Report Quatre

This month has had several cultural experiences that will surely never be forgotten. But before we get to that I’ll just fill in where I left off.

My host mother returned from Egypt safe and sound, with stories to tell and a little gift for each of us. I received a red Egyptian soccer jersey. That weekend I got to play two soccer matches, one for the Junior team (age group up), and one with the “scolaires”. We lost with the Juniors, 4-2, but I scored my first Belgian goal! I then quite happily went on to win a game with my team the next day. A crushing match of 4-0 in an absolute mud pit of a field. I then of course went back to school. But only for two days, cause then I was off to Ypres to experience the Armistice they hold there.

It was just me and another Canadian the first day, then we were joined by some others the next. It’s hard to describe what I felt; certain amount of it was certainly a simple lack of capacity to take in all that I was seeing. To look at a well kept green space, looking at the simple beauty of the white stone, and know that over eleven-thousand dead men, some barely a year old than me, lay beneath my feet. We went to see the cemeteries by bike, the best way I think, though we ran out of time to go all the way out to Passchendaele. We came back just in time to grab a bite to eat, watch the parade, then stand with the countless others and listen to the ceremony beneath Menin Gate. That night we went back to another town to explore and stay at a youth hostel with three other Rotary students. The next morning we returned to Menin Gate to take part in the 82 year old daily tradition, of the playing of The Last Post. Once again the place was filled with people. Countless heads staring up at the countless names of lost soldiers engraved upon the walls of Menin Gate. After we stopped for a bite to eat then took the train back.

My next great experience was going to see the Opera of Liège. It was a Rotary event, and therefore jampacked! This was only made even more interesting by the fact it wasn’t actually held in the Opera house, but in an Opera tent. The actual Opera house of Liège is under construction at the moment. The show itself was La Bohème. I was very glad of this as it is one of the few that I actually roughly know the story of. It was extremely well done, with amazing costumes, great scenery and some great booming voices. But alas I was very, very disappointed at the end. For if you know La Bohème, you know, “MIMIIIIIIIII!!!”♪. It didn’t really happen. Not a good way to end a show. Nonetheless I had a great time with some great friends from all over the world.

Next great experience would have to be the Lutins hike. Scouts are a big thing here, and most do them or have done a form of them. Similar to the other one I did, it consisted of an evening, two nights, a day and a morning. All of these filled fun, smiles and laughter. Except for me. My Sunday morning consisted of much barfing and regretting every little snack I ate the night before, blaming each one for my sorry state. Putting aside the messy end, it was a great weekend that really helped with my acceptance among the little Lutins.

The next was St. Nicholas. Now this is celebrated in many different ways and places. It starts with little candies in your shoes every morning for a couple weeks at the end of November into December. This goes on until the day of St. Nicholas itself (December 4 this year) when St. Nicholas brings you presents and platefuls of candy. Seeing as I stayed at my third host family the night before then went back to my first the morning of I scored double on the candy front. The next celebration is at school. The Rhetos (grade twelve equivalents) all gate personalized shirts or lab coats depending on the school. They also prepare a big spectacular show with plenty of audience participation. But from the moment you get to school that day, they do something a little special. They chase everyone around the school trying to face paint/makeup on them. As I decided not to resist and rather embrace it, I got covered. The Rhetos then afterwards go for a party. It was one of the greatest school spirit events I’ve been to and only wish I could stay another year to be part of it.

The last big cultural experience was going Aachen to the Winter Market with Rotary. It was a beautiful day/evening, perfected by the snow and chilly weather. Oh, did I mention that, WE HAVE SNOW!!!!!!! TONS OF SNOW!!!!!!!!!! It’s irritating for the people here, BUT I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! But back to Aachen. It was great to finally leave the country, even though Aachen isn’t that far out. We saw many great artisan items, but unfortunately they were all too fragile, expensive, or non-European for me to justify buying anything.

Well that has been my most culture filled month so far I think, can’t wait to experience the next!

Hike... BLAAAAAGH!

Two weeks ago now, I went on a hike with Les Lutins. This is the scout group I am leader of. The name is rather unsuiting considering we did a total of zero kilometers of hiking. It wasn't even in the agenda. It was more like a fun two night sleepover. So the first night we didn't do a whole lot, just got everyone settled, explained a few things then said goodnight. The other leaders and I then went down to the kitchen to celebrate one of the other leader's birthday. Which was rather interesting as her birthday "pie" was in the car, and when Marie (chief leader) went to get it, Justine (b-day girl) ran after her because she didn't want hergoing out alone. So that meant I had to follow and try to distract Justine. Thankfully she dropped her cell and so I just leaned in and tried to seem really interested in the scratches while Marie sneaked the pie out of the car and intomy hands behind my back. We succeeded and it was a great surprise for Justine.

The next morning we started the main game. The theme for the weekend was superstars. So we created a sort of big version of Cluedo. They were told that Michael Jackson had died and that they had to find the killer, the weapon and the scene of the crime. They were all given lists of possibilities for each section. They then had to cycle through the leaders and complete a challenge at each one. If they succeeded (they all always did) they got the chance to suggest a scenario. Now the leaders had printed out little pictures, one for each possible option (except the correct options), that were then dispersed to the leaders. So when the kids suggested a scenario if they mentioned one of the pictures we had, we would show it to them, and they could mark it off as not the answer. This took up most the day and was very entertaining.

Later in the evening they all dressed in their superstar outfits for a name the song test and to show us their group dances and chants. Before that I had a rather interesting surprise. At suppertime we had mashed potatoes with sausage and applesauce. One of the other leaders took the big serving spoon and smeared mashed potatoes on my face. So I what I could, then wiped the rest off on her with a bisous.

The next day I was sick and therefore slept for the whole of the day. But a fun time nonetheless.

MIMIIIIIII!!!!!!!!

As the more operatically savvy of you have no doubt already guessed, this post is about me seeing La Bohème. It was another Wednesday Rotary trip. We all (and I mean all, the place was packed with exchange students) went off to Liège to see the Opera. My first thought of course, brought on by the misleading pictures of the Liège Opera that they showed us, was the we were going to a great, big and marvelous opera house. Turns out said "house" is under construction, and therefore we were arrived at a great, big and marvelous opera tent. When we arrived most of us hadn't eaten, so Diana (my oldie from Australia), Denise (girl from Mexico/Texas) and I went to find something to eat. We found a nice little panini/pizza/pasta/boulangerie just a block away from the "tent". I had one of the biggest paninis I have ever seen. Denise was still hungry after and had a hankering for some fries, something fairly common here. So quickly grabbed some fries and went back to the opera to make sure we weren't late. So there we were, waiting outside the opera, with our best duds on, eating some greasy, salty, irresistible fries. The looks we got were absolutely priceless.

The opera itself was great. The set was really well done and well used. As some of you may know, La Bohème is what the rock opera RENT was based on. It is very evident, not only in the names but in several of the scenes and songs. Though the dragqueens and drugs were a little lacking. Surprisingly, for an opera, it seemed short, possibly because the entire second act was Mimi dying. Which I had no problem with, the only problem I had with the entire show... was the ♪MIMIIIIIIIII!♪

Mainly because, it didn't happen. I waited the entire show to hear the famous last word belted out in an operatic splendour, and he didn't do it. Instead he did two little mimis.

But besides the horrible betrayal of my expectations, it was a great show and I would gladly see it again. As long as they assured me a real MIMIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!