Units of Energy, Tanks, Cow Pants, Bruxelles, and Polygamy

 Hi everyone. I'm really excited for this post. The past week has been amazing.

     

The first thing I feel the need to talk about is how nutritional facts are presented over here. It made me so happy to see the labeling showed above on a cheese container. Since seeing it, I have checked other sources, and have found that all nutritional facts in the EU are displayed this way. They have the courtesy to actually say that the units measure the amount of energy in the substance, they aren't lazy with the stupid Cal vs cal, and actually call them kcal, and to top it all off they decide to also show the amount of energy in kJ. Seeing all this information in SI is making me so happy!

  

    Now I fell like I have to include a picture of the tank I saw at a party. It was actually an American tank, because I took it outside of an museum of American military stuff. I thought this town was a strange place to have a museum of American military, but whatever. And for all of you wondering, no, I didn't fall of the tank, but that was because no one would let me climb on it. I probably would have managed to tumble if given the opportunity. 

  

     Now, at that same party is where I came into contact with the mullets and the man with the cow pants. I mean look at that outfit. I am sorry the picture is so blurry, but they would't hold still for me. They were too busy head banging. They were actually the second group to play. They were by far the better of the two. The first group was disappointing me a little to start out with, but after their attempt at Sweet Home Alabama, I was wanting to just leave. But then these guys took the stage and, well honestly, I couldn't care less how good their performance was. I'm glad it turned out well. Their Message in a Bottle was great! With outfits like that, and actually good performers, how can you go wrong?

     After this party, my week was pretty boring until I Thursday. It was then that we got together with all of the Rotary exchange students in Belgium (there are like 200 of us; in my district alone, there are over 80) and had a grand time. We got together and looked at the royal palace, the parliament building, and this big square. It was sweet. 

Random trio playing on the street. Made me happy.

Ceiling of the congress meeting room.

Awesome seal

  

Picture of the square thing. (all the people in blazers with pins are students)

     It was a pretty sweet day, and it got even better because it was when I joined my polygamous colt. Yeah, the Kanzinians are pretty sweet. I don't know home else to describe it.

Idaho, New Mexico, and Washington

 After that Thursday, we met with the Rotary students again, but this time just my district. We had our orientation weekend, and were subjected to a lot of rules and papers and what not. It was a fun time when we were able to talk with the other exchange students, but the rules were so boring. So, to pass the time, we went through the rules and found some of the most ridiculous things written. Here are some examples:

I guess dancing is a place here. I have yet to find it. It is probably pretty dangerous.

Pirates are never to be invited. That is so unfortunate.

While these statements are true, in writing they look ridiculous. 

So I guess any other age isn't a problem.

There was no caption with this picture and throughout the whole presentation they didn't
give any explanation as to why there was a picture of a dead person. We found it very strange.

      Those were the best examples we could find. Awesome right? I feel a little bad making fun of their bad translating, but the feeling goes away every time my attempts at speaking are laughed at. :-/ Ah well.

     Speaking of my speaking being laughed at, in the middle of writing this entry the house phone rang. I went to pick it up because I was alone and it might be my host family calling me. The person on the line launched into a string of really fast French (ok, normal speed French. It is still fast compared to what I can handle.) and in my most polite voice I told this person that I was an exchange student and that I spoke very little French. They said something that sounded like, "It shows," in English, and then hung up. I will say I was a little put off. It was a major factor that lead to me putting these pictures on the. 

     On that same line of thinking, I really want my French to get better. I know it is dumb to be getting so impatient at this point, but I am. I want to speak. I want to understand. I want to communicate. I know, it will come, but I want it now. Not being able to speak, to say something intelligent, is the most frustrating thing. All of this time with the exchange students made me painfully aware how little French I am understanding, and how much I miss talking to people. Ah well. I guess it is part of the process. I just wish it wasn't. 

    Like always, I am missing you all, thinking of you all, and wish you were all here with me. Have a great time starting school/work/whatever else you do when the summer is getting finished. 

           With love,

                  ~Weston Halberstadt