Sunday, January 27, 2013

here and there

This post is mostly just a life update, and I have to say, things really do get better every month! Admittedly, I did have a bit of a rough patch about the second week of January. I'm not sure why, but I was extremely homesick, even more homesick than I was during Christmas. But I think it was just the winter blues. Right now, I am really starting to feel at home here in Belgium. My French is getting better, and therefore, so is school. I am starting to make friends, interact with my classes and teachers, and almost forming "my own life" here in Belgium. Last week, I started some drawing classes at this art school in Namur called "L'Acadamie des Beaux Arts". I will take them every Wednesday for 4-5 hours. I think it will be good for me, because I am rather terrible at drawing. In general, life is good! I hope that this is equally the same for you! Winter can be a sad and cold time, but I think that that will change with the rise of the thermometer. Until the next time!
Here are just a few random pictures that I have taken in the last few weeks.


I wrote a letter to one of my best friends, Travis, near the beginning of the year and told him that one thing I really missed about Fall was pumpkin flavored things. So he sent me some pumpkin chai tea! What a cool dude.
(January 3, 2013)



I visited Bruges with some other exchange students and another American who was an exchange student in Belgium 2 years ago. It's a really cool city, but I hope to go again in the Spring when the weather isn't as gray!
(January 4, 2013)



People playing accordions everywhere, just how I like it.
(January 4, 2013)




Give us these daily fries.
(January 4, 2013)




Bruges has been called "the Venice of Belgium".
(January 4, 2013)




And encore...
(January 4, 2013)




My host mom taught me some new knitting stitches. I'm like a new woman. 
(January 20, 2013)



I got some awesome watercolor painting supplies for Christmas, so I have started painting a little bit in my free time. This is based on a photo I took in Peru two summers ago when we were on the sand dunes.
(January 20, 2013)

Saturday, January 5, 2013

denmark

The day after Christmas, my host family and I went to a little town called Lemvig, Denmark with the basketball team that my host sister plays on. It was rather cold and windy, but I enjoyed myself very much! We took a coach bus (a "car" in French) and we traveled for about 10 hours. We stayed in a cool little cottage along the shore, about 2 kilometers away from the town. Every day, we went and watched my host sister's team, along with many other teams from around the world, play in basketball matches. Belfius Namur Capitale, the name of the team, played very well and actually got second place in the whole tournament! Even though I have never considered myself a huge sports person, I am starting to really like watching basketball. Who knew that my year in Belgium would turn me into a basketball fan?



En route!
(December 27, 2012)



Stopping to see the ocean.
(December 27, 2012)



In the fields.
(December 27, 2012)



La belle mer.
(December 27, 2012)



(December 27, 2012)



The wind was so strong, it was almost impossible to walk.
(December 27, 2012)



My host mom keeping warm!
(December 27, 2012)



I accidently got freezing water all over my camera lens...whoops.
(December 27, 2012)



Les gens sur la plage.
(December 27, 2012)



Belfius Namur Capitale basketball team!
(December 27, 2012)



Learn some words in Danish.
(December 27, 2012)



The other cottages near ours. I like the red theme.
(December 27, 2012)



After the first day. Time to sleep!
(December 27, 2012)



The view from our window.
(December 27, 2012)



Taking a time-out.
(December 28, 2012)



The first game against a German team.
(December 28, 2012)



An old fishing boat along the harbor. 
(December 28, 2012)



I have no idea what you're talking about.
(December 28, 2012)



Danish pride; there were flags everywhere!
(December 28, 2012)



On the way to the "salle de sport".
(December 28, 2012)



Cool moss rocks.
(December 29, 2012)



On the walk uphill to the "salle de sport".
(December 29, 2012)



My host sister Christelle during a game against another German team.
(December 29, 2012)



The basketball team on the last day of the tournament.
(December 30, 2012)