Find the spot in the garden that makes you happiest, and make it yours

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EcoHostel Andromeda
Ghent, Belgium
Monday, July 6 2009

Well, that was a weekend. So to update everyone (because some have partial info, others have none), here is what is going on. At the end of last week, one of my sisters called me to let me know that my dad was having some pretty bad health problems going on right now. It's not my business to share what it is with everyone, but needless to say I have been worried about it ever since hearing. Thursday and Friday I was kind of a mess, just out of it altogether. On Saturday morning, after doing 3 hours of weeding, Luc drove me to Antwerp Centrum (the center tourist area of Antwerp), where he dropped me off and said "have fun." I did a bit of window shopping, explored a bit of Antwerp, but mainly did some thinking. I came to the decision that I would fly home to be with the family and help out with my dad. It's not something I was asked to do, but I'm glad that I am able to both from a financial as well as a time-off standpoint. I am not sure what this means as far as the rest of my WWOOFing trip, but I am on leave until the middle of November. So, if things go well, this might just be a 1-month detour back to the states, then I can figure out what to do for the last 3 months or so. But I will not regret taking this time to go be with the family, for family is more important than this trip.

Now, with that being said, here's what happened afterwards. I went back to my hosts and talked with them, and they were very understanding of the whole situation. As a stroke of luck, they had accepted a pair of WWOOFers from Chicago at the last minute who were scheduled to arrive today. I booked a flight for Thursday from Brussels back to Greensboro, and told them I would leave on Wednesday. Instead, they shoved a train ticket in my hand and told me that I absolutely had to go see Ghent before leaving Belgium, and that they would manage in training the new WWOOFers without me. They also said that I should give them a call and see if they had any space available if I return to Europe, as they thought I did good work. Yesterday I did a lot of electonic repair work and computer maintenance for them, which is a skill most WWOOFers lack. So, an hour train ride later and I'm in Ghent. It's a really nice medieval town, with many churches, a big castle, a giant construction project going on in the center of town that is interrupting my tram line, and the coolest hostel I've ever stayed at. I'm booked in the EcoHostel Andromeda for the next 2 nights...and I'm on a boat! Some folks bought an old shipping freighter, gutted it and turned it into a multi-room hostel with one of the nicest rooms I've stayed at in the past month. No 20-bed dorm room here, but rather an intimate 6-bed room that is below decks. The furniture and the refitting is done using reclaimed wood or eco-friendly materials, there is a big garden updeck, and the folks staying here seem very friendly.

So what is next for me? I'm booked here in Ghent for the next 2 nights. I hope to go to a good jazz club (there are reportedly several in town), do some sightseeing and try to relax. Then I'll head to Brussels for 1 night, just to make sure I'm closer to the airport for my Thursday noontime flight. I'll probably do a bit of shopping, maybe pick up some chocolate to take home, but for now I'm just sitting in the hostel common room, typing up this entry and drinking beer at 4:30 pm. My feet are tired, and I'm taking a rest.

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Photos

The polytunnel
Polytunnels are popular here

Japanese wine berries
Not quite ripe, but they look intriguing

Photo 3
What a nice stamen you have...

Home
Home sweet home

Antwerp Central
Central train station

St. John's Wort
For all those who like St. John's Wort...here it is. They grow it in the garden.

Comments

[geoffy]

your last farm sounds like it was a winner fo sho. hope your dad gets with the better right quick.

[Allen]

sorry bro
Sorry to hear about your father. I hope everything works out okay for you (sounds like everything in Europe is going well at least).

[Kayla Killingsworth]

I'm sorry to hear that your trip is being cut early, but it's good for family to come foremost. It seems that at least you are having a nice time with your last couple of days in what will hopefully not be the end of your time in Europe. I hope you are thoroughly enjoying yourself. I hope your dad regains health and you can continue your journey soon.

[Naren]

I'm reading this a week late. Sorry to hear about the situation. I think you definitely made the right call. Hope everything goes well.