8:49pm:oops! the sea... GILLES... ROME!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Rotary District 6110 Youth Exchange |
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Nickname | David |
| Foreign Languages | French | |
| Interests | ||
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| Birthday | ||
Students: To add a message to your travelogue, email the entry to vicki; she will put all entries online.
Note: Most Recent Entries Appear At the Top
| Date | Entry |
21st March 2004
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Hey! I haven't written in a long time...so here are the big things (and little things) that have happened in the last two weeks. LE SEA- I went to the sea a couple weeks back with my host family, it was WONDERFUL!! I was on the beach one night in the freezing cold, at midnight I think, with no shirt or shoes on and it was storming. It was such a wonderful feeling, as if all problems were lost in the sound of the waves on the beach and the rain on my head. We went to Brugge (lace capital of europe) and that is such a beautiful city! The day before we came back to our normal (wait..normal? riiiiiiight) lives here in Namur, we hopped over to Lille, France (the european capital for 2004) and went SHOPPING! Lol, it is a beautiful city as well, but no where close to the swans and churches of brugge! LE GILLES DE TAMINNES- A rotarian decided that it would be really fun to take me to this really cool belgian folklore in Taminnes. Little did I know I was in for a wake up call at 4am. We went there, watched them dress in their colonial costumes and started marching with drums at 5am. It was so beautiful. The festival is their 'carnaval' and it comes from Peru. It is a festival to make noise and wake up nature for srping. We marched and marched to the colonial airs untill noon. After that I was transported back home for some sleep and then picked back up at 6pm. We proceeded to march more where they began to throw special oranges soaked in wine at the crowd, at open windows, and especially at the well hosted american. It was a beautiful experience. ROMA, ITALIA- WOW! Last Wednesday I went to ROME for a day. It is an amazing city! Normally old ancient ruins are a little drive away from most cities, but these were PART of the city. We visited tons of things! The Vatican, The Colliseum, The Panthenon (not sure if thats right...parthenon? pantheon?), The famous fountain (not sure of the name), Place d'Venice, Place d'Espagne...and a million other things. Its a wonderful AMBIANCE! I am so glad that I got to go.. ROTARY- Friday night I went to a rotary meeting to congradulate our new president (the second woman president)to find out that I had been invited to go on a trip with a rotarians family during easter. You will never guess where I will be going..two weeks on the beach in SPAIN!!!!! It is going to be so great! I cant wait! Easter break starts The fifth of April and I will be there for two straight weeks! IM SO EXCITED! Rotary rocks!.. SCHOOL- school is school..what more shall I say? lol. School is actually going really well, Im enjoying it more and more each day. And we tend to be having more and more breaks as the year comes to and end. TANT PIS! FRENCH- What can I say? IM FLUENT! I love this language, and I tend to be loosing my english more and more...sadly..but its good for my french! Well, that has been the last two weeks for DAVE, I hope I can update more often, I will be changing families at the end of this month so I really dont know how often I will be on the computer there. Basically all of next month I will be traveling (spain and france) so I probably wont be able to update during the month of April, but I will update the night I get back from France. BISOUS TO ALL!! CIAO DAVE
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| 3/1/04 |
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SORRY
I am really sorry I haven't written in a long time, Carnaval week just ended and I've just began to recover. Here is a layout of last week. Friday-Sunday morning- Stayed at one of my friend's houses, we watched movies all weekend and acted like the americans that we are supposed to be. It was great fun. Monday- Stayed at yet ANOTHER friend's house and watched Shrek. We went out on the town at night which was alot of fun, and we met all the other exchange students and went to a club. Tuesday- (same friend's house) We made a really New Orleans meal for Kaydee's host family because it was Mardi Gras. Ani made a 7-layer dip, Kaydee made a fruit salad, vegetable salad, rolls, a cake and the frosting to go with it, and I made a Jambalaya and green beans. We had a glass of Porto and the dip for appetizers. We then ate the salads, the main course, then the cake. It was alot of fun and we decorated the table. We had California wine with it. Wednesday- I had a very nice meal and then went to stay at a friend's house in Liège. We watched movies all night, and fell asleep around 3am. That was alot of fun, I mean alot. Thursday- We got up around noon and went to go bowling but the lanes were all full. We sat around for an hour then went back to Jamison's house. I went back to Namur and crashed at Ani's house and slept till Friday Morning. Friday- Ani and I met up with some friends in Namur and we went to Sarah's house, stayed the night there, watched movies, ate pizza. Saturday- Stayed at Ani's house with yet more friends. We had some champagne and cheese and it was a fun night. Sunday- went home....slept..... That is basically all of last week. It was a wonderful week, and now it is back to school for me. Time to get back to working and into a sleep schedule. So I shall say goodnight and sweet dreams to all, whatever country you are in. BISOUS DAVE
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| 2/15/04 | : Weekend Bonjour! C David ici! This weekend was nice. Saturday night I went to the Rotary Valentine's Day Ball. I was alot of fun. We ate from three different buffets. One was typical belge, another was Hawaiian/Polynesian and the third was Morrocan. It was delicious. At about Midnight they opened the dance floor and everyone started dancing. It was alot of songs from the 80s and it was alot of fun. We left around 4 in the morning and everyone was really tired when we got home. It was tiring but fun nonetheless. Today I woke up around noon, which was really weird for a Sunday. I went downstairs and cooked all afternoon. I made jambalaya (sp?), stuffing, cornbread and brownies for my host family. THEY LOVED ALL OF IT! There is some left, because they aren't used to Cajun/American food. Nonetheless, the really liked my cooking. (Thanks mom, it's your Luisiana background). Well, I better go, I haven't slept alot this weekend and I have school tomorrow. Bisous DAVE |
| 2/12/04 | WOW! That is all I can say right now, I just got
back from a day in Paris, IT WAS AMAZING! We took an express train that took two hours from Namur and arrived in Paris. Whe we got there we went to the Ecole Hotelier de Paris. That was rather boring to everyone, but we were obliged, and either way, I was in PARIS! After that we took the metro to a unknown place, we were walking by a building and my host dad casually looks over and says "look". RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME was the Eiffel Tower!! I never thought it would be so amazing to see. You think that you've seen it enough in pictures, but there is no comparison whatsoever. After a 30 minutes awe-ing brake at the Eiffel Tower, we proceeded to take the metro to the Arc de Triomphe, which is gorgeous. We then went to a restaurant of a student of my host father. I ate duck, which I have began to LOVE. We were well hosted and given presents at the end. A PARISIAN CRYSTAL STATUETTE! Beautiful. Not only did this happen, but a really famous "gay icon" was there and all of the students were exstatic! I met him and talked to him for a while and he began to sing for everyone. It was wonderful. After that interesting show in the restaurant, we went to the Louvre, it is HUGE! We didn't have time to go in, but we at least saw it and that kept me in awe for a long time. After that we went around Paris looking at other things, buildings, statues, and whatnot. Sadly, we did not get to go see Moulin Rouge, but otherwise I saw everything I wanted to see. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen, and it's full of surprises! I must go to bed now, because even though I have had a wonderful day, I DO have school tommorow. I wish you all well and until next time...Bisous from Belgium. Ciao DAVE
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| 2/11/04 | Bonjour! Today I had planned to go to my first host parents home to visit them and see how they were going, but there were a few complications, so it turned out to not be a good day to do that. We decided that I would go Friday and I am really looking forward to it. SO, instead, I went to liége to see all of my friends. It was a great day, I saw two of the people from outbound camp (bisous a bekah et erin) and had an all around good time. Well, guess what? IM GOING TO PARIS TOMORROW!! My host father's school is taking a day trip to Paris and I am going with them. We are going to do a lot of things within that day, so I will be EXHAUSTED! It should be fun "qaund meme". I don't think there is anything else to say, I must go get some rest for my big day in Paris tomorrow. I hope everyone is having a great time wherever you are! Lots of love from Belgium Dave |
| 1/10/04 | WoW! Something really cool happened! At school we
had a day to help the belgian students learn english. And one of
the main newspapers in French speaking Belgium did an article about
it! And yours truly was featured in his own picture! Not only do I
have my picture in the paper, but I as well have a caption. Its
"David, d'Oklahoma aux USA, semble séduit par la Belgique et Namur"
which means, david from Oklahoma USA, seems charmed by Belgium and
Namur! I was really happy! I will try and scan the article and
send it in another email. I just thought everyone would like to
know! Otherwise everything else is going great! My new family is
wonderful, school is awesome, so my life seems to be on an up ramp
now! I hope to hear from everyone! Au revoir |
| 1/2/04 | CHANGE IS SAD!! Haha...tomorrow night I will be changing families...im excited..scared..and sad that im leaving this family...They've been here for me and fought so much for me Im going to cry when I leave...WAH!!!! well...not very much to say really..except I miss everyone :(... otherwise everything is going great...Ive really learned a lot over the break...about me...and other things...so I am going to make this the best year ever!!! |
| 11/18/03 | sorry about the freaking out with my last email...I
was really upset and all...everything is a lot better with my family
now...ive talked to her and we've worked things out...all is
well...must leave you now though...AU REVOIR
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| 11/16/03 |
HEY YOU GUYS!! i dropped off the face of the earth for a while
there but have no fear...IM BACK!! I would explain everything that
has happened since me last email but you guys would either end up
six feet under or pigs would start flying....haha...overall its
been insanely good...!! Host family isnt going so well though, I
cant go out past 9 and im constantly being compared to their
children...no matter how much I help around the house...no one is
greatful... :( I absolutely love the host sister but she comes
once every two weeks...she is the only one who makes me feel like
one of the family...and im not looking forward to me second host
family either...Im being put in a dog cage with this family...I
cant go out of namur with friends unless its a rotary
function...and...err...its just upsetting me...One of my exchange
student friends hannah/mum is helping me figure out what I want to
do about it...my rotary club is full of people who th ink the way
me host mum does and so hannah is gonna talk to her rotary
club...its all good...now that Ive shared that with
everyone...otherwise everything is awesome!!! except me "mum",
hannah almost died by choking on her drink when I made her
laugh...and I almost got hit by a car...haha...its all good
though...I might get to go to Paris for New Years though!! and the
aussi party is the 29th!!! im so excited!! tralala...me friends at
school are amused by my french and im almost fluent...I cant
understand some...or say some..but im finally living here!!!!!!
haha..well...i better get going...i shouldnt stay on the computer
this long....AU REVOIR!!!!
 DAV D"dont look for the sunrise, it only brings another day of pain" "The fool who said that is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all obviously has never lost what he loved.." |
| 10/10/03 |
EGADS!! yall havent heard from me in a while!!!! but i just wanted
to send a quick email that im still alive...talk to you guys when
im finished reading all 98 emails that have accumulated...ive read
58 now....40 to go...wish me luck!! BISOUS!!
DAVD"dont look for the sunrise, it only brings another day of pain" "The fool who said that is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all obviously has never lost what he loved.." |