It’s been a busy few days since I arrived here on Wednesday? Thursday? I think today is Sunday but I’d have to check. Our first few days have been filled with long orientations, tours and moving around. But with all the introductions and information sessions in the rear view mirror I think for the most part I’m getting more settled in.
I’ve already shared some pictures on my Instagram but I’m going to post some more in this blog and and try to add some context to the ones on my instagram.
Tonight is I think the fourth night in my homestay and it has been a really easy move in process so far. I share the top floor of a retired Belgian couples home with another student from the AU program. The space is really nice our host parents converted the top floor into an apartment with a kitchen and a full bath. We each have our own room as well. Yves and Chantal have been super welcoming and helpful these first few days. My roommate Ben and I will be having dinner with them three nights a week, which if it continues to be how it has been this week will be delicious and fun. I’m sure I’ll write about this in another post but the environmentally conscious culture in Belgians have contributes to some differences in the way Americans and Belgians live at home. The houses are cooler, thermostats are turned down when leaving rooms, showers are short. It’s very different from the way we live in the US but it’s refreshing to see people actively working to be energy conscious.
I posted these photos along with some others yesterday but the first is from the Grand Place. My friends and I j walked around there for a bit and took some pictures but our group will be going back tomorrow for a tour with our program director. The second is of Manneken Pis or Little Pissing Boy. It’s a famous fountain of a young lad relieving himself. From the looks of it he is extremely hydrated.
Today the entire program took about an hour long train ride to Bruges. It is historic city north of Brussels in the Flemish speaking region of Flanders. Historically it served as a major port until around the 15th century when a major channel silted up and allowed for other cities to pass Bruges economically. I’m sure that the impact of that was bad for the residents at the time but its great for us 500+ years later who can see a 15th century city almost frozen in time. The middle picture is an original Michaelangelo sculpture which was pretty amazing to see.
I could keep going on and on about this past week but I have three and a half more months to share more stories so I’ll leave it here.
This week I will be interviewing for internships at five different organizations as well as starting classes later this week so wish me luck.
Until then I’ll be enjoying whats left of my weekend. Bottoms up!
Blogging in Brussels 