Ponder ponder Ponder.

Bonjour mes amis!

Lately, I have just been moving back from Europe, getting settled into my new apartment, filling my hours and days with random little projects and such, and finally, started my long-anticipated internship!!!

I am really looking forward to my internship this summer. Today was my first day in the Marketing and Promotions Division at the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) here in Austin. I felt such a strong association to the brand and the identity and the culture of TDA, I really could see myself working in such a company one day. I find that very exciting and exhilarating for my future! I am working full-time, Monday through Friday, 8A to 5P. I walk to work since it's not that far, just a tad farther than I would walk for class. Also, the UT shuttles start up tomorrow so perhaps I will catch one of those in the hot afternoons.

I am not sure if I will continue this blog during the summer... I do not know who actually enjoys reading this, or if anyone does anymore since I am no longer a resident of Europe. I suppose if I have the time or the courage, I will continue as I found it to be a strong connection to those I do not have the chance to connect with often. Check back later next week or maybe the next, updates not guaranteed unless adamant objection received!

Thanks loves for everything, I hope you are doing well and if you get lonely, holler!

♥ FROM TEXAS!!!!!

Chole

My Epic Return

Howdy Y'all!

I am back. Oh how it feels good to be back in the beautiful state of Texas and in the glorious sun of the Lone Star State. I was greeted with open arms and love, as well as spicy Tex-Mex and lots of smiles. I have missed this place so very much, it is hard to comprehend why ever did I leave.

The clarity I felt coming home on the plane was simply indescribable, though the feeling has quickly faded just as soon as it came to be in my mind. The flight from Brussels to Chicago was ok, I wish I would have been able to sleep. Waiting in Chicago was not very fun, though it was shorter than expected. I was very happy to board that plane and come home to Austin!!!

My departure was abrupt for some fellow exchange students in Louvain-la-Neuve, though I had been telling every one when I would be leaving, and not coming back! Just this week, I took a survey for the McCombs International Programs asking the usual evaluative questions to give a general idea to students considering studying at the University in Belgium. Honestly, I was brutal with my feedback. Hopefully I will be able to get in touch with students going to Belgium during future semesters to explain my judgment.

I am happy to return to the glory of The United States. I have missed Texas, Tex-Mex, real food, sleeping in a comfortable bed, the regular American life! I start my internship next Monday and I just moved into my new apartment this week. In my experience, subleasing friends' apartments always is better than some stranger!!! I have a final on Friday, sadly. It is simply nonsense to go take this final. Brian starts his internship in Houston next Monday as well. I wish we could have had more time to catch up or at least some sort of teleporter to connect Austin and Houston. I think we should be able to spend some time together this summer before he leaves for Europe next fall, even though we will not be in the same city.

It has been a long four months in Belgium, but I am elated to be back! Definitely worth the experience, I would have regretted not going, but I am sooo happy to be done with my study abroad. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement while I was abroad. It really has made all of the difference. Thank you for everything and everyone for your prayers and love!!!

With ♥,

Chole

The Truth About Louvain-la-Neuve

Define: Louvain-la-Neuve - biggest producer in the world of alcoholic people and random bizarre stories

Among the exchange students, the popular opinion (and sarcastic response) is that nothing about Belgium is ridiculous. The Belgians streamline their lifestyle with only the highest quality common sense available to allow for simplicity and ease!
So gathered throughout the months, here is a few excerpts about the lovely place I called home for the semester, minus the profanity:

(On a rainy day, middle of May, 55 degrees F)
I don't think that the sun knows that Belgium exists. or maybe the sun has just given up on La Belgique. I have.
--- I gave up when my plane landed....
--- Dear Belgium, I hate your weather.
--- p.s. Belgium... you're kind of a sucky place to spend 5 months.
--- in February, I saw the sun probably 2 days, was horrible
--- Just got back from Marseille (31 degrees C) and I'm sort of depressed...
--- Stop whining, who needs sun when we can do indoor drinking!
--- 31? Where the heck was that when I was in Nice? Even then, 20 degrees is incomparably superior to ...... this.

Like the Belgian customs department and postal service, the French train service website SNCF is a useless piece of crud. Why do Europeans have such an affinity with incompetency and unnecessary complications?

Belgians may perish today.

Common facebook status updates:
__________ is going to the grocery store because she only has a jar of pickles, half a piece of feta cheese and a bottle of vodka in her refrigerator.
__________ lost his phone, vomited on his bedroom floor, and has the Armageddon of hangovers...what a beautiful day.
--> Response: Damned Casa! Dude yesterday each of us lost something yesterday: you the phone, Matthieu the hat, banner and gun, Francesco the hat and something else too... Daniel the train...
__________ thinks that Belgian Labor Day is lame because everything closes like it's a Sunday.
__________ wants to kill some Belgians!!!!
__________ is taking a deep breath, a deep drink and a deep sleep.
__________ thought that April showers brought May FLOWERS and not more rain...
__________ says no to Belgium Labor Day! Don't people here understand there is no such thing as a real work holiday, especially when I have no clean clothes and no food?


The University said, before exams: "Wishing you a fruitful study period during exams." What does that mean???

You know you have experienced Louvain-la-Neuve when:
1. You can eat, drink, pee and spew on the same square meter.
2. You became so brave that you sacrificed a pair of shoes, a sweater and jeans for exclusively going to cercles.
3. Some microorganisms live on your cercle shoes (which became as hard as a stone)
4. The month before exams in June is the only time you actually read a book, honestly.
5. You go to IAG to stream videos so you have something to do on a Friday or Saturday night when the student town becomes nonexistent.
6. You would rather go get a waffle or fries than cook food.
7. Scouts outnumber the students on the weekend.
8. You have drank one too many beers down by the lake.
9. Peeing in public is no longer indecent, but merely done out of essential need.
10. The sun is a blessing, even in May.

As an exchange student in Louvain-la-Neuve, everyone knows:
- We fought our way through confusing queues and inept administrators at Le Secretariat.
- We're still not residents of Louvain-la-Neuve, thanks to crazy hours and crazier people at the Commune.
- We fended off suffocation, heat exhaustion, and smoke inhalation in the upstairs lounge at Becketts.
- We waded through unholy horrors and rain showers of beer in Grand (and Petit) Casa.
- We escaped untimely deaths by hundreds of scouts in Grand Place on Saturdays and Sundays.
- We live. with people. who don't believe. in Internet.

I survived my Erasmus semester at Louvain-la-Neuve!!

Just Keep Countin'

Good afternoon everyone!

How are you doing? Things around here are going along as usual in the ultimate Belgian way, slow! It has been a rainy and cold week weather-wise, with lots of studying and stress. Luckily, by Tuesday I will be finished with all my worry and can finally just let go to relax. Oh how I am not a fan of these oral finals! So intense.

Thankfully, the other exchange students have only been preoccupied with projects and such, not finals studying yet, so there has definitely been some fun evenings out. I have finally adjusted and yet, in only a few short nine days (single digit!!!), I will be flying back to The United States. It is crazy to think of the semester gone, but alas, life goes on as it should!

Currently, I have sent out a search party for a scale to at least estimate the weight my luggage will be come flight time. No luck yet. I have help getting to the airport by train set up and everything is just waiting for the day to come. As life usually is, it is merely a waiting game now. I hope all is well with you though and life is treating you well. Wish me luck as I finish everything I have come to know!

With ♥ from Belgium!

Chole

Let the Countdown Begin!

Alas my friends and family,

Let the countdown begin to May 25th, 2009, at 8:10PM when I will make my return to the greatest place in the entire world, Texas. More simplistically, that is:

15			days, or
362			hours, or
21720			minutes, or
130,000			seconds

I only have 8 days, 10 hours, 12 minutes until I am finished with everything burdensome here, including finals. Oh the glory that day will bring.

This past week (and this upcoming week until next Tuesday, too) have been chalk full of presentations, research papers, a final, a course synopsis paper, studying for two more finals, group meetings and just two pretty hellacious weeks. I am sure most of you can relate to the end of the semester, if you think back far enough or perhaps you too, are gasping for breathe in the tight grasp it has on the university worlds right now. And yes, I am holding back from spiting the people who are finished and "free!!!" I will love them once I am finished, too. On a more social note, tonight was the Goodbye Dinner for all the exchange students. It was nice to see the people I have come to know this semester, but it felt staged. I came home not thinking about how sad I will be to leave, but rather how much I want to go home. I guess it is time.

But soon enough, I will be home and I will be happy to see everyone. To those in Arizona, August cannot come soon enough. I look forward to home-cooked Tex-Mex, a comfortable, non-styrofoam bed, love, and oh so much more. I apologize in advance if I am not the same when I return, it has been a very emotionally difficult semester. I promise, give me a some time and lots of love and hugs to bring me back to level.

With ♥,

Chole

Mayday! Mayday!

I have made up my mind: Europe doesn't suck, it's actually pretty epically fantastic. And here, well, it's Louvain-la-Neuve.

Obviously, I have forgotten the glory of America. But it is starting to just get good as soon as it is sadly coming to a short end. I have not even studied this semester and oh, the looming internship just sounds too grown up. What about these lazy days here? Can't I bring just a few home with me? Oh well. With that regard and a deep sigh, I promise to return to my wonderful friends, family and the great state of Texas, whom I terrible miss and cannot wait to see on May 25th, 2009.

Whilst indulging in decadently smooth chocolate and deliciously sweet strawberries,
♥ from Belgium.

Chole

The Glorious Tulips of Keukenhof

What a glorious way to spend a Saturday afternoon visiting the 60th anniversary year celebration of the Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse, Holland!

It was my last trip gallabanting around Europe, and definitely one of the best. It is said mid-April is the best time to go see the tulips because that is when all of them were blooming in all their glory. We definitely saw so many blooms and none that could disappoint! It was a mission to see 7,000,000 tulips in the Garden of Europe that was happily accomplished. Each year, Keukenhof has a theme. Theme 2009: USA, New Amsterdam - New York, 400 years. There were lots of billboards about the historical relationship between the United States and the Netherlands. I took over 100 pictures of spring bursting out in all of its colorful majesty and glory. Finally, I was also able to see one of those cool, old and authentic Dutch windmills, up close and personal! It was really neat. The flowers almost looked fake, especially because of all the colors, designs, and the never ending varieties.

Spring ♥ with the Keukenhof Tulips
More Spring ♥ with the Keukenhof Tulips

Beyond the lovely and amazing tulips of Holland, there have been papers, presentations, fall class registration, and such nonsense around here. Thankfully, I only have less than a month until I get to come home! This week is the last of cercles (those dirty parties all the Belgians love) and quite possibly, I may get dragged into going. But alas, it is the last week since studying must commence at some time for finals. I will be taking three finals early, turning a final paper in early, and then taking another final once I get back to Austin before I start my internship. The professor is concerned about the validity of my exam if I take it early. The amusing part is that one cannot conduct an exam at 9A in Belgium and expect someone to take an exam half a world away in Texas at the same time, or rather, 2 in the morning. Her plans and her class totally fail! Oh how I have come to love Belgium ridiculousness in whole new ways. Though, the new popular opinion (and sarcastic response) is that nothing about Belgium is ridiculous. The Belgians streamline their lifestyle with only the highest quality common sense available to allow for simplicity and ease! Oh well, Belgium just really needs to pick up the pace on rewriting it's ultimate Chole evaluation in these last critical weeks! Wish me the best as I complete my European experience!!!

With all my ♥ from Belgium,

Chole

Two Weeks Past

Buongiorno!

How might you be in this cheery day? Tip-top, cheerio, I am sure you did not venture to my blog to catch up on the still cold and dreary Belgium weather...

My two week Easter Break, not vacation, can be somewhat summarized so:

Eurrail Pass with the occasional unnecessary reservation: 346 Euro

Two weeks staying in crazy hostels with random people, on someone's relative's couch, and at Oma Bahr's house: 150 Euro

A small cappuccino on Venice's St Mark's Square with a full orchestra creating an unforgettable ambiance, pigeons included, for three: 45 Euro

Gallabanting in 12 cities throughout 7 countries for 2 weeks: simply PRICELESS!

I will begin from the beginning on the morning of Saturday, April 4th, traveling from Louvain-la-Neuve to Brussels, Brussels to northern Germany near Hanover, to Celle. This is where my fellow Texan traveler's, Corinna's, grandmother lives. At the time, I found it very hard to believe I had been in Belgium for only two and a half months. The longest months of my life, truly. The journey commenced with catastrophe, somewhat. In the Brussels South train station now lives my previous right hard contact lens. Somehow I hit my eye while boarding the train, we crawled the platform, searched and to my dismay, never found the thing. Consider it contact suicide. Sadly, my replacement set was back in Louvain-la-Neuve so Corinna's extra soft contact lens of a similar prescription sufficed for two weeks. Corinna and I counted four other things at the time that I had forgotten/left/lost:
1. Right contact lens
2. Outlet converter
3. A swim suit
4. An Easter dress
5. Black pens
Somehow I did remember laundry detergent that I never used. Bratislava had now been introduced to Tide.

The Celle experience, Oma's incredible birthday cake, trash television and MTV, free department store giveaways, and all things German were lovely. It was a perfect homey start to a long traveling adventure. We sat in the sun once day and ate ice cream, toured an ancient castle, camped out lazy in front of a real television, and truly enjoyed the very open and caring grandmotherly love we were offered.

On the morning of Tuesday, April 7th, Sophie, Corinna's cousin, joined forces with Corinna and I to continue with our fine gallabanting crew. For ten hours straight, we slept, bonded, jammed out, admired the Alps with snow-capped tops and made fun of an old Austrian man wearing the typical Austrian get-up, knickerbockers and all. The snow-capped glorious scene seemed to come straight out of a fairytale, if only my Prince Charming could have come through the train doors to whisk me away. The sight of the mountains though just fills my mind and so many of my picture albums. The train trip was simply breathtaking even though it was long.

Villach and Venezia

Next city: Villach, Austria - the cities that borders Italy and Slovenia.
This was the super exciting part of the trip!!!

Unexpectedly, Corinna's German Uncle and Italian Aunt suggested Corinna, Sophie, and I take a day trip to VENICE!!! Upon our Villach arrival, the childless couple booked three comfortable train tickets for the next morning. For dinner, we packed into their VW Golf Plus (think Honda Fit, but smaller) to try to find an Austrian restaurant open at such a late hour, 9 o'clock. Somehow we did not and went to northern Italy, eating and enjoying true Italian pizza with red and white wine, soaking up the ambiance and experience. There was even snow outside of the restaurant, about four feet in height.

Our Thursday morning started slowly, but soon after the lunch rush, we made it to Venice! The day in Venice was absolutely lovely. I loved loved loved it. After my grandmother and mother's true worry, I saw Venice "before it sinks." I never believe y'all anyway, but sure, I can attest it has not yet sank. Maybe limit the number of tourists or gondolas and the city will survive any doubt.

First things first, after wandering a moment or two, the three of us lovely musketeers took gelati in the sun. On our self-guided tour, I indulged myself in the flavors cool Rum Raisin and scrumptious Cherry Vanilla in the shadows of designer fashion and glitzy jewelry stores. I do have to say, the gelato down the street in Arizona is just as swell, though it may be the conversation and company that usually accompanies my yearly experience. Or the fact that Susie always thinks we should go before dinner. Did I mention I cannot wait until August? Same with the pizza. Definitely better with the right company, made in Italy or not!

I took so many pictures and thoroughly relished the opportunity to soak in the warm Italian sun. Corinna, Sophie, and I each drank a small cappuccino in the ambiance and glory of Piazzetta San Marco. The regular cup of coffee became almost magical as an orchestra played in the background. Each sip set us back about a euro, totaling probably 45 euro or so, courtesy of Sophie's mother. She insisted we must take the experience while in Venice, as she once thoroughly enjoyed the experience a time ago. St. Mark's Basilica and Venice itself were once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

My dreams of Venice have come true and the beautiful Queen of the Adriatic is by far one of my favorite in Europe.

Day Six of Fourteen

Departure from Villach to Innsbruck, Austria. And yet, before our train left the station early in the afternoon, we made the most of our visit to Villach. Packed into the small car and visited three countries in a matter of hours! Thursday morning, Sophie, Corinna, and I woke, dressed, and departed to see a ravishing Medieval castle, old town Villach, an Austrian/Italian border, and set foot in Slovenia!

Because the border of Slovenia is kinda in the Alps, when we got to the border, there was still six feet of snow on the sides of the road. We made snow balls and enjoyed the refreshing cold bursts of air, as well as the occasional "stray" snow balls thrown directly at each other. It was fun. I made a snowman, too! The weather had thoroughly cooperated, sharing sun and happiness thus far in our journeys. Suck luck and blessings!

Keep reading.

And The Count Is Up To Six!

Celle, Villach, Tarvisio (Italy) for dinner, Venice for the day, Udine (Italy) for dinner, and Kranjaka Gora (Slovenia).

And then there was a college town at the base of the Alps called Innsbruck. Easter break had pretty much made the place a ghost town, creating a long pitiful Friday night experience. Corinna's friend Philip, who is also studying at Louvain-la-Neuve this semester, recommended we visit his college town. Beyond the gorgeous Alp landscape, Innsbruck has a "golden" roof that is really made of copper, dead clubs, and starving artists/ college students. Truly the best part of the experience was Philip's good friend meeting us in the train station with a sign that read, "The girls of Philip Winkler."

At this point in the journey, Corinna's friend, Tanya, joined the crew. She is currently opairing for a family outside of London. Quite the companion! There was nothing in Innsbruck.

Easter Blessings from Munich

A lovely two and a half days with the sun shining every day!

On Friday evening, Tanya, Corinna, and I devoured an authentic Bavarian meal of sausage, different types of meat, a special preparation of potatoes, lots of sauerkraut, and enough scrumptious calories for an entire week!!! The hostel was pretty nice, though the other visitors we met were quite peculiar. Saturday morning and early afternoon, we took a rather interesting, though boring, tour around Munich. It consisted of three hours worth of Hitler stories. We saw the truly disappointing Glockenspiel, the amazing Haufbrau drinking house, Hitler's pulpit, and the primary Munich attractions. The three of us girls most thoroughly enjoyed the warm, inviting and oh so sunny green parks. I think we probably spent just as much time in the parks as the city itself! That night I fell in love again with falafel sandwiches and a beer, one of the best European meals I have found yet.

Sunday, we got dressed and made our way to a German Easter church service. I had absolutely no clue the message or hymns, but it was nice to be in a church on the special day. Tanya and I hit up another park in the afternoon, while Corinna went to Germany's first concentration camp. Trained it to Salzburg Sunday evening.

The Hills Are Alive with... Salzburg!

I had hardly a clue of Salzburg, but now I know it is all about Mozart's childhood, the Sound of Music and gnomes! There was an entire section of park full of cute little gnome statues and I loved it! I tried a Mozart Kugel, a candy with a dark chocolate shell, a layer of marzipan, and a pistachio-filled center. The candy was not absolutely spectacular or necessarily worth the calories, but pretty delicious nevertheless. I promised myself to have a splendid and glorious Magnolia tree in my yard one day, too. That is because of all those in Salzburg, with the magnificent smell and color.

There was really not much else in Salzburg beyond a slow, but steady pace of Mozart, Sound of Music postcards around every corner, and beautiful Magnolia trees. Disappointing, a little.

BudaPest, Budapest, oh Budapest.

Two cities, Buda and Pest, connected some time ago, some how, some way.

Though not yet a true tourist city, the locals were welcome to Tanya, Corinna, and I spending our euros and change. While in the city, we saw most of the major monuments, from concert halls to operas, Parliament to memorials. Our hostel was a bit obscure, but decent. For dinner the first evening, the three of us girls ventured out for the ultimate Hungarian dish, goulash. We unanimously decided it was more like stew and pretty unexciting. At the corner store near the hostel, we picked up some great Hungarian champagne and Pöttyös, both recommended by a local. Pottyos are four inch, thin, tubular chocolate candies, filled with a ricotta-like substance. Pretty good! Thursday we explored mostly Pest, through making sufficient time for Buda as well. Continuing on our trip's theme, we saw the Hungarian State Opera and Operett Houses, an Art Palace, market vendors and another Catholic basilica, St. Stephen's.

The best of Budapest was splurging to go see Beauty and the Beast, the musical. It was about 17 euro and I am very happy we went! The play was in Hungarian, but there were English subtitles at the top of the curtains and of course, the music score was the same. Growing up with the truly romantic story made all the difference, too! The experience was once in a lifetime. Hungary was not as impressive as I imagined, though i had hardly a clue about the city or country. Tanya left us girls early Friday morning for a flight to The Netherlands, Corinna and I mid-morning for Slovakia.

Vienna, Dedicated to Mrs. Nita Brumley, My Grandmother

Vienna was next on the itinerary for two and a half days, two nights. It was a city full of history, pretty buildings and magnificence we had never discovered before. Once again, the four of us girls, Sophie, Corinna, Tanya, and I were reunited.

We started our tour Monday morning at the State Opera House, meandering through Vienna's historic center first. We passed the famous Albertina Museum, there were churches, fountains, horses, intricate and elaborate architecture, caryatids, bells ringing, and eventually, my favorite, St. Peter's Church. At this magnificent location, we rested our minds, bodies and souls about an hour, thirty minutes of which was an incredible organ performance. I would not help by think of my grandmother and how much she would have loved Vienna, if only she were able to experience such a performance. It was by far my favorite experience of the entire city.

Around tea time, the four of us women musketeers took a glorious specialty, a Sacher torte, at the elegant five-star hotel in the Innenstadt of Vienna. Worth every penny of the five euro price, the chocolate decadence topped with an old-time wax stamp of chocolate, made for a delightful experience. A few hours later, we experienced the cool Botanical Gardens, including a bamboo forest and my new adopted Vienna ducks, Duchess and Duke. Wednesday, we saw the SiSi Museum and all of it's glory. I thoroughly enjoyed the gardens and likewise, would love to have such a summer escape palace! Another great falafel for lunch and we were on our way to Eastern Europe to Budapest, Hungary.

Bratislava Lover

No worries, that is just a name of a song Corinna and Sophie kept singing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVHEB_MowoI

Bratislava was entirely explored in about two hours, all in all. Corinna and I saw the Bratislava Castle, the Slovakian Presidential Palace, an unprecedented number of precariously posed statues and really, a typical eastern European city. To our surprise, most of the vendors and our hostel took euros. It made things much easier not to have to convert money. There was a pleasant World War II memorial at the top of a hill we visited, with a spectacular view of the city of Bratislava. The city itself was very clean without trash or any homeless. Corinna and I were both very tired of traveling at the point of our arrival so we took it easy Friday night and Saturday morning. My first and last "inexpensive" RyanAir flight was fine, though I never ever plan to fly with the company again. The experience really was just not my style or preference. Best wishes to those that do though!

So 12 cities: Celle, Villach, Tarvisio, Venice, Udine, Kranjaka Gora, Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava.

In 7 countries: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Slovakia.

Two weeks.

Pure exhaustion and so much money spent, but my Europe traveling while studying abroad is complete! (Minus my day trip next weekend to Lisse, Holland for the tulips.) The super exciting part of that statement is that it is because I will be coming home to the United States soon!!! The countdown has begun and it is such a relief. My two weeks backpacking through Central and Eastern Europe has given me a taste for a lifetime. Yet still an experience I will never forget.

My favorites of the trip:
Best meal: A true homemade German dinner at Corinna's Aunt and Uncle's home, made with love
Best cultural experience: The cappuchino on St. Mark's Square
Best sight: Listening to the organ at St. Peter's Church for my grandmother
Best souvenir: The postcards from every city
Best overall: Venice, by far. I had always wanted to visit and it was simply incredible.

Postcards will go out on Monday, there is so much more one should share about such traveling! I promise, ask me all the questions in an email or write them down! The next time we are together, I will tell you everything you wish that I remember. The only condition I take is that you have be specific in the questions. Will help me remember and share the traveling love properly. And just for the record, I cannot wear soft contacts. They just do not work for me! Oh, and the count stayed at five lost/forgotten/left. Pretty good I would say!

Ahoy mate, I survived!
With ♥,

Chole

Easter Break

Hello folks,

I am preparing to depart on my two week, eight city, four country adventure throughout Central and Eastern Europe! I will be gone Saturday, April 4th, until Saturday, April 18th. Click here for a map of my travels!

I am most excited about Innsbruck because it just looks so gorgeous! Vienna is also at the top of the list, especially because my grandmother told me it was the one city she was never able to visit in her own travels and always wanted to see. So I will be sure to take lots of pictures for her, as well as for you, to see the world through my camera. We are flying back from Bratislava on RyanAir, which definitely should be an experience in of itself. Once I return, I am met with two hellish weeks of school work and presentations, but alas, my return will mark the one month to go glorious day! My flatmates still do not talk to me and I hardly do anything in the kitchen besides cook.

I will not have access to a computer for my two weeks traveling, please do not be alarmed that I am not in touch. I promise, once I get back, I will post my good health and make a few calls! I wish you and yours a blessed Easter Sunday. I will be attending church in Munich, for which, I am thankful.

Thank you to all those encourage and praying for me back home, I truly appreciate your support. I cannot wait to come back to all the love!!!

With ♥,

Chole

Amsterdam High Life

Ahoy!

I survived Amsterdam. Actually, I more than survived Amsterdam - I thoroughly enjoyed Amsterdam!!! Oh it was a joyous adventure throughout the city. The day commenced with a typical charter bus ride up, though I have discovered I love high speed trains and charters. The two bring back good memories of traveling while I was younger, throughout Europe and while in Washington, DC, art history trips and such. Once we arrived, we unpacked and immediately started exploring. Of course after Burger King, the group hit up a coffeeshop. Space cakes were engulfed and the adventure continued throughout the city. We saw incredibly detailed architecture on every street, characters of every sort, businessmen and teenagers alike, smoking and sharing a coffee, little kids running around. Above all else, I enjoyed the warm weather! It was the first time since my arrival in Europe I went without a coat. Oh the weather and the sun were terrific! In our walking, we stumbled upon a beautiful flower market, full of spectacular tulips. I wanted so badly to buy some bulbs to bring home. I knew I would not get them through customs, but I thought of the joy it would bring my grandmother to have Dutch tulips in her windsill.

I grabbed curbside pizza for dinner, doused with chili powder. Second time since my arrival my mouth felt heat! It was good. A couple of groups hung around the hostel, drinking and eating more space cakes as expected. Eventually, I went with a group to the notorious, though very pitiful, Red Light District. It essentially is an area full of window-doors, where young girls stand in skimpy swimsuits luring men in. I did not feel sorry for the women, but rather pitied the men who elicited the services. Who knows what kind of diseases were going around that place! It was funny to me to see some girl texting on her cell phone while "working" a window. I went for the novelty and after an hour of walking in circles, a small group came back to the hostel to relax and enjoy the thrills of Amsterdam. The next day, I visited Anne Frank's house, saw Amsterdam's lovely parks, and walked everywhere. The sun was out though so it was nice, but the slight cold wind made me need to wear my jacket. On the charter bus home, an officer of the organization put on a music video collection, with songs like "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, a Shania Twain boot-scooting diddy, Selena's last number one, random songs from the 1990's like so. Oh the humor and embarrassment with the songs. I caught myself singing along, much like everyone else. I am surprised the driver did not pick up on the smell coming from the back either!

This weekend I have more school work to do, though I am excited about going hunting in Brussels on Saturday! Handbag hunting, that is!! I still have not found a handbag I want, and since I am not going to Italy, I have to find something soon. I may have to go back to Paris at the last minute for a day if I do not find anything before or during Easter break. Right now I am really concerned about the exchange rate, especially with my long trip coming up, but I hope I will manage alright. When I return from Easter Break, I have probably five or six presentations within that first week back, and even more the second week. But alas, I only have two months until I return home. I will be so happy to have roommates that talk to me, warm, sunny weather, and love! I cannot wait to go to Arizona after my internship, probably around August 10th. I have been considering asking if Brian should tag along, it would be nice to introduce him to the people that make my life complete. Oh the love I could share. It is a possibility, though there is plenty of time to plan!

With ♥ and hope for only two months more,

Chole

The Mundane European Life.

(Written two weeks past, again, not published correctly. My apologies!)

Well good evening my dear.

Yes, even though I am in Europe, life is still terrible mundane sometime. Not much has been going on around here lately. This weekend I stayed in Louvain-la-Neuve, as well as exclusively my dorm... I truly stayed in because I had so much to get done and the weather has been horribly dreary. I am happy to report things are starting to pick up the pace with school, as I prefer. All these group meetings are not fun to coordinate, but whatever makes the time past faster. On Wednesday, I have a total of four presentations in three classes. It was an eight hour miserable course day.

For Easter, I will be going with a fellow Longhorn, Corinna, to Central Europe. I had wanted to go to south France and Italy, though Corinna asked, "When are you going to come back to these places? You can go on vacation to Italy, come with me." Our intenary is as follows:
*Saturday, April 4th to early Tuesday, April 7th: Celle, Germany - where Corinna's grandmother lives.
*early Tuesday, April 7th to afternoon of Thursday, April 9th: Villach, Austria
*late Thursday April 9th to Friday, April 10th evening: Innsbruck, Austria
*Friday, April 10th evening to late Easter Sunday, April 12th: Munich
*late Sunday, April 12th to late Monday, April 13th evening: Salzburg, Austria
*late Monday, April 13th to Wednesday, April 15th afternoon: Vienna
*Wednesday, April 15th afternoon to Thursday, April 16th: Budapest
*Thursday, April 16th evening to Saturday, April 18th afternoon: Bratislava, Slovakia. Then fly home to Brussels from Slovakia.
Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia should be an experience of a lifetime! I think it will be nice to go to around, plus I needed plans. Yes, it was expensive, but I did not need to sit around here for two weeks by myself, depressed. So I am traveling! It should be fun and I am looking forward to Easter Sunday in Munich. I will not have internet so please do not be concerned if you do not hear from me during that time! I promise, if anything goes awry, I will be in touch.

Next weekend is Amsterdam with the exchange group. It should be a pretty good time! I am not sure who is going though, everyone has been traveling too much to ask around. Wish me the best, this week is full of group meetings and laundry and uneventful days and nights! I miss everyone terribly. Almost half way done...

With ♥,

Chole

Parisian ♥

(I wrote this two and a half weeks ago, it just did not get published apparently, my apologies!)
Hello to the world!

For five days, I embraced the Parisian life to it's fullest! Oh how I loved Paris. I almost wish every day could be Parisian. I finally feel a bit more like myself after this weekend, and for once in a blue moon, happy! It was a magnificent weekend of seeing, tasting, and doing everything you should while in Paris. I arrived on Thursday, and left Monday, three full days was just enough to get everything in and have some fun! The weather was gorgeous, only on Sunday was it dreary. I miss the sun so very much.

On Thursday night, Saloni took me to a fun party at her school - sponsored with free alcohol, champagne and candy! On Friday, Brady, another UT student visiting from Ireland, and I visited Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter. That afternoon, Saloni took us around where she lives in the heart of Paris, the 3e Arrondismont. Oh what fun they had making me try on 300 EUR sundresses and outfits. If only I could take one of those pretty dresses that was in Vogue two weeks prior home with me. Friday night we stayed in, exhausted from the day.

On Saturday morning, Saloni and I walked to Pere Lachaise Cemetery (many famous people buried there. I have seen Jim Morrison's grave now. After some time perusing the dead people, we walked a couple of miles to Sacre Coeur! On our way we stopped for delicious pastries. We burned the calories off after another couple of miles. But once we arrived to our destination, oh the glory, the beauty, the fun!! Next was Moulin Rouge on our way to La Galleries LaFayette, a posh Parisian version of Harrods. I could live at the store, easily. Moulin Rouge could have been missed had the tourists not been around, though it was fun. I handbag shopped at Galleries while Saloni searched to replace her blush. The sun was setting and home was calling - the Texan-themed party was to be Saturday evening at 9P. We made it back in time to get dressed, eat and party Texan-style! I tried a new beer, almost a combination of champagne bubbly and a lager. Interesting combination called Finkerbrau I believe.

Day three: Walking on Rue de Rivoli (lots of shopping!), walking around the Musee du Louvre and the Palais du Louvre gardens, the magnificent and never disappointing Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Ladurée, home to scrumptious macarons in flavors like Rose, Citron, Myrtle Berry, and my favorite, Orange Blossom. So worth the pleasure! They melted in your mouth, no wonder they are the best in Paris!! The three of us girls ate our packed lunches under the Arc de Triomph and then continued on our ultimate destination, Le Tour Eiffel.

I loved visiting Le Tour Eiffel. I think we spent just as much time, if not more, taking pictures of or with it, than we spent climbing and experiencing it! It was just as I remembered from ten years previously, the views and the wind, simply breath taking. There are 668 steps to the second level! We even were able to catch the night show! Before my afternoon train on Monday, Saloni took me to a cute crepe curbside and then lunch at a great falafel place, recommended by Lenny Kravitz.

The sunny weekend was simply lovely. I loathed coming back to Belgium, especially when I returned from a sunny, semi-warm day in Paris to rain, clouds, and a cold wind in Louvain-la-Neuve. Paris was a perfect weekend get away. Cannot wait to return in yet another ten years!


Sending Parisian ♥,

Chole

Last weekend in February?

Well hello,

It's once again Monday, and the month of February is already gone? Wow, I did not see that one coming! This past weekend since I sadly have a cold, I stayed in Louvain-la-Neuve. Friday was the most exciting, an adventure to the grocery and two loads of laundry! Saturday I unexpectedly went to Brussels for the Comic Strip Balloon Parade to see some pretty cool balloons up close and personal. I had never been to a balloon parade like that before! Now I know why people love the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They are super cool. When I returned home from the afternoon, I pulled together homemade chicken soup. I was just very proud of myself because it tasted delicious - especially with no written recipe! That's all I have really eaten the past couple of days, but since I have no appetite, it is wholesome and healthy and hopefully will get me better. No worries, I brought DayQuil and Pseudophed, not to mention the large quantities of hot tea I have been drinking. I honestly do not think I have been this sick since high school, though I really do not remember the last time I was sick. Sunday I was productive and worked on school for the most part.
On Sunday, it was my grandfather's 89th birthday! I called, but the connection was poor. I sure wish I could have been there with the family. My grandmother told me all the good food that they were having and just the thought made me smile. I sure do miss them and cannot wait to visit in August. I leave on Thursday for Paris and it should be an amazing weekend. A bunch of people are surprisingly going to Paris and/or Europe for their Spring Break, the week after next. Supposedly it's the new Playa del Carmen. Germany, Amsterdam, and Italy are in my personal traveling forecast. Updates soon!

With ♥,

Chole

A Slow Down

Good Morning!

Well to start, it is 1 o'clock in the afternoon, technically not morning anymore. But let me explain myself. I have come to adjust to the mentality that morning here in Louvain-la-Neuve is from 9 or 10 until 2. With this sort of schedule, a Belgian makes time for lunch by 2, we consider it to be the afternoon after 4, and evening after 8 when dinner is served. The night shares it's title no later than midnight, going until the wee hours when you finally get to bed at 3 or 4 AM. Enough time for a decent amount of sleep until, say 10A. Sunday is the exception because everything is closed, and I truly have not experienced Louvain-la-Neuve on the weekends. I have been traveling since my arrival. Nevertheless, I love love love feeling as though it is still the morning in the middle of the day. This might quite possibly be the reason for my poor productivity throughout the past six weeks.

This weekend of February 28th, I will not be traveling. Beyond sounding like I am dying, possibly due to intense allergies or a cold, I need a weekend to catch up. The group projects are piling up to be mountains, the expense account is running on a mediocre supply, last weekend I traveled three days straight, and finally, I need to plan the rest of my adventures for the semester. On a lighter note, I temporarily have a new roommate, a tiny spider named Cleopatra. Cleo just came around a few minutes ago, though I am not sure if she will stick around. I like small spiders as such and I regularly miss naming random visitors. Speaking of which, I am curious to know whether or not Brian's upside-down fish is still living. I honestly prefer tiny spider visitors or geckos that eat other bugs to dirty fish. I look forward to the day when I am able to give a proper home to a pet, preferably a kitty.

This week in class has been beyond worthless, the common exception though Brand Management. I am actually learning in that class, though the rest just seem to be nonsensical. Seriously, I go to class to listen to duplicate student presentations given on the same article and same material for two hours. Many of the exchange students have figured out that bringing other classwork to finish makes best use of our time. The work is not hard, though having a group meeting every day, occasionally two, makes life difficult! These huge research projects and assignments that each involve five or six persons make coordinating schedules chaotic. I do not miss having multiple exams throughout the semester though. I have yet to decide the lesser of the two evils.

My friend Saloni, a close friend and fellow McCombs School of Business student, came to visit me last Friday. She took a train from Paris, where she is studying this semester, to Brussels; the same trip I will make the first full weekend in March. I borrowed a random air mattress from the common area in my kot for her stay. I could not find a regular pump so I blew it up with my blow dryer. Saloni was quite impressed with my innovation, coining it true love. It was lovely to have someone around to speak to in English, share stories, and express all that is difficult to do with our "new" exchange friends. Having someone familiar makes life much more enjoyable and carefree. During her visit, we saw Brussels on Friday, Antwerp on Saturday, and Maastricht in the Netherlands on Sunday. Monday she went to Bruges alone; I stayed home to work. Brussels and Antwerp were both surprisingly different experiences than my first visits. I loved Antwerp yet again, it has definitely become my favorite major Belgian city.

Maastricht was a blast for Carnival, or as Americans usually reference, Mardi Gras. Carnival in three words was mayhem, insanity, and fun. Maastricht holds the biggest of the Dutch carnivals, where everyone sings and dances in the streets wearing costumes, drinking, and enjoying life before the beginning of Lent. If you need a better idea, Carnival antonyms include: realistic, reasonable, responsible, sane, sensible, smart. I sorta-kinda saw the town, we really were only there to party. I am sad though that because it was Carnival, I was not able to pick up a postcard. Hopefully I will be able to get one from one of my friends who goes another time. The pictures are ridiculous I warn you, though quite accurate of the event.

Next week should be more meetings, more school, more hectic scheduling. The week will be cut short because I will be leaving for Paris to visit Saloni on the afternoon of Thursday, March 5th. I am getting excited! A Texas-themed party, clubs, sites, French cuisine, and almost everything Parisian is on the agenda. I will stay until Monday afternoon. My future plans will be debated, planned, and booked preferably this weekend or early next week. Thank you for your patience in my blogging updates and lack of true communication with the rest of the world. I love you all and I hope every one is doing well.

Best wishes and with ♥,

Chole

♥ Valentines in Bruges ♥

Bonsoir!
(Good day!)

For Valentine's Day 2009, fifty exchange students made the journey to Bruges, Belgium. It was definitely an experience, not only staying in a hostel for the first time in my life, but embracing the exchange student life. The city itself was gorgeous. We were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather all day long! The sun showed its glorious rays, the clouds stayed home. The weather also made for spectacular pictures, of which I took about 150 throughout the weekend. Everyone should be able to live vicariously through my travels with that many!

It was quite the weekend, though without someone to share the day, the super abundance of couples and horse carriage rides in the market square in Bruges were excessive. The dinner reservation stupidity was too. Anywhere we tried to eat, they asked if we had a reservation (for 8 pretty ladies): no. Onto the next place. Finally a small, overpriced Italian hole-in-the-wall offered their less than mediocre service. After dinner, a few of our group went back to the hostel around 9 pm to rest and relax, while the others went into the cold night to explore. At 10 in the evening, the party started apparently at the hostel. I sipped my hot tea and laughed as other students heavily drank the night away. They drank and drank and drank until the moon set, or so I heard. I retired to my room with my three roommates for the night after 12. We tried to sleep... once everyone returned from the bars merely two hours after we had settled in. It made sleeping difficult, but soon people got to bed. Nevertheless, there was a sly group of boys, particularly a couple of Canadians and students from Mexico, that took it upon themselves to wake the entire hostel. Luckily, our large group had rented the place out, but everyone was upset by morning. Every hour, on the hour, from 3 until 7, they yelled and sang, "alcohol, alcohol, blah, blah (some Canadian drinking song)..." After the restless night, we had a decent breakfast and made the hour train trek to Ghent, another port city along the Belgium coast.

Just in time for our arrival in Ghent, the weather decided to incessantly and continuously drizzle. You know, the horrible, just-enough-to-ruin-good-hair, make-everything-slick, grow moss on roofs, type of miserable, misty nonsense. Our large group managed the port city, home to the famous painter, Jan van Eyck, by boat, by foot, and by tram. I thoroughly enjoyed the ducks on the water, as well as the wind energy turbines. Besides the boat tour, lunch, and collecting postcards, there was not much in Ghent. I know a lot of history about the city now, nothing worthwhile I suppose. Ghent is famous for it's overabundance of breweries. Not many still brew, though the past still remains. Something interesting I learned was the water was so terrible in the late 19th and early 20th century that everyone, young and old, was better off drinking beer instead. Thus, it was not uncommon for a three-year old to be drinking beer rather than water at the time! A fellow Irish exchange student called it blasphemy, claiming the Irish started their young-ins' earlier.

It was an exhausting weekend, but I am happy I was able to brave the cold to see the historical and beautiful cities.

With ♥,

Chole

Antwerp

This past Saturday I visited Antwerp, the city of diamonds! Too bad I forget to pick some up. Stood up the diamond museum too. Another time. Nevertheless, for once people understood English. It was much easier this trip to order food and communicate. This last week was rather uneventful, though there were definitely highlights:
- Class was canceled on Monday. Everyone rejoiced. I do not have classes on Monday any week. Seriously?
- I will be the only intern for the Texas Department of Agriculture this upcoming summer! Full-time, regular position, 10 weeks, Go Texan.
- Laundry is a lost past time that should be left in history. It cost about $7.30 for my single load and took about two hours. Oh but how I do love the smell of clean clothes! I felt very successful on Friday late afternoon.
- I received lots and lots of love and mail this week! There is a super special feeling I have when opening up and reading letters written with love. I have begun to plaster my walls with the delightful cards and notes. It makes me want to go home to Texas and Arizona for so many more reasons. Yes, in my mind a trip to AZ in August is tentatively planned... Get excited!
- I booked my train ticket to Paris! I will be visiting my friend from UT studying there on Thursday afternoon, March 5th, until Monday afternoon, March 9th.
- No exchange events like the first week, though some students regularly go out partying. The smoke kills me, I do not like beer being spilled down my hoodie, and sleep does the morning well. Weekend traveling has become the time to see each other and have fun among most of us.
- Watching my TV shows is possible. Listening to music is too. I am no longer alone in the world when eating meals. Dr. Grey, Betty, Hugh Hefner's girlfriends, and the Housewives join me regularly!
- The art of American beer pong has saved Louvain-la-Neuve Thursday nights.
-Belgian. Road. Sign. Yes, another gift to add to the collection. The sign and it's journey to me was epic.

My weekends are much more educational. I was supposed to go to Maastricht in the Netherlands, though my traveling buddy got sick. The trip is rescheduled for February 22nd so we can go to Carnival! However, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a group of Canadians Friday evening who were planning to go to Antwerp early Saturday morning! The train took less than two hours and the ten of us were there before 11. We arrived, stormed the visitors center, decided we needed coffee. Thus the exploring commenced. Twenty minutes later, our mission was accomplished. We drank and chatted, enjoying posh white leather couches, delicate coffee bean shaped chocolates, and warm energy. The obnoxious group, including myself, then took to the city, walking in two pods, taking up entire sidewalks and pushing the locals to the sides. Eventually after seeing the Rubens statue, hearing the bell tower at Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal, wandering around and around for hours, and walking along the boardwalk, the group settled on true Belgian fries for lunch. The combination of hot fries and a sandwich was ideal. Honestly, the Belgian fries really are not as spectacular as locals might suggest, just basic french fries that are always cut thick and served hot. After a warm place to recuperate, the group split into two. The majority of the girls went shopping; four others, including myself, went searching for the true identity of the city and chocolate. We did not exactly find either, though the experience was truly unique and quite adventurous. Our group had fun.

The two boys, Chesli, and I stumbled upon Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen. The Antwerp Museum of Fine Arts. The museum was showing a lovely exposition of the prolific seventeenth-century Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens. However, I truly enjoyed the impressionist and modern sections of the museum. It was only one euro to enjoy the beautiful artwork! Totally worth it. The three hours were gladly stolen. Afterward, we bundled up again to continue our expedition. The boys found a very modern building about ten blocks away that turned out to be a courthouse. We each thought it was an auditorium or opera of sorts. Dinner the two groups reunited, feasting on delicious pitas, filled with the best of sauces and fillings. For the first time since my arrival, my mouth felt spicy heat! It was actually better than the Belgian chocolate experience in Brussels. That evening only a few went out once we returned, everyone else gladly went to bed.

Sunday and Monday were my rejuvenation days. I worked on different things, though my productivity levels are nearly zero in comparison to this time last year! Once the sun returns I will possibly regain some of my productivity. It just seems I should be hibernating right now, really. On a similar note, it was hailing, snowing, and raining all at once while I was walking home from class today at one o'clock in the afternoon. Nothing compares to a warm sunny afternoon.

This week should be about the same as last. Saturday and Sunday I am traveling with most of the exchange students though to Bruges. Everyone is looking forward to having fun and spending the night in another city. It should be pretty memorable.

With ♥ and a temporary tanning membership request,

Chole

Mussels in Brussels

Forget London, I went to Brussels, the city where Brussels' Royal Palace is bigger than Buckingham Palace!




Yesterday, Saturday, January 31st, a large group of exchange students of Louvain-la-Neuve (LLN) visited Brussels for the afternoon and evening. The program of the day included a drink at The Delirium, famous for offering over 2000 types of beer, visiting a chocolate factory, sampling some of the local flavor, and finally having a waffle to send us off into the night back to LLN.

In the morning, I was able to spend a little while on Skype, enjoying the company of those closest to me. At noon, I met Emily, a really fun girl from Appalachian State in North Carolina, at one of the city squares to experience the Saturday market with almost everything and anything. There are stands full of fresh fruit and vegetables Americans never have seen; some of the most unusual spices from the heart of India and the Middle East; a kind man selling beautiful flowers where I bought my flower last weekend; a fresh-out-of-the-oven bread; a legit, that's a whole cow leg for sale, meat stand; a tiny place that reaks like the "feet of angels"; and colorful rows of brightly colored scarves and warm hats for sale. We also went to the grocery and got supplies for the week. I have moments when at the grocery checkout when I question how much I am spending. It is difficult to remind myself that it is money well spent because you have to eat and be nurished. Food is not an option, no matter the exchange rate! Later in the afternoon, the group came together and in masses, filled the train cars. We spent about an hour in route, and upon arrival, immediately walked a short distance to La Grand Palace. How majestic the square and scenery was! After our cameras took a pause, the group leaders led us to a pub for a drink. I tried an exclusively Belgian beer, BarBar, with a malt taste and subtle flavor of honey. I also tried a Portuguese beer: Tango. Fantastically sweet and very full-bodied! We went to the chocolate factory afterward, then to dinner. The chocolate was very rich and so smooth. I promise I will bring some back for others to try. For dinner, I had a dish with vegetables and turkey, common Belgian cusine apparently. I would have ordered my own dish of mussels if I had been hungrier. Nevertheless, I shared my portion of dinner with Emily (from Appalachian State) and she shared her mussels. We were amused that this large pot of mussels was served with thin frites, or french fries! They offered the usual mayo, though being Americans we opted for ketchup. After the restaurant, the exchange student group basically split into two. Those who wanted to stay and party all night until 6A in bars in Brussels, and those who wanted to return to LLN around 10P. Once back, the non-Brussels bar group created our own exchange student party and had a great time at one person's empty dorm and Becketts, a local pub, dancing the night away.

Today I slept in and have been teaching myself how to wash laundry by hand. This method is much better for my delicates and sweaters, as well as my wallet. Apparently, one small load of laundry to wash is about 4 € (about US $5), plus about the same to dry. I plan to wash my jeans and heavier clothes at the laundromat, but figure I would rather develop some practical skills. I also picked up some half and half instead of condensed milk for my coffee! I will take something in the meantime before my rescue package comes for my lactose intolerance.

Adjusting to living abroad has been an immense emotional challenge. Through listening to podcasts from Westlake Bible Church, I have been able to get through my "storm." If you are interested in hearing it, feel free to download it via iTunes. This paragraph references the podcast from January 18th, 2009. Brad Thomas, the pastor, shares how every storm is truly a blessing. Every storm is also temporarily, though it may not seem like it during the storm. I hope God is using my life's struggles here in a foreign country to use me. Possibly to show others the reflection of His glory and my faith. Compared to others or your own, my struggles may not be as difficult. But He has each of our own unique plans! My struggles are my own and are meant to have purpose in my life. The Lord is with me every day and I have to hang in there for His purpose to be fulfilled. He is in charge: I have to greatly rejoice in His blessings, welcome and unwelcomed. He is teaching me the truth of how smooth seas truly do not make skill for sailors.

Life is improving day by day. I pray life will continue to improve and with the support, encouragement, and love of those around me, I will enjoy my opportunity more. I love and miss everyone dearly. I have made it almost two weeks abroad, yay!

With ♥ from just a couple thousand miles away,

Chole

Contemplating Homesickness

Bonjour, Bonne journée, Bonne soirée, Bonne nuit!
Good morning, Good day, Good evening, Good night!

Whatever it may be for you, I wish you well.

Since I have been here for a week and a half now, I have let go of some of my homesickness. It is truly getting better and I am enjoying being here more and more. I am sure I will continue to contemplate homesickness rather than engrossing myself in the fact of being away. Life has been improving since classes started Tuesday. Yesterday (Thursday) was my best day yet. I also hope to enjoy my Thursday class, Brand Management, a marketing course. My class schedule is as follows:
Tuesdays: 8:30A usually, until 12:45P.
Wednesdays: 10:45A - 8:15P, with an hour and a half break for lunch at 12:45, and another break after 4P until 6P.
Thursdays: 10:45A until 12:45P.
Yes, classes are two hours long! Each has a large amount (40% + of the grade) of major group work... the Americans and Canadians here do not think it is the best of ideas! lol Oh well, we will have to manage or fail!

Tomorrow (Saturday), I am going to Brussels for the afternoon and evening with a large group of exchange students. The agenda for the day is visiting a bar (at 4 in the afternoon mind you) that serves over 700 varieties of beer, going to experience a true chocolate factory, buying chocolate, eating chocolate, going to dinner for mussels, and maybe enjoying the nightlife or seeing La Grand Palace. It apparently it is magnificent at night! I will try to figure out how to upload pictures to here or enter a link.

Today I went shopping with a friend, Chelsi from The University of North Florida, unexpectedly. We just went to the local mall, but it was a blast! I love European shopping. I think I may purchase an adorable pair of boots once the shops have their final winter sales and I may find a steal. I would love to have a pair. I did not intend to make any purchases, but a great pair of navy slacks followed me home. They were only 10€, or about $13.00. I saw them and figured I will most definitely need working clothes at my full-time internship this summer! All of my professional clothes are too big right now. After shopping and she had a bite to eat, I led her on an expedition of the non-university parts of Louvain la Neuve. We took some great pictures and saw a completely different part of the city. The part of town where "real" people live with children, homes, and the sort. The exchange students had been wondering where the "real people" live and through my curiousity and lead, Chelsi and I discovered a whole new world. It was exciting. What is even better is that we were not sitting at home on the Internet being homesick.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and love! It truly has made a difference in my first week and I cannot thank everyone for their encouragement and support. If you ever feel the need to read more or hear stories, feel free to email me. I am more than willing to share my experiences, though this blog can only hold your attention for so long. Thank you again and ...

Jusqu'à la prochaine fois,

Until next time,

I ♥ you!

Chole

One Week, and Counting

Bonjour to all those I love!

In the latest news, I found out yesterday (Monday, January 26th) that I will be interning this summer for The Department of Agriculture for the State of Texas. My internship will focus around the further development and promotion of the Go Texan campaign, as many are familiar with through the logo. If you're not, stroll down the ice cream aisle the next time you're at the grocery. Look next to the Blue Bell Ice Cream and viola, GO TEXAN! My time and energy will be dedicated to exclusively promoting Texan agricultural products in restaurants, primarily a large event hosted by The Department of Agriculture and many local restaurants in October. I am very excited that I will return to Austin having a purpose this summer! It is also a relief to be able to fulfill the internship requirement of every McCombs School of Business student. Plus it is something I could imagine myself doing one day for a job!!! I am honestly more excited about this opportunity than being in Belgium, for now.

Things here in Belgium have been tedious. I have registered with the city. I have registered with the University. I have registered for classes. I have re-registered with the University because they did not like my picture. I have registered with a new bank. I have registered with Housing. I have registered online for my bank. I have yet to figure out how to register with the University online so I can get my email. I have registered all of the problems that came with my room in French from English to turn into Housing. Yes, other countries beyond the United States have bureaucracy too. It makes for terrible days and even more disappointing conversation among the exchange students. Nevertheless, I have met more students, though it is difficult to remember each person's name. There have been events frequently for the exchange students. On Sunday evening, they invited us out to cercles. Cerles are basically dirty, sweaty, packed fraternity parties at kots (aka dorms). Most commonly, there are 50 people in a space for 20. If you want beer, you go inside the party and take it to go or stay and socialize. That is what practically every student does here Sunday through Thursday nights. They go home to their parents on Fridays. Belgians think they are amazing, though the common perspective among the exchange students is that they are gross!

Today was my first day of class. I am glad there are only two more days this week! I am taking Advanced Marketing, European Public Affairs, Industrial Relations in Europe, European Corporate Governance, and Brand Management. One class each on Tuesdays and Thursdays, three classes on Wednesdays. My Advanced Marketing course is different. We have many executives coming to speak from the marketing industry, though the scheduled time of their visit is 2 hours before class begins... from 8:30-10:30 A! Then there's class after that usually, from 10:45A - 12:45P. I will need a thermos for my coffee pretty soon... The is a 15-page group paper due at the end of the semester worth 50% of your grade, and for me, either an oral or written final exam in May worth 50% also. I have yet to figure out the whole books thing here. Soon, I hope. I have a Belgian group that found me for the project and I am hopeful for an A. Many of the exchange students that are in it probably will leave because their home institutions will not honor the course. Oh well. Tomorrow will be another adventure, from 10:45A until 8:15P.

I may be visting Brussels this weekend with the other exchange students. I am ready to travel!!! Tonight is beer tasting with the exchange student organization. Last night was supposedly a barbeque, though they forgot to send the memo to bring your own meat and drinks. It made no sense to anyone, from any country. I apologize for not updating more often, though I have been jumping through many firey hoops and hardly have any time to myself.

With ♥,

Chole

My First Belgian Beer.

I am settled, for now.

Yes, I have had my first, second, and third Belgian beers. My first was with a sandwich the night of my arrival. When I arrived to the Belgian airport, I gathered my luggage and found the student team who was there to pick me up immediately. It was nice to have them. We spent an hour on the train coming from Brussels to Louvain-la-Neuve. It was extremely difficult with two heavy suitcases and two carry on bags. I am glad I had my backpack though. I have worn it every day and my shoulders have begun to hurt. Oh well, I will take some aspirin.

I was able to get my room on the first day. I unpacked somewhat and met some other exchange students. We ate together at the sandwich shop that evening and I tried to find internet without success. I went to sleep around 9 pm and woke at 10 am. I did not sleep very well because of the terrible pillow the bedding kit came with and the styrofoam-like bed. I met a new friend and we went to the "centre commercial", aka the mall, and I definitely bought some better pillows. They make a world of difference.

Yesterday was the shopping day. I bought a coffee maker, the best appliance in the world, coffee, sugar, some sort of milk that really isn't good, pillows, a mug, hangers, picture frames, and a Ed Hardy poster...

Just trying to make my room feel like I am at home as best as I can here.

Last night I met more exchange students at a semi-party. We just were all sitting around talking and having some beer. Three girls walked me home last night and after I spent a couple of hours putting up pictures and my poster, I went to bed after 1:45 A. I didn't fall asleep for a while, but once I did, I slept pretty hard. Surprisingly, I woke up at 3:45 P. That's right, in the afternoon! I slept through my orientation and woke up very disoriented. I went to the mall this afternoon though and bought an alarm clock! I am still debating buying a phone. I went to dinner at a fastfood restaurant called the Q. Surprise, surprise, I ate a fast food burger. It was the size of my palm and it came with an orange juice and a very good green salad. I think it was the most nutricious meal I have had since I have been in Belgium! I plan to go to the grocery tomorrow and take pictures of the town. Tonight I am going with the other exchange students to a pub for drinks to get to know other people.

I won't have wireless internet until Sunday in my dorm. I will try my best to post more soon. If you have Skype or Yahoo! Messenger, we can stay in better touch. Thank you for your love and prayers, I miss everyone!

Sharing my ♥ from Louvain...

Chole

Gathering My Bearings.

I am here in Belgium, safe.

I am not completely settled yet, though I hope to have regular Internet as of Sunday.

My new address is:

Mademoiselle Nichole Brumley
Voie du Car d'Or 2/014
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Belgium

Will update blog soon. Miss everyone!

Much ♥ love needed from Louvain...

Chole

Lacking Anticipation

Well with the countdown ticking down to a mere two days and eighteen hours left, I still am lacking much of any anticipation for my trip to Belgium.

I am completely happy sitting in on a couch with an arm around my shoulders, watching movies, competing on the new PS3, having another Christmas of sorts, playing pool, enjoying junk food, and relishing the awe of Planet Earth! I have come to love doing and thinking what every college student should be doing and thinking on their holiday break... nothing! Still, even with my departure looming on Tuesday, I do not want to leave the comfort of the collegiate "oasis" for a trip of a lifetime, yet. But alas, I am sure once I board the plane on Tuesday, reality will hit me like a bus and over-joyous emotions will encompass my soul.

Between now and Monday evening, I will make my way back to Austin to pack and prepare. For now, I look forward to savoring the fat, juicy steak Brian thoughtfully picked up at the grocery. The grill is most definitely his friend. I have tried my best to take advantage of the variety of cuisine in America recently. Within the last week, I have enjoyed genuine Tex-Mex, smoky barbecue, delicious sushi, thick burgers, spicy chili, and practically anything with meat. I do hope I will be able to get enough nutrients and vitamins abroad. Fresh fruit and vegetables too.

Though I have yet to spend any sleepless nights worrying about my lack of anticipation for studying abroad, I do feel as though I am missing out of some of the fun. Oh well, if it does not come by Tuesday morning, that is when I will begin my worthless worry.

Miles away from ordinary, life is lovely. I have taken care of what I need to and in a rare moment of my life, I am figuratively free of all obligations and responsibility. Thankfully, God has blessed me with the opportunity and given me a wonderful life I love.

For now, the world is my oyster.
Much ♥ from College Station!

Chole

Pre-Departure

Congrats! You found my European blog.

This blog will soon be filled with my adventures while studying abroad at L'Universite Catholique de Louvain (UCL) in Louvain, Belgium. Feel free to follow my entries as you wish, as I hope my travels may inspire you to pursue your dreams one day too!!

I am leaving from Austin for Brussels on January 20, 2009. Classes begin January 26th. Be on the watch for lots of pictures too.

Just in case you haven't added me on Skype yet, open the application, enter blazebromley, and sure enough, no longer will you feel an empty chasm in your life!


For now, much ♥ from Austin!

Chole