Leuven

Kelly, Poppy and I had a great time taking a little adventure to Leuven on Friday. Leuven is just about 10 miles outside of Brussels and is a cute little college town of 85,000.

To give you a little history/geography lesson, the northern part of Belgium is Flanders and people there speak Flemish (a version of Dutch.) The southern half of Belgium is Wallonia and the people there are Walloons and they speak French. When they speak French they are referred to as francophones. Brussels is in Flanders, but it is mainly French speakers, to really add to the confusion. So just as I am mastering a couple of words in French, I go only a few miles away and suddenly everything is in Flemish!

In broad stereotypes, the Dutch/Flemish are known as a very clean, rule oriented people. However, the Walloons like to bend the rules a little bit more and are against laws etc. So basically, even though this is one country, it is very different depending on what area you are in. Since Brussels is a larger city, and is more like Wallonia than Flanders, it is a lot dirtier and less law abiding than Flanders. This is why Kelly and I enjoyed Leuven so much! Since it is in Flanders, we just couldn't get over how clean everywhere was and how there was no dog poop on the streets. We only spent a few hours there due to time constraints, but we definitely will be going back there often for some fieldtrips!

All of these new words/labels get quite confusing to me, so I have developed a few memory tricks that I thought I would share with you. Now when you are at a dinner party, you can speak intelligently about the differences of Flanders vs. Wallonia and everyone will be impressed! (but still probably have no idea of where you are talking about because no one knows where Belgium is.)

People in Flanders both speak and are Flemish (both of these start with Fl so they go together. Also, if you go by alphabetical order, F comes before W, so Flanders is in the north.)

People in Wallonia are Walloons but they speak French and when they do that they are called Francophones.

Click here for photos of Leuven:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=121a73ha.z5ylz2e&x=0&y=n7tnia

My perfect day

I just had the most perfect day today. I was going to meet up with some friends for coffee, but due to the recent snowstorm, school had been cancelled, so they had to stay home with their kids. So instead, I had a coffee and croissant by myself in my favorite little cafe. I was incredibly relaxed and really enjoyed just letting my mind wander and enjoying my time alone, without having to rush off to the next thing. It was kind of like that feeling you have on Saturday morning when you wake up naturally (and not to an alarm) and then just lay in bed awhile daydreaming because you don't have anything to do. Well I was having that same feeling, but getting to eat a buttery croissant at the same time!!!

I remembered I still had some goodies that I had bought from the Wednesday market, so I invited Kelly, Sonny, Poppy and Sam, Luke, and Aletheia over for lunch. The kids had fun playing together and I learned even more about weaning kids from breastfeeding and at what age to start them on solid foods. (We didn't just talk about kids though, we had some other great conversations too!)

I felt incredibly European when I prepared fresh pasta and sauce for the kids and a mozzarella/tomato/pesto/basil sandwich on fresh baguettes for the moms.

After Kelly and Co. left, the Carneys and I headed into the forest to play in the snow. Brussels has a huge forest that no one can build on just at the outskirts of town. The snow was melted in the city, but still there was still plenty of it in the forest. Sam knew of a great path we went on and the boys had a ball. Luke just kept wanting to make snowballs, but unfortunatley the snow was not sticky enough.

After plenty of fresh air and friends, I came home and made salmon with rice and creamed spinach. Kyle was held up at work, so I had to eat alone (the only bad part of the day) but it gave me a chance to light some candles, read a book, and blog!

Click on the link to look at photos from our snow day:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=121a73ha.sbnmq4m&x=0&y=-xo0f5u

Come with us to the snowy wonderland of the Brussels forest!!! (click on the Ofoto link to see all the pictures.) 

A typical scene...James, Aletheia, and Luke ready to hit the road! 

This picture summarizes my life. Notice the 3 kids in the picture, cheerios, coloring books, puzzles, and all the coats and boots piled up by the door. 

Sonny and Luke hanging out at our house (and obviously very intent on the video I put in.) 

Julie and Mia (both from Minnesota.) 

Mia and her mom Julie having a bit of fun at our place. 

Jessica and Mia. (Jessica is married to Jarno, the guy from Finland) 

This was Jessica (in black) trying to be serious, and Julie was trying to be serious, but broke into giggles instead. 

So, I was walking down the street and thought this wooden frame thing was beautiful (which just happened to be sitting out by someone's trashcan). I brought it home with the intention of putting a mirror in it. However, Kyle wasn't so keen on it, so, before we threw it out, Jessica had the bright idea to pretend they were a family from the 1800s and try to be serious in the framed photo. Thus, this crazy picture.  

This is precious little Mia (Julie and Michael's daughter.) She is 7 months old. 

Palais de Justice and Ball Pictures

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=121a73ha.ckmuwfa&x=0&y=p5tjao

I took a little adventure on my own one day and was a tourist through the Palais de Justice. This is one gigantic building in Brussels and is really beautiful. There were not any tours going on at the time, so I don't know too many facts on it, but I do know it was amazing.

The other pictures are of the Capitalist Ball we went to. I was a little embarrassed telling people the name, but we had a great time. I felt beautiful in my dress and Kyle looked great in his tux. Champagne was from 7-8pm and then dinner was from 8-10pm and then dancing was from 10-2am. That is one thing about Brussels--they are not afraid to stay up late! It even said on the program that the dancing would last until 2am, so they actually planned it to last that long (and with a free/open bar too!)

Another Belgian thing is to have many different types of drinks. We had champagne for our 'apertif' (before dinner drink) and then white wine with the smoked quail and salad and then red wine for the lemon sorbet and dinner of veal and then coffee with our chocolate dessert. By being the 'Capitalist Ball' they were into anything that is not politically correct, which I guess is why they had meat for both courses, and then chocolate for dessert on a Friday in Lent in a country of 80% Catholics (not that they all practice...) They also had a cigarette girl come around who looked straight out of the 1920s with a tight black dress selling cigarettes and cigars to everyone.

The band was incredible and the dancing was great. Another thing about Belgians is that they are not afraid to wear the same thing twice. I learned this after going to the ball and then looking at the pictures from last years ball. Now keep in mind that this is basically the same group of people as the year before, and yet, 4 women wore the exact same dress as last year!!! I was in shock, but an American woman who is married to a Belgian said that they really don't think that is a big deal. She said her husband will try and wear the exact same outfit to work that he did the day before until she stops him. Kyle tried to convince me that now I can just wear this same black dress to everything (so he doesn't have to keep paying for new outfits), but I said, "I am still an American, and I will wear a new outfit to any ball I go to!" To which he responded, "Well, then I hope you enjoyed that one!"

Brugge and Binche Pictures

I have heard that the Ofoto link I posted earlier was not working, so I am going to give it another try from a different angle. I hope this one works!

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=121a73ha.fvpt0om&x=0&y=-wffr6s

Snow Day!!! We woke up to flurries and had them on and off throughout the day. It was so much fun to be walking through snow in Europe! 

"Social" Studies

I have been getting a few comments that I have not updated the blog recently, but it is because I have such a busy social life! I have been having a great time here, and have really had fun hanging out with so many people. I took a "Hints on Living in Brussels" class that was put on by the American Women's Club. Through the class, I was able to meet many great women, which has really helped to widen my circle of friends. Last Sunday Kyle and I were even brave enough to entertain people at our home! We only brought 8 wine glasses with us to Brussels, so we were a bit limited in who all we could invite. I delegated some of the food responsibilities (mainly because I was scared to cook for that many people!) But I did end up making a chicken dish that I will say I was quite proud of. And I even cooked it while everyone was there!

So the guests were:
Jessica and Jarno--Jessica is working here as a lawyer. She is originally from NYC. Jarno is from Finland and I have learned a thing or two about the country through knowing him.

Talin and Ken--Both have lived between California and NY for most of their lives, but both are of Armenian origin. Due to their heritage, I have learned a lot about Armenian history.

Julie, Michael, and Mia (7 mo.)--We let Mia slip through our 'non-kid group' because she is so darn cute and we view her as our mascot. Julie grew up in Colorado, but moved to Minnesota after marrying Michael.

So even though I am hanging out with Americans, I don't think you could get too much more of a diverse group. Together we represent all parts of the US!

We had a great time playing Cranium and seeing who was really the most talented of us all. Now the girls and I try to make a habit of going to the open air Wednesday market each week and then having wine and cheese afterwards.

We took this picture ourselves, so the angle wasn't the greatest. There was a professional photographer there too, so hopefully his will come out a little better :) 

For those of you that wanted to see the dress... I bought this at a little european boutique. It is not something I would normally wear in the states, but since I was in Europe, I figured I could get away with it. If anyone wants a few more 'detailed' pictures of the dress just e-mail me. 

There was a wonderful 18 piece swing band. They played some great music! 

This venue was definitely a step up from the standard hotel ballroom! It was a beautiful old room that was so grand these pictures don't do it justice. 

Where President Bush will be speaking on Monday (and also the place where we had dinner Friday night at the Capitalist Ball.) 

Brugge and Binche

We had a great weekend filled with travel and new friends. On Saturday we went to Brugge, Belgium to visit our new friends Amy and Nate Chan. Nate is here working for Scientific Atlanta. Amy has the same visa issues as me, so she is not working. They gave us a great tour of Brugge. It is such a picturesque little town!

On Sunday, I went Binche, Belgium with Kelly and her two children. Carnival is a huge celebration (similar to Mardi Gras) and we went to one of the parades.

Since there were too many pictures to put on the website, I have made an Ofoto albumn. Unfortunately, I think you might have to sign in (so sorry!) to see the pictures. Let me know if it is not working for you and I can try to help.

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=34569530806&page=1&sort_order=0

One of the many great costumes people wore for Carnival. 

While standing behind Sonny, I had a great view of the parade! 

Emily, Kelly, and Poppy at Carnival in Binche, Belgium. 

Poppy in her adorable bunny outfit waiting for the train. 

Our new friends Amy and Nate Chan. 

Kyle and Emily in Brugge, Belgium.  

Hanging out with Poppy, Sonny, and Kelly

Thank goodness my sister Sarah Kathryn stays friends with all of her ex-boyfriends! She mentioned to one of them (Briley Brisendine) that I was in Brussels and he remembered that a friend of his from McKenna, Long & Aldridge was over here too. Rich worked with Briley in Atlanta, and then he and his wife Kelly took a year and a half off to travel around the world. Talk about an inspiration to us all! Definitely check out their website at www.2goglobal.com

Rich and Kelly have been here for a year while Rich is helping with the legal logistics of a company expanding throughout Europe. Kelly is the wonderful mother of Sonny (3) and Poppy (10 mo.) (pictures below) Both Rich and Kelly grew up in Michigan, but moved to Atlanta to start their law careers. They lived in Atlanta for 12 years before coming to Brussels. I have had a great time hanging out with Kelly and it is wonderful to have a friend over here who knows all about The Treehouse, Peachtree Battle, Piedmont Park, Virginia Highlands and so many other great Atlanta things!

Poppy and Sonny in their matching dresses! 

Poppy is 10 months old, and is usually the happiest child I have ever seen. However, she wanted a nap and food right then, rather than me taking a picture of her.  

This is Sonny (short for Sonria, which means smile in Spanish.) She is 3 years old and is the oldest child of Kelly and Rich Willis.