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
February 26, 2009
February 16, 2009
♥ 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
(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
February 10, 2009
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
February 1, 2009
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
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
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