Update...

I sent in my visa paperwork (finally), and the travel agent tells me it takes about 5 weeks to get a visa, while the consulate's website says one week. I'm hoping it goes through quickly and without any glitches. I can't buy my plane ticket until my visa arrives, and if it takes all of 5 weeks, I'll have a week and a half left before I'm supposed to arrive. Pas bien. So keep your fingers crossed for a quick visa and open seats on the plane!

I heard back from Host Family Number Two, the Cuyckens. They sent me pictures of their family, which is awesome! All three of my families keep telling me how excited they are for me to come, which gives me warm fuzzies inside (yes, I'm serious). My first host mom, Mme. Cartuyvels, told me that she's starting to work on my room, and she hopes I like it. I wiggle with happiness whenever I think of it!

I've been talking to my host sister, Camille, who is in Mexico with Rotary right now. She returns en Belgique on the 16th of July, so we'll get to hang out when I'm there, which is exciting! She's so sweet, and offered to help me with my French (I'll need it) as long as I help her get a better accent with English (she speaks 3 languages: French, English, and Spanish. Her English is better than mine!). I can already tell we're going to be friends. :)

I can't wait to meet all of the other kids going to Belgium. I've gotten to know a few of them already via Facebook (what would we do without it?!) and I love them. I can't wait to see what kind of shenanigans we get into en Belgique!

Bisous,

Mikayla