Well my first Thanksgiving as a married person, and as a married person away from my family came and went and we made it through without too many tears. I have to say that considering I am not much of a "holiday" person, I really didn't think the distance would get to me as much as it did. Both Kyle and I got to talk to our families and it was nice to hear everyones voices and think back to all of the other fun Thanksgivings we have been fortunate enough to share in.
I know that many people like to complain about living in America and how many things are bad or wrong there, but in light of being half a world away and having some perspective and also it being Thanksgiving, I thought I would share a few things that should make you thankful to be where you are...in the good ole U. S. of A. (Keep in mind I am doing great here in Brussels, but there will always be a few things I will always miss about America.)
1. Free drink refills
2. Not having to pay for a glass of water at a restaurant
3. Double Stuff Oreos
4. No dog poop all over the sidewalks and in the malls (yes, I know that is gross, but it is everywhere!)
5. Not having over 1/2 of your paycheck taken away for taxes.
6. Getting to go to the bathroom for free in a restaurant, rather than having to pay $.50 each time.
7. Not having to pay every time you make a local phone call from your home phone.
Well these are just a few, but maybe it will give you some food for thought.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Our New Home!!!
Great news, after an extremely intensive 2 week search, we have finally found a place to call "home." Between the two of us, we have toured at least 30 different apartments and we are really happy with the one we chose. It is a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with hardwood floors in the living room and lots of closets. It is in a great place--kind of a mix between Virginia Highlands and Little Five Points for those Atlanta folks. There is a market there every Wednesday and plenty of restaurants and shops to occupy my time. Even better is that there is a tram stop 1/2 a block away that takes Kyle directly to his work, in only about 20 minutes! We are signing the lease on Tuesday and will get the keys on Wednesday, Dec. 1. On Monday we are going to find out where our belongings actually are--we are thinking either in Antwerp or Brussels. But once we track them down, we will schedule the move and hopefully be in by next week!
I can't tell you what a relief it is for me to know we finally have a place. I never knew how much having a place to call my own meant to me, until I didn't have one. I am excited to finally have a place to get to know and explore and not to just feel like my efforts are in vain---that I will really be able to use this information now.
Well, since we have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, everyone is strongly encouraged to come for a visit!
I can't tell you what a relief it is for me to know we finally have a place. I never knew how much having a place to call my own meant to me, until I didn't have one. I am excited to finally have a place to get to know and explore and not to just feel like my efforts are in vain---that I will really be able to use this information now.
Well, since we have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, everyone is strongly encouraged to come for a visit!
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Looking for Housing
I started off the day by meeting up with Rachel. She is from Canada and is married to Rick (who also works for the WSJ.) They have an adorable 2 year old girl named Sabine. We walked all around her area of town, which is much closer to the office. I like the area, but I think it is more of a family type place than 2 newlyweds need. She was so kind to show me her apartment and give me an idea of pricing and size for places. Then Sam joined us and we had an incredible quiche, made by Rachel herself. It seems like everyone around here can cook!!! After lunch, Rachel walked me around a few more areas of town. Slowly but surely, I feel like I am figuring my way around places.
Friday, November 05, 2004
NYC Recap
Keep in mind that I am writing to each of to as if you were my family...meaning that I am assuming you are interested in everything I do...so if you aren't, I totally understand and don't mind at all if you want to just skim over this.
I started Thursday off in a cab at 6:30am heading to the Regis and Kelly Show. I had to wait in a standby line for an hour and eventually got in. The set is much smaller than I would have thought. I sat on the fifth row directly in front of R & K. The guest stars were Misha Barton of the OC, Rachel Ray (the 30 min. chef), and Jaime Foxx from the Ray Charles Movie. Regis and Kelly were incredibly nice and so friendly and real.
After the show, I figured I would see if I could get onto The View or The David Letterman Show. Instead, there was a guy just outside the exit doors that was handing out tickets to some other show. Of course, he really got my interest when he said they have free give-aways and food! So, along with a crowd of a few others, I followed him to a limo that took us to another studio to watch Life & Style. This is a new show that has all of these different segments with Kimora Lee Simmons, Jules Asner, and two other women as the hosts. The show was quite energetic and fun to be a part of.
Friday, Kyle's sister Rebecca came for a visit. Since Kyle was still working, Rebecca and I hit the town and had lunch at Dylan Prime (some posh NYC restaurant). After that, we scalped tickets for the matinee showing of the Rocketts Christmas Special. It was incredible--ice skaters, the orchestra moving all around, live animals for the Nativity Scene, not to mention incredible dancing and kicks. After dinner, the three of us headed to a party thrown by one of Kyle's WSJ co-workers. The hostess went to Harvard and already has a book published by the age of 27! It was fun to see Brookyn and meet new friends.
Saturday we watched the UGA-Kentucky game at Busters (a bar where lots of UGA people gather for games) and then went shopping on Canal Street. Who knew Rebecca was such a great bargainer! That night we saw Phantom of the Opera and it was just wonderful. I forgot how much I enjoy musicals.
Sunday found us watching other people exercise---running the NYC Marathon. I am just in awe of anyone who has run a marathon. That night we ate dinner with Kyle's AP friends at a restaurant with a belly dancer---quite an experience!
Monday Kyle and I were able to get tickets to the David Letterman Show. The guests were The Bandaloos, PeeWee Herman, and someone from the show Lost. Letterman really is funny and it was great to see how the show works. He definitely doesn't spend much time interacting with this audience though.
Tuesday I went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I definitely am appreciating how lucky I am to be able to just tour at my leisure and not feel any time pressure to get to the next sight. I took my time walking around the Statue of Liberty and am just amazed at how they built it. After that I took a ferry to Ellis Island. The visit really put everything in perspective for me as I get ready to move to Brussels. I just can't imagine leaving my family and basically knowing that I will never see them again. After that, the immigrants had a horrible trip across the ocean, only to move to a country where they did not know the language. Talk about making me feel like a wimp! The visit left me with even more appreciation for being able to live in America and just how wonderful this country really is.
Dinner that night was at Nobu (SKS swore to me that I would read about in all of the gossip magazines, and sure enough a few days later I saw that Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were just spotted there.) And since 8at8 is in my blood, I was able to fit in a hostessing gig at the Ocean Grill while in NYC.
On Wednesday I got a little lost in Chinatown and decided that I might not be as excited to move to Hong Kong (if Kyle were to ever go there with the WSJ) as I am to move to Brussels. I definitely stood out in that group! That night we were able to get tickets in the lottery for Avenue Q. It was hilarious and definitley and enjoyable show.
Thursday I took a long walk all through Battery Park with the wife of one of Kyle's co-workers. She is from Brussels, but met her husband while working in Jerusalem. We had a nice time and I look forward to seeing her when she visits her parents in Brussels.
Friday is when we will fly to Brussels.
I started Thursday off in a cab at 6:30am heading to the Regis and Kelly Show. I had to wait in a standby line for an hour and eventually got in. The set is much smaller than I would have thought. I sat on the fifth row directly in front of R & K. The guest stars were Misha Barton of the OC, Rachel Ray (the 30 min. chef), and Jaime Foxx from the Ray Charles Movie. Regis and Kelly were incredibly nice and so friendly and real.
After the show, I figured I would see if I could get onto The View or The David Letterman Show. Instead, there was a guy just outside the exit doors that was handing out tickets to some other show. Of course, he really got my interest when he said they have free give-aways and food! So, along with a crowd of a few others, I followed him to a limo that took us to another studio to watch Life & Style. This is a new show that has all of these different segments with Kimora Lee Simmons, Jules Asner, and two other women as the hosts. The show was quite energetic and fun to be a part of.
Friday, Kyle's sister Rebecca came for a visit. Since Kyle was still working, Rebecca and I hit the town and had lunch at Dylan Prime (some posh NYC restaurant). After that, we scalped tickets for the matinee showing of the Rocketts Christmas Special. It was incredible--ice skaters, the orchestra moving all around, live animals for the Nativity Scene, not to mention incredible dancing and kicks. After dinner, the three of us headed to a party thrown by one of Kyle's WSJ co-workers. The hostess went to Harvard and already has a book published by the age of 27! It was fun to see Brookyn and meet new friends.
Saturday we watched the UGA-Kentucky game at Busters (a bar where lots of UGA people gather for games) and then went shopping on Canal Street. Who knew Rebecca was such a great bargainer! That night we saw Phantom of the Opera and it was just wonderful. I forgot how much I enjoy musicals.
Sunday found us watching other people exercise---running the NYC Marathon. I am just in awe of anyone who has run a marathon. That night we ate dinner with Kyle's AP friends at a restaurant with a belly dancer---quite an experience!
Monday Kyle and I were able to get tickets to the David Letterman Show. The guests were The Bandaloos, PeeWee Herman, and someone from the show Lost. Letterman really is funny and it was great to see how the show works. He definitely doesn't spend much time interacting with this audience though.
Tuesday I went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I definitely am appreciating how lucky I am to be able to just tour at my leisure and not feel any time pressure to get to the next sight. I took my time walking around the Statue of Liberty and am just amazed at how they built it. After that I took a ferry to Ellis Island. The visit really put everything in perspective for me as I get ready to move to Brussels. I just can't imagine leaving my family and basically knowing that I will never see them again. After that, the immigrants had a horrible trip across the ocean, only to move to a country where they did not know the language. Talk about making me feel like a wimp! The visit left me with even more appreciation for being able to live in America and just how wonderful this country really is.
Dinner that night was at Nobu (SKS swore to me that I would read about in all of the gossip magazines, and sure enough a few days later I saw that Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were just spotted there.) And since 8at8 is in my blood, I was able to fit in a hostessing gig at the Ocean Grill while in NYC.
On Wednesday I got a little lost in Chinatown and decided that I might not be as excited to move to Hong Kong (if Kyle were to ever go there with the WSJ) as I am to move to Brussels. I definitely stood out in that group! That night we were able to get tickets in the lottery for Avenue Q. It was hilarious and definitley and enjoyable show.
Thursday I took a long walk all through Battery Park with the wife of one of Kyle's co-workers. She is from Brussels, but met her husband while working in Jerusalem. We had a nice time and I look forward to seeing her when she visits her parents in Brussels.
Friday is when we will fly to Brussels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)