2 Weeks In...

So after being in Brussels for 2 weeks, I'm finally "home." My original host family was on vacation when I first arrived so I stayed in a temporary place for the first week, which surprisingly turned out to be a really great thing. Instead of having to spend my first two days in Belgium wandering around by myself, I got to live with Casey, a fellow study-abroad from New Jersey, who then introduced me to some other amazing people! After my week with Casey, I moved in with a Greek guy, but then decided I wanted the real family experience so I'm now living with Jose and Carmen, 2 very lovely people from Spain! Carmen is the most amazing cook and I'm very much looking forward to eating every thing she puts in front of me for the next 3 and a half months.

Since Carmen and Jose are from Spain and live in Belgium, they speak VERY little English. Meaning I have no choice but to improve my French, which is good! It is one of the main reasons I picked Belgium to study abroad, so we'll see how that goes...

So far, Brussels has proved to be everything that I expected and more. It is a beautiful city with beautiful old buildings, cobble stone sidewalks, and tons of art and history. The people I've met so far are all also amazing.

Last weekend Paige, Ellie, I ventured to Ostend, a beach resort town on the Belgian cost. Luckily, the sun was out, so Paige and I sat at a cafe and enjoyed the sun for atleast a few hours. If I had to pick one thing I miss the most from home (other than people of course) it would definitely be the sun. Brussels weather is so crazy. One minute your walking down the street and its sunny and warm, then literally 10 seconds later everything changes and your standing in the middle of a downpour. Eventually I will learn, umbrellas are a necessity.

Other highlights of the trip thus far have been stumbling upon an Urban Barbeque in the park. There were tons of people, and vendors were giving out free food and beer. Definitely a good time. My groups of friends and I have decided guide books, maps, and everything else is just a huge waste of time. You find the best things in the city when you just start walking. Other great things we've stumbled upon have been the night time light show in the Grand Place, so pretty!, a HUGE outdoor market in Brussels, a "secret" garden in Ostend, an AMAZING beach resort in Ostend, and then Sunday I went exploring by myself and found one of the prettiest Cathedrals I've ever seen, Notre Dame de la Chappelle.

To sum things up, Belgium is lovely, I'm having a great time, but of course I miss everyone at home lots too! In my next post I'll try and put up pictures of the new house and room.