Week 23... Special

Hey everyone,

Well this week I have had a few things happen. Both great and horrible. Lets start with the horrible. Monday I had to go to the funeral of a 17 year old boy that was a friend of mine here. So that was very hard ad not at all pleasant. Thats the horrible part of my week. Now on to the good part.


So Christine, Jean-Pierre, the boys and I went to Gent, a really pretty old city to see the sights. Well, it was gorgeous to say the least! I just cant get over all the old buildings and fortresses from before the middle ages! We visited this castle that is just in the middle of the town, it has been there since the early 1500's and is still in amost perfect condition! It was incredible to see. and it was HUGE!!

Also, there have been more people leaving for home so as a goodbye for Doug (a Canadian) a couple of us went to Mini-Europe. It is basically a 1:25 scale of every main attraction in all of Europe. So in a 2km radius you are able to see attractions like the Greek Parthenon, the French Eiffel Tower, the English Buckingham Palace, the Spanish oil rigg, and soooooo much more. Things from countries I didn't even know existed... It was really cool and took up a few hours of our day :D After that we spent the afternoon shopping in the Bruxelles city centre. It is gorgeous... I never tire of it...

this would be Stacey next to Big Ben (london) and the Eiffel Tower (paris)

(budapest with the leaning tower of pise in the background)

Next, a rotary couple asked if I would like to go with them for a weekend at the sea which of course I did.... well a belgian beach is NOT at all like an aussie beach!!! For a start, the water is GREY and the sand is BROWN and covered in shells!! But it was beautiful and there was a little reminder of home there (the red and yellow striped strip shacks) It was really lovely and I can't wait to go back there!

After that we went to get Sarah from the airport (my host sister at Christine's house who has been living in Adelaide for the last 12 months) So that was great and I now have someone at the house to speak English with! She is lovely and I can't wait to go out with her soon :D

Well that has been my week. I am going to go to Gentse Feesten sometime next week (probably on the weekend) and party like a rock star :D It is a 2 week festival with lots of music and good friends. Should be really good. I'll write again soon.

Gros Bisous

Jenna xoxoxoxox

(P.S Is this one long enough Daddy Dear???)

Weeks 20, 21 and 22.... I've been slack

Sorry I haven't written for so long! I have been going like CRAZY!

So since we last spoke I have been to the Czech Republic, two gorgeous places called Prague and Bohemia (yes where that gorgous expensive crystal comes from) We had a great time there and saw so much, from the never ending array of turn of the centuary buildings to the beautiful astronomical clock which depicts all the star signs along with the seven deadly sins. Every hour when this clock chimes there is a skeleton that nods its head saying "yes it is your time to die" and everyone there aparently has to shake their heads to say "no I want to live another hour". It is really cool to see.

When I got back it was time to get my other host brother Ludovic from the airport as he has been in the USA for his exchange year. We held a surprise party for him and he got the shock of his life when he got home and over 60 people came running out of the bushes in the back yard to greet him! (HINT HINT!!) hahah. It was a great day and I met a lot of people and more importantly, the host brother that I have only ever seen through skype. Also, I had the har task of going to say goodbye to one other exchange student whose year was finished. So off to Bruxelles airport for the tearful goodbye.

When that was done I came home and changed host families. So now I am back with my Maman Christine, Papa Jean-Pierre, Cyprien, Emilien and Gregoire. Their older sister Sarah comes back from South Australia on Sunday so it is back upto the airport for the 3rd time this month!

Well I will write more next week.

Till then, take care and I will see you all soon.