Weird things about Belgium

It's so strange how it's the little things at surprise you the most while you're abroad. Here are just a few of the unusual things I've encountered while I've been here (I have a feeling this will be an ongoing list):

1. They don't refrigerate milk in the supermarket. Weird, I know. Almost all the milk is sold in cardboard cartons on the shelves and doesn't expire until July. And yes, there's a taste difference from all those preservatives that must be in there.
2. They also don't refrigerate eggs, as seen in the picture above.
3. You have to "rent" shopping carts (which are all locked up) by depositing a coin in a machine, which apparently you get back one you return it. I guess there's some sort of shopping cart thievery problem here.
4. The doors on the subway don't open automatically. The first time I tried to get off I ended up standing there looking like an idiot waiting for it to open before I eventually followed someone out a different door. The second time around I realized you have to push a button.
5. It is acceptable for men to wear tacky, oversized sweaters. And leather pants.

What about you? What were some of the strange things you found in other countries?

La Grand Place et Les Palais

Parc de Bruxelles


Palais Royale


La Grand Place


Belgian waffle



Yesterday I figured out how to use the metro and saw some of the best parts of the city. I found the building where I'll be taking classes, and from there it was only a short walk to le parc du Bruxelles (Brussels Park). On one side of the park is the Belgian Parliament building (palais nationale) and on the other side is the royal palace, although apparently the royal family no longer uses it. I also got to walk down to Le Grand Place, the center of the city and the most touristy part. This was definitely more what I had in mind when I went into the city - lots of Belgian waffle stands (which were amazing), chocolate shops (also amazing), street performers, and little shops full of cheap souvenirs. I'm definitely excited to go back and look around even more!

Arrived in Brussels!

I finally made it! And now I'm exhausted. This whole overnight traveling/jet lag things is really getting to me.

I left Washington D.C. last night a little after 6 (40 minutes late) and arrived in London about 7 hours later. Unfortunately, the late departure made for a late arrival, meaning I missed my connection to Brussels. I then got to deal with booking a new flight, calling my contacts in Brussels to let them know of the change (in my meager French), and navigating Heathrow Airport at what was about 2am D.C. time. I'm pretty sure the only reason I wasn't stressing out even more was that that I was just too tired.

I finally arrived in Brussels at around 11:15 am local time (it's about 6 hours ahead of D.C.). It wasn't long before a driver came for me, luckily one who was really nice and spoke really great English. He dropped me off at the apartment, where me and my landlord figured out all the details in his bad English and my bad French (pics of the apartment to come later). I wandered around the area for a bit, bought a couple groceries, and then returned here where I am now trying to avoid falling asleep at my desk.

Tomorrow's challenge will probably be figuring out public transportation here. More details on everything to come soon :).

What about you? What are your experiences traveling abroad?

Back to Blogging

So after I promised to be better at blogging in my last post, I then went 3 months without another post. Whoops! Unfortunately I realized that I was too busy this semester to really be able to keep up with this blog, despite how much I wanted too! Once the semester ended, I fully intended to start blogging again, but 3 and half weeks of repairs on my computer kind of put a delay on it. I finally have it back though, and ready to get back to posting!

Since it's been three months since my last post, there's no way I could fill you in on everything. So, here are 5 of my favorite things from the last few months:


Lots of exciting football games


Three fabulous trips to see my dad in Florida


Spending time with my beautiful new little (and the rest of my lovely sisters!)


Celebrating four years together with David


Getting to spend time with my family!