HANS & JEANNIE DEWAELE

Hans & Jeannie Dewaele

"L E A N N E"

Here's my story ...

I was born in Wetteren, Belgium. Wetteren is the town where my grand parents, Meetje and Peetje live. My father went to school in Wetteren and lived there when he was a child.

I have lived in five different countries sofar: Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Switzerland and now England. I was born in Belgium and stayed for 4 months. After that my parents returned to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I have few but beautiful memories from Saudi Arabia. I remember the house we lived in. It was in a beautiful compound with a lot of swimming pools. Even a baby pool right in front of our doorstep. I also liked the school very much. We had to wear a uniform and I learned to swim at school, Jeddah Prep, because they had a large pool. I even obtained a certificate for 100 meter distance.

When we moved to Romania I started going to the American School of Bucharest. In the beginning I did not like it so much because I was really missing Saudi Arabia. We stayed there all the way until I finished 3^rd grade.

There, was in Geneva, Switzerland. I really liked my school, CDL - Collège de Léman. I stayed there through 6^th grade and was enjoying the Middle School.

Because my mum and dad had to move to Algeria and there was no International School there I started attending boarding school in the UK, like my brother and my sister. Since then however they have moved from Algeria to Karachi, Pakistan and then more recently to Almaty, Kazakhstan so I am continuing to attend the St Antony's Leweston School, just outside Sherborne. As I am now in my seventh year at the school I am very well settled in. Three years ago Louise joined me from Sherborne Preparatory School, so we are together now. I miss my mom and home a lot. I am so happy each time she calls me. Sometimes I get to see Lawrence who is now staying alone at Sherborne Preparatory School, in the town of Sherborne. I only see him during exeat weekends or when we can go shopping in town over the weekend.

In May 2003, the other boarders and I went for a weekend trip to Cornwall, where we visited Land's End, the Eden Project, Geevor Tin mine and the lost Gardens of Heligan. We were lucky with the weather and managed to tiptoe into the ocean. since then we have also been a couple of times to France with school, Paris and the Normandy.

The occasion was the "Speech Day" ceremony at my school, St Antony's Leweston. I was among but a few who received a prize at the end of that year. The cup I hold is the yearly "Walters' Cup and Prize for Exceptional Endeavour", an award for the most outstanding progress achieved in the year. To share in this exceptional moment, Louise and Lawrence came over from their school to attend the gathering which the school organizes each year for all students and their parents to attend. It also earned her a mention in the school's "Newsletter". I am very proud of my achievement!

My hobbies are drawing and painting, arts in general. In Romania I used to do ballet and piano too but I have not had the chance to continue it. In school I get plenty of opportunity to practice crafts and arts. I was very proud when recently in school my dress was chosen as the "finale" to close the school's "Wearable Arts Show". This yearly event at the school is a fashion show to parents, teachers, students and guests to show off the quality of work the children at the school are able to put out. I designed and made myself a "white roses" short dress with an open back. It was modeled on the stage by one of my school friends who did a fantastic job of bringing out the true beauty of the design.

My works, the "Rose" dress and a necklace I made both have been on display at the school. I remember that a lot of people stopped by my work and were rather impressed. I was very pleased with the nice comments I received on my work. "Newsletter". I am very proud of my achievement!

Saturday June 23, 2007 was Speech day At St Antony's Leweston School and Sports day at Sherborne Preparatory School. My dad was on a busines trip in the Caucasus when on Thursday night June 21 Louise called him to say that both Louise and I would be getting a prize on speech day. So he decided late night to change travel plans and to fly to the UK from Istanbul on Friday night after his meetings instead of returning to Almaty and to surprise us.

Shortly afterward Louise receiving her prize it was my turn to go up and collect my prize from the hands of the school governor. I received the prize for the best results in Art this year. After the prize giving we went to Sherborne Preparatory School to see Lawrence and to go out for lunch and to attend the school play at Leweston. The next morning my Dad was on his way back to Almaty.