Settling down

I've been very busy this past week with my host family!  I've met lots of new people, tried lots of new things and I have begun to settle down with my new "norm." We've been very active and enjoying the warm weather by spending most of our time outside biking, swimming, going to ropes courses, having BBQs and even playing tennis!

 Over the weekend, I went to a hot air balloon festival and it was spectacular!  There were over 60 hot air balloons flying directly over our house.  I often found myself jogging or biking over to the heart of the festival not even 3 km away!  I loved hearing the balloons as they prepared to lift up and the cheers of the crowd as every balloon took off.

My host brother, Flemming, host mother, Renate and I

Pefferlinge mushrooms!

We also visited the Saturday market, which was massive and had rows upon rows of fresh produce, cheeses, meats, and art- I could of spent hours exploring it! I love visiting the markets in cities because you really become a part of the community because you not only try the local produce and cuisine, but also meet locals and run into friends there.  It was quite exciting!

everyone's main mode of transportation...rain or shine

School doesn't start for another week, but I've begun meeting new people and friends.  My older host brother took me out several times to meet his friends and people attending my school.  I love meeting all new people, but at times it has been difficult because everybody speaks so fast and the conversations are often complex and confusing.  But it's much easier to talk to people in smaller groups in these settings because then they are willing to speak slower, making it easier for me to understand and also speak because I'm not so stuck in translating mode as well as I have a better opportunity to participate and speak.  But everybody has been so friendly and welcoming, which is a big sigh of relief!

The language is progressively coming along.  My vocabulary expands everyday from listening to everybody speak and word order is sounding much more natural.  All of this is also helping with me with speaking (although I have a long road ahead!)  But what's comforting is that almost everybody here speaks English.  So when I get confused or need help with figuring out how to say something, I am able to be helped!