The best way to spread Christmas cheer...

Whoa, where to begin? This past week was INSANE. Really, insane. I guess I'll start by saying that I cannot believe that it is Friday already and I am done with both VeCo (ha) classes and my internship. Now that's crazy. For the sake of brevity and the sanity of any readers, I will not account for every second of this past week. Here are some highlights...

Monday: Work, Laundry at Madou (always a good time), dinner with Evelyn

Tuesday: Class, "marathon" run through Cinquintaire, W Park, and the Forest with Evelyn and Austin (see pictures, I ran with the camera), dinner at Madou, Brussels Christmas markets at St. Catherine, Monk with Austin, Alayna, and Dave

Wednesday: Work, one last Happy Hour at Ralph's with all the Furman people, Dinner/ Cafe Hopping with Molly (I tried Christmas beer and it is really nothing special, just dark and oh so heavy)

Thursday: Run in Louise Park with Austin, Last Kathleen class/ Christmas caroling in French (yeah, it's true. tis the season?!), Last Palo class (and it was the best one all term, thanks to Jack), Family Christmas party at Madou + slumber party

Friday: Last day of work + champagne party in my honor! Aroma with Alayna, strolling through the Christmas markets, SUBWAY (a sweet, sweet taste of home); old brothel bar with Fiona and Mide, girls from Alayna's office (that sounds really sketchy and it is not). Be sure to ask to see my St. Nick's present... it is unbelievable.

All I can say is 'tis the season for lots of holiday fun and unfortunately, little sleep! Dad, if you read this, I promise I do my school work but I choose not to account for all those hours (for the sake of brevity...right? oui.). Anyways, I am soaking up my last couple days here, visiting all my favorite cafes, restaurants, districts, etc. I cannot wrap my mind around December 12, an end to this experience. Though I am ready, the reality of HOME (in just 5 days) has yet to sink in.

"Vienna waits for you..."

Each trip has a theme song, some even have playlists. Billy Joel happend to make my job a little easier this time around. Vienna is, in one word, enchanting. Strolling the long streets adorned with Christmas lights at night will make your jaw drop. I cannot imagine a better trip to end on!

I think we took Vienna by storm this weekend. KatyWynn, Eveyln and I arrived in Vienna a little before noon on Friday, making a bee-line towards the nearest Starbucks (I am really not obsessed with Starbucks, I promise. It is just a little taste of home and familiarity that we all long for). We relaxed for a minute before heading over to our "lodging." Nearly everything in town was booked this past weekend so we ended up staying in these apartments in the heart of town for 20 euro a night. It was a few stars short of the Ritz Carlton, but we could not ask for a better location. After throwing out stuff down, the three of us went exploring. We went through St. Stephen's and wander the Stephensplatz area before heading to Hofsburg Palace and the markets. The food at the Vienna Christmas markets was incredible-- pretzels, "pounch" (punch), mulled wine, chocolate covered strawberries, chestnuts, etc. We indulged! :) It was really cold on Friday afternoon, so we staggered our exploring with trips inside the Parliament building, Churches, and coffee houses to warm up. The Weiner market in front of the City Hall was really precious: they had a number in each window of the hall, like an Advent calendar, counting down the days until Christmas. They open their presents on Christmas eve, so 24 was the last number. We walked through the Opera and another Church, then to meet a friend of Evelyn's Dad. They were really helpful, pointing out things to do in the city. After that, we went to Einstein's for dinner and Cafe Landtmann for coffee and Apple Strudel (so good!). Then it was back to the apartment to chill and wait on David to get in town. Unfortunately, Austrians write their 1's like the letter "M" so when we tried to enter the apartment code, we punched in "M" instead of "1,1" and had to call for help. I must say, I enjoyed standing in the cold waiting for the lady who knew 4 words in English to come let us the the building. Oh, the joys of Europe!

The next morning, Evelyn, KW, Dave, and I took the metro out to Schonbrunn Palace. We spent the morning touring the apartments there and wandering the gardens. We returned to town, visited the Spittleburg market, then grabbed a bit to eat, and continued to explore. Dave and I went into three Churches in the Hofsburg district: St. Michael's, St. Augustin, and St. Peter's. We rejoined Evelyn and KW at Hawelka, another famous cafe in Vienna, then met up with Austin, Alayna, and Molly for dinner. After dinner, we strolled through the streets, then went to yet another coffee shop, Cafe Mozart for Strudel and coffee.

On Sunday we all woke up early and went to Hofsburg Church to see the Vienna Boy's Choir perform and by perform, I mean they sang one song and left. I must say that they were some of the cutest boys I have ever seen with their sailor-ish outfits! After Church, we grabbed a quick bit and went over to the Royal Treasury to see robes, crowns, jewels, and relics from the Holy Roman Empire. Some of the collection was over 1,000 years old... pretty incredible, I must say! Then, we ate lunch and Evelyn, KW, and I headed back to the airport to come home.

After this weekend, I am confident that I can tell you where most of the Churches and coffee shops are in Vienna. That's what we saw a lot of! We could not ask for better weather this weekend: sunny and warm for this time of year (40 degrees maybe?) but sadly, no snow. I am afraid I will not see any snow in Europe!

This week is my last full week in Brussels (yep, 3 days of work, 2 days of class, and 2 exams stand between me and Nashville, TN). Like, whoa! I don't have a lot of work this week, just preparation for exams, so I look forward to a whole lot of playing! What's in store you ask? Coffee at Aroma on the Grand Place on Monday, running my three favorite parks on Tuesday afternoon with Austin, cafe hopping with Molly on Wednesday, Family Christmas dinner/ Secret Santa on Thursday, maybe Brugge on Friday. Should be a fun last week!

"Y'all Know Stockholm?" "I LOVE Stockholm!"

Our first week in Brussels a friend from Atlanta who lived in Brussels for several years wrote me a facebook message with suggestions of places to go, things to see, beers to try, etc. during my stay. The detailed message overwhelmed me, leaving me unable to conjure up an adequate response. So, I said thank you, wrote a few more lines, then "I love beer." I guess I said that because she listed like 50 of the 487 Belgian beers to try. Who knows, "I love beer" is a great salutation, don't you think? Well, Taylor Hall signed on my facebook, read the message, and will not let me forget it. Three and a half months later that phrase continues to haunt me. I hear the phrase "I LOVE beer!" atleast 10x a week, some times even in French (Je aime la biere). Now we substitute beer for other things that we like, say for instance Stockholm, Sweden: "I LOVE Stockholm!"



Enough about beer and on to Stockholm... in short, it is incredible! I don't know if I liked it so much because it is unlike any place I have visited in Europe or if it is just an awesome place. Maybe both? The air is cool and crisp, the city is clean (no grafitti whatsoever), the people are friendly, English speaking, and inviting (a rare trait of people in Europe I must say) and it is on the Baltic. AND there are virtually no tourists! Boy, is it cold though! The sun sets at 3:00 everyday which made the 20 degree temperatures feel much colder. Originally there were five of us planning to go to Stockholm; however, only THa, Alayna, and I ended up going. We wandered around Old Towne where the Royal Palace is --- we toured the Palace and saw the crown jewels, royal apartments, and the changing of the guards. There are small shops and cafes scattered throughout the town and the a Christmas market was set up in the square. We spent most of Saturday afternoon wandering the streets, searching for coffee shops and warm restaurants to escape the cold. We ate dinner at a little restaurant called Jacobs that served excellent swordfish and a dessert with cloudberries (THa LOVES cloudberries).

On Sunday we set out wandering the streets again. Our ventures led to an island with a zoo, ship museum, an aquarium, and an outdoor musuem. We ended up in the aquarium looking at fish and cracks (see pictures). Alayna, THa and I really had the best time gallivanting the streets of Stockholm together this weekend. We did not have an agenda or a long list of things to see or do and I loved it. We wandered, enjoyed each others company and soaked up the beauty of Sweden. In short, " I LOVE Stockholm!" and it is hands down my favorite European city.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Half way across the world my family is gathered together at my Aunt Barb's, huddled around the den watching the Macy's Parade and NFL on TV, sipping on sweet tea and eating some of the most mouth watering food. I can picture it perfectly: Bob and Hayne are working on puzzles, Blake is flipping the TV between ESPN or Comedy Central, Dr. B and Aunt Barb are cooking, and well, I would normally plant myself on a couch and not move except for the occasional trip to the kitchen for more food or game of football in the front yard. Here I am in Brussels, Belgium where it is just an ordinary day: eating cereal for breakfast instead of a 1848 B and B cinnamon scone, sipping sparkling water instead of sweet tea. Though I miss my family, all the traditions and the fun, I am thankful to be here in Brussels surrounded by close friends and families. The past two evenings I hung out with a group of Furman friends on the London trip who are in Brussels this week. The Halls and the Solomons are taking a group of us out tonight for Thanksgiving dinner. I could not ask for more. I am blessed to be in Brussels. I hope everyone has a joyous, fun-filled Thanksgiving day! Love you all very much.

I must say...

Really, I don't know what to say tonight, but I know that for the first time in a while I really want to blog. There are days when you talk to your friends, even your closest friends and wonder if they actually listen, if they hear what you really say. I often think to myself, "Am I rambling?" "Does this even makes sense?" or "Do you even care or do you just nod and say 'ok' hoping that I will stop talking?" My friends in Brussels are some of the most caring, selfless, loving, and forgiving people I know. They are reliable, eager to listen, and counsel with wisdom. Yet, at times, I wonder if they truly hear or even understand me. Last week I wrote an entry for the Furman Brussels blog entitled "Carpe Diem." In the entry, I described how my experience in Brussels has taught me patience, flexibility, and spontaneity, that I cannot live by my agenda, expecting everything to go according to plan. More importantly, living in Europe for the past three months taught me to seize each moment and live it to the fullest, whether that means taking a day trip to visit Chartres Cathedral in France, skipping class to run for hours in the forest with Austin, rolling down a hill, or spending the afternoon people watching outside of a local cafe. I want to enjoy each moment, to live in each moment and not consume my thoughts with what lies ahead.

I must confess that I am a prodigy at the whole "Carpe Diem" thing, despite what my blog entry may suggest. Last Thursday I wrote those very words and now I find myself anxiously awaiting December 12, the day that I come home. In the past four days I allowed myself to slip into countdown mode, where all I can think about it what lies ahead which is crazy considering I have three whole weeks left! There is so much left to do, to see, and to learn before I come home. I poured out these thoughts and feelings at lunch today to several of my girlfriends. After a couple minutes of discussion and even silence, it was apparent that most of them did not understand nor could they relate. To be honest, I was a little relieved when one girl told me that she understood completely and actually felt the same way not because I wanted a pity party but the comfort of knowing that someone feels the same way, that someone understands. After 13 weeks the new-ness, the challenge and the excitement of everyday life in a European city has slipped away leaving feelings of frustration and even boredom. I do not find work or school overly stimulating and the things I enjoy doing most are often difficult to make time for. Really, these are all just excuses. I have exactly three weeks left in Europe. I want to rejoice in each moment, to enter it with a positive attitude and an open mind, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and not just another thing to check off my "to-do" list. Do me a favor and hold me to it. Even if you read this entry and do not know my experiences or even the feelings that I have right now, encourage me. I need it!

Bratwursts, Chai Lattes, and Nutcrackers?!

This past weekend "the sorority house" took a two day trip to Cologne, Germany. Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany, home of 5+ Starbucks, 1 Dunkin Donuts, bitter cold weather, a beautiful cathedral, and the best Christmas markets in Germany. Unfortunately, we missed the markets by a week. We did, however, visit Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and the cathedral multiple times. This past weekend was one of the most relazing travel weekends that I have experienced in Europe thus far. We had no agenda and no plans to visit museums or landmarks, we simply wandered for two days. Though skyscrapers, cranes, and signs of progressed are scattered throughout the city, it retained its German feel.

We spent Saturday afternoon exploring shops and the "old town" along the Rhine. That evening we found a bar/restaurant called "the washroom" that served a rather random but delicious array of food. After dinner we decided to skip the bars and clubs and venture to the English movie theater for a little taste of home. Really and quite surprisingly, the whole city was a taste of home with the all the American restaurants (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Burger King, McDonalds, Subway, etc.), entertainment (English movie theaters, American sports bars), and decor (yes, we say American flags flying outside in several buildings... strange). This morning we climbed 500+ flights of stairs to the top of the cathedral tower for the view of the city. Honestly, I felt like I was climbing the "stairway to heaven" because the stairs just kept on going. I ordered a very German dish, a bratwurst with potatoes, for lunch today. Talk about a man meal! Though I enjoyed it, I would not want to eat sausage on a regular or even semi-regular basis.

Last week was a little quiet around here with Evelyn in Copenhagen and Alayna in Paris with her family. Austin and I went to see Okkivil River (I know I did not spell that right) in concert on Monday night. I must say that my run-ins with America last week, ie hearing an American band, eating at American restaurants, and meeting Americans makes me anxious to come home. On Thursday I went to a press confrence for Esko, one of Duomedia's clients which was rewarding for me. I met journalists who write for magazines that I spend hours scanning each week, saw Esko product demonstrations, and even picked up a little souvenir (yeah, Duvel cut-out!). Fran came to town this past weekend and I spent some time with her on Friday night which was like a little taste of Furman. Oh man, all the reminders of home!

This week is really exciting with all the families here, Evelyn's 21st birthday coming up, and the London group coming. I cannot wait to meet all the families and see familiar Furman faces!

Chartres Cathedral (Check it off the "to-do" list!)

Most people, well, most of my friends, have a "Life To-do List." I suppose I have one too. I remember writing out a long list one day in high school Chemistry class, but I can't exactly remember what is on that to-do list. Everything just escapes my memory -- all of it, except one place, Chartres Cathedral. In 10th grade Western Civilization class Mr. McBride assigned us a paper on architecture and art in cathedrals and for some reason, I chose Chartres Cathedral. Pouring into my research, I fell in love with the rich history, Gothic architecture, sculpture, and stained glass in Chartres. Yesterday Evelyn and I made the trek from Brussels to Paris to Chartres to see the famous cathedral. From the outside it looks like an ordinary place, a place weathered by 800 years, a fire, and two world wars. But the inside offers a glimpse into the past, telling the story of Christ's life, death, and resurrection through sculpture, Bible stories and tales of the lives of saints and theologians like Thomas Becket on stained glass windows, and the story of a Christian's journey to Jerusalem through the Labyrinth on the floor. With 174 stained glass windows and over 12,000 pieces of glass, to say it is an incredible place is a bit of an understatement. The pieces of glass on each window are so intricate and detailed that it is difficult to even guess which story the window tells. Though the windows are beautiful, they were constructed with the intention of teaching the Bible and the stories of the Church. No two windows are exactly alike in shape, color, or design, which is remarkable to me. I could go on forever about this place but I really won't do it justice. Ask me to see the book or better yet, if you are in Paris, take a day trip to Chartres and discover for yourself the pioneer of Gothic architecture, a place where Christians have worshipped since 1194.

After our visit to Chartres, we walked from Montparnesse train station across the Seine, past the Opera House to Montmartre and the Basilique De Sacre Couer. It took over 1 1/2 hours on foot, but the journey unveiled undiscovered parts of the city to me. Definitely worth the blisters on my feet. After the walk, we plopped down at a bistro in Montmartre for dinner, soaking in the melodies of the wailing singer that resembled George from "The Wedding Singer." AWESOME. We wanted to document the moment but there was really no inconspicuous way to take a picture in the restaurant from where we were seated. Just let your imagination run on that one. OH, and there was a screaming child on our train car that morning. I say this because Evelyn and I sat down in our seats on the way back, heard a familiar sound, looked up and realized "the screamer" was back. What are the odds?! The same child, on the same car, in the same train, both ways. YES!

I just want to say that today marks...
- 12 weeks in Brussels
- 12 1/2 in Europe
- 4 weeks left of work (11 workdays to be exact)
- 4 weeks of class (8 days) + 1 week of exams
- 5 weeks (from today) I will step foot in the US :)

BIG things to look forward to...
- Cologne next weekend + Fran and Sims come!
- Evelyn's 21st bday
- Solomons, Halls, Parkers and Wynns come for Thanksgiving
- FU London trip comes for Thanksgiving
- Stockholm
- Vienna
- Christmas markets, Christmas beer, Christmas music
- London at Christmas time

The Holiday

Last week I had a whole week off from work and school and it was glorious! However, I definitely earned my time off after Friday's mishaps. The Belgian transportation employees decided to strike on Friday October 26 which delayed my train to work and my train home (really, what is the deal?! Go to work.). I left a couple minutes early to make sure that I made it back to Midi in time to meet my friends to take the shuttle to the airport in Charleroi. My train back to Brussels from Enghein, the town I work in, was the only train not cancelled. Thankfully it was only delayed by a couple of minutes so I made it back to Midi on time but I was pretty stressed by then. On the bus ride there Alayna looked at her ticket and realized that she bought an airline ticket for 6:30 AM and not 7:30 PM-- darn military time! Fortunately the plane did not fill up and she managed to get a seat on our flight.

We flew RyanAir, the cheapest, most hilarious airline ever. I will try to describe this flight as best as I can but it will probably fall short of painting a true picture of the chaos. They call themselves "The On-time Airline" and yet our plane did not leave until 45 minutes after the scheduled departure time. False advertising? I think so. Really, the plane is like a cattle car. They do not assign seats on the flight, so people form this massive herd around the gate, pushing and shoving to be first. If you make it through the gate alive, you walk outside to board the yellow and blue plane. Everything in the plane is bright yellow or royal blue, from the seats to the carpet to the attendants attire. There are three seats on each side of the plane, a total of six per row. If you are over 5'5" your life pretty much sucks for the next couple hours because you have to hold your knees up because there is zero leg room. There are screaming children and un-phased parents evenly dispersed throughout the plane so the flight is enjoyable for just about no one. There is advertising on the panels of the overhead storage bins and the flight attendants even sell lottery tickets during the flight. IT IS INSANE.

We arrived in Milan Friday evening, found the hotel, then ventured out at 11:00 to find a restaurant. We ended up at this place nestled behind vines and overgrown flower/shrub boxes with signs in pink and black, making it look more like an adult video store than a restaurant. The food was excellent and we actually went back on our way home. On Saturday morning we "trained" to Florence. I spent most of the train ride with my face pressed to the glass, admiring the mountains and the countryside. I loved Florence: the water, the architecture, the bridges, the museums, the food, the gelato, all of it! The city was much smaller than I expected and I am pretty sure that I saw every inch of the city in two days. I visited San Marco, Uffizi Gallery, and the Accademia museum. I saw famous art and breathtaking cathedrals but my favorite thing about Florence was sitting on the steps of Michelangelo Plaza at night, soaking in the beauty of the city at night. Confession: I ate gelato five times in my 2 1/2 days in Florence.

On Monday morning we left Florence and trained to Venice. Venice was like an adult Disney World. Glass stores, designers stores, overpriced restaurants, and vendors selling cheesy souvenirs were crammed in every square inch of the city. People just flooded the narrow streets. It was difficult to move, to walk any place took a lot of time and patience. Alayna, David, Taylor, and I took a gondola out at sunset and it was incredible to see the city from the canals. The gondola ride did improve my outlook on the city, but honestly, I really did not like it. We did find some cool trattorias(sp?) and cafes and I enjoyed my visit to Santa Croce.

On Tuesday afternoon we took the train back to Milan, then a bus to the airport, then a cab to the hostel. I felt like we were on a revolving door of transportation hopping for five days. By the end, both guys were sick and the rest of us were suffering from exhaustion. It was so tiring and expensive, but I would do it again in a heart beat.

We had about 18 hours to rest, unpack, do laundry, then repack for Amsterdam. Antwerp was on the way, so we spent the afternoon on a guided tour of the city. I felt like a zombie sleep walking and cannot recall one word that tour guide said for the life of me! There is no place on earth quite like "Am-Dam." The city itself is really cool and the waterways are charming, but after a couple hours of walking on the street you feel as high as a kite. "Coffee shops," bars, and sex shops line the streets. It is really unreal. We had a bus tour of the city one day and visited the Rijks Museum, Van Gogh, the Anne Frank house, and a diamond museum. We had a lot of free time, so Austin and I found a little park and ran in the rain one afternoon. Our last night there we sat out on a bridge with our feet dangling over the edge, singing along to random Alabama and George Strait songs at the top of our lungs. It was so fun. We did eat at a Mexican restaurant and a pancake place one day which satisfied two of my cravings!

That's all the "stuff" we did on holiday last week. It only took me 6 paragraphs to get to what I really want to say. I woke up really early one morning in Amsterdam, really early. Not knowing what to do I showered, wandered down to the lobby, curled up on a couch, opened the first page of my journal and began reading. I smiled, I laughed, and at times, I wanted to cry as I read all my thoughts, stories, and prayers from the past 10 weeks. I want to share an excerpt from an entry I wrote at the Madou laundromat on October 31, the day I came home from Italy.
"There is nothing more terrifying than spending five whole days with your peers because they see everything-- the good, the bad, the brokenness, all the things that you try to hide, they see it. They notice all your quirks, sense your frustrations, and learn to read you like a book. There is nothing more frightening to show yourself and yet, there is nothing more real or freeing. This past weekend my friends saw a glimpse of my heart, my true self and they continued to show me with love and patience. Perhaps our situation forced us to cling to each other and deal with each other's nonsense. Or perhaps it is the most beautiful picture of grace, of Christ's love, and of relationships as they are intended to be."

The museums were impressive. The cathedrals were breathtaking. The gelato was delicious, even on the fifth go round. What left an impression on me most, what I will never forget about my trip to Italy is the people I shared those five days with. I am so thankful for each of them, for all they have taught me, for the laughter, for the hilarious stories, and for the grace and love they showed me. I stumbled upon this quote while flipping through my journal that provides a beautiful image of friendship that I want to share:

"But Oh! The blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearless on any subject; with whom one's deepest and most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh ones thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, right as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with a breath of kindness blow the rest away." - from "A Life for Life"

Calling myself out.

After my last post I glanced down the column on the right side of my blog and realized I wrote a whopping 5 entries in the month of October. I am ashamed! Thus, the purpose of this post is to not only increase the number of October blog entries, but also to apologize for keeping all my readers (ha) so poorly informed on my whereabouts.

"I don't speak it."

"Ik spreek hem niet."
"Non lo parlo."
"Ich spreche es nicht."

Nope, I don't speak Dutch. Not Italian. Not even German. Every time someone ran up to Dad in the streets of Europe asking if he spoke English, he would look at them with stern eyes and bark "I don't speak it" in German. Just the mere thought of my Dad doing that in Paris is hilarious to me. It makes me laugh out loud, I must confess. On Monday at work Eddy handed me a story and asked me to translate it from Dutch to simple English. After eight weeks of work surely Eddy realizes that I don't speak Dutch, right? Ha. All I could think at that moment was Dad saying "I don't speak it." I did surivive the translation project thanks to freetranslation.com (I owe them a little promo after all the pickles that website helped me dodge in these past couple weeks). Anyways, today I prepared two articles, one in Italian and one in German to send to the translators. By "preparing" I mean converting the file from a pdf to a word document and then correcting all the errors made in the conversion process. I did not translate a word, because "I don't speak it!" (clearly)

After work today I met up with some friends at Ralph's for Happy Hour and then I "studied" while watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off with Alayna and Evelyn. It was some much needed chill time after a hectic three days! Or as Ferris says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and take a look around, you just might miss it." The Duomedia office party is tomorrow night in Antwerp so after class I am riding to the party with two of my coworkers wives and my guest (tbd) to the party. Oh and there is a pirate theme so everyone will be running around in costumes. If the evening is anything short of hilarious and "blog-worthy" I will be extremely disappointed... The only bad news is that we have to work a full day on Friday.

HOWEVER, 3:15 on Friday marks the beginning of my HOLIDAY! Yep, no school or work for 9 days. On Friday evening a group of us fly to Milan to begin our 5 day tour of Italy. This tour consists of starts in Milan (clearly), with stops in Florence and Venice before heading back to Milan. We come home on Wednesday and leave Thursday morning with the Furman group for 4 days in Amsterdam and Antwerp. Honestly, I am ready to be the "snappy happy" tourist again (if you don't know what I mean by "snappy happy" ask Shelley Prevost how many pictures she took in Europe). I am ready for all the adventures, the crazy/ridiculous/unbelievable stories, and the fun with friends.

I hope everyone is well! Love and miss you all! Keep the emails and letters coming, you have no idea how much it means to me.

Taking Brussels By Storm, Griswald Style.

The Prevosts re-invaded and conquered Brussels on Friday evening. After a week of traveling Paris and Amsterdam Mom and Dad returned to Brussels on Friday to spend the weekend with me before flying home on Tuesday. I am so jealous of their trip and all the fun they had last week. Too bad I actually have to work and attend class here! Last Wednesday a coworker informed me of a planned strike in France held by all employees in the transportation sector. That meant that the metros, trams, buses, and even some international trains would shut down completely for 3 days. Worried about "my ducklings," (I now officially feel like a parent after showing my Mom and Dad around, giving directions, selecting restaurants, etc.) I tracked them down at their hotel in Paris. Thankfully, their train was not affected by the strike and departed on schedule.

I met Mom and Dad at their hotel on Friday night and we went to Falstaff, a restaurant with Belgian cuisine decorated in Art Neveau style directly across from their hotel. Dinner was excellent. Last weekend we made big plans to go travel Belgium or go to Aachen, Germany but all of us were exhausted and decided to spend the weekend relaxing in Brussels. On Saturday morning I met up with Mom and Dad at their hotel and together we headed towards St. Michael's Cathedral. My favorite part about this Cathedral was the sculptures of each of the twelve disciples lining the columns. Under the sculpture was their name and a verse explaining who they were. After visiting St. Micheal's we went to Le Pain Quotidien for lunch, then wandered Avenue Louise, shopping. We stopped by an Irish Pub called McSweeney's that I absolutely loved before going to a little Italian place for dinner. The food was incredible and according to Dad it was one of the 5 best meals he has ever tasted. We plan to go back there tomorrow night before they leave on Tuesday. The Rugby World Cup Championship between England and South Africa was last night and we watched from their hotel room.

This morning we went to a little cafe for lunch before heading to the Military History Museum. I found this museum online, saw that admission was free, and proposed it to the parents. After we dragged Dad into shops all day on Saturday, Mom and I let him pick today's activities. He jumped at the idea of a Military History museum. At 1:30 we entered the museum. Three hours later, they kicked us out. Yep, we closed down the Military History Museum today. It was incredible: they had airplanes, tanks, a navy exhibit, a WWI and WWII exhibit, an exhibit on the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and so much more. Dad looked like a kid in a candy shop! He just ate it up, especially the airplanes. The museum looked cool online, but in reality it was just unbelievable. What I liked most was that it offered a complete picture of each war era, showing the machinery, weapons, uniforms, fashion, decor, and technology of that time. However, the perspective was very European and omitted much of the American involvement in the wars. We met up with the Kraemers tonight for dinner at a little cafe off Louise.

Sadly, I have to go to work tomorrow while Mom and Dad get to play in Brussels. I am jealous! I will meet up with them tomorrow evening after work and then head to our little Italian place for dinner. After their visit I am (1) well fed, (2) well dressed, (3) refreshed!

They're here!

Mom and Dad made it to Brussels early this morning. Thankfully, I had the day off work and could meet them at the airport! Trying to find your way around this city jet lagged and exhausted is really difficult especially with heavy luggage. We walked around Brussels all morning, to Brussels Park, the Royal Palace, Sablon antique district, Avenue Louise, and to the Rubens exhibit at the museum (which is so impressive, by the way). We ate dinner off the Grand Place tonight with Evelyn at a little restaurant. I thought about ordering mussels tonight but after further contemplation, I realized that was a bad idea. It was so much fun and I really cannot believe that I am in Brussels with my parents. Too cool!!! Tomorrow morning we plan to hop the train to Brugge for the day. This is so fun.

Alive and Kickin'

It has been a while. Unfortunately, I have 2 midterms today so this post will be brief and in bullet form.

Since October 2...
- Lane, Lauren, Reed and Russell came from Madrid for a visit! It was so refreshing see some new faces! Y'all want to come back? Tomorrow maybe?
- Gave a group presentation in French and mistakenly prepared 2/3 of the recipes for our French dinner. Oops!
- Scanned for about 15 hours at work. Do I hold a new record?
- The invasion is tomorrow. Yep, Mom and Dad come! Yay!
- 2 Midterms, 1 paper due this week. "Ain't no thing..."
- Ate at McDonald's, again. I totally hate McDonald's and have not been there since 5th grade but for some reason, nothing tastes better than McDonald's fries and a McFlurry!
- Evelyn made the best potato soup for a dinner party the other night! SO good.
- Found a Dr. Pepper at a market at the and of my street!
- Discovered a new park, Louise Park, and it is beautiful. Alayna, Austin, and I spent Sunday afternoon there (along with everyone else in Brussels).
- We had the best weather of my 8 weeks in Brussels this past weekend (low 70's and sunny).
- Missed my train coming home yesterday. Boo. No chasing involved, I just missed it by 5 minutes.
- Convinced Gary (Bar tender/Protector of the TV at Fat Boys) to put the UT game on the big screen after the rugby game. By the way, both underdogs, UT and France won!
- The leaves are changing here, a perfect excuse for me and Austin to spend the whole afternoon in the park. And that is just what we have done!
- Trading Spaces: Alayna and Austin move in my building on Monday!
- Found my new favorite restaurant. Come to Brussels and I will take you there! They have the best pain (bread) and spreads.
- Listened to a repair man sing outside my door as I type this post.

More to come, I promise!

Lessons from the Forest

Austin took me to "The Forest" this afternoon for a run. We took one of the metro lines to the very end, walked up the steps and found ourselves in a neighborhood lined with quaint houses and tall trees. A few turns and we were deep in the most beautiful, peaceful forest I have ever seen. Seriously, they carved out a pathway between the rows of trees and lush green grass and called it a park. Everything was so still, so calm, so natural. Who knew that such an incredible place existed on the outskirts of a congested city? Lesson from the Forest: some times all it takes is a little searching to find a treasure.

This past weekend I spent a lot of time in reflection, but I guess that is what seven hours in a bus forces you to do. I realized that this seemingly random group of students selected to go on foreign study is not so random. We each have a purpose, a reason to be here this fall. With that in mind, I thought about each person on the trip and what I have already learned from them. I am not saying that everyone on this trip is here to be my personal servant or teacher (believe it or not, it is not the Katie Prevost show... all the time), but that we have so much to give, so much to share with each other. That seems very profound, but it was cool to look around on the bus at each person and know that every single one has left an impression on me and some how shaped or impacted me in just these past seven weeks. Thankfully, our journey is really just beginning.

Normandy

Believe it or not, my computer did not crash last week. I have no clue how the week went by so quickly, but before I knew it, I was on a 7 hour bus ride to Normandy on Friday evening. My apologies for the lack of blogging last week.

After 7 hours on a bus, we made it to Bayeux, FR around 1:30 AM on Saturday. I normally despise car rides and annoy the driver with the "are we there yet?" and "can we stop to for a potty break?" questions every half hour. Surprisingly, I found this trip quite pleasant and really enjoyed the 7 hours of stillness. On Saturday morning we went to the Bayeux Tapestry, an embroidery that tells to story of 1062-1066, culminating with the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. We studied these years in great depth in History of England in the spring, reading several interpretations of the invasion. Thus, I probably appreciated this museum more than many of my peers. We also visited a cathedral in Bayeux before visiting Normandy and the German and American cemeteries.

Normandy was really cool, beyond anything I imagined. The cliffs overlooking the Channel were so steep that picturing soldiers wading through the water, scaling the cliffs, then finally reaching the top to begin the real attack was just unreal. Yesterday was a beautiful day, ideal for sightseeing. However, part of me wished that it we visited Normandy on a rainy and cold day because it was difficult to imagine the darkness, the destruction, and the blood stained water and grass on scenery so picturesque. Sixty years later, the grass has grown, the sea is clear, and yet the war's thumbprint remains. German forts, at least remnants of forts, scatter across the beach, surrounded by craters left by bombings.

The American cemetery was also very moving. There is a huge statue of a man reaching up toward heaven with an olive tree on the right and the left to symbolize peace (see pictures in photo album). After a long day of touring, we had free time last night to explore Bayeux. After dinner I decided to read in the hotel lobby before bed. It sounds silly, but I love to read and people watch and hotels are great places to do both. I spent most of the night greeting other guests as they came in the hotel and talking to a sweet couple from California.

This morning we drove to Caen (I think) to go to a WWII museum. Being the nerd that I am, I loved that museum. Walking the beaches, then seeing pictures of the destruction, and reading soldiers letters really makes the war a reality. Seven hours later, we arrived back in Brussels.

October 1 marks the beginning of my 7th week in Brussels! Time flies...

PARIS

What we did in Paris...
- EIFFEL TOWER at sunset and at night, while eating crepes. You cannot beat that.
- Toured the OPERA HOUSE, then ate croques at a bistro Aunt Barb recommended on Auber. It was fabulous.
- Saw Mona Lisa at THE LOUVRE. She's tiny.
- NOTRE DAME. The stained glass is beautiful.
- SEINE RIVER CRUISE. Total tourist trap, but I believe it is the best way to see the city.
-Walked through LA MADELINE, a gorgeous church. Surprisingly, it did not have a single stained glass window.
- Walked to the ARC DE TRIOMPHE.
- Saw the most incredible Monets at LA ORANGERIE MUSEUM.
- Walked through the JARDIN DES TUILERIES and observed a lot of PDA. Welcome to Paris!
- Walked Rue St. HONORE and saw a lot of expensive clothes that I cannot afford.
- Visited the LOUIS VUITTON store and left after 2 minutes feeling nauseated.
- Learned the CHAMPS-ELYSEES like the back of my hand we walked it so much. Oh and visited a McDonald's. A McFlurry never tasted so good.
- Watched Rugby with the locals and saw more kegs than you can even believe.
- Went to 3 different Starbucks. I know, I am a sucker. But every time I thought about how much I paid for my cup of coffee, I thought about a 2000 euro handbag at Louis Vuitton and stopped feeling like I was the consumer ripped off.
- Saw JORDAN GREENE!!! and spent some quality time with her.
- Wandered through vendors selling art on the streets.
- Got the name and number of a French man. Don't worry, Dad, it is just Ahmad, the taxi driver.
- Started planning my next trip to Paris, any takers?!?

Friday...
Alayna and I made it to the train station on Friday at 2:45, leaving us 1 hour 15 minutes to purchase trips on the metro and check into the hostel before meeting Jordan, Whitney, and Kim at Pont Neuf. We don't have a printer so neither one of us printed off the hostel confirmation (mistake #1 of the day). Thursday night I googled the hostel and wrote down the address and phone number so we could find it on Friday. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes at the information stand in Gare du Nord, we approached the lady asking her for metro jumps and the name of the stop closest to our hostel (because I was unable to find it the night before on the map). Well, this woman did not even try to listen to our question, she just kept saying, "I don't understand, I don't understand." I mean, really, her job is to provide information. Perhaps she is under qualified for her position since she could not open her eyes and read the map in front of her. Thankfully, a man came out of no where (really no where), translating our questions to French and insisting that she help us.

So, we made it to the hostel metro stop and started wandering, map in hand. We walked a few blocks and decided to turn around because we did not see Rue Crimee (my call and it turned out to be a bad one). Poor Alayna had this oversized Vera Bradley bag that weighed 600lbs and bulged at the seams. The 80 degree weather made the search for the hostel even more enjoyable. We made this huge circle and finally hit Rue Crimee at #14 and we needed to make it to #219. Thankfully the walk was downhill. When we walked past the street that I made us turn around on at #200 I could sense Alayna's frustration. She admitted later that she wanted to kill me at the moment. So, we finally made it to Hotel Balladins only to find a metro stop right in front of the entrance (that sucks, huh?). As we walked up I thought to myself, 30 euro a night can really get you a nice place in Paris...right. Hot, tired, and irritable, we stumble into the hostel and gave the concierge our name. He frantically searches through binders to find the reservation. After a couple minutes he turned to us and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have a confirmation for you." Wish I printed that confirmation... Thankfully Alayna brought her laptop and the lobby had WI-FI. Too bad that we could not get on. By now it was well past 4 and I started to stress. Then the man says, "Are you sure it is this Hotel Balladins? There are 4 in the city." Why on earth are there 4 hotels with the same name in the same city?! He said we could have a room for 90 euro a night at Balladins. What was he, crazy?!

We left Hotel Balladins at 4:45, hauled all our stuff to the Metro pissed and unable to call the girls to tell them that we were late because they don't have phones. At that moment we decided it would be better to go and meet the girls then figure out the hostel thing. Alayna texted David and Austin and asked them to look for the correct hostel address on the email confirmation. We made it to Pont Neuf at 5 and thankfully, the girls we still sitting there waiting on us. Moments later Austin texted us the address and phone number of the hostel and for the first time that afternoon I felt relieved. We were now with friends, French speaking ones, and even had the correct address of our hostel. Our next move was catching a cab to the hostel to drop off our stuff. It took a while to find an empty cab and when we did, the driver said Hotel Balladins is 45 minutes away by cab (and 30 euro) or over 1 hour by metro and bus. It was already after 5 and we just decided to save time and just make the trip later that night on the metro. BUT, blast, we did had our luggage. Yep, we wandered through Paris for the next 5 hours with suitcases and big Vera. I need to learn to pack less...

The rest of the evening was so fun hanging out with Jordan, Whitney and Kim. We shopped and ate and played and lugged bags around Paris. It does not get any better than that! At 10:30 we parted ways and Alayna and I set out in search of Hotel Balladins. We followed the cab driver's instructions but could not find the bus at the metro stop he sent us to. I turned to Alayna, asked her for the address, but she deleted the message by accident. Well, crap. We are standing on a dark street where nothing is open with huge bags, crappy directions, and one cell phone that had already run out of minutes. I texted Austin and David, sending a frantic "HELP US" message. Fifteen minutes later and without a response, we crossed the street to ask some bystanders (men, of course. only men were on this street) where we could find a cab. It took a while to get an answer... finally they told us to go back one metro stop. We followed instruction and saw 4 taxis parked along the road. Unfortunately none of them knew of Hotel Balladins or could understand how we have no address, phone number, nothing for this place that we want to go. Two drivers were really kind to us, really kind. Business must have been a little slow because they stopped other drivers, called French 411, even asked the Police if they knew of this Hotel. Sure enough, no one in the freaking city knew of this Hotel. What one earth?! After 30 minutes of standing around with the cab drivers, Ahmad and friend, still text message-less I pulled out the address of the first Hotel Balladins and asked Ahmad to take us there, remembering that the concierge said there were vacancies. 90 euro hotel room, here we come!

Now, Ahmad was a dear. He thought we were crazy. I hated when he asked if we were from America because I know he thought we were the stupidest people to walk the earth. Ahmad took us back to Balladins and walked us up to the reception desk, refusing to leave us until we had a room. Well, in 6 hours, Balladins booked up all their rooms. So, we went to another hotel up the street. Again, Ahmad walked up to the desk, spoke in French again and refused to leave us. What a saint! We finally got a room. Ahmad left. Moments later, I got a text from Austin and a phone call from David with hotel info. Of course!

I'm telling you, Friday night is the story of God's grace. It was a series of some of the most unfortunate and ridiculous events and yet there was always someone to help us. There were numerous times that I wanted to go back to Nord and catch a train home, but I kept reminding myself that in an hour I would laugh and that I was with Alayna, the most patient person alive. Now it is hilarious. How and why on earth do we always have the worst travel experiences? There is talk of publishing this stories because they are so unbelievable. Oh and if you need a cab driver in Paris, call Ahmad, he is a saint.

Blessed

Originally I planned on titling this post after my birthday anthem, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," because really, Garth says it best. Part of me wanted to pay tribute to my Parisian vacation this past weekend and title it "Transportation Hell Part VII," but my better judgement told me that was inappropriate and might suggest that this past weekend was a total disaster when really it was not. So, after further contemplation (because no blog entry is complete without an original, catchy title), I settled on a title that describes the way that I feel right now better than Garth, and that is "Blessed."

This whole weekend is a story of God's grace. The next post that I make will recount the events from Friday September 21, 2007 from 13:13 PM-23:59PM, a day that God continued to provide for me and Alayna amidst a series of rather unfortunate but hilarious events. Our entire trip to Paris continues to speak volumes to me about the grace of God. I feel blessed to experience this weekend with such a patient and loving person who continued to forgive despite my misdirection and at times, poor judgement. And today I am reminded of the blessing of friendship. Thank you to everyone for flooding my inbox with emails, covering my facebook wall with birthday wishes, sending letters and packages, bringing me flowers, cards, and even mentoes and pixi sticks to me today. I have never felt so loved. I am grateful for each one of you. Thank you.

Alayna and I woke up at 4:45 this morning which means that I need to go to bed. There is much to tell about Paris, believe me. Please know that I love you all very much. Thank you again for reminding me of God's grace and His blessings!

Au revoir, Brussels! Bonjour Paris!

Boy, this week will not end! I cannot wait until Friday at 13:13 when Alayna and I leave for Paris. I don't even know what else to say. Au revoir, Brussels.

This is a week of firsts...
-My first encounter with Belgian food. It made me want a cheeseburger badly, really badly.
-The first time I missed my train to work. I even ran to try to catch it.
-My first trip to a European library. I felt like I stepped in a time machine and landed in 1977. It made me miss James B. Duke.
- My first trip to the North Sea. By bike too!
-The first time I talked to a child in 5 weeks! My boss introduce me to his daughter today. She kept calling me Kitty instead of Katie. I really did not care.
- My first trip to Fat Boys, an American sports bar in Brussels. There was a picture of Eddie George in a Tennessee Titans uniform on the wall AND a Masters flag AND English speakers. Amazing.
- The first time I wore my running clothes to class. My American-ness came out, who cares?!
- First paper... due tomorrow.
- My first time to sing in a public restroom. Yep, I did it this morning at the train station to the Beetles. I don't even like the Beetles...
- First time to say y'all at work. Talk about throwing your coworkers a curve ball!
- My first day off work is this Friday. And I am going to Paris!


Note: I know I have my black jacket on in just about every picture. Hard to believe that is all I could bring in my 2 suitcases, huh?! I promise that I have more clothing. I will try to wear it.

Thanks for all the emails and cards! I will write you all back... eventually. Love y'all!

Where's Carlos?!

Today's mission: find Carlos. Yep, Austin, Evelyn, and I went back to Brugge dressed in neon athletic shorts to find our dear friend Carlos. We even rented bikes and rode 1 1/2 hours to the coast looking for him. One awkward interaction just was not enough for us...

That's a lie, at least part of it is. We did go back to Brugge this morning to rent bikes to ride to the Belgian coast. A man stopped me and Evelyn this morning on the Metro asking if I went to Furman because he saw my Furman t-shirt. This man actually worked at UNC as a professor for many years before coming over to Brussels to launch a leadership forum. Hearing English is always exciting, but meeting someone that knows your school is really a big deal.

Anyways, Evelyn and I met up with Austin, picked up train tickets, and went to Brugge. Our adventure started in Brugge at 10:30 this morning: we rented bicycles, found a map, and headed towards the Belgian coast. Our first stop was in a little town called Damme, which Austin deemed "the best small town." After exploring the streets of Damme for a few minutes, we hit the road again towards Knokk. We passed fields of corn and grass, houses with sunflowers reaching the rooftops, all sorts of farm animals, and beautiful gardens. The lady at the bike rental stand told us that this trip would only take about 45 minutes; however, after 1 1/2 hours of riding, we finally reached the coast. Exhausted and sore, we sat on a ledge looking out at the North Sea eating our lunches. A threatening storm cloud forced us back on our bicycles shortly after lunch. We refueled at a local grocier, picking up Werther's butterscotch candies and Cote d'Or (because a little sugar does the body good). Poor Evelyn had this awful bike named Rusty, a name that suited the little guy quite nicely as he did not function properly. I am proud to say that my bicycle, the Silver Bullet, managed the trip quite nicely, inspite of the maniac riding it.

After 20 miles of riding, we returned our bikes in Brugge and headed home. It am so sore that I cannot sit in my chair at my desk; I am lying in bed blogging. How pathetic am I? Riding a bike is hard work.

The UT/UF game comes on in a little over an hour and the crew is coming over to watch it at my flat! Notice I said watch this time and not listen... it is true, we will actually get to see this game on the internet through streaming video! It is football time in Tennessee... Go Vols!

"STUPID!"

Whenever my coworker Sofie cannot think of a word in English she says "STUPID! STUPID!STUPID!" It's official, exclamations like "Crap!" or "Darn it!" have been replaced with "STUPID" and if you don't believe me, just ask Sofie. Anyways, Sofie and I listened to heavy metal Dutch rock yesterday at work. Heavy metal in English is obnoxious but it is just downright painful in Dutch.

Last night, I planned to go to an 10 year anniversary party for David's office. The party was held at a Chateau 30 minutes from town. I even bought a dress for the occasion. BUT, there was not a single cab driver in town last night who wanted to make money. We wandered the streets for over an hour trying to flag down a cab. There must have been at least 20 drivers who refused to stop for us! Poor David, I know it stressed him out that we could not find a cab and that he had to email his office and tell them that we would not make it. After an hour, we gave up and went to my favorite restaurant in town for dinner. Even though we did not make it to the party, I enjoyed dressing up for the first time in weeks, going to dinner, and taking time to just chill and soak up the atmopshere.

I am learning that there is nothing more humbling and frustrating than being sick in a foreign country. Being sick at home stinks, but at least Mom will take care of you and the medicine boxes are in English. I went to the pharmacy early this morning in search of medicine for congestion and sinus pain, but everything is in French and the brands are not the same. Thankfully the lady understood enough of my English to assist me. Not being able to articulate what I needed to the pharmacist truly made me feel helpless. But do not worry about me... I have slept a lot today and feel a lot better already.

There is not much else to report from across the pond. Thanks again for all the emails and messages; hearing from friends regularly makes me feel much closer to home. Much love to all!

beautiful bruges...

Oh goodness, what a weekend! Bruges, the "Venice of the North" as it is often called, is quaint, charming, and as Molly Parker likes to say, "the baby making capital of Europe." The beauty the of canals, windmills, flower boxes, cobblestone, and Churches, the whole town just captures your heart. I don't think I stopped smiling our first night in the town and if you don't believe me ask any one of my friends because they all called me out on acting super giddy and girly. We arrived early on Friday evening and checked into our hotel, Hotel De Brugge, which was an upgrade from the Derby in Brussels. Our room, nestled in the top of the building amidst the rafters and skylights had "Little Princess" written all over it. After awing at our room, we walked through town in search of an open restaurant. We ended up at a little Italian restaurant recommended by the the concierge where we spent the next three hours (yes, three) soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying our first quality meal in Europe. Yep, I finally splurged. The brie was excellent and well worth my plate exchange with Molly and every Euro I payed. I even had banana icecream for dessert! With full stomachs, we left the restaurant and wandered around the town square for a little while before heading home.

Saturday morning came a little too quickly -- we had to leave the hotel at 8:00 AM to catch a bus to Ieper, site of three World War I battles. The lighting in our hotel room was so goofy. Saturday morning Alayna and I finally learned after hopeless attempts to shower (or shall I say bath because all we had was a bathtub) in the dark that you have to lock the lights to keep them on. Yep, every 30 seconds the lights automatically turn off unless you lock them on. Gotta love Europe. Then, to make the early morning even better, I ate it walking down the stairs, falling and bruising my back and elbow. Embarrassing, I know. Just ask Alayna, she witnessed the whole spectacle and I even have the bruises to prove it.

In Ieper our tour guide took us to 5 of the 150 cemeteries in the town (British, German, Canadian, Belgian, etc.), WWI trenches used in 1915, In Flanders Field Museum, and the Menin Gate. We visited the largest WWI cemetery in the world and it is a chilling image, much like Arlington National Cemetery. I could not wrap my mind around the number of people buried in these cemeteries or try to imagine the destruction and the horror 90 years ago. We even saw a tombstone of a 15 year old who enlisted under a different name and lied about his age in order to fight in the war. That is unbelievable to me. Where is the patriotism today, that willingness to sacrifice for your country? I am afraid that those virtues of pride and patriotism mothers and fathers instilled in their children back in the 1850's and the early 1900's have left us. Maybe I am wrong? By the way, only a couple towers in Ieper endured the war, everything else was destroyed.

After the 8 hour tour in Ieper, we headed back to Bruges for the night. Stir crazy, Austin, Molly and I went on a run through town where we were "Carlos-ed." Yes, Carlos is both a noun and a verb. Let's just say that we had a very hilarious and unforgettable interaction with 3 gentlemen (?) on our run last night that warranted the creation of a new word. Enough said. After our jog we went to dinner at a little cafe near our hotel. We sat outside soaking up the beauty and the stillness over a mug of hot chocolate for hours.

We had free time in Bruges this morning to explore before our trip to Ghent this afternoon. After wandering through town for a little while, we stumbled upon a dock offering boat tours on the canal. A "sucker for water," I could not pass it up! So, we toured the town by boat for 30 minutes, seeing more Churches, houses, and parks. It was a great way to see the town (if you visit Bruges, I highly recommend a boat tour). We spent the afternoon in Ghent touring Churches and looking at Medieval towers, castles, and buildings. Today was Heritage Day in Ghent so marching bands lined the streets, filling the town with color and music. Exhausted from the long day yesterday, it was difficult to engage and listen to the tour guide mumble facts about the town for 3 hours. We did, however, see a lot of cool places.

It was a fun weekend and a much needed break from public transportation and all the joys city life. Hope everything is well back in the States and at Furman! Seniors, enjoy your last first day of school! Random side note: there are so many variations of spelling for words and places in Belgium, like Bruges is also written as Brugge or Brussels as Brussel or Bruxelle. Forgive me for any inconsistencies, it can be confusing at times!

long days and weekend vacays

My goodness, today was a long one! Austin and I ran at our favorite park early this morning and then I went to French class this morning. After class, Alayna and I went to the Midi station and picked up train tickets for Paris and then it was back to Vesalius for History class, a meeting with Dr. Pierce about our internship requirements, and then a lecture about Bruges and Ghent. I did not leave school until 9! Who ever said anything about a Belgian Vacay because I am working like a dog...

We have our first weekend trip to Bruges and Ghent. Bruges is a charming little town with a lot of history and treasures to discover. I hear that they even offer bike tours of the city which is something I might take advantage of this weekend! It will be nice to escape city life for a couple days and retreat to the countryside.

Following our long day of class and lecture, a group of us went to Alayna and Austin's to finish off the chili remaining from Man Night. It was delicious and really a lot of fun to have a different group to dine with! Oh, one creepy thing happened today. I almost forgot to mention this: a group of us were walking the streets near my metro stop to go to Alayna and Austin's for dinner and for some reason the locals like to pull their cars onto the curb, park, and sit. I cannot explain this bizarre behavior, but tonight while we were walking home a guy poked his head out the car and yelled "HEY!" at me as I walked with a group of people. Naturally, I screamed. It was so ridiculous. Who does that?!

Sadly, there is not much else to report. No doubt that there will be a long post on Sunday evening after a weekend of travels, especially if you keep in mind our history with transportation in Europe (plane delays, missed flights, losing a passenger to security in the UK, separating on trams, getting ripped off by a ticket salesman, just to mention several joys of transportation...).

Only 12 days until you turn 24, Gary! The countdown is on my friend...

Man Night

I think we have a new tradition: theme dinners. Last night, Alayna and Austin hosted an evening we like to call "Man Night," where we ate a hearty meal, listened to manly music and planned on watching a manly show. Despite the brilliance and imagination it took to conjure up this eventful evening, we lacked one essential thing, men. Yep, last night, the guys actually stood us up on a meal planned in their honor. So what did we do? We ate manly food, listened to manly music, and decided to watch a BBC drama instead of the Simpsons (thank goodness). And thanks to BBC, the night even ended with a little man love (gross and unnecessary, I know, but there is really no shame on TV in Europe).

Work was a little slow today. I continued my project from Monday, typing the transcript from an interview and then attempting to edit some of the worst English I have ever heard. Surely I don't sound that bad when I speak to natives in French or Spanish, right? That's wishful thinking. Most people worked from home today which if you ask me is code for "personal day." Maybe I can work from home too... I love the questions that my coworkers ask me and hearing their impression of the States. Sadly, for those who have not visited, they only know Hollywood and New York; therefore, they have this impression that the whole nation is one overcrowded metropolis of pollution and it floors them to hear that rural areas do in fact exist. They all buy into the theory of global warming, which I happen to find ridiculous but maybe if I lived in Belgium permanently and you can have 3 seasons in one day and it can be 40 degrees in September, maybe I would believe it too.

As a side note, I think I enjoy blogging too much. At times I do forget that people actually read this so forgive me for all the nonsense. I feel like my life could be a sitcom if things continue in this manner. Thank you all for the comments (that include you, Tennis Instructor)! I do enjoy reading them and it makes my blogging experience even better.

Forgive me for not posting my address, it is: Rue Saxe - Cobourg 23 1210 Brussels, Belgium

HOWEVER, if you want to send me a package, please send it to me at my landlord's address: c/o Pierre Deveaux Rue Traversiere 70 B-1210 Brussels, Belgium

Labor Day?

Nope. Too bad the Belgians do not celebrate Labor Day. I actually started my internship this morning. I am not trying to be dramatic but it was not one of the best five days of my life. Pouring rain greeted me this morning on my way to the metro. Cold and wet is really uh a lovely combination for a first day of work. I waited in line for my monthly pass for about 10 minutes at Midi station only to learn that I waited in the wrong line and that I needed to be in another line. So, I walked to the back of another line and waited and waited and waited. Thankfully I allowed myself some extra time this morning, but it was 8:25 and my train left at 8:38 so I was a little nervous. I finally reached to the front of the line where a man who spoke minimal English asked me if I would prefer to fill out my paperwork in French or Dutch. Hmmm, well buddy, since I know neither... So, for the next couple minutes I attempted to fill out paperwork that meant absolutely nothing to me. The frustration set in for both of us. Now to properly explain the rest of this interaction with the Ticket man, you must understand that working at the train station is equivalent to working at the DMV in the States. EVERYONE IS IN A BAD MOOD ALL THE TIME. No one wants that job, no one. After "filling out" (or leaving blank) my paperwork, I told him that I was a student (to receive the discount) and that I needed to get to Enghein. He understood, atleast I thought he did. I was told that this pass would only cost me 20 euro and he wanted to charge me 90. So I tried to explain it again, but he kept telling me 90 euro, 90 euro, 90 euro. Oh my gosh, I was mad. I was drenched from my walk to the Metro, managed to miss my train to Enghein, got in a fight with the ticketman, and still needed to call my boss and tell her that I would be late on my first day of work. Finally I got my pass and ran out the door to find my train. Thankfully, the train was delayed so I only had to wait a couple minutes before it came. I sent poor Evelyn this ridiculous text message because I was so upset about my morning commute.

After quite an eventful morning, the day settled down. My first day of work was not terribly exciting: I scanned clippings to put in a book for clients and then went through manuscripts of an interview and proofread documents for Eddie. Duo Media is like a little family, they all eat lunch together everyday from 12:30-1:30. I did enjoy the fellowship and talking with my coworkers, but I fear that the work will not be terribly exciting. I think I probably have high expectations after my summer experience. Fabin a coworker drove me back to the train stop at 5:30 this afternoon and told me that he actually lived close to me in Brussels. He even offered me a ride to and from work everyday Great, now that information could have been helpful to me yesterday, before I waited in line, got in a fight, and probably over payed for a train pass. On my way home, I panicked because the train did not stop in Halle, as it typically does and I thought I hopped the wrong train. The lady sitting next to me did not speak English but she had me draw out my question in her notepad. Nothing like Pictionary on the train with a perfect stranger. What a dear. A letter waited for me on my bed when I came home which was such a blessing (thank you, Mary Teal). Reading the letter just allowed all the stress from my terrible commute to slip away.

As a side note, the creepy man who drives an over sized white van with paintings of clowns and ice cream, playing high pitched music and selling cones to neighborhood kids is in Brussels too. Yep, there is an ice cream man is universal.

oh, what a night

Meghan, one of Christie's friends from GT came in town today to explore Brussels. We wandered around town, visiting the Grand Plaza, Royal Palace, Manachin Piis, and other Brussels attractions. I loved her company and showing her the city. After only 2 weeks, I actually feel like this city is my own and I enjoyed sharing it. Tonight we went to beer fest in the Grand Plaza and sampled Belgian beer. As Austin so eloquently stated, beer fest seemed like a huge international frat party with more liquor and more people and in the most beautful plaza. People came from all over the continent to taste the Belgian craftsmanship, including Americans (hearing English was like sweet music to my ears). Men dressed up in crazy costumes from diapers to Hansel and Grettle-ish clothes, roaming the plaza, singing at the top of their lungs. People were jolly. Life was good. Then a couple guys decided to make the cobblestone pathway their urinal. It is a shame that my foot happend to get in the way. Gross. Really, I could have done without that, but it was one of those moments that was so ridiculous that the disgust only lasts for so long and then you just laugh it off. We even ran into some Georgia Tech students studying in France at beer fest. Talk about a small world.

The UT game begins in 15 minutes and I need to get a refill before kickoff. It's almost 2 and Taylor and I are still going strong... miracle.

Oh and how about App State today?!

Where da party at?!

Rue Saxe Cobuerg.

My neighbors are having one heck of a party right now. People are singing to Britney Spears' "Oops, I did it again" at the top of their lungs right now. My floor is shaking from the bass. I can hardly think amidst the screaming and whistling but figured that this moment was blog-worthy. Instead of drowning out all the noise, I just opened my window and figured I should embrace the moment and dance around my room like a maniac. Really, who needs night clubs when you have neighbors like mine?!

This afternoon I observed some Belgian teenagers outside of the Louise stop with Alayna. The similarities in actions and mannerisms to teens in the States was astounding: girls and guys were huddled in little groups, everyone dressed to impress, and the girls would run up to each other screaming as if time kept them apart for weeks. Hilarious. Metro stops are great places to people watch. But there is an art to it because making eye contact, I learned the other day, suggests interest and TRUST ME, you do not want to send that message.

Taylor and I ate our first waffle this evening and it was covered in chocolate, whip cream, and strawberries. I will probably regret that decision tomorrow morning when I have a stomach ache, but boy was it good!!! We tried to go to a Mexican restaurant tonight for dinner and it turned out to be a BAD call despite a recommendation. Plates were small, pricy, and unsatisfying. After finishing my meal, I suffered from a case of "food envy/lust" as we like to call it and ate one of David's tacos. Mom and Dad, I am ready for y'all to come so I can have a good meal.

Je Parle Francais!

I speak French fluently now, but I will write in English to be mindful of my audience. Just kidding! I did switch into a beginning French class hoping it will be more enjoyable and useful than the ridiculous Poli Sci class with all the reading and writing. And I must confess that Evelyn helped me with the title of this blog entry a little. Atleast I will not have class on Friday afternoon from 4:30-6.

Last night I kept thinking of things to include in the blog entry today but now that I am actually in front of my computer writing, I cannot think of a thing to say! That is such a cliche thing for a woman to say... We had family dinners all this week, meaning we rotated cooking for each other in our apartments. For the first time all week, I ate a meal without a single carb. No pasta, no bread, no rice. Thank you, Katy Wynn! I have never been so happy to see chicken on my plate. The crowd was much smaller last night, but more conducive to good conversation. I am grateful for our times of togetherness and I do hope that it continues once classes and internships really begin. Without question, my favorite part of this trip is the fellowship. I cannot imagine life in Brussels without such a strong and encouraging community of friends.

What am I learning? Patience and flexibility. Last night I really needed to get home for my phone date with mom, who I have neglected to talk to all week. We were all a little slow to leave Molly and Katy's flat last night, some how managed to take the wrong tram, and then missed the tram that we needed. For some reason, it was another 25 mins or so before the next tram. I am such a planner and at times, a control freak that I started to get really frustrated. It was late and we still had to take the tram to the metro stop, change metros, and hop another metro home before midnight. It 11:30 it was questionable if we could actually make it home in that time. So, we started to wander around General Jacques looking for a cab. David and Evelyn waved one down and sent all the girls on our way. It frustrated me that I had to pay for a cab, that I missed my phone date with Mom, that our landlord changed our locks and Evelyn and I thought we were locked out, and that our internet did not work. Of course. Why should anything go as planned? I am learning to be patient in all of these situations. I hope I controlled by frustration and did not speak harshly last night to my friends (if I did, know that I am sorry). This trip has already exposed so many of my weakness and my sins, putting me in situations where I am challenged and forced to respond, adapt, and hopefully grow as a result.

What's on tap for the weekend? Well, quite a lot. We might go to see Shrek 3 tonight at the park and hang out at Carpe Diem (great name for a bar/cafe, I know). Beer fest is in Brussels this weekend and we plan to take it by storm tomorrow afternoon (not really, but we will go and have fun). Christie's friend Meghan from GT who works in Holland is coming on Saturday for the day/night. Taylor Hall plans to make me stay up all night and listen to the UT/Cal game on streaming audio, but we will see if that actually happens. Sunday is market day in Brussels so there is always a lot to explore. Maybe we will explore a castle outside the city too.

What am I eating?! What am I doing?!

I cannot get used to the food over here. Thankfully I found my staple, peanut butter, so I can eat lunch. Bread becomes fuzzy after only 4 days and we are talking about bread that I paid 3 euro for! Yesterday at lunch I ordered a Panini Poulet thinking that poulet meant chicken in French, which in my defense it does. However, what was nestled between the bread and mozzarella was pepto pink and resembled bologna, not exactly the chopped chicken that I envisioned. Yes, I did eat the entire thing and manage to keep it down, but not before Alayna and I closely examined the mysterious meat. There is no Dr. Pepper and even worse, no "to-go cups" of coffee. If you want coffee you better allow 15 extra minutes on your way to work or class to sit down and sip it. Somehow, if you can find a "to-go cup" of coffee, there is no station with creamer and you may even receive two stacked plastic cups of warm liquid (plastic and warm substances don't mix, in case you are a little rusty in household 101). Unbelievable. Thank goodness for peanut butter.

On Monday afternoon I took my first trip down to the laundromat with Alayna and Austin. It was absurd. First, I lugged a laundry bag filled with clothes, sheets, etc. to a laundromat that was about 5 minutes away, but took me about 15 because I took a few wrong turns. We spent an arm and a leg on tokens that the machine ate. All the instructions were in Turkish or French (we live in a Turkish enclave) which none of us can read AND the visual aids were worthless. Finally we managed to get the machine to work, added the soap that smelled like a 10 day old pina colada, pressed start andddd... water sloshed around in the machine, but the soap did not filter down. So, we spent about 10 euro to wash our clothes in cold water, something that I could do in my bathroom sink for free. Furmanites, don't complain. You have no idea how easy your have it.

Oh, I went to this exercise in the park yesterday evening before family dinner. Some local fitness center sponsored free aerobics classes in the park this summer, free to the public. Austin, Molly, David, Taylor, and I stumbled upon it last week and Austin, Alayna, and I decided (for some reason) to go and participate. For those of you who don't know me that well, I am slightly uncoordinated when it comes to dancing and the moves looked more like Riverdance than aerobics. I had this fear that I would turn around and see David and Taylor filming the spectacle and posting it on YouTube to embarrass me. What is worse, a group of men were playing futbol on the field next to us and yet I chose to wear my spandex and participate in Riverdance.

Last night, Evelyn and I hosted a dinner at our apartment for about 15 people. It was really fun and easy (at least for me because I opted to clean up rather than cook). For once, my tummy was full of familiar foods and content. On my way home from school yesterday I stopped at the local pastry shop that sells pastries and bread for cheap and picked up several eclairs, baklava, and some mystery dessert-- all of which were delicious.

So, if you plan to visit Brussels soon don't eat poulet or anything with Americana in the name (right Austin and Katy?), stick with the 4 basic food groups: waffles, beer, chocolate, and french fries. Wash your clothes in the sink because the laundromat is worthless. And remember that parks are for running and walking, not public humiliation.

As a side note, forgive me for all the words that I misspell. There might be one or two...

Sorry to disappoint...

I survived the commute to my internship interview this morning without cursing, missing a train, or getting lost. Miracle? I think so...

Here's a disappointment for you: an attractive French man spoke to me when I was in a tizzy about to board my train, but our conversation ended after "bonjour" because I don't speak a lick of French (my dad is probably thankful that I took Spanish right now). The train ride to Enghein where I met Jo (pronounced Yo) was beautiful: green grass, rolling hills, windmills, cows grazing, quant houses, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and look forward to escaping city life for 40 minutes everday on the train. The people, well all 8 of them, at Duomedia are very welcoming and anxious for me to join the company. The company started in 1999 and I will be their first intern ever which is exciting for me (yes, I am making history in Belgium) and for them too. I will draft press releases, contact customers to gather data for conducting case studies, learn about brand management and market positioning. Jo picks me up at the train station each day and drives me to the office. He asks a lot of questions and informed me that he will google Tennessee so that he knows about my home state; however, Jo did know that Elvis resided in my state. Hopefully Elvis is not the only thing that TN is known for outside of the US...

Tomorrow is my last first day of classes, so I should go to bed. By the way, HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, JORDIE!

One Body

Bonjour! My career as a "blogger" is only about a week long, but I really do love it. I like writing down my thoughts and experiences because it forces me to reflect, to think long and hard. Tonight I am overwhelmed with appreciation and love for the body of Christ. Right now, I am half way across the world, in a new place with people speaking a foreign language and yet I already have a community, a place where I belong. The people at Holy Trinity were joyful, welcoming, and English speaking. The service was contemporary and very relaxed. After the service they invited us to a cafe down the street to join them for dinner and a beer (this may sound strange, but it is customary). They showed us love, offered us community and fellowship, and expressed that we were an answer to prayers (and really, they were an answer to ours as well). It is SO cool to be the recipient of such love and to see the body of Christ reaching out, impacting the world around us. I can truly say today that I have seen and felt the body of Christ reaching out to me. I guess my challenge to you all is to step out and to love those around you, at Church, at work, at school, and in your community and show them the body of Christ. Show them a living and active group of believers...there is nothing cooler and stronger.

Chances are the blog entry will be quite riveting tomorrow as I have my internship interview. My commute is long and I have to take the Metro 7 stops to the Midi Station and hop a Eurorail train 20 mins outside the city. It might be a miracle if I can make it there without getting lost and someone cursing at me in French. Stay tuned...

Communication has been relatively easy thus far. Reading signs and menus in French and Dutch teaches you to make educated guesses, to take the leap and hope that you guessed correctly and didn't order Spam (like Austin and Katy did one night). I often communicate to waiters with a thumbs up sign which is really the universal language in my opinion. Everyone knows what that means and the waiter at the restaurant next to Hotel Derby still flashes the thumbs up sign every time he sees me. It is brillant and it just works wonders. However, my first trip to the grocery store was a little unnerving yesterday afternoon. The lines were long and I was tired of guessing what kind of food to purchase because I could not read the labels and the brands were not always the same. When I approached the cashier I immediately said "bonjour" which I normally do, but things feel apart after that. She asked me a question, which I very kindly responded with "no francais," but clearly she did not understand because she repeated herself several times. Then, she proceeded to yell at me in the store causing all the people in the store check out lines to look at me. I felt my chest knotting up and redness filling my cheeks and really I just had no clue what to do. Part of me wanted to cry and part of me wanted to just start rambling crude remarks in English. I refrained from both. Thankfully, the girl behind me stepped in and acted as a translator. Who knew a trip to the grocery store could be so difficult? Next time I go to the store, my French speaking roommate Evelyn will come with me.

Yesterday I moved into my flat (yes, I plan to call it a flat because it sounds more swanky...run with me on that if you will) and it is well, interesting. I walked in and the entire ground level is undergoing renovations and at that moment I considered walking back outside, calling the cab and returning to the Hotel Derby. The top three floors, all occupied by students on my trip were newly renovated and furnished. My room is really very nice and clean with brand new furniture and appliances. My only complaint (well, not the only one) is that we do not have a washer/dryer in the building so we have to walk down our predominantly male inhabited street to the laudromat. My flat is close to the King's Palace, all the parlament buildings, and Brussels park, all of which are fun places to explore! Oh, and there are several other Furman students in the building and within 5 minutes walking distance. I look forward to exploring the area more and discovering hidden gems.

Today we took a bus tour of Brussels, which seemed like a great idea at the beginning of the day but turned into a real drag after 3 hours. Bored, starved, and irritable, we finished the tour around 2 and found a great cafe near Grand Plaza that was delightful and inexpensive. The tour did open my eyes to so many new places in Brussels to explore and helped me understand the layout of the city a little more (mom and dad, I will be an expert by the time that you come). It is really an incredible city.

I will say that it is hard acclamating to "city life" after living in Greenville and Nashville the past couple years. We use public transportation to go everywhere, which is great but I miss the convenience and flexibility of a car. There is so much to learn about the area and the language barrier does make it slightly more difficult. In time, I will become more comfortable with the area and my daily commute to school and to work.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the market to browse antiques. Markets open around town every weekend on Saturday and Sunday and sell various goods in all price ranges. We have the name of an English speaking church in town from Dr. Nelson that we will attend tomorrow evening. I am so excited for the service and read online tonight that they have community groups! I would really love to plug in and build relationships with families in the community to learn from them and hopefully to fellowship with them.

I love reading your emails, so keep 'em coming! Please drink a large glass of ICED water for me because I miss that luxury!!