Report for May 2000

Hello to everyone, Well sorry I haven't written in a long time.

Because I haven't been able to use the Internet for a long time because exams here are starting in a few weeks and everybody is using the computers to write there research papers. (I use the computers at the local Uni).

Well let's see where to start.... I think I left off in my last report with changing into my 3rd and last host family.... ya that's it. Ok well the vacations have ended and it's back to school, but its not so bad now after my little brake, I came back nice and tanned because of all the tennis I have been playing. And in the 1st week we had two day party to celebrate the last 100 days of school everyone in the 6° years class (the seniors) dressed up in costumes, them old med-evil folklore.... it was really hard coming up with something without spending a lot of money... and after the school party it was very hard stay awake in order to go make our buses for our trip to Berlin, Germany with Rotary. And to start off with, it was so much fun!

We were there 4 days. But I think the toughest part was the11 hour bus ride there. Which meant we didn't really sleep and then we had to start the tours at 8 o'clock in the morning. So that meant for me and the two other exchange students in my school that we have slept only 6 hours in 3days... We were not a pretty sight! And through the 4 days we would get up at 630 am and go to sleep at maybe 1 am. It was very tiring but educational. Then it was all over... and my host parents came to pick me up from the train station at 20h. And then school the next morning! Aaaahh!

Then came a regular week, dance classes, babysitting, went to see a school play, taught a Spanish dance to my gym class, went to a couple of birthday parties and the it was the weekend!

And a one-day trip to Amsterdam! On Saturday since I was sleeping at a friends house, cos her dad was going to drive us to the train station, but then we woke up a little late. That her dad had to drive us all the way there...Woops.. Amsterdam to those that have never been there before, is

very beautiful... also its full of people.

Well then came another regular week....

Friday night I went to a Birthday party that didn't end but for me it did at 3 am when I went to sleep, because on Sat, those of us who were going on the trip to Paris had to catch a bus at 5: 45 am into town... Well we got it and then had to wait about a half hour for the Rotary bus to come pick us.

But in the mean time I think we all looked like bums sprawled out on the floor of the train station... We were a sorry sight. And with me providing the entertainment why well I was kind of arguing with my sister over the phone, I call to say hi and ask some questions I needed to know ... and I guess she really has missed me cos we go at it, well she does I just defended myself. Ahh.. My sister.... (I would tell ass that it was about but I don't want to bore you with the details.)

On Thursday May 25, a couple of my friends and me decided to go visit Bastogne's American Historical and Memorial centre, near the city Libramont. For no apparent reason then to just go. When we arrived at there (two hour's train ride and an hour's walk from the bus station in the pouring rain) we tried to figure out what holiday it was in the States. Because the nearby Army base was going to hold a ceremony there at 2:00. Finally after being pushed and bullied into asking one of the uniformed (English speaking) guards standing nearby, what holiday it was they were celebrating? We were told that it was Memorial Day Ohhhh. We decided to stay and watch (since we were going to miss out on all the BBQ's that we knew were going to be held back home, and we were going to miss). In all it actually was a very nice ceremony, the rain stopped as the 1st speaker took the podium and started again just after the last song was played.

Well the ceremony was over and we had to start walking back. And to our luck as we took that 1st step into the street, the rain started to come down hard! But a nice man, who turns out to be a General from the Holland army, picked us up and drove us into town. While we were talking in the car, he asked us the usual questions, Where were from, Why are we here And we answered. When I told him I was from Florida, he told me " Well then you saw the American ambassador

To Belgium at the ceremony, he's from FL," Wow. I did see the ambassador, only cos the podium speaker said it was him, and no I didn't know he was from Fl, but I didn't tell him that. So he asked us if we wanted to go to the city hall to meet him and have a drink .Of course we said yes, we were thinking that we would get to meet the ambassador take a picture with him and have free drinks, and that the bus stop was next door, and that's what pretty much was going threw our heads at the moment.

When we arrived we saw in the most apparent way that we should not be there. A couple of reasons why we figured out were. you have to have an invitation to get in, You either were dressed in your Sunday best or in full military livery with medals and all, and the toilets were free!

Well we didn't much pay attention to the guards at the door because the General was pushing us to go in and meet the Ambassador and the Mayor. But we had to wit until after all the speeches were given to take our pictures.

While we waiting we -me and my friends- were standing of to the side of the podium, behind some Constance and the Ambassador, we kept laughing because you could see that all the reporters Were trying to take pictures without us coming up in them Why well because I was wearing a bright blue and purple rain coat with my blue book bag and my friend Traci was wearing an orange one. Then we stated getting self-conscious because we could see that the security was coming towards us, but as they reached us the Mayer pulled us of to the side to talk with the Ambassador and some other people. Well after spending about 15 min there we all decided to go or we would miss our train home.

I'll wait until our pictures comes out in the papers to send you all a copy, ok.

Well that's about it from here, until next time.

§herrie C Foglia

May 23,00



	*Report for May 2000* *Hello to everyone, Well sorry I haven't written in a long time.* Because I haven't been able to use the Internet for a long time because exams here are starting in a few weeks and everybody is using the computers to write there research papers. (I use the computers at the local Uni). Well let's see where to start.... I think I left off in my last report with changing into my 3rd and last host family.... ya that's it. Ok well the vacations have ended and it's back to school, but its not so bad now after my little brake, I came back nice and tanned because of all the tennis I have been playing. And in the 1st week we had two day party to celebrate the last 100 days of school everyone in the 6° years class (the seniors) dressed up in costumes, them old med-evil folklore.... it was really hard coming up with something without spending a lot of money... and after the school party it was very hard stay awake in order to go make our buses for our trip to Berlin, Germany with Rotary. And to start off with, it was so much fun! We were there 4 days. But I think the toughest part was the11 hour bus ride there. Which meant we didn't really sleep and then we had to start the tours at 8 o'clock in the morning. So that meant for me and the two other exchange students in my school that we have slept only 6 hours in 3days... We were not a pretty sight! And through the 4 days we would get up at 630 am and go to sleep at maybe 1 am. It was very tiring but educational. Then it was all over... and my host parents came to pick me up from the train station at 20h. And then school the next morning! Aaaahh! *Then came a regular week, dance classes, babysitting, went to see a school play, taught a Spanish dance to my gym class, went to a couple of birthday parties and the it was the weekend!* And a one-day trip to Amsterdam! On Saturday since I was sleeping at a friends house, cos her dad was going to drive us to the train station, but then we woke up a little late. That her dad had to drive us all the way there...Woops.. Amsterdam to those that have never been there before, is *very beautiful... also its full of people.* *Well then came another regular week....* Friday night I went to a Birthday party that didn't end but for me it did at 3 am when I went to sleep, because on Sat, those of us who were going on the trip to Paris had to catch a bus at 5: 45 am into town... Well we got it and then had to wait about a half hour for the Rotary bus to come pick us. But in the mean time I think we all looked like bums sprawled out on the floor of the train station... We were a sorry sight. And with me providing the entertainment why well I was kind of arguing with my sister over the phone, I call to say hi and ask some questions I needed to know ... and I guess she really has missed me cos we go at it, well she does I just defended myself. Ahh.. My sister.... (I would tell ass that it was about but I don't want to bore you with the details.) On Thursday May 25, a couple of my friends and me decided to go visit Bastogne's American Historical and Memorial centre, near the city Libramont. For no apparent reason then to just go. When we arrived at there (two hour's train ride and an hour's walk from the bus station in the pouring rain) we tried to figure out what holiday it was in the States. Because the nearby Army base was going to hold a ceremony there at 2:00. Finally after being pushed and bullied into asking one of the uniformed (English speaking) guards standing nearby, what holiday it was they were celebrating? We were told that it was Memorial Day Ohhhh. We decided to stay and watch (since we were going to miss out on all the BBQ's that we knew were going to be held back home, and we were going to miss). In all it actually was a very nice ceremony, the rain stopped as the 1st speaker took the podium and started again just after the last song was played. Well the ceremony was over and we had to start walking back. And to our luck as we took that 1st step into the street, the rain started to come down hard! But a nice man, who turns out to be a General from the Holland army, picked us up and drove us into town. While we were talking in the car, he asked us the usual questions, Where were from, Why are we here And we answered. When I told him I was from Florida, he told me " Well then you saw the American ambassador To Belgium at the ceremony, he's from FL," Wow. I did see the ambassador, only cos the podium speaker said it was him, and no I didn't know he was from Fl, but I didn't tell him that. So he asked us if we wanted to go to the city hall to meet him and have a drink .Of course we said yes, we were thinking that we would get to meet the ambassador take a picture with him and have free drinks, and that the bus stop was next door, and that's what pretty much was going threw our heads at the moment. When we arrived we saw in the most apparent way that we should not be there. A couple of reasons why we figured out were. you have to have an invitation to get in, You either were dressed in your Sunday best or in full military livery with medals and all, and the toilets were free! Well we didn't much pay attention to the guards at the door because the General was pushing us to go in and meet the Ambassador and the Mayor. But we had to wit until after all the speeches were given to take our pictures. While we waiting we -me and my friends- were standing of to the side of the podium, behind some Constance and the Ambassador, we kept laughing because you could see that all the reporters Were trying to take pictures without us coming up in them Why well because I was wearing a bright blue and purple rain coat with my blue book bag and my friend Traci was wearing an orange one. Then we stated getting self-conscious because we could see that the security was coming towards us, but as they reached us the Mayer pulled us of to the side to talk with the Ambassador and some other people. Well after spending about 15 min there we all decided to go or we would miss our train home. *I'll wait until our pictures comes out in the papers to send you all a copy, ok.* *Well that's about it from here, until next time.* *§herrie C Foglia* *May 23,00*