Only 38 days left...

Hi everyone,

this weekend was my last orientation meeting with YFU. This last meeting
was about going back home, how to adjust to your 'old life', how to deal with
all the changes that happened while you were gone, how to stay in touch with your
host family and the friends you made during your exchange year, and how to get back
into your former school life.

The whole thing made me thinking of a way to stay in touch with my host family and
my friends back in Houston. That is why I made this blog. During my exchange year I
made a blog called 'Anouks American Dream', to keep all my family and friends in the loop
of everything I did, without having to repeat myself a thousand times ;)! That worked out great
so now I am doing the same for my next adventure: surviving the first year as a former exchange
student and as a freshmen in college.

But before I leave, I still have some arrangements to make for my return. My host family is
amazing, but over this last year I received a lot of gifts. So now I need to find a way to get
everything back with me to Belgium. Considering I am graduating (again), I thought it was
a great reason for my real parents to come over, meet my host parents and see their only
daughter graduate again :). And with them coming, 3 extra (and most importantly) empty
suitcases come along as well! Hopefully that will be enough for all my stuff ;) but I'll
keep y'all posted of further developments. When I started my search for options to send my
stuff back, I did some research. But every major company was crazy expensive. Eventually I
had to come to the conclusion that it would be cheaper to take back more suitcases on the plane
then sending back boxes to Belgium. I am also donating some clothes to the Salvation Army,
but unfortunately it wont solve too much for me :).

Now that that problem is kinda solved, the only question that remains is 'what do you give your
host family as a momentum and a thank you'? Well, I have some ideas, but I am only going to
share those with you when I give them to my host parents and my friends. I guess y'all going to
have to week 38 days for that answer. But my advice is: you know what they like and you know
what meant a lot to y'all throughout this year. So trust your instincts, follow your gut and go for it!

The last 3 weeks of school are about to start tomorrow, and I couldn't be happier. I love it here and
everyone is amazing and sweet. My friends are as crazy as I am and my teachers are super helpful and great. But this is the second time I am doing my senior year and in 21 days I graduate again.
I am so done with high school and ready for college, but I am not ready to leave yet. I am going to
miss this place so bad. But hey, I'll visit as often as possible and well, I will never forget this year!

Stay tuned for more blogs!

xoxo,

Noukelz