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23/4/2012
So today I had my presentation for the French course that I do after schools on Monday and Thursday, which I’d been preparing for since late around last night. But it went fine, and I discussed things like culture, music, famous NZers, famous places, and top exports (seriously, I did). I answered the questions after the presentation okay, which were all about what was my favourite part about NZ, and things like that. After this, equipped with the old New Zealand rugby team jersey Nana bought for me for Christmas, I did the loudest, most sonically destructive Haka a white guy has probably ever done. As always, there were a few smiles, but that made me go harder and I think that the majority were kind-of scared by the end of it. I ended up losing my voice for 2 days after this. After French course, I left and caught the train with Nicola to Braine l’alleud, where we were staying at Devyons house the night. This was because tomorrow was ANZAC day. This meant we had to be in Brussels at 7 in the morning (a two hour train ride from Verviers). Donc, we had to find a
place to stay near Brussels so we could wake up at an achievable hour. We met Devyon there, and went back to her host families place, and watched a movie and ate dinner until we crashed out with exhaustion..
25/4/2012
Talk about New Zealand Pride ! today I was excused from a whole day of school to go with the exchange students from New Zealand and Australia to honour the sacrifice the soldiers from our countries made primarily in the first world wear and in Gallipoli. Catching the train early to Bruslles, I was on time and everything. However, chaos struck. I’d been sent the e-mail for the Auzzie students (which were in a separate tour for the morning – with limited seats in the coach). So I arrived, realising I’d gone to the wrong place. I rang Ash, who suggested my only alternative, was to catch a train to some obscure place a few hours away on train, to meet up with them after the morning part of the service. So I had no choice but to take this. After asking the ticket guy which trains to take (3) to get to this place, Chris came out
of nowhere and concluded the fact the kiwi blokes just aren’t the most prompt and punctual people out there. By the time we got to the place, it was raining and pouring, but we proceeded with the ANZAC celebrations, the laying of the wreaths, and the three anthems. The Australian was first, New Zealand second (which was the loudest, and most glorious because 1) the brass band came in and boosted the sound and 2) it’s New Zealand’s anthem). Jack (who comes from Australia), actually told me that he was so jealous of how awesome our anthem is. But that’s the only thing that New Zealand has better than Australia, apparently. Those of you that don’t know the guy, those are big confessions. After this we went and got some lunch, and were broken up into the Auzzie and New Zealand groups again, and went for a tour of the various historical sites of the Kiwis involvement in the First World War. We saw what was known as the red and blue line, a pretty significant part known to anyone who’s studied the first world war.
After this we all went and got a coffee and a feed, and the conclusion of the day was upon us as we all took the long train back home.
29/4/2012
Today was the day that all the exchangers would head off to Belgium’s biggest theme park, called Wallibi. This required getting up at the ungodly hour of 5:30, to get all ready to catch a train from Verviers at 6:30, because we had to be at the obscure location at 9. After three train transfers, we made it and stood at the gates while all of us who forgot the danm sheet saying we were allowed to go called our parents and checked that it was okay. Of course it was, and eventually we got inside and started riding like crazy. The first rollercoaster was called “Vampire”, and was the kind where you had free legs, and it was awesome ! I Ended up going around 5 times during the day. The queues for everything weren’t too bad, but the food was, so the petit pain Sonia made me was a very welcome addition to the day. Overall the rides were pretty good, but my favourite was this one called Cobra. The cobra would follow a twisty, loopy track, and come to a stop at the end, where it would then do the same track in reverse, such a weird feeling to what we were used to. There was also a vertical drop that almost made me see my lunch again. I really don’t like those things…
Then I took it upon myself to try the strongman challenge, to which the reward was a hat that I couldn’t resist but to win. I got 105 on my third strike, which was the best score in Belgium apparently… Nah but seriously, that was a deeecent score. Basically a tonne of rides, and once it was over, we all went back on our trains, and after a few well-deserved drinks in Liege, Back home.
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