By KAREN KOELLER

"Now that I have been in Belgium for a month, I feel that I have adjusted enough to my new life so that I can sensibly tell you how things are going. It was very hard at first for me, probably because I had always been such a 'homebody' and was used to having someone taking care of me. There were times in that first month when I wondered if you had made a mistake in choosing me. Now, however, I am finding a comfortable pattern of life here with my new family and though I still think of Des Plaines often, it is not with regrets.

"At language camp, I learned many things ‑ not so much Dutch, but a lot about people. It seemed as if all the outgoing people of the world had been gathered together. It was a nice feeling to meet so many people who cared about life and liked to go out of their way to be helpful. In New York we had a group discussion on prejudice and at language camp, I saw a lot of my prejudices going up in smoke. A boy who I would classify as the 'hippy' type, turned out to be unbelievably intelligent and friendly. My preconceived notions of Jewish people died after 10 days of rooming with one of the nicest girls I'd ever met who just happened to be Jewish. In fact, prejudices I never even thought I had were suddenly insignificant. I left Brussels with a little Dutch and a lot of friends.

"My placement in a family couldn't have been more perfect. Everyday I see more of my own parents in the Verwerfts. The father is extremely hard-working and does not do the talking in the family. The mother is definitely the strong personality and talks a blue streak. I am just beginning to get to know the son, Rob, who is 21. He seemed a bit skeptical and even resentful of me at the beginning: This could be because I was taking I the place of the American brother he'd had a few years ago. Now, however, I can sense a real curiosity about him and in little ways he is trying to get to know me. Like today - he invited me up to see his record collection which my sister Miek wouldn't dare go near. She and Rob do not get along well and Rob treats her like a child. My family is terribly Americanized and all of them speak excellent English. Rob

and Miek could pass for Americans any day. Still I find myself constantly answering questions about the U.S. and Chicago. I would have to be a walking encyclopedia because-some of the questions are so obscure. Everyone I meet is curious about my life at home and beyond a doubt the favorite topics of conversation are the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, and Viet Nam. I wish now that I'd studied a lot more about America before I left and yet I never could have anticipated the questions I'm asked.

"As I said, the Verwerfts are very Americanized. They subscribe to Time magazine and like to read books in English. Yesterday while shopping, Miek bought Jane Eyre. She wants to live in the United States and is terribly dissatisified with her country's way of life. Above everyone else, I believe her to be the most affected by her family's role in AFS. In addition to the boy that the Verwerfts had a few years ago, they have had various AFS students for weekends ‑ the last of whom just left July 13. Actually, Miek is a very lucky Belgian teenager from what I have seen so far. The Verwerits aren't nearly as strict as a lot of the kid's parents and they go along with most everything American.

"Last Wednesday, we returned home after a week of seeing the sights of France. Since the Verwerfts are no more than a middle class family, I saw a France that few American tourists ever see. We camped out almost every night and I learned how to make the most of nothing. To be sure I also saw the beauties of Paris, Versailles, and Normandy. The week was an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. Everything I learned in school at home seems to be coming alive for me here. It seems impossible that ‑ ‑ a girl from Des Plaines who could hardly afford to go to collegeis now in Europe. If I live to be 100, I will never be able to thank the AFS Committee enough for this opportunity that has been given me. It doesn't seem possible that it's a year already since I applied.

"I hope that I have given you some idea of how I'm getting along. I will keep in touch and continue to let you know how I'm doing."