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Published: June 24th 2008
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I want to warn all of you that there is a force invading Belgium. It's not the French under Napoleon and it's not the Germans. It's H&M department stores. They are EVERYWHERE!! I have seen 4 in Brussels alone. On my walk from the train station to the Markt in Bruges I saw 2 on the same street. And this weekend, I saw one in Ghent and two in Waterloo. I just can't believe it.
Ok, now that I have that off my chest I can move on. This was another great week in Brussels. I can't really complain about much though, right? I made some big plans this week. I can't believe the 'split-second' decisions I made. On Wednesday, I heard two girls in my class (who I eat lunch with) talking about who they were going to Paris. I asked when and for how long. They told me they were going next Thursday (which is now this Thursday) for only a day and a half. I politely asked if I could tag along. They both said yes, and after their second class, we went to the train station and bought our tickets!! I'm so excited about it. I'm
really glad that I won't be alone either. Then on Thursday afternoon, I was just checking prices for places to go for my last weekend trip. I found out that I could afford to go to London for three days!! I will be in England for July 4th. Seems strange, but I will make sure to be ultra-American that day. haha. It is also the finals weekend for Wimbledon while I am there. I'm going to go sit on 'Henman's Hill' and watch tennis!! I can't wait.
Friday morning, I slept in because I wanted to. Then I caught a train to Ghent. Now for those of you who don't know, Ghent is the site of the signing of the treaty that ended the War of 1812 (aptly named the Treaty of Ghent). One of the signees of said treaty was Henry Clay. I just so happen to work in his house and was highly encouraged by my 'superiors' to go visit the site. Now, for some reason, I was not a happy sightseer that day in Ghent. I think it was the sleep issue and the rain issue and the fact that I got lost more than three
times. Once I found my way, I walked through a lovely park to SMAK (Dutch acronym for Museum of Modern Art). It was the scariest place I've ever been. The installations were weird and there were rooms inside rooms. There was a whole room of bidets of famous women. I was extremely confused and I wanted to run out of there. However, there was a strange voice coming from behind one of the many black curtains. Thinking I had found my way to Oz, I followed the voice hoping I could get back to Auntie Em. This room was dedicated to the Guiness Book of World Records (not Oz). There were pictures from old issues and such. Then I saw it. A tv screen showing the back of a man's head leaning over a desk. He was counting. I leaned further and saw the room he was in. This man was being filmed while trying to break the world record for highest number counted to (or some other 'official' title). I got my camera out and took a video of it. While I was there, he was in the 75,000s. Just counting!! I hope he is a millionaire and has
that kind of time off work to sit around and count.
Anyway, I found my way out of that fun house and across the street to my haven, the Museum of Fine Art. The ladies at the desk assumed I was under 19 and let me in free. It was very nice. I spent way too much time in here. There were so many rooms to see and paintings to gaze at. It was beautiful. After exiting the art museum, I got lost again. It was quite fun, especially when it began to rain. It didn't pour but it was enough to be uncomfortable without an umbrella or rain jacket. I did eventually find my way to the center of the city and into the most amazing church I have ever been in. It is St. Bravo's Cathedral. Unfortunately, they are conserving the middle section and they had a rule of no photographs. It was incredible. I sat in there for awhile hoping the rain would stop. My guide book was not helpful in Ghent. I didn't know what I was looking at or where I was wondering. I did find another beautiful church that was putting on an
organ concert. It was a lovely save haven from the rain. Overall, Ghent was just another Belgian town with beautiful churches, ornate sky-lines, and scary art museums. I never found the place where the Treaty of Ghent was signed, but now I have new information and may return on a sun shiny day.
Saturday, I was sleeping in again when I was abruptly woken by the dj that was set up in the park below my apartment. At first, I thought this crazy French music was in my dream, but it was not. The park turns into a neighborhood yard sale once a year. That was the day. There was a dj and moon bounces and festivities all day. I had plans on staying in Brussels, but my host mother informed me that it was going to rain the next day when I was going to go to Waterloo. So I changed my plans and left for Waterloo after lunch. The train ride only lasted about 5 songs on my ipod. It was quick. I walked to the center of town to figure out how to get to the battlefield. Historical background: the Battle of Waterloo was the defeat
of Napoleon and French forces on June 18, 1815 by the English and the Prussians. It was the 193rd anniversary and there was a re-enactment. I had to go. I found my way there and paid too much to climb too many stairs to the top of a home-made hill to see the field. It was worth it, but the wait for tickets was obnoxious. People were cutting in line; it was about 85 degrees outside and no air conditioning inside; and I just wanted to see a field and some guys in uniform. I did make it to the top of the monument. It was originally dedicated to Holland's Prince William of Orange but then it became for all the brave soldiers who fought that day. The monument is called Butte du Lion; it's of a lion with its paw on a globe symbolizing peace in Europe. It's really too bad it only lasted 100 years.
Sunday morning, I really got a chance to sleep in. It was fantastic. I figured I would wonder Brussels, but my host mother decided to take me to a museum which was fine by me. We drove out to Tervuren which was
a royal palace. Now it's the Royal Museum of Central Africa. It was a beautiful palace. I could live there. The exhibits were very nice as well. The coolest part was that most of it was put together for the 1958 World's Fair. There was a whole wing dedicated to animals. I think they had stuffed versions of every animal found in the Congo. It was incredible and the stuffed versions were 50 years old. I really enjoyed it. While we were there, I found out that my host mother was born in the Congo. Her parents were Belgian and after they married they moved to Africa. Her and her bother and sister were all born in Africa. She was telling me stories about how she played with chimps and saw zebras. I couldn't believe it. It was so interesting. From what I gathered, she lived there until she was 14 and then her father moved the family to Brussels. So cool.
This weekend, I was very homesick. It was actually pretty bad. I am definitely going through the classic signs of culture shock. I really enjoy reading all your comments and I am glad to hear my ridiculous
writing is actually somewhat enjoyable. It makes me feel good that you guys are supporting me while I am so far from home. And to all the Mara family at the beach, I wish I could be there with you. I really do enjoy our weeks at the beach. It's just too bad that I have to catch a train to Paris on Thursday! haha.
Love to all. Au revoir.
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