|
| |
 Abigail
(Abby) Borcherds
|
 |
2010-11 Outbound to
Belgium
Hometown:
Sebastian, Florida
School:
Sebastian River High School
Sponsor:
Sebastian Rotary Club, District 6930, Florida
Host:
Attert-Sure-Et-Semois Rotary Club, District 1630, Belgium
|
|
Bio
|
| September 10 "The rest of the
summer was a blur of hanging out with Math and her friends till we went to
the train station to pick up my older host sis Justine. She is really cool
and nice and is finished or almost finished with nursing school." |
| November 24 ""Well
turns out that’s where the red light district was so we got to walk through
there to get to his house. |
Abby's Bio
|
 Bonjour, je m'appelle Abigail Borcherds. I am currently 16 years
old, but will be 17 by the time I leave for Belgium. I am currently a
junior in Sebastian River High School. I moved down to Sebastian, Florida from
Massachusetts about five years ago. I live with my grandma, my dog Stich, and my
cat Kimi. I have two older brothers. Nick is 21 and Tavis is 17 years old as I
type this up. They both live in California.
In my spare time I like to hang out with my friends,
wherever/ whenever we can. I also like to read, listen to music, take random
pictures, and go online. I also like to write even though I have bad
handwriting, I will admit, but I am working on that.
I want to thank my friends for staying with me during all
this so far even though they think I am crazy for leaving to a whole new
country without knowing anyone there, especially during my senior year. So
of course I have to explain that it's a wonderful, exciting, and
door-opening experience to have. I think of all this will do to me, how it
will help shape me for the future and I like that I will be a part of
something as wonderful as this. I have Rotary to thank for giving me this
chance to go to a whole new country, make new friends, and learn a new
language. |
|
|
Wow
its been a while since I have been in Belgium but I wouldn't have it any
other way. But before I go off on a tangent about how awesome it is here let
me correct myself my brother Nick is 23 my bad I haven’t seen him in a
while.
So anyways on they way to Belgium I was on the 1st plane with Lilly also
from Florida ^.^ and we made it to Washington where we where the 1st ones
there but once people started arriving it was fun we meet a lot of others
and here’s a tip bring LOTS of pins you’ll need them trust me.
I’m gonna skip the plane ride and go to when we arrive and have to pass
through customs which was apparently much easier then Americas. Anyway we
pass through customs and have to find our way to baggage claim after we got
our luggage and some exchanged money we were ready to meet our host parents.
It was kind of a big confusion because we had people every where yelling
talking and looking for people it was like going to school and seeing
everyone again after like three years I believe.
When I found my host parents we stayed for a few minutes but then decided to
leave. Apparently my host mother always forget where the car is and we spent
about 10 minutes looking for it before we finally found it. On the car ride
home me and my host sister Mathilda who is currently on exchange in New
York, passed out since it was about 7am there.
Anyways on my 1st day after we woke up we went into town and went to a jazz
festival with some of her friends and got to listen to some decent music.
The rest of the summer was a blur of hanging out with Math and her friends
till we went to the train station to pick up my older host sis Justine. She
is really cool and nice and is finished or almost finished with nursing
school.
Later on after my 1st Rotary meeting which was at a gold course where I meet
up with an exchange student named Danielle who lived in California. My host
mom asked if I would like to go to an art festival and of course I said yes
so she invited Dani as well. It was really cool and in the next journal I
will post a link for some videos and pictures, once I figure out how to get
them off of my camera.
I also found out that RYE Florida is VERY nice to there exchanges some
people I have been talking to say that they don’t have the weekend
orientations just 2 day meetings and that’s about it. So just gonna say this
now I LOVE YOU ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE FLORIDA!!! <3<3<3
Oh also the Rotary weekend intro was very fun since I already made some nice
new friends <3 I am defiantly gonna stay in touch with them. But we could of
done with out having the girls on the 3rd and 4th floor while the guys got
the 1st 2.
I gotta say I am loving Belgium and am very happy I was chosen to 1st be and
exchange student and 2nd to even be able to go to another part of the world
and see and actually become part of that culture is very amazing.
Things that are different so far:
- Time here is a bit different because it is military time so that
takes a little bit to get used to but its not that hard.
- I hardly see stop signs there are mostly yield type signs.
- The measurements are different in gas, clothes, distance and weight.
- The CHOCLATE which is THE best ever here j'aime j'aime j'aime!!!
- The school here is different then the school I went to since the 1st
day of school in the beginning confusion because I found out later I
accidentally missed my English class but it wasn’t my fault the people
in my art class didn't have language then so they have Lang when I have
a free period not so bad and here people you have class with the same
kids basically all day except language and with my group its art of
something else I forgot. anyways I had 4hrs with no classes how cool is
that? cause a teacher wasn’t there and there is no subs here the it was
lunch and then it was a free period and I got to leave school campus so
I went with some friends to eat then hang out watching one of them fail
at Zelda on Wii. Then I only had one more lesson till I went home and it
was bio and I kinda understood what was going on since it was science
terms and we read a paragraph so its all good so far but I need to
figure some stuff out still and I get home at 5 everyday from school how
lame, but I love being a senior in a foreign school so far^.^
- The hippies here have really cool pants, and there are a lot of them
and most have dreads.
- Hugs to us is their kisses on the cheek so if you don’t kiss your
friend on the cheek its like denying them a hug and they get upset.
Well that’s it for now I will write more when I can ^.^
Salut ^.^ |
|
|
Salut!
Its been awhile but I have been very busy sorry bout that. Anyway here’s my
new update and its kinda all over the place I just put down my thoughts when
they came to me, so sorry bout that as well cause I’m sure I missed a few
things but oh well I’m sure I will remember later and I will post it with my
next journal entry. So have fun reading ^.^
Alright since I have French lessons every Tuesday and Thursday till about
11:20 ish and it talks me about 10-15 min walk back to school so on one
Thursday we apparently had class photos but no one told me so I wasn’t
dressed up or anything my hair was a mess and I was wearing a tank-top with
a zip up sweater. So when I got to school turns out I just missed the photos
one girl in my class helped so I could get my actual photos but you know in
America once we take a class photo we don’t want to do another one, one is
enough and if you miss it you miss it. So when I missed it I was sad cause
this is my senior year I wanted a class photo of everyone together my whole
6F, and as you remember we have a free period before lunch so we were all
just hanging out or left for lunch. But they surprised me apparently they
text-ed or told everyone to meet up again right before the class started up
after lunch cause a few of the girls told me to follow them and we went to
the place where the pictures where taken and I was surprised that everyone
was there. They even managed to convince the photographer to redo the photo
(the one with the theme) but with me in it, I was very happy and felt like I
was apart of the class ^.^
OK All Hallows Eve...where to start. I had nothing planed till that day
really Danielle from California invited me, Alyssa from Idaho, and Weston
from Kansas...we all call him Kansas, to go ticker-treating. So I arrived a
bit late cause my host mom works at night sometimes and just got up about
30min till we had to leave and we got a bit lost on the way there cause her
house confuses a lot of people who try to find it. Anyway I didn’t have a
costume so Dani helped me make one fast which actually worked out very well.
But since Kansas lives way up north he had to take a train so we walked to
the station all dressed up it was interesting we tried some houses but all
we got was 3 chocolate waffles for 4 of us.
Alright since I live down south I need a go-pass more then the ones who live
in liege or Brussels each go pass is 50 euros and every time there is a
Rotary thing up there (which most are) us few who live down here need to use
the pass to get there and waste all that money while people up there can
take the bus or even walk there and I think its unfair that Rotary cant pay
for the train tickets for the Rotary event at least for us down south cause
as it is we get about 65 euros a month 50 for the go-pass and the last 15
for my gsm (that’s what they call cell phones here) that's all my money
while the ones up north basically have 50 extra euros a month to use.
OK make sure you pack dress clothes, a nice dress fit to attend the opera,
and a suit basically for the guys, trust me its easier to have it, but if
you gain or lose weight it could be bad so I guess either have one or have
enough money to buy one.
Also time here is military time for the most part. On our gsms and other
appliances its all military time. Its weird but I was already kinda used to
it before I left so its not so bad as it could be. Even if you didn't know
of it before you can figure it out pretty fast.
I know of at least 6 bars with in a 5 minute walking distance from my school
and I’m sure there is more I don’t know about, and this is not even counting
the places that sell beer in like corner stores and other food places.
I have to take the bus home from school everyday and I live half and hour
away from school by car but by bus it is one hour and I can never stay wake
for the full ride I always fall asleep since its tiring at school with all
the work and the translating of everything.
ISMA was originally a monastery about 5 years ago but now its the school, I
think it looks kinda like a prison and its weird that it doesn’t have P.A.
systems, computers in the class rooms even for the teachers, no elevators
and really no cameras everywhere. It shocked me the first time I walked into
the school.
Also you know in America most people have there things packed and ready to
go once the bell rings to leave class? Well here they don’t some people just
continue working for a bout 5 minutes more then calmly get up and go to the
next class, and if your late by a min or so its not that big of a deal.
In ISMA my school which stands for Institute Saint-Marie d'Arlon, I am a
rhéto which is a senior. So as a rhéto there is a room for us to hang out in
with couches and a microwave for lunch and free periods which is very cool
in my books. Also, once every month we get to dress up in themes, one was
school uniforms and one is disco so its very entertaining. We also have a
drawing contest to make a design for our senior t-shirts but we have not
voted yet but soon we shall.
Say good by to a lot of food like: root beer, cheese its, Ramon, KFC and all
other fast food places but McDonald and quick which is a Belgium fast food
place.
My host dad had his birthday a little bit ago turning 50 so I drew him a
card with a cartoon train on it since he likes trains and got a Skype call
set up with his daughter who is in New York for her exchange. They haven’t
had a face to face talk since she left and since most of the family was here
they all got to talk to her.
Oh table tennis is a big thing here that and darts but I’m kinda sure on the
fact that its cause alcohol is or can be involved but don’t quote me on
this.
Ooh I saw frost on the ground on 16.11.10 here it was nice since you know
Florida = no snow but it hasn’t snowed here yet sadly and my host mom thinks
I don’t really get cold since I can walk around in a tank top in the house
and not be that bothered and the fact that everyone here dresses in like 3
layers but I just where me t-shirt and jacket and I'm all good, even Alyssa
from Idaho dresses in layers it makes me feel special that I don’t have to.
Since I’m in my senior year I have to look and sign up for colleges as well
as get dorms, room mates, appliances, find a job, and look for a car all at
once so its agh inducing but its do able I guess. OH I also didn’t take the
SAT back home cause I missed the dates so I also have to find the place and
dates here to take it. Its all confusing so I suggest you do it in your
sophomore or junior year or you gap year also works as well. But if you do
it in your senior year try to get as much as you can done before you leave.
And make sure your credits will transfer one girl here called the school
before she left they said they will transfer, but when she got here they
said they wont and she already has a college on hold and they wont let her
put it off even more so she was just gonna leave during Christmas break but
Rotary made her leave earlier like in September.
OK um in my French class there is this girl named Manju and we became
friends. She invited me to go to Brussels with her for the weekend to stay
at here cousins house named Léopold and hang out, I said OK, asked my host
mom and was aloud to go all was good. We left on Friday and I have the last
two hours of school free so I started walking down to the train station
early cause its only like a 15 min walk so I went. The plan was to leave
around 5 or so bur we had to put if off an hour cause she was working. So I
had to wait at the train station for about 3 hours not so much fun oh well.
Anyways when she got there we got on the train and talked for the 2 hr train
ride and got to know each other better it was nice. Then when we got the to
train station closest her cousins it was Gare du Nord which is the north
station. Well turns out that’s where the red light district was so we got to
walk through there to get to his house. After we got to his house we meet
his mom and turns out she is a theater person and does shows it was
interesting, she showed up when she and her group was coming near us so we
could go watch them. Originally the plan was to go with Léo to his friends
house for a party, but we were to tired so we ate dinner got a tour of the
house and ate dinner. The next day after we got ready and ate dinner we went
to a really cool indoor shopping thing, where the label people sell there
extra and minim damaged clothes to so we got stuff for a good deal like I
got a shirt and a zip up for 17 euros total very nice but Léo couldn’t go
cause he hurt his knee at a football game soccer). And then later that day
we went to a little thing students put to get here to raise money and stayed
there for quite a while. The next day his mom took us to Brussels where I
got a much better tour of it then I did with Rotary. All in all it was
really fun and hope I can go back again soon, remember always make new
friends and say yes to invites it will let you get more out of your year
abroad in a wonderful country.
OK last thing during on e weekend I stayed over Alex's house, his dad is in
Rotary and also extended the invitation. Since they live in the town over
its not that far and I could honestly walk over there and they invited me
over there anytime I want to or need to. When I was there the 1st day I went
with them shopping looking for a camera or a camera lens I’m not so sure on
which one they where looking for. Any way on the last day we drove up to
Alex’s university in Brussels and when we where there we dropped his sister
off at her sport meeting, she does the hammer? The one in the Olympics where
they throw the ball on the wire rope. Anyway after that me and the parents
had to drive up to Gent to pick up his older brother in the hospital cause
he went to I LOVE TECHNO but drank waaayyy to much and had heart problems
and got sent into a alcohol coma. So remember even though you can drink here
don’t over do it especially Rotary set a limit and if they see you break it
you will get punished and three times you get sent home. But anyway we went
back to Brussels to meet up for a late lunch where we went to this nice
crepes place. I had a ham, cheese, and egg crepe . It was like the size of
the plate. Then they tricked me into ordering dessert which was a crêpe and
ice cream, I thought it was gonna be like a scope and a rolled up crap or
something but no it was the same size as the other one with like 3 scoops of
ice cream inside of it with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on top. Really
good but wayyy to much. After that we went to the Hergé museum, he wrote Tin
Tin and others if you dont know it look it up it comes in many languages and
might even help you learn some of your new language. All in all a very good
weekend.
One last thing is DO NOT expect everything to be the same when you come back
to your home country because everyone you know continues to change. For me
so far I found out that a lot of my friends have split and no longer even
talk to each other, new people joined the groups, teachers and friends have
moved, peoples point of view has changed and most of all now that you not in
the same country some friends might tell you they never liked you or the
reverse and a guy (or girl) might say they had a crush on you. They get
courage by the fact that you are not there and wont be able to see you face
to face for a year.
Well then I'm off Au Revoir! A bientôt! |
|
|
Our
Districts
Aaron
Alayna
Alison
Alison
Alyssa
Amber
Andrea
Anna
Ashley
Austin
Autumn
Britney
Carlos
Carter
Casey
Celia
Chantal
Chelsea
Crystal
Devante
Ellen
Emily
Jennings
Joe
Kate
Katie
Mackenzie
Miranda
Quinn
Vanessa
Guido
Maria
Steven