Oh, my, was it cold today. Nearly 7 inches of snow... And I spent several hours lost in it.
After finally going to bed at 1AM last night, I woke at 1PM today. If you think about it, that's like going to bed at 7 and getting up at 7 the next morning in Charleston (or anywhere, EST). And it's only 10:30 and I'm exhausted again. Whew. Hopefully I'll get adjusted soon.
Anywho, I woke up at 1, took pictures of the apartment (on facebook - I don't know how to put them on this page...), got dressed and took the metro (subway) to see Marion, leaving probably about 2, if not a bit earlier. I took the metro to Gran Central, where I thought her hotel was. There are several Hotel Isis locations, which I didn't realize, and I went to the wrong one. The lady at the desk told me it was a 10 minute walk, do this, do that, and you're there..... Well, maybe if there had been street signs or something. See, this is my thing, how the hell do you know where you are when the only markers on anything are numbers? There are sometimes plaques on buildings that say what street you're on, and sometimes what the cross-street is. Most of the time, there is no marker at all. I walked for at least an hour, stopped in at the Marc Sleen Museum for directions, and finally got to the hotel at 330. For Marion to have given up and gone to a museum herself, leaving a note for me at the front desk. I went up to the room, tried to warm my feet, burned a huge whole in my sock instead, said screw it and went back downstairs, barefooted in my rainboots, to have hot chocolate and a waffle.
Here's a tip... actually two:
Don't hang your socks over a heat lamp to warm them - they WILL burn.
Rainboots are not warm, they just keep your feet dry.
My hot chocolate was served with sugar and cream, which confused me at first... and then I tasted it. I think it was literally steamed milk with cocoa powder in it. Very bitter, but very good once I added the cream and sugar and put the whipped cream from my waffle on top. I know, very American, but it was good and whipped cream shouldn't go to waste. The waffle was superb. It came on a long rectangular plate, sitting in a light yellow sauce, dusted heavily with powdered sugar and lots of whipped cream. I tasted it, and thought it was incredible. Light and fluffy, incredibly sweet. I tasted the light yellow sauce - sugared butter. Perhaps one of the most unhealthy things on the face of the earth, but it made my waffle taste amazing.
After "lunch", Marion and I went shopping. It was about 430 or 5 and it was already starting to get dark. We got some gloves (expensive) and some boots (really cheap) that were very nice, and then went out to dinner. I had vol-au-vent, which is a Belgian specialty that's pretty much chicken and mushroom gravy over a biscuit. And of course french fries... Everything comes with french fries here.
I didn't talk about food yesterday, so I'll say a little blurb here. Yesterday was our first day in Brussels. I had won ton soup at a little place called "Le Open" with Kristen and Marion. Good, interesting, pretty much the same. Then for dinner, the whole group of thirty of us went to dinner in Gran Plac - which is basically downtown. Most people got pizza or pasta, and nearly everyone got beer or wine. A whole pizza or pasta dish could easily serve two people, but we didn't realize that. They were about 10 euros each. As for a beer or a glass of wine, they generally cost 2.50-4 euros... which was the same as a soda or water. Yes, I paid 3 euros for a glass of water. We are spoiled rotten. You can't even get tap water. You can ask, but you can't get it. Not in the high-end places, at least. And you don't want to ask at the low-end places...
Ok, so after dinner, I came back to the apartment. Nice long metro ride, and many funny looks. That may have been because of my rainbow polka-dotted rain boots and matching rainbow scarf and hat, but it was still very awkward. Now it is time for a shower, some emails, and sleep.
Goodnight world.
The musings of a twenty-something currently studying in Missouri.
Always loving the escape as much as the anchors.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Exhaustion
Today I arrived at 8 AM Brussels-time in the Brussels Airport. Having left at 6:30 Eastern-time (EST) the previous night, it was basically arriving at 2 AM EST to the bright, cold landscape of Europe. I squealed at the sight of snow; Brandon laughed at me. It's gorgeous and bright and clean and I've never really experienced it.... Well, that all changed today.
The taxi driver took six of us to our apartments - two sets of two and two individuals, for four stops. I think we finally got to our apartment at 10... After circles and swerves and slipping and honking, backing up 100 meters of road before coasting backwards around the corner it led to and confusing us, as there was so much luggage that there was no way he could see out his back window. Finally here, our apartment is HUGE! (though freezing - wall-mounted space heaters in every room don't warm up enough to counter below-freezing temperatures, thin glass, and the sheer volume of air in 12 foot high rooms) Pictures to come, of course. Three full-sized bedrooms with double beds each, a large kitchen with table for six, a dining room, a living room, two storage rooms and two "bathrooms" - one with a toilet and a sink and the other with two sinks and a tub. Why the designer/architect thought this was a good idea is beyond me. But there were great views of the avenue, covered in snow from nearly every room. =]
So when I got to the apartment, Marion was waiting for me there... We had a little trouble with the elevator (we're on the third floor and it's as old as the building, so couple hundred years?) But we soon got in, kindof unpacked, and Kristen and Marion and I went to lunch. Would you believe the prices? I think not. Keep in mind 1 euro is about $1.50... A lunch entree was average of 14-16 euros! Not to mention the fact that every drink is about 3 euros and that's no refills and water's included. We all stuck with soup and it wasn't bad. I had won ton soup, along with Kristen, and I still wonder why I eat oriental food in foreign (non-oriental) places.
Anywho, after lunch, we returned to the apartment, met our third roommate Samantha and her mother, and unpacked. Orientation was at 3, where we received multiple guides, maps, papers and such, insurance cards, CUBC pass cards and, most importantly, cell phones.
I have to say that I'm addicted to my CrackBerry, and it was hard to let it go. But now I have another phone to learn. Back to the old keypad for texts, no fun scrolly balls and definitely no internet connection. But we programmed in all the phone numbers so we could call each other, and then my roommates and I went to the grocery store. We got enough food to feed ourselves for a bit. Foreign grocery stores will be a topic for a future post, just because they are so interesting and so different from what we expect back home.
We then headed out to dinner with the group. Kristen fell asleep multiple times at the table, and I wanted to do the same. We headed home, where I finished unpacking, called my mom, made my bed and logged on to a whole bunch of emails and a blog to be written. So this is what I wrote. As far as I'm concerned, you can read it or not, but it's a recounting each day so I don't forget, and to let those who are interested know what I've been up to. Sometimes I'll be funny, or sarcastic, or intelligent, and sometimes I'll write like I did today and just lay out the facts. I'm blaming my poor writing for today on my exhaustion, seeing as I'm working on being up for 36+ hours straight.
So far I enjoy the city, hate the cold and snow no longer holds interest for me... Even though we're supposed to get 10 inches tomorrow... After walking across town and back 4 times today, I'm ready for a nice, warm 50 degree day =]
So goodnight. I do so hope I don't freeze.
The taxi driver took six of us to our apartments - two sets of two and two individuals, for four stops. I think we finally got to our apartment at 10... After circles and swerves and slipping and honking, backing up 100 meters of road before coasting backwards around the corner it led to and confusing us, as there was so much luggage that there was no way he could see out his back window. Finally here, our apartment is HUGE! (though freezing - wall-mounted space heaters in every room don't warm up enough to counter below-freezing temperatures, thin glass, and the sheer volume of air in 12 foot high rooms) Pictures to come, of course. Three full-sized bedrooms with double beds each, a large kitchen with table for six, a dining room, a living room, two storage rooms and two "bathrooms" - one with a toilet and a sink and the other with two sinks and a tub. Why the designer/architect thought this was a good idea is beyond me. But there were great views of the avenue, covered in snow from nearly every room. =]
So when I got to the apartment, Marion was waiting for me there... We had a little trouble with the elevator (we're on the third floor and it's as old as the building, so couple hundred years?) But we soon got in, kindof unpacked, and Kristen and Marion and I went to lunch. Would you believe the prices? I think not. Keep in mind 1 euro is about $1.50... A lunch entree was average of 14-16 euros! Not to mention the fact that every drink is about 3 euros and that's no refills and water's included. We all stuck with soup and it wasn't bad. I had won ton soup, along with Kristen, and I still wonder why I eat oriental food in foreign (non-oriental) places.
Anywho, after lunch, we returned to the apartment, met our third roommate Samantha and her mother, and unpacked. Orientation was at 3, where we received multiple guides, maps, papers and such, insurance cards, CUBC pass cards and, most importantly, cell phones.
I have to say that I'm addicted to my CrackBerry, and it was hard to let it go. But now I have another phone to learn. Back to the old keypad for texts, no fun scrolly balls and definitely no internet connection. But we programmed in all the phone numbers so we could call each other, and then my roommates and I went to the grocery store. We got enough food to feed ourselves for a bit. Foreign grocery stores will be a topic for a future post, just because they are so interesting and so different from what we expect back home.
We then headed out to dinner with the group. Kristen fell asleep multiple times at the table, and I wanted to do the same. We headed home, where I finished unpacking, called my mom, made my bed and logged on to a whole bunch of emails and a blog to be written. So this is what I wrote. As far as I'm concerned, you can read it or not, but it's a recounting each day so I don't forget, and to let those who are interested know what I've been up to. Sometimes I'll be funny, or sarcastic, or intelligent, and sometimes I'll write like I did today and just lay out the facts. I'm blaming my poor writing for today on my exhaustion, seeing as I'm working on being up for 36+ hours straight.
So far I enjoy the city, hate the cold and snow no longer holds interest for me... Even though we're supposed to get 10 inches tomorrow... After walking across town and back 4 times today, I'm ready for a nice, warm 50 degree day =]
So goodnight. I do so hope I don't freeze.
Friday, January 8, 2010
The things you see
I guess the first thing to say is that I'm on my way to Brussels, Belgium... and hello!
I started studying at Clemson this past fall (2009) as a chemistry major. Having a father who has been an entrepreneur his entire life, I thought it worthwhile to also get a minor in business so I could handle things should I ever decide to follow in his footsteps. Also being in love with traveling and languages, I knew that I would study abroad. When I attended an information session and they told me I could do both at once, I jumped at the opportunity. So now I'm sitting at Newark International Airport, waiting to board the plane that will take me to Belgium, where I will spend the next four months of my life.
I think it would be interesting to note (correct me if I'm wrong - in fact, I welcome your comments, criticisms and critiques as both a blogger and a person) that I took five years of Spanish, traveled for a month in Chile before my junior year, took a semester of German, was born in Switzerland, and have a boyfriend from Brazil who has helped me learn Portuguese both through immersion and self-teaching.... and am going to a French-speaking country. Many times I have been told that my accent is atrocious, and, if nothing else, I hope to adopt the proper nasally accent that afflicts every French-speaking man, woman and child. Really, it's not that bad... It just tickles my nose an awful lot and annoys me because I can't do it well. We shall see how I do.
As to what this post's title is actually about... The curiosities you see in airports.
First off - Why on earth would you wear top-model clothing to the airport? I swear one of the women I passed today was wearing 6 inch heels... Peep-toe, knee-high boots to be exact. Along with leggings and a huge over-sized sweater falling off her shoulders artistically kept in place by one of the most hideous belts I have ever seen. Really? Or the woman on my first flight who had her hair done so tightly I think it was affecting her judgement... Why else would you wear 4 inch stilletto boots with a purple tweed miniskirt shorter than Austin Power's mini-me to fly on an airplane? Not to mention the full beauty routine that took place, including eye-brown shaping and lip waxing? (No, I'm not making this up.)
Secondly - A pigeon. Walking around in Newark International. I wouldn't have noticed unless my roomie (who also has a blog... will link when she creates hers) jabbed me and pointed. It was a very brave bird... Not sure where it ended up, but pretty impressed it was in the airport and got within a foot or two of us.
Next - A group of Hasidic Jews. A very interesting culture, I guess it really isn't a curiousity for the airport, but for life. Being Jewish myself, though Reform, I am intrigued by the strictness and rules they follow. They spoke mostly Hebrew, and I would have liked to talk to them, but I didn't have the sand to speak to them.
All in all, the rest of the trip (at least in the states) has been pretty normal. Run-of-the mill, average. Now to board the plane and see what happens abroad. My roomie and I are on the same flight and sit here next to each other, fully appreciating the well-spent $8 for internet. (She's awesome and we met in German last semester. Watch for her blog, since she's in this class, too.)
Toodle-oo for now, wish me a safe trip. =]
I started studying at Clemson this past fall (2009) as a chemistry major. Having a father who has been an entrepreneur his entire life, I thought it worthwhile to also get a minor in business so I could handle things should I ever decide to follow in his footsteps. Also being in love with traveling and languages, I knew that I would study abroad. When I attended an information session and they told me I could do both at once, I jumped at the opportunity. So now I'm sitting at Newark International Airport, waiting to board the plane that will take me to Belgium, where I will spend the next four months of my life.
I think it would be interesting to note (correct me if I'm wrong - in fact, I welcome your comments, criticisms and critiques as both a blogger and a person) that I took five years of Spanish, traveled for a month in Chile before my junior year, took a semester of German, was born in Switzerland, and have a boyfriend from Brazil who has helped me learn Portuguese both through immersion and self-teaching.... and am going to a French-speaking country. Many times I have been told that my accent is atrocious, and, if nothing else, I hope to adopt the proper nasally accent that afflicts every French-speaking man, woman and child. Really, it's not that bad... It just tickles my nose an awful lot and annoys me because I can't do it well. We shall see how I do.
As to what this post's title is actually about... The curiosities you see in airports.
First off - Why on earth would you wear top-model clothing to the airport? I swear one of the women I passed today was wearing 6 inch heels... Peep-toe, knee-high boots to be exact. Along with leggings and a huge over-sized sweater falling off her shoulders artistically kept in place by one of the most hideous belts I have ever seen. Really? Or the woman on my first flight who had her hair done so tightly I think it was affecting her judgement... Why else would you wear 4 inch stilletto boots with a purple tweed miniskirt shorter than Austin Power's mini-me to fly on an airplane? Not to mention the full beauty routine that took place, including eye-brown shaping and lip waxing? (No, I'm not making this up.)
Secondly - A pigeon. Walking around in Newark International. I wouldn't have noticed unless my roomie (who also has a blog... will link when she creates hers) jabbed me and pointed. It was a very brave bird... Not sure where it ended up, but pretty impressed it was in the airport and got within a foot or two of us.
Next - A group of Hasidic Jews. A very interesting culture, I guess it really isn't a curiousity for the airport, but for life. Being Jewish myself, though Reform, I am intrigued by the strictness and rules they follow. They spoke mostly Hebrew, and I would have liked to talk to them, but I didn't have the sand to speak to them.
All in all, the rest of the trip (at least in the states) has been pretty normal. Run-of-the mill, average. Now to board the plane and see what happens abroad. My roomie and I are on the same flight and sit here next to each other, fully appreciating the well-spent $8 for internet. (She's awesome and we met in German last semester. Watch for her blog, since she's in this class, too.)
Toodle-oo for now, wish me a safe trip. =]
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