Belgium (three months into my year)

So after a whole year of planning this experience, I have found myself in Belgium for a whole year. How that came to be, I have yet to think about that, but for now, I have too many other things in my head. All i know is that it was a good choice! When I accepted to keep this blog I did not know what i was going to write about especially now that I have so many things that I can write. I do not know whether I should state the good, the bad, or both. First of all, I want to thank all the people out there that have helped me be where I am right now! Without you I would not been able to embark in this life enriching journey.
What I say in this blog is going to consist of both the positive and the negative, but I want you to remember, no matter how much I talk of the negative, I would never regret studying abroad. I have already felt like it has touched me in a way that nothing could if I would have stayed in my city in California.
I have been here about three months and i sincerely feel like I was dropped in a different world. Compared to the USA, Belgium is a whole lot different! They have a good accessible transportation system! At home, I always had to beg the parents for rides but here I feel more independent and less of a nag! I have come to realize that the land I walk in has had a longer history than the land I was born in. I see all the perserved buildings dating back as far as Charlamagne! I do not see many buildings that were built long, long ago in the USA.
French has been a hard obstacle for me to overcome. When i first arrived, i found that my three years of french had been futile. I did not understand a single word my host parents said or anyone surrounding me. I was really overwhelmed when I met my host parents and I realized that I could not understand anything they said. I started crying because I did not think it would have been that drastic, but it really was. It was a weird greeting for my host parents, but I could not help it. They were really supportive, though.
Now, as I sit here telling you my story, I can safely say that I understand most of what people talk about now. The speaking is still hard, but I am not letting that stop me from speaking! People always tell me to slow down because I just talk and talk in french and sometimes people cannot understand what I am saying! I do not care, I still keep trying to talk! The more i try the closer I am to being able to speak the language well.
My host family has been really good to me. We have been through hard times and through good times together. Sadly, I have to say that I am changing host families. I never thought it would be like that, but not everything can be perfect, can it? According to AFS, we have personalities that are polar opposites. In my opinion, they are right. That has been the problem that has kept us from beign able to live together in peace. I did not want to have to do this but when you have no more choices but to move on, you have to pick yourself up and start walking. I really wished it would have worked with the first family, but all I can do is try to make it work with the next family. It really depresses me thinking of how hard it has been trying to fit into a family that was never really a right fit for me.
In spite of all the drama that has occurred with my host family, I can safely say that AFS did a wonderful job being there for me. I had someone to talk to whenever I felt down and someone else reassuring me that they will do everything possible to make this experience a happy one. I have also met other AFS students that I have formed closed bonds with. We can relate to each other so well.
My school in Belgium has not worked as well, but now that I am changing families I will be changing schools too. That will take some pressure off me. I think the reason my school has not worked for me has been the same reason even Belgians flee that school. It is considered the snobbish school of our town. People are very judgmental and very cliquish, indeed. I have met some people that have been so kind to me, but overall I have found that everything I seem to experience there is superficial. The teachers do not care if I do not feel part of the class. It is mean to say, I know, but I have to be honest. I also know that AFS is not going to stand and let me be in those conditions. It is a huge change for me but I know it will be for the better.
At this point I do not know what is going to happen. I have to wait to see what AFS has found for me. I am very optimistic and feel that now that language is not as big a problem as before I can live easier.

Fundraising for my AFS experience

My name is Lizbeth Tinajero. I am 17 years old and a junior at Salinas High School, CA. I am involved in many school clubs and extracurricular activities along with a rigorous schedule of classes. I really like to keep myself busy! When I put my mind to a goal I made for myself, I try to accomplish it, and I make sure not to forget about it and let it slip away. If I dont succeed i congratulate myself for trying hard and pursuing it until the end. If I do fufill it, I dont take it for granted, and I enjoy it 100% of the time.
I consider myself to be a very open-minded person! That is, I love to explore the world around me. I love learning about new cultures and am eager to taste new foods. When I heard about AFS, I was ecstatic! A chance for me to do just what I always wanted to do, a chance to learn from a new experience. That is why I am so eager to study abroad! Eversince I was little I wanted to travel the world. The destinations I would love to go to with the AFS program are either Denmark, Thailand, or Japan depending on who accepts me. I honestly could not make up my mind! With all the choices AFS offers, I started thinking about what cultures I was most interested, and that is how i came to choose Denmark, Thailand, and Japan.
Currently for fundraising, my mom and I are making a traditional Mexican dish, tamales, and selling them to school teachers, friends, and/or whoever we can find! I am also putting up car washes and trying to send out sponsoring letters! This is something that I really and truly want and will try to attain. I am not going to let money stop me from fufilling what I want to accomplish. I will persevere because all this hard work will pay off in the end.