? NY, Dallas ,Chicago,LA all come to mind.They are melting pots of America.Belgium is in most peoples opinions the melting pot of ALL of Europe. I've also never heard one bad thing about Belgium.

But me getting this expierence would not be possible with out Rotary.

The world's first service club organization. It's this amazing group of people who just love helping. Which is all good with moi.

Wish List

2004-10-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

Wish List:

American Magazines
Pins
Arkansas Razorback stuff (the noes' are awesome)
100000 Euros would be nice.
American children books-Dr suess etc.
American young adult books
American DVDs