I get so proud of myself when i cook a good meal but i did... ill try to write more on my whole thoughts on the way to the grocery-- i was upset with a roommate/housemate being strange and not being very good at english -- and very timid-- too timid of a person and it takes way more patience for me--
but anywho, walked to the grocerystore type place-- colroyt-- and got produce and bread and chicken,
(oh and beans in a can-- for another day)
and when i got home i poured myself half a glass of wine (as the old house guest-- merjca --whom i liked a lot and jon met-- she left one for us-- so i had a little as i was cooking-- it tastes soooo good but didnt have too much as i didnt have too much in my stomach--
cut up the fresh mushrooms that i bought and put those in first (i dont really know what im making or what ill use when i start) then cut up cucumber and thougth of just doing those 2 lightly and eating them with chicken (like turkey slices for a sandwich) but ended up cooking a chicken breast with red wine vinegar and basil .. and also cut up a mini onion (shallot?) anywho, it made it all taste so sweet and yummy-- but the overall dish is a little too sweet/tart for my liking, but it still tastes fresh and healthful and yummy-- i LOVE the tomatoes i bought-- they're cherry tomatoes i think and they're delicious-- mushrooms are great too .. and the cut up onion was fab-- i think there is some pasta left in the cupboard i should use that and make something with all this-- ohh used spinach in my dish too-- quite a great dish if i do say so myself-- id like to get some more spices/herbs or at least olive oil-- we have an olive oil spray so it really doesnt help much-- some honey dijon dressing (like home) would be nice too--- it'll be fun to cook someday
i'm really proud of myeslf for all this
im really hungry at the end of the day, but instead of just wanting an easy pick me up pizza or sandwich or fires taht are so readily available, i go to the store (walking) and pick up my groceries (walking back with another extra 15 -20 lbs in my arms) ... thats some great exercise--- this is where i DO fit in europe... where i dont fit is that i was really wanting sushi after thinkking of having it yesterday with a few friends-- and i thought, if i were in minnesota, i would pick up sushi in those little plastic plate/dish things and bring it home and eat that instead of preparing something-- sure i'm saving money this way but thats so cnovenient... im excited to cook some day-- one thign i have to forewarn anyone i cook for is that since i dont really know what i'm giong to end up with, my presentation is sort of casserole mix together like-- haha -- but ive got time to improve... i love trying thigns and i can use my creativity in adding together different ingredients--whcih is why i wish i had something besides red wine vinegar-- but thats not too bad ;)
got a new loaf of bread im so tempted to try a little
love love love these tomatoes
talked to my tenant-- stephanie -- she said that her kids start school tomorrow-- she's really sweet i just hardly ever see her.. interesting hwo she yells at her kids-- another couple families that kids are staying with do the same thing , so i'm told... cultural?? very interesting being here-- (oh and she's sweet and tender otherwise and i know she absolutely loves her kids ) i think it may be the yelling doesnt mean the same thing here that it does at home...
feelin the wine (and i hardly had half a glass-- still some left over--) going to go visit jordan and nikki i think-- 915 here-- fun to see them, esp since i felt kinda annoyed tonight-- itll be nice ;) everyone misses me and they havent seen me for what 2-3 days? geesh haha ... they keep skyping me , etc saying, when will we see each ohter again? i need you in my life etc etc.. good to be loved i guess ;)
oxo
love, cnp
oh another homesickness is that its cool/cold here.. i needed mittens the other day and that its been gray during the days-- but sun comes out for sunset which is nice -- anywho, off i go! love to all
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
actual blog
I edited/added to my blog that got sent out titled "What to WRite" so if you want a fuller version check carolynpackard.blogspot.com because it won't send you my most recent edited version
.... I got my first assignment as an intern ;)
.... I got my first assignment as an intern ;)
What to Write..
I arrived at my internship with the idea that I would have the morning to get used to the computer system, emails, website, etc., but have done these things with more to go, and also found people to talk to.
This is going to be a far more amazing experience than I imagined. It will definitely stretch me, teach me, and inform me on the world around me.
How cool to be at a journalism organization which runs to accurately and "objectively" (so, it's said), observe and report the happenings of the European Union and the relations surrounding and within it.
I spent a good hour and a half? I'm not sure what time I started my conversation, maybe it was two hours, but anywho, it did not feel that long. I talked with "John" ? who is from Chicago but has lived here in Europe for 25 years. I believe he lived in Germany and knows German (along with other languages, I imagine) and he is soo informed. I believe that he does present things fairly objectively and takes me questions very patiently and encourages them even. He will be a great resource for me to bounce ideas off of, ask questions to, bring my observations of the EU and the US to, and also inquire about how one system might do this or that better. I believe John said he used to be on a panel for CNBC--- what?! how crazy-- i should find out his full name--
bizarre world -- i dont really even understand the governing sysetem over here-- a lto of kids in the european union classes are confused by it b/c its hard to know what a lot of it means-- such as democratic sysetm-- anyone wnat to give me a low down on what any of that means-- ? i will try to look it up on wikipedia or somoething if i have time--- to not be a nationalist-what does that mean? John van Havere** Head of Administration
After talking today, about taxation (VAT?) whatever that's called over here-- i always forget the symbols-- and the difference between the different countries, the tax avoidance vs tax evasion (esp in Germany), the argument between Flemish and French in Belgium and their governing bodies and their rights to rule that Jon and I heard from our taxi driver while spending our first few minutes in Brussels. John said that this division is not widely talked aobut, and it is actually quite hostile, at least in emotional and non-physically-destructive sense, but we talked about those things, and entrepreneurship (as i almost applied for YES organization internship --and it applies to austin and his entrepreneurial ways. haha.) it was interesting,
John said, that in the states it may be that a person could try a business 5 different times and then have a 6th time to get it right, and the government MAY be starting to put more regulations on it now so that ppl aren't falling through as often and needing money, but it would be and require much more patience in europe. John said tha tin europe a person/starting up compnay would need to have a game plan that PROVES they arent going to fail, versus in the states, there may be less at the initial, and more as a perosn is going through the process-- interesting to compare.. esp with austin so into it ;)
We also talked about the car industry, banking, etc. and how/if the eu would have ever fallen into this... he said probably not, but in some ways the way us companies will PAY BACK to the one building the house, for instance, or give incentives taht are like money handouts, it makes the company idea so different...
middle class is another interesting thing to ponder while over here, along with the way there will never be a perfect government
i wondered if the usa started from england and had a more welfare state structure, then moved into its "freedom-minded" entitled, i can do anything vision and gave up on some of the other ideas, and values/cultural values shifted, then it does what its been doing, and now its almost like (in some generation) it will recycle into a more welfare state again... instead of saying socialism, harmonization is used.. and i do see it,
i dont necessarily say its better, i dont know..
competition, lower prices,
there are major trade offs-- -usa has some major things to offer
but it also has a lot of failings
the eu has some security nets-- tons actually, but i dont actually see the us getting its act together to put in place such security nets that would act in a "neat" manner-- but then agian, i've only been here 2 weeks-- these security nets really are nto as neat as they appear in the first 2 weeks, im sure.
john said, americans can sometimes act like they love capitalism when they are doing well/success, and wnat socialism when they fail (they want to blame someone else, something to put it on)... its true in many ways...
he mentioned switzerland? no sweden and its 4.5% unemployment rate, but super high taxes and high governance taking care of the ppl, they have a lot taken care of and a "high quality of life" but as mentioned with john this morning/afternoon definitions of quality of life are often different... its all so very interesting how things are definied and a country's values majorly affect how things go into place
i think it would be hard ot be an american and coem to the european union and live ina "state"/ country which would then be taxing me highly and have some government i hardly know doing it all, but yet things seem to be getting done, i dont seee the evolution into that sort of thing as being easy, i see it as working here b/c its always been, and as john mentioned, europeans tend to look historically and make assumptions based on their past and continue to grow, but learn form previous experiences and americans tend to want to continue progressing and just keep cahnging to the next thing
i brough tup how (i menitoned earlier) that it seems as though usa may end up evolving back into what it may have been originally in england--- more welfare like-- and not what it is now, and we'll just THINK that we've come up with something new, when in the end, its as though we become what we had started with-- what an upsetting rollercoaster like ride -- over 100s of years-- and i wont see it but how interesting... not saying it will happen but it could-- except if that were so we'd have a lot of fighting in the usa
some wanting "old" relative to usa starting-- and its ideas it stood for and some wanting "new" which is really actually "old" and the former way of doing things before the united states were even created---
very interseting .. i'm gettin called to join for lunch, already ate my sandwich but will eat my yogurt with them. 2 o'clock here
would love to keep writing, feel like i learned so much
corporate communications and public relations ties so easily into this and principles of economics
john said to evaluate the values/cultural values of societies that im visiting while over here, compared to the sates, compared to ecuador when i go there
interesting
usa,
europe
and latin country-- 3rd world...
soo interesting
where the values are...
i see the opportunity in europe for having a government take care of you, but i sort of wonder where that leaves God in the equation, i mean if government takes care of all your needs-- while that is goo dand great if it actually works and regulates well and seems to make ethical decisions -- which on this earth will never be totally true--- what good woudl a God do if government IS actually doing it all well?
would you even need Him? thats not to say, go create a terrbile coutnry with a very poor governing body so that humans are in desperate need of a Savior? its just a question.. at htough.. .an inquiry...
john also mentione dhow if upper class and lower class get divided enough in the usa maybe there will be a fight and civil war to create somethign new-- as has happened in europe-- history has played itself out over here and it almost seems the usa could repeat their journies, or instead create itts own...
so confusing
but so interesting
and i already feel im growing and educating myself
i am a very humble learner, if the one teaching me wants to be humble too
this is what i wanted during the obama/mccain election... not to argue over who had it right, but over why one part is good versus the other side good
a level, objective analysis
but all ppl could tell me was how mccain was old and obama was soo great
well whoopdie do
good grief americans
i dont know i think i had one mor epoint to leave.. but john just came in again to ask abou tlunch... ha ill go and maybe itll come back later?...
interesting stuff over here!! love it!
ohh--got it i brought up how jon talked about amsterdam and government high taxes and how education is valued, and how john over here said that education is one of the only things of real value that doesnt depreciate as much adn can bring back return (true in some senses, not in others-- i mean think of phds at universities, while they make more that a masters degree-- thats the whole fight-- they wish to be making more for the amt of education they've received.... ) interesting though.. and he (john here) said how he thinks education is the only place that the future generations have hope--- without that what will we do-- we need to know economics, and the things im asking about or else we will go no wehre...
true as well-- wonder what Jon packard would say about education and being important and netherlands and all the rest--
i also hear jon pack's stories of slow service, etc etc... and i cant seem to think that the work ethic is harder here but maybe?? 5 weeks of holiday is given, thats something very different too
but john here said that efficiency measured by statisitics is high still and during the hours that ARE worked, workers are workign efficiently and condensed even if they get 5 weeks off-- i dont know how it all plays out.. and i dont know how to solve unemployment.. i thin kgreed exists in any society and theres going to be isusues in whichever government structure you have.. b/c in the states thats what i see, but over here, there is still going to be the human condition of greediness... so what can you do.. gosh so many questions arsiing but i love it!! it may be a lot of theory--but thats what economics basically is.. ok yes and objective (normative and descriptive) ha i'm learning!! :-D
ok love, cnp
[just ate lunch with them-- it was nice-- we talked about a couple markets-- that'll be fun to try them out-- one on sunday- the best one they say-- and one on saturday which is also good
ive had 3 cups of coffee today :) and four more flavors to try-- bizarre that i'll be coming in all over again tomorrow-- i have a real job except i'm not really do anything yet.. haha
wow i'm sooo amazed im in this expeirence
goodness-- it again just leaves me speechless at how God directs my steps, i may make the plans, but He is in control of my steps--- ha
goodness! i hope i dont leave Him restricted i try to be open to His leading, even if i'm indecisive and reluctant/resist , He is never too small or impatient to keep trying with me-- thank goodness... going to keep looking up things-- i may have opportunities to travel with these different seminars-- taht'd be a great experience
antwerp and ostende? (i think ostende may be the beach place the friends of mine just went on sunday-- ) could possibly bring hw with me to this place if i wante dto try to hide out and do it-- i did my readings yesterday for classes- that was nice to get it done-- ;D
i love you all at home,
carolyn
ps talked at lunch about politics and taxes going towards the bull fights in spain and how many dont wnat their tax money going towards these fights-- all gets twisted around in some way-- interesting
adios--- feeling the caffeine MAJORLY-- i almost want to stay hyped on it b/c its a scary feeling when it starts to drop -- eek haha
this is why i never ever will do drugs-- its werid enough to a legal stimulant
ahh!
no more coffee for me ;) oxo
This is going to be a far more amazing experience than I imagined. It will definitely stretch me, teach me, and inform me on the world around me.
How cool to be at a journalism organization which runs to accurately and "objectively" (so, it's said), observe and report the happenings of the European Union and the relations surrounding and within it.
I spent a good hour and a half? I'm not sure what time I started my conversation, maybe it was two hours, but anywho, it did not feel that long. I talked with "John" ? who is from Chicago but has lived here in Europe for 25 years. I believe he lived in Germany and knows German (along with other languages, I imagine) and he is soo informed. I believe that he does present things fairly objectively and takes me questions very patiently and encourages them even. He will be a great resource for me to bounce ideas off of, ask questions to, bring my observations of the EU and the US to, and also inquire about how one system might do this or that better. I believe John said he used to be on a panel for CNBC--- what?! how crazy-- i should find out his full name--
bizarre world -- i dont really even understand the governing sysetem over here-- a lto of kids in the european union classes are confused by it b/c its hard to know what a lot of it means-- such as democratic sysetm-- anyone wnat to give me a low down on what any of that means-- ? i will try to look it up on wikipedia or somoething if i have time--- to not be a nationalist-what does that mean? John van Havere** Head of Administration
After talking today, about taxation (VAT?) whatever that's called over here-- i always forget the symbols-- and the difference between the different countries, the tax avoidance vs tax evasion (esp in Germany), the argument between Flemish and French in Belgium and their governing bodies and their rights to rule that Jon and I heard from our taxi driver while spending our first few minutes in Brussels. John said that this division is not widely talked aobut, and it is actually quite hostile, at least in emotional and non-physically-destructive sense, but we talked about those things, and entrepreneurship (as i almost applied for YES organization internship --and it applies to austin and his entrepreneurial ways. haha.) it was interesting,
John said, that in the states it may be that a person could try a business 5 different times and then have a 6th time to get it right, and the government MAY be starting to put more regulations on it now so that ppl aren't falling through as often and needing money, but it would be and require much more patience in europe. John said tha tin europe a person/starting up compnay would need to have a game plan that PROVES they arent going to fail, versus in the states, there may be less at the initial, and more as a perosn is going through the process-- interesting to compare.. esp with austin so into it ;)
We also talked about the car industry, banking, etc. and how/if the eu would have ever fallen into this... he said probably not, but in some ways the way us companies will PAY BACK to the one building the house, for instance, or give incentives taht are like money handouts, it makes the company idea so different...
middle class is another interesting thing to ponder while over here, along with the way there will never be a perfect government
i wondered if the usa started from england and had a more welfare state structure, then moved into its "freedom-minded" entitled, i can do anything vision and gave up on some of the other ideas, and values/cultural values shifted, then it does what its been doing, and now its almost like (in some generation) it will recycle into a more welfare state again... instead of saying socialism, harmonization is used.. and i do see it,
i dont necessarily say its better, i dont know..
competition, lower prices,
there are major trade offs-- -usa has some major things to offer
but it also has a lot of failings
the eu has some security nets-- tons actually, but i dont actually see the us getting its act together to put in place such security nets that would act in a "neat" manner-- but then agian, i've only been here 2 weeks-- these security nets really are nto as neat as they appear in the first 2 weeks, im sure.
john said, americans can sometimes act like they love capitalism when they are doing well/success, and wnat socialism when they fail (they want to blame someone else, something to put it on)... its true in many ways...
he mentioned switzerland? no sweden and its 4.5% unemployment rate, but super high taxes and high governance taking care of the ppl, they have a lot taken care of and a "high quality of life" but as mentioned with john this morning/afternoon definitions of quality of life are often different... its all so very interesting how things are definied and a country's values majorly affect how things go into place
i think it would be hard ot be an american and coem to the european union and live ina "state"/ country which would then be taxing me highly and have some government i hardly know doing it all, but yet things seem to be getting done, i dont seee the evolution into that sort of thing as being easy, i see it as working here b/c its always been, and as john mentioned, europeans tend to look historically and make assumptions based on their past and continue to grow, but learn form previous experiences and americans tend to want to continue progressing and just keep cahnging to the next thing
i brough tup how (i menitoned earlier) that it seems as though usa may end up evolving back into what it may have been originally in england--- more welfare like-- and not what it is now, and we'll just THINK that we've come up with something new, when in the end, its as though we become what we had started with-- what an upsetting rollercoaster like ride -- over 100s of years-- and i wont see it but how interesting... not saying it will happen but it could-- except if that were so we'd have a lot of fighting in the usa
some wanting "old" relative to usa starting-- and its ideas it stood for and some wanting "new" which is really actually "old" and the former way of doing things before the united states were even created---
very interseting .. i'm gettin called to join for lunch, already ate my sandwich but will eat my yogurt with them. 2 o'clock here
would love to keep writing, feel like i learned so much
corporate communications and public relations ties so easily into this and principles of economics
john said to evaluate the values/cultural values of societies that im visiting while over here, compared to the sates, compared to ecuador when i go there
interesting
usa,
europe
and latin country-- 3rd world...
soo interesting
where the values are...
i see the opportunity in europe for having a government take care of you, but i sort of wonder where that leaves God in the equation, i mean if government takes care of all your needs-- while that is goo dand great if it actually works and regulates well and seems to make ethical decisions -- which on this earth will never be totally true--- what good woudl a God do if government IS actually doing it all well?
would you even need Him? thats not to say, go create a terrbile coutnry with a very poor governing body so that humans are in desperate need of a Savior? its just a question.. at htough.. .an inquiry...
john also mentione dhow if upper class and lower class get divided enough in the usa maybe there will be a fight and civil war to create somethign new-- as has happened in europe-- history has played itself out over here and it almost seems the usa could repeat their journies, or instead create itts own...
so confusing
but so interesting
and i already feel im growing and educating myself
i am a very humble learner, if the one teaching me wants to be humble too
this is what i wanted during the obama/mccain election... not to argue over who had it right, but over why one part is good versus the other side good
a level, objective analysis
but all ppl could tell me was how mccain was old and obama was soo great
well whoopdie do
good grief americans
i dont know i think i had one mor epoint to leave.. but john just came in again to ask abou tlunch... ha ill go and maybe itll come back later?...
interesting stuff over here!! love it!
ohh--got it i brought up how jon talked about amsterdam and government high taxes and how education is valued, and how john over here said that education is one of the only things of real value that doesnt depreciate as much adn can bring back return (true in some senses, not in others-- i mean think of phds at universities, while they make more that a masters degree-- thats the whole fight-- they wish to be making more for the amt of education they've received.... ) interesting though.. and he (john here) said how he thinks education is the only place that the future generations have hope--- without that what will we do-- we need to know economics, and the things im asking about or else we will go no wehre...
true as well-- wonder what Jon packard would say about education and being important and netherlands and all the rest--
i also hear jon pack's stories of slow service, etc etc... and i cant seem to think that the work ethic is harder here but maybe?? 5 weeks of holiday is given, thats something very different too
but john here said that efficiency measured by statisitics is high still and during the hours that ARE worked, workers are workign efficiently and condensed even if they get 5 weeks off-- i dont know how it all plays out.. and i dont know how to solve unemployment.. i thin kgreed exists in any society and theres going to be isusues in whichever government structure you have.. b/c in the states thats what i see, but over here, there is still going to be the human condition of greediness... so what can you do.. gosh so many questions arsiing but i love it!! it may be a lot of theory--but thats what economics basically is.. ok yes and objective (normative and descriptive) ha i'm learning!! :-D
ok love, cnp
[just ate lunch with them-- it was nice-- we talked about a couple markets-- that'll be fun to try them out-- one on sunday- the best one they say-- and one on saturday which is also good
ive had 3 cups of coffee today :) and four more flavors to try-- bizarre that i'll be coming in all over again tomorrow-- i have a real job except i'm not really do anything yet.. haha
wow i'm sooo amazed im in this expeirence
goodness-- it again just leaves me speechless at how God directs my steps, i may make the plans, but He is in control of my steps--- ha
goodness! i hope i dont leave Him restricted i try to be open to His leading, even if i'm indecisive and reluctant/resist , He is never too small or impatient to keep trying with me-- thank goodness... going to keep looking up things-- i may have opportunities to travel with these different seminars-- taht'd be a great experience
antwerp and ostende? (i think ostende may be the beach place the friends of mine just went on sunday-- ) could possibly bring hw with me to this place if i wante dto try to hide out and do it-- i did my readings yesterday for classes- that was nice to get it done-- ;D
i love you all at home,
carolyn
ps talked at lunch about politics and taxes going towards the bull fights in spain and how many dont wnat their tax money going towards these fights-- all gets twisted around in some way-- interesting
adios--- feeling the caffeine MAJORLY-- i almost want to stay hyped on it b/c its a scary feeling when it starts to drop -- eek haha
this is why i never ever will do drugs-- its werid enough to a legal stimulant
ahh!
no more coffee for me ;) oxo
:) God is so good
I had a great end to the day---
I was feeling super exhausted and overwhelmed with topic of conversation and choices that people in ISA had made-- and it was leaving me disgusted, feeling dirty, and as though I needed to get free. Well, I was able to find some of that. I left to return my belongings to my home, and then came back to the office to meet some kids for sushi- we didnt get sushi b/c the place was closed so we stopped at another spot-- little disappointed with it, but it was good food just not what i was lookign for---
got a fish burger-- it was fried, and then somehow the guy thoguht i wanted fritz-- well i didnt, but i had them/left a bunch and then he was charging me for it, and i was like oh,, i did get them, but i didnt order them, i was REALLy confused by that. so he looked sad, and i said you can charge me anyway (language barrier-- i give it to him so i'm not a snobby american) whatever-- annoying though- b/c i dont even like fries.. haha i was thinkign as i was eating them, wow, i'd so much rather have a veggie or side salad--
really what i wanted for dinner tongiht was my bethel dining center humoungous salad with lettuce beans, hummus, little cottage cheese, brocolli, cauliflower, carrots, green olives, maybe sunflower seeds (few), and hmm.. i think that may be it? ooh nope! cucumber, tomatoes, (lots of cucumber), man
i crave that salad sooo often-- its soo many fresh, delicious yummy vegetables-- wehre in the world can you find vegetables like that?? what an amazing turn around-- after yelling at bethel ppl for such crappy food frehsman year- that they could get their acts together for my junior year was absolutely amazing!! hallelujah-- ha that was seriously one thing i considered about not being at school for the fall, or actually inteirm, ha im going to have to cherish my last semester there for my dc salad-- thankfully i like it.. oh and those delicious 2 eggs over easy with olive oil (that cute little omellete maker who treats me specially) and lots of veggies with that... aww bethel.. i made it my home. i made it work for me. i hated it, i still feel funny admitting that i made it able to be liked (but it also helped itself by getting its act together in many ways-- still many not.. but hey-- ill take the dc) that counts for a lot. and the residence hall-liss
and getting to lifetime fitness with my car-- wow i was blessed
hmm... junior year will go down as a good one <3
thats good Dad, your money at bethel didnt go to a total waste-- i liked it!! haha who would have ever thoguht we'd/i'd say that? well actually i knew going into sophomore year that i was going to end up liking it, i just did NOT want to like-- pride O:) eek !
God's got His way though--
okkkkk
so anyway, after i am still craving that salad-- i just dont knwo how to recreate a salad like that-- i mean tahts SOO many delicious fresh yummy fabulous ingredients in one-- if i were to buy that for here, i'd have to get a ton (first of all) b/c i make that salad BIG , and two, I'd have to go through it quick b/c itd go bad and not be fresh and three it'd be hard to store it all
ha
thats soooo sad to me
aww salad-- vegetables-- boy do i miss vegetables
everythign is like sandwich with bread, bread bread, i want vegetables salads vegetables salads--- i should just start paying more for dinners/lunches out so that i can get a salad
i miss it soo badly
ok.
point of this blog::::
tonight i walked over to the park nearby my houes that jon and i found on my first night here. they had a water fountain right as you walked in, adn a couple different paths to take taht would lead you around to the connecting poitn by the fountain, but there was a a cross on the side of the fountain, that was cool to see and i kept walking, they had sooo many different things in this park
there was a lounge chair area on sand and i saw a couple eating bread and drinking wine-- it was cute and romantic
and there was an older man reading a newspaper sitting on a bench nearby these love birds,
and then saw a group of kids hanging out in a basketball court, then kept walkign and saw some kids swinging and talking on this funky awesome playgorund-- it had huge slides that were enclosed that looked like an octopus everythign looked really funky and modern, and then i kept walking and saw a bike/skateboard park.. a little boy was ridign his bike, i kept walking and it looked like an area from lara croft video game where she had to fun through a maze like garden in her huge background -- that computer game was so fun ;) --anywho, fun to reminisce, i then walked to a statue that i think was made for the jews killed-- there was the star of david on the other side of a wall near this statue, i kept walking some and went through a litle path tucked in trees/bushes.. and came to a bunch of couples and friends sitting on park benches nearby, i walked further and came to balance beams of differing heights, and then the most unusual thign of all i found!!!!
there in the side of this park almost at the entrance-- in close proximity to the fountain--- were an elliptical type maachine and a nordic skiing type machine with a back massage, lap pull down, leg press, and another bar - perhaps for pullups... so i spent 25 minutes workign out at the edge of this park---- how incredibly funny!!! only in europe, eh?
it wasnt like these things were with weights or electronic (so there was an increase in resistance or weight) but it was still there-- i wonder if i could go back through the winter lol i was jus twondering about how to take care of the gym membership b/c when would i ever have time to go all the way over there by takign the tram, in the dark, sleepy, kinda spooky, walking a lot by myself, i'd rather take walks i think.. which is what i intended for tongiht but got both in.. i was out walking and exercising for an horu and a half-- logn time-- im beat. gonna pack a lunch for my first full day of internship and then shower and sleep
it wont come soon enough
love,
cnp
thankful for how God provides for me.. feel likei have some other story of that-- maybe just that i got to talk to my sweet college Naomi in the meantime and we hope to talk later this week-- that'll be super nice.
<3 oxo
thanks gma for the cards-- i love getting them !
I was feeling super exhausted and overwhelmed with topic of conversation and choices that people in ISA had made-- and it was leaving me disgusted, feeling dirty, and as though I needed to get free. Well, I was able to find some of that. I left to return my belongings to my home, and then came back to the office to meet some kids for sushi- we didnt get sushi b/c the place was closed so we stopped at another spot-- little disappointed with it, but it was good food just not what i was lookign for---
got a fish burger-- it was fried, and then somehow the guy thoguht i wanted fritz-- well i didnt, but i had them/left a bunch and then he was charging me for it, and i was like oh,, i did get them, but i didnt order them, i was REALLy confused by that. so he looked sad, and i said you can charge me anyway (language barrier-- i give it to him so i'm not a snobby american) whatever-- annoying though- b/c i dont even like fries.. haha i was thinkign as i was eating them, wow, i'd so much rather have a veggie or side salad--
really what i wanted for dinner tongiht was my bethel dining center humoungous salad with lettuce beans, hummus, little cottage cheese, brocolli, cauliflower, carrots, green olives, maybe sunflower seeds (few), and hmm.. i think that may be it? ooh nope! cucumber, tomatoes, (lots of cucumber), man
i crave that salad sooo often-- its soo many fresh, delicious yummy vegetables-- wehre in the world can you find vegetables like that?? what an amazing turn around-- after yelling at bethel ppl for such crappy food frehsman year- that they could get their acts together for my junior year was absolutely amazing!! hallelujah-- ha that was seriously one thing i considered about not being at school for the fall, or actually inteirm, ha im going to have to cherish my last semester there for my dc salad-- thankfully i like it.. oh and those delicious 2 eggs over easy with olive oil (that cute little omellete maker who treats me specially) and lots of veggies with that... aww bethel.. i made it my home. i made it work for me. i hated it, i still feel funny admitting that i made it able to be liked (but it also helped itself by getting its act together in many ways-- still many not.. but hey-- ill take the dc) that counts for a lot. and the residence hall-liss
and getting to lifetime fitness with my car-- wow i was blessed
hmm... junior year will go down as a good one <3
thats good Dad, your money at bethel didnt go to a total waste-- i liked it!! haha who would have ever thoguht we'd/i'd say that? well actually i knew going into sophomore year that i was going to end up liking it, i just did NOT want to like-- pride O:) eek !
God's got His way though--
okkkkk
so anyway, after i am still craving that salad-- i just dont knwo how to recreate a salad like that-- i mean tahts SOO many delicious fresh yummy fabulous ingredients in one-- if i were to buy that for here, i'd have to get a ton (first of all) b/c i make that salad BIG , and two, I'd have to go through it quick b/c itd go bad and not be fresh and three it'd be hard to store it all
ha
thats soooo sad to me
aww salad-- vegetables-- boy do i miss vegetables
everythign is like sandwich with bread, bread bread, i want vegetables salads vegetables salads--- i should just start paying more for dinners/lunches out so that i can get a salad
i miss it soo badly
ok.
point of this blog::::
tonight i walked over to the park nearby my houes that jon and i found on my first night here. they had a water fountain right as you walked in, adn a couple different paths to take taht would lead you around to the connecting poitn by the fountain, but there was a a cross on the side of the fountain, that was cool to see and i kept walking, they had sooo many different things in this park
there was a lounge chair area on sand and i saw a couple eating bread and drinking wine-- it was cute and romantic
and there was an older man reading a newspaper sitting on a bench nearby these love birds,
and then saw a group of kids hanging out in a basketball court, then kept walkign and saw some kids swinging and talking on this funky awesome playgorund-- it had huge slides that were enclosed that looked like an octopus everythign looked really funky and modern, and then i kept walking and saw a bike/skateboard park.. a little boy was ridign his bike, i kept walking and it looked like an area from lara croft video game where she had to fun through a maze like garden in her huge background -- that computer game was so fun ;) --anywho, fun to reminisce, i then walked to a statue that i think was made for the jews killed-- there was the star of david on the other side of a wall near this statue, i kept walking some and went through a litle path tucked in trees/bushes.. and came to a bunch of couples and friends sitting on park benches nearby, i walked further and came to balance beams of differing heights, and then the most unusual thign of all i found!!!!
there in the side of this park almost at the entrance-- in close proximity to the fountain--- were an elliptical type maachine and a nordic skiing type machine with a back massage, lap pull down, leg press, and another bar - perhaps for pullups... so i spent 25 minutes workign out at the edge of this park---- how incredibly funny!!! only in europe, eh?
it wasnt like these things were with weights or electronic (so there was an increase in resistance or weight) but it was still there-- i wonder if i could go back through the winter lol i was jus twondering about how to take care of the gym membership b/c when would i ever have time to go all the way over there by takign the tram, in the dark, sleepy, kinda spooky, walking a lot by myself, i'd rather take walks i think.. which is what i intended for tongiht but got both in.. i was out walking and exercising for an horu and a half-- logn time-- im beat. gonna pack a lunch for my first full day of internship and then shower and sleep
it wont come soon enough
love,
cnp
thankful for how God provides for me.. feel likei have some other story of that-- maybe just that i got to talk to my sweet college Naomi in the meantime and we hope to talk later this week-- that'll be super nice.
<3 oxo
thanks gma for the cards-- i love getting them !
Monday, August 30, 2010
Rainy Monday
Yesterday was a restful day. Some of my friends around here were a little ticked b-c i didnt end up going with them to the beach// i hadnt slept much the night before and was so tired the prvious 2 days so I had wanted to sleep to catch up at some point, since I´d been having a hard time waking up to my alarms, but I was getting up b-c i todl them id go and didnt know how to communicate to them to say go without me, but anywho, didnt go after them waiting on me-callign me persisting that i go, but i just didnt feel right in going// felt i should not go and take the time to myself i prayed God would help me that i wouldnt feel bad about not going-that he´d provide for me when i felt lonely and it was the greatest day ever.
Austin and I ended up playing games online using skype and had a blast-- we had wanted to play battle ship before i left but never did but used skype and found `sea battle´ or something and played bingo// it was a really good time bc we both had missed having some quality time and this was a great day for it. i dont regret not going at all ... it was great bc i slept more // basically most of the day and also got to spend time with aust..
i heard it was freezing at this beach place//whch id looked up the night before and it seemed like it was going to be. i was already cold staying in brussels i just didnt feel like doing the beach thing walking around and not ever getting to rest sounded dreadful to me...
went to sleep again in the night, and got up for class today. it went well and i found out there is another one cancelled for the afternoon so i have time to go shopping for dinner proteins and nap if i want and possibly schedule a 10 euro flight to stockholm, bologna, or oslo for sept 17-19.
i wrote this in response to Auntie Mary about ppl here - ppl in the world needing God to give light::::
true about ppl and their values andi especially notice this in the classroom// how discussion goes and the ppl and profs discusss topics there is no hope and its no wonder they discuss things the way they do// this earth is all they have hope or tolerance fo rand then forget ignore that there could be anything else//such as heaven or hell.. it is sad
its hard bc i normally get so affected when ppl arent christians bc i see the brevity of life and how these ppl are going to be suffering in hell// how incredibly tragic and awful for my heart to think of... how do i get to have security awesome providing of God to be able to spend forever with him and these ppl will have to wake up to a very extremely awful reality once they die
i see how ppl justify and make excuses for how they must go to heaven and its too hard to choose and bleieve that theres a hell// because if there is then that means theyll hve to believe and follow a God/ and why would you want to follow someone else? its so much easier to make your own rules and follow your own patterns for life// i just dont know ha this world sucks and its a reality check for me to see how much of this world IS so fallen// we´re in desparate need of christians to shape up and be the gospel to others// not to blend into the world´s norm... i will be different i hope and i hope they will recognize
there is a joy and life within me that is not me , it is my SAvior who has redeemed me and set me apart although i sin and i fail and i fall i am not this worlds and i am different amen!!
God, be the torch of light within me and change this world around me, I pray in Your holy Name.
on the note of lunch--- i got a sandwich for 3 euro at the place below the office / it was my first one as i didnt have time to make one it was poulet curry and i still have some left over// chicken curry.. good tastes indian
would like to ask sabine about massage therapist
and still havent felt id have time for the health club here so im undecided abou tjoining yet... today i would have time but not sure// might just go outside for a walk and use that as my exercise
did i mention i found a red coat?its very pretty i cant wait to show mom on skype
i hope your birthday weekend was fabulous and that the cubs won! i have no idea though adn can imagine that i shouldnt get my hopes up too much ;)
love to all,
cnp
thanks to gma for the card.. got the second one from her and got one from mama.. i feel so loved =) thanks family you´re wonderful
some girls talked about their trip to paris and said how there isnt really much to see, i mean you do it see it all and youre like wow this is not that exciting, exactly how i feel i mean it was beautiufl historic and awesome to say ive been but defnitely not the most fantastic place in the world// i loved the bridges over the river and the pictures i took there and the crepes and the historical side/ like it was awesome to have crystal swanson and that walking tour guide tell us things like ben franklin used to sit at this cafe everyday and its the oldest one in paris and this is tthe smallest street in paris etc etc, and the little stone circle engraving outside of notre dame is for luck if you kiss your true love over it you will always be togeher.. those kind of legend things are memorable.. ohh or that the notre dame you go in oneside as a sinner and out the other as a saint or the different saints above the door.. all those things were sweet but to just go and make the tour.. i definitely think tricia and i could make it in a day... and itd be cheaper with no hostel to have to pay for... these girls that went didnt buy anything eiether
when i went i got a scarf and perfume bc i thought those were true to paris ;) aww the romance of europe
ok im done love love <3
its interesting to try and use a european keyboard everythings all over the place and not usual to us style
Austin and I ended up playing games online using skype and had a blast-- we had wanted to play battle ship before i left but never did but used skype and found `sea battle´ or something and played bingo// it was a really good time bc we both had missed having some quality time and this was a great day for it. i dont regret not going at all ... it was great bc i slept more // basically most of the day and also got to spend time with aust..
i heard it was freezing at this beach place//whch id looked up the night before and it seemed like it was going to be. i was already cold staying in brussels i just didnt feel like doing the beach thing walking around and not ever getting to rest sounded dreadful to me...
went to sleep again in the night, and got up for class today. it went well and i found out there is another one cancelled for the afternoon so i have time to go shopping for dinner proteins and nap if i want and possibly schedule a 10 euro flight to stockholm, bologna, or oslo for sept 17-19.
i wrote this in response to Auntie Mary about ppl here - ppl in the world needing God to give light::::
true about ppl and their values andi especially notice this in the classroom// how discussion goes and the ppl and profs discusss topics there is no hope and its no wonder they discuss things the way they do// this earth is all they have hope or tolerance fo rand then forget ignore that there could be anything else//such as heaven or hell.. it is sad
its hard bc i normally get so affected when ppl arent christians bc i see the brevity of life and how these ppl are going to be suffering in hell// how incredibly tragic and awful for my heart to think of... how do i get to have security awesome providing of God to be able to spend forever with him and these ppl will have to wake up to a very extremely awful reality once they die
i see how ppl justify and make excuses for how they must go to heaven and its too hard to choose and bleieve that theres a hell// because if there is then that means theyll hve to believe and follow a God/ and why would you want to follow someone else? its so much easier to make your own rules and follow your own patterns for life// i just dont know ha this world sucks and its a reality check for me to see how much of this world IS so fallen// we´re in desparate need of christians to shape up and be the gospel to others// not to blend into the world´s norm... i will be different i hope and i hope they will recognize
there is a joy and life within me that is not me , it is my SAvior who has redeemed me and set me apart although i sin and i fail and i fall i am not this worlds and i am different amen!!
God, be the torch of light within me and change this world around me, I pray in Your holy Name.
on the note of lunch--- i got a sandwich for 3 euro at the place below the office / it was my first one as i didnt have time to make one it was poulet curry and i still have some left over// chicken curry.. good tastes indian
would like to ask sabine about massage therapist
and still havent felt id have time for the health club here so im undecided abou tjoining yet... today i would have time but not sure// might just go outside for a walk and use that as my exercise
did i mention i found a red coat?its very pretty i cant wait to show mom on skype
i hope your birthday weekend was fabulous and that the cubs won! i have no idea though adn can imagine that i shouldnt get my hopes up too much ;)
love to all,
cnp
thanks to gma for the card.. got the second one from her and got one from mama.. i feel so loved =) thanks family you´re wonderful
some girls talked about their trip to paris and said how there isnt really much to see, i mean you do it see it all and youre like wow this is not that exciting, exactly how i feel i mean it was beautiufl historic and awesome to say ive been but defnitely not the most fantastic place in the world// i loved the bridges over the river and the pictures i took there and the crepes and the historical side/ like it was awesome to have crystal swanson and that walking tour guide tell us things like ben franklin used to sit at this cafe everyday and its the oldest one in paris and this is tthe smallest street in paris etc etc, and the little stone circle engraving outside of notre dame is for luck if you kiss your true love over it you will always be togeher.. those kind of legend things are memorable.. ohh or that the notre dame you go in oneside as a sinner and out the other as a saint or the different saints above the door.. all those things were sweet but to just go and make the tour.. i definitely think tricia and i could make it in a day... and itd be cheaper with no hostel to have to pay for... these girls that went didnt buy anything eiether
when i went i got a scarf and perfume bc i thought those were true to paris ;) aww the romance of europe
ok im done love love <3
its interesting to try and use a european keyboard everythings all over the place and not usual to us style
Sunday, August 29, 2010
third saturday in europe .. bizarre-- 2 weeks and going
3 and half months left i realized yesterday in my blog---
bizarre how itll just keep getting smaller-- tricia is for sure coming (well minus a ticket and dates ha) for my fall break and more-- we'll travel to 4 cities in italy (at least) and then do paris and we'll see where else
it was a good day we stopped at a very nearby bakery for a crossiant this morning-- mine was 95 cents (euro) and theirs were 90--- mine was glazed-- it was good but i dont think id get a hwole bunch of those-- i remember eating breakfasts in paris eating a bunch of different crossiants every mornign-- one chocolate and then a small regular we'd put those little jellies on and maybe a third one??
that was fun
and i remember the best black coffee in spain-madrid one morning when we went into a saloon looking bar that took us around to the back to a separate room for eating-- haha ohh and that was the place that grnat swanson sat through the seat of the chair-- breaking it haha - what a guy thing to do -- it just came to me i dont really rmember it except for a picture of him looking sheepish-- i remember liz, krista, atp, allie stern, lindsey all being nearby for that breakfast-- mmm :)
went over to darcy and rebecca (and kirstin's) for ice cream and were gonna watch a movie but since its still holiday/august the trams stop early so teh girls and karl wouldnt have made it back on the tram until it starts again at 430
we're leaving at 8 tomorrow to go to the beach-- eek thats early so im gonna go to sleep
rebecca darcy kirstin and i walked ot the bakery as imentioend then went to find a market, didnt, went to a cemetary near nikki and jordan's and then walked around and ended up giong over to the atonium -- we found a place for lunch ( i brought my sandwich but got to eat their chips and the waiter gave us all free tequila sunrises with cute little tassle toothpick things and orange and strawberry garnish-- it was SOOO good-- and the food was good too-- the guacamole with chips were what i munched on with my sandwich and they also had interesting sour cream (it tasted and kinda textured like cream cheese)it was good though--b ut you didnt need much--
great place and we even got pictures with sumbreros in a wagon covered table-- haha what an experience i'd go back ;)
that was fun, then up the atonium, about 5 ppl slid down the atonium, i actually might have done it---but it wasnt a part of our program /free so that made it nto a very great option for me-- 25 euros ihtink, but pretty cool to say you went zip lining off something like taht--
went to return sweatshirt and bracelet today-- sweatshirt went well -- gave me back cash-- saw cute leopard shoes again (that i saw one ady with skye-- 10 euros) but maybe go back some day-- flats--
and then had kirstin with me and she bought earrings with the store credit i had at the jewelry store (and paid me) so i was able to get money back for both and then didnt end up sepnding it on a jacket i had found at a store where i found a heavier coat for the fall/winter
randomly stopped by a jacket shop in the tram/metro area and found a nice red trenchcoat/raincoat, wahtever its called-- looked all over for days for a navy one but there we were and found a red one-- its pretty cute and he gave me 5 euros off ;)
had it in lt stonewash gray as well but with my blond hair and fair complexion its just not as good as a darker color.. .navy was a good idea-- and would love to find one someday but ive had navy before, and it wouldnt go as well with black patns (internship--) mom, i think you'll love the coat ;)
had a good day, wanted a nap but didnt ever get one
tried pomemgranate sorbet
and moka ice cream (with nestle cocoa puff type cereal AND nutella---) they wre all blown away by the cereeal and (nutella/p.b.) idea for dessert/ice ceram-- i was like geesh you ppl must not get creative at your college dining centers haha thats what i live for ;)
love it.. love it here- its very fun
we were teasing me bc i hate beign on the tram for too long/metro too
bc its mostly underground you're just trapped etc etc
i think i have a little of dads clostrophobia at times-- esp in the back seat of a car and two ppls legs on either side of me feeling like there is no way to teh door very easily-- ick that makes me so annoyed and anxious /frustrated
ha side note-- ok, im cold and goign to sleep-- dont htink ill shower in case we do swim-- prob not cuz its soo cold up here-- 63 farenheit crazy but they have one of those little degree symbols here ont heir keyboards..cool!!
ok love,
cnp
just started raining pretty to hear outside
oh yeah, room changing-- guess upstairs is better-- but less exercise when running to go fill up my water or rab my lunch before class---
would be quicker though--whcih is alsokey and could maybe make up the stair tiem elsewehre ;)
i like the higher ceilings on the floor/room im in, and bigger window and curtains, but i guess its ok-- i dont know-- bathroom down here is nice too bc its bigger but upstairs its more private so just leave it in there(shampoo etc)
whatever-- guess not too big of a deal--
love AGAIN!!
cnp
mama i hope yur birthday was fabulous on friday!! i love you!!
bizarre how itll just keep getting smaller-- tricia is for sure coming (well minus a ticket and dates ha) for my fall break and more-- we'll travel to 4 cities in italy (at least) and then do paris and we'll see where else
it was a good day we stopped at a very nearby bakery for a crossiant this morning-- mine was 95 cents (euro) and theirs were 90--- mine was glazed-- it was good but i dont think id get a hwole bunch of those-- i remember eating breakfasts in paris eating a bunch of different crossiants every mornign-- one chocolate and then a small regular we'd put those little jellies on and maybe a third one??
that was fun
and i remember the best black coffee in spain-madrid one morning when we went into a saloon looking bar that took us around to the back to a separate room for eating-- haha ohh and that was the place that grnat swanson sat through the seat of the chair-- breaking it haha - what a guy thing to do -- it just came to me i dont really rmember it except for a picture of him looking sheepish-- i remember liz, krista, atp, allie stern, lindsey all being nearby for that breakfast-- mmm :)
went over to darcy and rebecca (and kirstin's) for ice cream and were gonna watch a movie but since its still holiday/august the trams stop early so teh girls and karl wouldnt have made it back on the tram until it starts again at 430
we're leaving at 8 tomorrow to go to the beach-- eek thats early so im gonna go to sleep
rebecca darcy kirstin and i walked ot the bakery as imentioend then went to find a market, didnt, went to a cemetary near nikki and jordan's and then walked around and ended up giong over to the atonium -- we found a place for lunch ( i brought my sandwich but got to eat their chips and the waiter gave us all free tequila sunrises with cute little tassle toothpick things and orange and strawberry garnish-- it was SOOO good-- and the food was good too-- the guacamole with chips were what i munched on with my sandwich and they also had interesting sour cream (it tasted and kinda textured like cream cheese)it was good though--b ut you didnt need much--
great place and we even got pictures with sumbreros in a wagon covered table-- haha what an experience i'd go back ;)
that was fun, then up the atonium, about 5 ppl slid down the atonium, i actually might have done it---but it wasnt a part of our program /free so that made it nto a very great option for me-- 25 euros ihtink, but pretty cool to say you went zip lining off something like taht--
went to return sweatshirt and bracelet today-- sweatshirt went well -- gave me back cash-- saw cute leopard shoes again (that i saw one ady with skye-- 10 euros) but maybe go back some day-- flats--
and then had kirstin with me and she bought earrings with the store credit i had at the jewelry store (and paid me) so i was able to get money back for both and then didnt end up sepnding it on a jacket i had found at a store where i found a heavier coat for the fall/winter
randomly stopped by a jacket shop in the tram/metro area and found a nice red trenchcoat/raincoat, wahtever its called-- looked all over for days for a navy one but there we were and found a red one-- its pretty cute and he gave me 5 euros off ;)
had it in lt stonewash gray as well but with my blond hair and fair complexion its just not as good as a darker color.. .navy was a good idea-- and would love to find one someday but ive had navy before, and it wouldnt go as well with black patns (internship--) mom, i think you'll love the coat ;)
had a good day, wanted a nap but didnt ever get one
tried pomemgranate sorbet
and moka ice cream (with nestle cocoa puff type cereal AND nutella---) they wre all blown away by the cereeal and (nutella/p.b.) idea for dessert/ice ceram-- i was like geesh you ppl must not get creative at your college dining centers haha thats what i live for ;)
love it.. love it here- its very fun
we were teasing me bc i hate beign on the tram for too long/metro too
bc its mostly underground you're just trapped etc etc
i think i have a little of dads clostrophobia at times-- esp in the back seat of a car and two ppls legs on either side of me feeling like there is no way to teh door very easily-- ick that makes me so annoyed and anxious /frustrated
ha side note-- ok, im cold and goign to sleep-- dont htink ill shower in case we do swim-- prob not cuz its soo cold up here-- 63 farenheit crazy but they have one of those little degree symbols here ont heir keyboards..cool!!
ok love,
cnp
just started raining pretty to hear outside
oh yeah, room changing-- guess upstairs is better-- but less exercise when running to go fill up my water or rab my lunch before class---
would be quicker though--whcih is alsokey and could maybe make up the stair tiem elsewehre ;)
i like the higher ceilings on the floor/room im in, and bigger window and curtains, but i guess its ok-- i dont know-- bathroom down here is nice too bc its bigger but upstairs its more private so just leave it in there(shampoo etc)
whatever-- guess not too big of a deal--
love AGAIN!!
cnp
mama i hope yur birthday was fabulous on friday!! i love you!!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Classes--for papa
I will update more later-- int'l bus negotations is my only friday class (which might be missed often b/c of traveling--which is hard to think of-- the couple in my group say it shouldnt be bad to miss but i still hate to think of that when it starts counting off on points or whatever-- i already know they want to miss it for our italy trip --all of us girls going )
thurs and mon i have principles of economics-- i heard she's a tough prof but its a small class and she and i seem to get along/be able to converse abou tthe topics well so im not too nervous? maybe i should be-- no, its ok. ill be alright... this semester is so intense-- i just feel stretched SOOO many ways
i have had so many conversatoins with so many different ppl with so many different backgrounds
ppl from all types
very few kids are virgins here ,
many will even end up sleeping with ppl they meet here
some say they are chrisitans, some say they have no religion,
some are dating ppl at home and dont care about the relationship, some have cheated on their bf/gfs,
some are here to get drunk
some are here to travel and partying
some are here for internship, friendships all sorts of reasons,
i love shopping, i love traveling, i love trying new things, hearing ppl's stories, meeting new ppl, but i think after big chunks of time hearing the world, im going to be really really missing the solid ppl of faith i have at home, so i guess thats a good place to interject and ask for prayer, prayer for me to balance-- as you can guess from my many scattered thoughts, theres a lot on my plate for the next 4 months, now 3 and 1/2 and it's going to be unforgettable and lonely at times, but incredible, life-changing and i will learn so much, but i deifnitely need the help of the Holy Spirit and God's strenght to make it through-- i want Him to shine and also to develop me into more of Him, not just more of the world around me-- being with ppl who are different than me helps me to appreciate what Ive learned and what God has taught me . man i am sooo blessed and given so much-- i am grateful, i hope to not be proud , i dont believe i am with these ppl, im here, and im living with them and loving them for their bakcgrounds, uniqueness and stories, i love this part of life-- so im thrilled, i dont know, it all has its place-- amen. ok im heading out- theres more written below about where all and when id like to travel
im also excited abou tinternship, but when i add in the 3 days she wants me to come in:
tueday wednesday--- 10-4:30
and friday : noon-3 or 1-4...
it means a LOT of time taken up doing that, and besides all that, i have the prssure of grading being much harder here for my other classes---
i have papers and projects already lining up, and friends to keep making relationships with,
ppl always always going out, and money being spent, (which i try to refrain from on the drinking side-- even food side) and its just CRAZY the experiences im having--- its all new so its so much stimulatoin it probably exhausts me even more-- its exciting and im having fun, but boy do i seem to need more time to pull aside and just chill out-- and maybe ill just have to act like an introvert here and there--
i would love love love for jon to be able to travel with me, or someone, hopeuflly ill find more of my former residents in different countries and just go travel to them, that would be convenient if no one else will go with me--
im so overwhlemed planning things-- i hate it...
its details that take hours upon hours and time that gets sucked up into the computer (whcih i hate-- so much rather enjoy outdoors with ppl than inside kinda with ppl mostly with computer-- ughhh)
if anyone wants to help me (and these friends ) find ways to:
***cologne (or elsewhere in germany) for the rhine river
***london (eurostar)
(edinborough)
luxembourg
**turkey/greece
*prague
*austria (vienna)
***switzerland (geneva, wherever)-- perhaps with jon
and my available days are:
sept 10-11 (friday afternoon- saturday night)
setp 17-19 (friday afternoon- sunday night)
sept 24-26 (fri afternoon to sunday night)
oct 8-10 (fri afternoon to sun night)
oct 22-24 (same)
(oct 29-nov 7 we're going to italy for 340 euros- 6 of us girls -and tricia if she joins)
nov 9-11 (monday the 8th night to thursday night)-- tricia could join then and we do whatever/i have so many places i wanted to travel so i could cross europe off my list, but i guess i'll just have to consider coming to europe again in my life someday.. italy will be sweet i would love to go to greece and switzerland and germany and prague (czech) and london (england)---
problem is everyone wnats to go to paris, which ive been to (tricia is one of them-- its ok, love, i understand!!!) and madrid (or even spain) which i've been to, (or amsterdam) and if i have the choice of those versus other places ive had on my list, its hard to say, i'll chose those and repeat when i have limited time (and of course money isnt growing on trees)
and.. final travel weekend:
nov 19-21 (friday afternoon to sunday night)
then mama and papa for the weekend nov 26 27 28 to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary after meeting in europe <3 hehe you're making your daughters heart flutter at the romance of that-- haha even though you two have a foreign concept of this romantic daughter of yours ;)
and then soon enough-- home xmas and all wow!!
and honestly, while this is a blast, i cant wait for more normal food being avaialble and planned and not so chaotic busy, hungry almost all the time, and sleep and life schedules all over the place-- ha this is sooo incredibly great and im loving it, but ican tell for sure its going to be soo exhausting-- its week 2 and im already wiped--
wanted to do some hw today but didnt get it done, went over to nikkis and did end up taking a short nap but could use a longer one, we're going out now so will be out for a while but i really dont need to stay out late-- want to return a couple things tomorrow before visiting the atonium as a group at 2 pm-- still undecided about a necklace to return that i got for 2 euros-- may end up returning that too (side note-- not important)
love,
cnp
thurs and mon i have principles of economics-- i heard she's a tough prof but its a small class and she and i seem to get along/be able to converse abou tthe topics well so im not too nervous? maybe i should be-- no, its ok. ill be alright... this semester is so intense-- i just feel stretched SOOO many ways
i have had so many conversatoins with so many different ppl with so many different backgrounds
ppl from all types
very few kids are virgins here ,
many will even end up sleeping with ppl they meet here
some say they are chrisitans, some say they have no religion,
some are dating ppl at home and dont care about the relationship, some have cheated on their bf/gfs,
some are here to get drunk
some are here to travel and partying
some are here for internship, friendships all sorts of reasons,
i love shopping, i love traveling, i love trying new things, hearing ppl's stories, meeting new ppl, but i think after big chunks of time hearing the world, im going to be really really missing the solid ppl of faith i have at home, so i guess thats a good place to interject and ask for prayer, prayer for me to balance-- as you can guess from my many scattered thoughts, theres a lot on my plate for the next 4 months, now 3 and 1/2 and it's going to be unforgettable and lonely at times, but incredible, life-changing and i will learn so much, but i deifnitely need the help of the Holy Spirit and God's strenght to make it through-- i want Him to shine and also to develop me into more of Him, not just more of the world around me-- being with ppl who are different than me helps me to appreciate what Ive learned and what God has taught me . man i am sooo blessed and given so much-- i am grateful, i hope to not be proud , i dont believe i am with these ppl, im here, and im living with them and loving them for their bakcgrounds, uniqueness and stories, i love this part of life-- so im thrilled, i dont know, it all has its place-- amen. ok im heading out- theres more written below about where all and when id like to travel
im also excited abou tinternship, but when i add in the 3 days she wants me to come in:
tueday wednesday--- 10-4:30
and friday : noon-3 or 1-4...
it means a LOT of time taken up doing that, and besides all that, i have the prssure of grading being much harder here for my other classes---
i have papers and projects already lining up, and friends to keep making relationships with,
ppl always always going out, and money being spent, (which i try to refrain from on the drinking side-- even food side) and its just CRAZY the experiences im having--- its all new so its so much stimulatoin it probably exhausts me even more-- its exciting and im having fun, but boy do i seem to need more time to pull aside and just chill out-- and maybe ill just have to act like an introvert here and there--
i would love love love for jon to be able to travel with me, or someone, hopeuflly ill find more of my former residents in different countries and just go travel to them, that would be convenient if no one else will go with me--
im so overwhlemed planning things-- i hate it...
its details that take hours upon hours and time that gets sucked up into the computer (whcih i hate-- so much rather enjoy outdoors with ppl than inside kinda with ppl mostly with computer-- ughhh)
if anyone wants to help me (and these friends ) find ways to:
***cologne (or elsewhere in germany) for the rhine river
***london (eurostar)
(edinborough)
luxembourg
**turkey/greece
*prague
*austria (vienna)
***switzerland (geneva, wherever)-- perhaps with jon
and my available days are:
sept 10-11 (friday afternoon- saturday night)
setp 17-19 (friday afternoon- sunday night)
sept 24-26 (fri afternoon to sunday night)
oct 8-10 (fri afternoon to sun night)
oct 22-24 (same)
(oct 29-nov 7 we're going to italy for 340 euros- 6 of us girls -and tricia if she joins)
nov 9-11 (monday the 8th night to thursday night)-- tricia could join then and we do whatever/i have so many places i wanted to travel so i could cross europe off my list, but i guess i'll just have to consider coming to europe again in my life someday.. italy will be sweet i would love to go to greece and switzerland and germany and prague (czech) and london (england)---
problem is everyone wnats to go to paris, which ive been to (tricia is one of them-- its ok, love, i understand!!!) and madrid (or even spain) which i've been to, (or amsterdam) and if i have the choice of those versus other places ive had on my list, its hard to say, i'll chose those and repeat when i have limited time (and of course money isnt growing on trees)
and.. final travel weekend:
nov 19-21 (friday afternoon to sunday night)
then mama and papa for the weekend nov 26 27 28 to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary after meeting in europe <3 hehe you're making your daughters heart flutter at the romance of that-- haha even though you two have a foreign concept of this romantic daughter of yours ;)
and then soon enough-- home xmas and all wow!!
and honestly, while this is a blast, i cant wait for more normal food being avaialble and planned and not so chaotic busy, hungry almost all the time, and sleep and life schedules all over the place-- ha this is sooo incredibly great and im loving it, but ican tell for sure its going to be soo exhausting-- its week 2 and im already wiped--
wanted to do some hw today but didnt get it done, went over to nikkis and did end up taking a short nap but could use a longer one, we're going out now so will be out for a while but i really dont need to stay out late-- want to return a couple things tomorrow before visiting the atonium as a group at 2 pm-- still undecided about a necklace to return that i got for 2 euros-- may end up returning that too (side note-- not important)
love,
cnp
new intern
brief, but...
met my supervisor for internship today, dressed up and looked sharp-- everyone kept telling me i looked pretty haha thats always nice.
went to it, took a little while to find, but shouldnt be bad
she suggested 3 days a wekk
so thinking tw, friday,
tw---10 am to 430pm with a half an hour lunch break
andthen friday noon/one to 3 or 4, and if im going out of town for the weekend, just skip the friday...
so that doesnt sound too bad
she wanted to give ema little later mornings on tuesday wed so thats absolutely wonderful!! :)
we also talked about places to travel
and the girls are planning our week to italy for fall break-- im not sure how i feel b/c i know tricia really has a list and i was kinda lookign forward to just her and me, but the ease of haivng someone else take care of ALL the details is also way trhilling and i really DID want to see everywehre in italy ijust dont want tricia to be disappointed :( i have pretty much the whole week afterwards off (as i asked for tues wed off from my supervisor in advance (for the week after fall break) and then we all have national "holiday" on that thurs the 11th , so thats 3 days, and i only have one class friday and maybe i can take that off too, and tricia and i can travel elsewehre for those days as well--
we'll see
good night at nikki and jordans and did some laundry-- gotta hang it up though eek -- borught home damp stuff in my suitcase going to be nasty to get wrinkles out.. ugh
but good times, fun to be with them all,
got calss tomorrow- going to be tried, but returnign a couple thigns afterwards so thats great!
love to all,
cnp
met my supervisor for internship today, dressed up and looked sharp-- everyone kept telling me i looked pretty haha thats always nice.
went to it, took a little while to find, but shouldnt be bad
she suggested 3 days a wekk
so thinking tw, friday,
tw---10 am to 430pm with a half an hour lunch break
andthen friday noon/one to 3 or 4, and if im going out of town for the weekend, just skip the friday...
so that doesnt sound too bad
she wanted to give ema little later mornings on tuesday wed so thats absolutely wonderful!! :)
we also talked about places to travel
and the girls are planning our week to italy for fall break-- im not sure how i feel b/c i know tricia really has a list and i was kinda lookign forward to just her and me, but the ease of haivng someone else take care of ALL the details is also way trhilling and i really DID want to see everywehre in italy ijust dont want tricia to be disappointed :( i have pretty much the whole week afterwards off (as i asked for tues wed off from my supervisor in advance (for the week after fall break) and then we all have national "holiday" on that thurs the 11th , so thats 3 days, and i only have one class friday and maybe i can take that off too, and tricia and i can travel elsewehre for those days as well--
we'll see
good night at nikki and jordans and did some laundry-- gotta hang it up though eek -- borught home damp stuff in my suitcase going to be nasty to get wrinkles out.. ugh
but good times, fun to be with them all,
got calss tomorrow- going to be tried, but returnign a couple thigns afterwards so thats great!
love to all,
cnp
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Day 2 without class
Great to have the days off this week and no internship to get to...
I will go in to my new work to meet "Cara" my supervisor, tomorrow. She seems super nice adn even texted me with a smiley face-- how adorable- cant wait to meet her. I think God has REALLY taken care of me-- actually, i think, is an understatement.. i KNOW He has. Gloria a Dios
Got to sleep in again, the sweet little cleaning lady came in though and asked to vacuum-- she was supposed to come monday but i think she didnt bc it was just mr. here, no stephanie to keep track of her... i saw him though, while stephanie was still gone this early week - and he was not at owrk-- wonder what he does??
lots of men have been wearing red pants with their business suits-- very interesting.. ohh i should add Jan to this blog! ;) or you can fwd some of it to her like to gma/pa...(she asked me to keep track of fashions)
went shopping with nikki and jordan- great girls, didnt find the coat i was looking for, but happened upon another really really cute one which is probably cheaper than the others-- not sure if ill still look or not, going back friday to find a cheap jacket/wear on top of shirt thing-- they didnt have any in my size there... wish i had some of that gelato right now-- (that i got yesterday) also foudn out speculos (is not pb but its the type of cookie/cracker thing like an animal cracker type taste-- thought it tasted like weird p.b. haha )
going to laundry maybe ill write more later-- i found an awesome bracelet to replace the one i lost yesterday-- so that makes me happy, now i just have to go to return the other one...
:)
love brussels-- its soo fun and beautiful and great
im soo happy im here.
i love it
<3
have the option of going to jazz in the park tonight bu tits drizzling so we'll see = many are going itd be fun, i guess i will if iget my laundry done and they're still there... would love some refreshing sorbet right now..
;)
love to you!
I will go in to my new work to meet "Cara" my supervisor, tomorrow. She seems super nice adn even texted me with a smiley face-- how adorable- cant wait to meet her. I think God has REALLY taken care of me-- actually, i think, is an understatement.. i KNOW He has. Gloria a Dios
Got to sleep in again, the sweet little cleaning lady came in though and asked to vacuum-- she was supposed to come monday but i think she didnt bc it was just mr. here, no stephanie to keep track of her... i saw him though, while stephanie was still gone this early week - and he was not at owrk-- wonder what he does??
lots of men have been wearing red pants with their business suits-- very interesting.. ohh i should add Jan to this blog! ;) or you can fwd some of it to her like to gma/pa...(she asked me to keep track of fashions)
went shopping with nikki and jordan- great girls, didnt find the coat i was looking for, but happened upon another really really cute one which is probably cheaper than the others-- not sure if ill still look or not, going back friday to find a cheap jacket/wear on top of shirt thing-- they didnt have any in my size there... wish i had some of that gelato right now-- (that i got yesterday) also foudn out speculos (is not pb but its the type of cookie/cracker thing like an animal cracker type taste-- thought it tasted like weird p.b. haha )
going to laundry maybe ill write more later-- i found an awesome bracelet to replace the one i lost yesterday-- so that makes me happy, now i just have to go to return the other one...
:)
love brussels-- its soo fun and beautiful and great
im soo happy im here.
i love it
<3
have the option of going to jazz in the park tonight bu tits drizzling so we'll see = many are going itd be fun, i guess i will if iget my laundry done and they're still there... would love some refreshing sorbet right now..
;)
love to you!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Shopped til i dropped
Woke up late (which was great) and then called my different advisors, etc for my internsihp/also wrote them the emails when they didnt answer.
I headed towards the ISA office where a couple friends were in between their classes but I happened upon a friend named Skye who was headed on the tram a block down from me --she was with my neighbor Darcy's boyfriend. They were both going home and i asked skye if she wanted to go shopping, so in a flash she said yes (as she was already on the tram) and i hopped on.
We had a great day- we had our friend Caitlin meet up with us. My first buy was a really pretty scarf for 5 euros. I would like to find a bigger over the shoulder purse, so i looked for that today, but may go back tomorrow. I was spending euros rather than credit card, but not sure which is better-- feels like im tearing through money when its cash. maybe thats a better mind set.
(Ate cereal with milk banana and peach before going to meet everyone)
Also found a really cheap jewelry store-- "six" which had some sales/clearances got a few things for 1-3 euros. lost my silver sparkly sequin bracelet when i was trying on clothes.
found a sweatshirt or 2 to wear over things but might return one or both--- i like them, but not too exciting and to be from europe i just want them to be great-- did get a black one adn have been trying to get myself to buy one in the states b/c the one at home is not as loose anymore-- so maybe keep that one. 14.95 euros. so like twenty back home-- a lot to spend for 2... little details.
anywho-- found teh cutuest style coat at h&m a few days ago, but wanted it in navy so ive been looking today, think im on the right track and there are many other stores around there-- its a really cool area-- skye and i both got gelato
i got speculo (or something like that-- peanut butter-- got it for you papa ;] ) and then a raspberry one-- framboise which was also very good-- thought itd be refreshing-- boy was it tart!! it came in a waffel cone
headed to the jewelry store after skye left and found those sale things, then headed back home and austin called me in the metro stop- so that was fun- talked for a few minutes then got off the tram and walked briskly to the grocery store bc i needed more bananas and mikl for tomorrow- it went well-- made it for all thsoe things just in time-- frozen veggies and fresh carrots too.
i made myself dinner once i got home--- :-D quite an accomplishment
i cut up a breast of chicken, used olive oil on the pan, then sprinkled seasonings: basil, little onion, squeezed lime, and poured some red wine vinegar over it.
tastes good and the chicken is so tender-- pretty nutritious meal too =)
im proud of myself- ha - i feel like a real adult - having to come home exhausted and tired and still make a nutritiuos meal (of course if you consider what made me exhausted and tired before the making of the food-- thats not quite a real adult yet haha ;)
good times today. fun to run into skye and shop with her-- she had a good time and bought a cute purse and shoes-- the store we ent into had pretty cheap leather and cheap shoes-- such cute ones!! but since its not as worth it for me (not being albe to wear them) im not really too tempted.
going to try to shower and sleep tonight-- my neck has been REALLY hurting and i keep getting massive, throbbing headaches-- i need to find relief somewhere soon-- they're easily approaching migraines-- ick :(
pray i find a therapist or accupuncturist-- eek! i should start sending out emails i just dont know which direction to go---
love,
cnp
I headed towards the ISA office where a couple friends were in between their classes but I happened upon a friend named Skye who was headed on the tram a block down from me --she was with my neighbor Darcy's boyfriend. They were both going home and i asked skye if she wanted to go shopping, so in a flash she said yes (as she was already on the tram) and i hopped on.
We had a great day- we had our friend Caitlin meet up with us. My first buy was a really pretty scarf for 5 euros. I would like to find a bigger over the shoulder purse, so i looked for that today, but may go back tomorrow. I was spending euros rather than credit card, but not sure which is better-- feels like im tearing through money when its cash. maybe thats a better mind set.
(Ate cereal with milk banana and peach before going to meet everyone)
Also found a really cheap jewelry store-- "six" which had some sales/clearances got a few things for 1-3 euros. lost my silver sparkly sequin bracelet when i was trying on clothes.
found a sweatshirt or 2 to wear over things but might return one or both--- i like them, but not too exciting and to be from europe i just want them to be great-- did get a black one adn have been trying to get myself to buy one in the states b/c the one at home is not as loose anymore-- so maybe keep that one. 14.95 euros. so like twenty back home-- a lot to spend for 2... little details.
anywho-- found teh cutuest style coat at h&m a few days ago, but wanted it in navy so ive been looking today, think im on the right track and there are many other stores around there-- its a really cool area-- skye and i both got gelato
i got speculo (or something like that-- peanut butter-- got it for you papa ;] ) and then a raspberry one-- framboise which was also very good-- thought itd be refreshing-- boy was it tart!! it came in a waffel cone
headed to the jewelry store after skye left and found those sale things, then headed back home and austin called me in the metro stop- so that was fun- talked for a few minutes then got off the tram and walked briskly to the grocery store bc i needed more bananas and mikl for tomorrow- it went well-- made it for all thsoe things just in time-- frozen veggies and fresh carrots too.
i made myself dinner once i got home--- :-D quite an accomplishment
i cut up a breast of chicken, used olive oil on the pan, then sprinkled seasonings: basil, little onion, squeezed lime, and poured some red wine vinegar over it.
tastes good and the chicken is so tender-- pretty nutritious meal too =)
im proud of myself- ha - i feel like a real adult - having to come home exhausted and tired and still make a nutritiuos meal (of course if you consider what made me exhausted and tired before the making of the food-- thats not quite a real adult yet haha ;)
good times today. fun to run into skye and shop with her-- she had a good time and bought a cute purse and shoes-- the store we ent into had pretty cheap leather and cheap shoes-- such cute ones!! but since its not as worth it for me (not being albe to wear them) im not really too tempted.
going to try to shower and sleep tonight-- my neck has been REALLY hurting and i keep getting massive, throbbing headaches-- i need to find relief somewhere soon-- they're easily approaching migraines-- ick :(
pray i find a therapist or accupuncturist-- eek! i should start sending out emails i just dont know which direction to go---
love,
cnp
Giddy Girls
Tonight was so great-- about 10 of us girls (a couple less) met at my house/apartment for a couple bottles of wine and hanging out-- we all hung out in my room and had such a wonderful, fabulous time!! i loved it.
it was fun to host and so fun to share stories-- we told boy stories and laughed and took pictures- it couldnt have been better
I had a good day of classes too
early mornign- corporate comm-- but prof is interesting/likes to push the box which is fun.
he stood up on the table in class and it reminded me of the "Dead Poet's Society" that we watched in shepards class ;) good ol days
then had a break where we went shopping for notebooks at Colroyt and found them, along with nut mix and gummy bears. was fun to make that adventure adn then had intro to economics
i was so nervous for it at first b/c everyone always talks abou tecon as being soooo horrible so i was frightened but i loved it and aske da ton of questions and felt so comfortable and am soooo incredibly excited to learn about the usa compared to eruope and their "welfare states"
laerned some intersting thigns-- mayb eill remember to write them down later.
had previous tenants leftover soup for dinner-- need to figure out good meals for myself so i dont starve think ill try to go shopping groceries for dinner on wed or tomorrow (tues)
had a great night--- sooo thankful for where God has placed me- hallelujah!
:)
so tired eyes drooping
love,
cnp
it was fun to host and so fun to share stories-- we told boy stories and laughed and took pictures- it couldnt have been better
I had a good day of classes too
early mornign- corporate comm-- but prof is interesting/likes to push the box which is fun.
he stood up on the table in class and it reminded me of the "Dead Poet's Society" that we watched in shepards class ;) good ol days
then had a break where we went shopping for notebooks at Colroyt and found them, along with nut mix and gummy bears. was fun to make that adventure adn then had intro to economics
i was so nervous for it at first b/c everyone always talks abou tecon as being soooo horrible so i was frightened but i loved it and aske da ton of questions and felt so comfortable and am soooo incredibly excited to learn about the usa compared to eruope and their "welfare states"
laerned some intersting thigns-- mayb eill remember to write them down later.
had previous tenants leftover soup for dinner-- need to figure out good meals for myself so i dont starve think ill try to go shopping groceries for dinner on wed or tomorrow (tues)
had a great night--- sooo thankful for where God has placed me- hallelujah!
:)
so tired eyes drooping
love,
cnp
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Pray
Another thing i wanted to mention was how thankful i am for having Jon over here-- what an incredible amazing blessing- i love him so much i appreciate him moving me in etc etc-- soo wonderful of him,
but if you are reading this, please pray for him, as he is a missionary in Amsterdam, it is expected that he might be attacked spiritually but it has been without end for a majority of time he has been there.
Please pray for relief for him-- for God to guard him and protect him and give him freedom from that nasty, ugly, evil one. puh. the devil is absolutely disgusting and deserves nothing!!!!
but if you are reading this, please pray for him, as he is a missionary in Amsterdam, it is expected that he might be attacked spiritually but it has been without end for a majority of time he has been there.
Please pray for relief for him-- for God to guard him and protect him and give him freedom from that nasty, ugly, evil one. puh. the devil is absolutely disgusting and deserves nothing!!!!
Sunday rest
I tried uploading several pictures earlier--and had 8 uploded which took a little while- but only that one showed up.
i was able to sleep 8 hours last night then woke up and slep for another 7... soo good for me- i'm still tired but i plan on eating a peach and going to bed.
i had a great night
i was hungry when i woke up , ate a banana and p.b. and then went to meet jordan, nikki, and tall Chris. they told me how to get to them and i took our nearby tram, then stopped a couple over at the metro i'll be getting on for my internship and then took that for a while and they waited all that time for me to get to the metro they were at, then we took another metro over to a nice little area. we took some pictures , walked around adn went down a sweet elevator that overlooked the area, we walked to a small little cafe and had a delicious little find. chris ordered some excellent tea and i tried some -was great- he drinks it british style with sugar cubes and milk- i ordered a summer special item which was spaghetti with smoked salmon and brocolli--it was fabulous and 9 euros-- soo delicious--thinking about it makes me hungry again but i was stuffed from it and couldnt even finish- :) nice to get a good meal.
we then walked around some more to find a ferris wheel that looked fairly close- we found this awesome castle looking church/museum and took some pipcutres, and also found a carnival-- it was soo fun to walk through it- i loved it and took tons of pcitures-- so cool.. we almost went on one of those swings that goes around ina circle (kinda kid like ride) except this one rasied you about 300 feet in the air-- we went on a ferris wheel down the raod instead because it was a euro cheaper-- 3 instead of 4.
very fun and cool experience. we took the metro from what we think was central station (where i came in) and went to the atonium (which is the eiffel tower of brussels) it even had the lights at night like the eiffel tower- except they werent blinking tonight- i heard they are at midnight- one girl -darcy - and her bf went to a concert at the atonium last night from midnight til 6 am... crazy!! i bet it was quite the expierence-- it was techno/electronic i'm pretty sure
have some great pictures -some of which i really tried to load earlier but they'll have to wait
im starting classes tomorrow at 830 in the morn and another at 1:30 (13:30 ) i think. it will be fun to see everyone again . looking forward to it -- should probably make myself a sandwich and also we're going to go shopping for notebooks
glad to be here- i got homesick last night- it was rough for maybe an hour - but then i knew i just needed God as my solace and so as i was unloading the dishwasher i thought i'd put on some music or reflect and iended up listening to john ortberg book which ive listened to before ;) actually got it for my dad for fathers day but (austin) and i have both listened to it before him ha. its great though adn it helped me to be reassured adn comforted. He is my Savior and im sooo so thankful He is here with me and will never ever let me down or leave me, and He does not expect me to have it all together at once- God is sooo great i'm soo blessed and so thankful.
Also, it helped to skype with you Mom and Dad. i love you!! you are soo wonderful - im sooo thankful for you. i love you sooo much. good to see you again tonight. would love to "spend more time together" but i will get to sleep!
love,
cnp
i was able to sleep 8 hours last night then woke up and slep for another 7... soo good for me- i'm still tired but i plan on eating a peach and going to bed.
i had a great night
i was hungry when i woke up , ate a banana and p.b. and then went to meet jordan, nikki, and tall Chris. they told me how to get to them and i took our nearby tram, then stopped a couple over at the metro i'll be getting on for my internship and then took that for a while and they waited all that time for me to get to the metro they were at, then we took another metro over to a nice little area. we took some pictures , walked around adn went down a sweet elevator that overlooked the area, we walked to a small little cafe and had a delicious little find. chris ordered some excellent tea and i tried some -was great- he drinks it british style with sugar cubes and milk- i ordered a summer special item which was spaghetti with smoked salmon and brocolli--it was fabulous and 9 euros-- soo delicious--thinking about it makes me hungry again but i was stuffed from it and couldnt even finish- :) nice to get a good meal.
we then walked around some more to find a ferris wheel that looked fairly close- we found this awesome castle looking church/museum and took some pipcutres, and also found a carnival-- it was soo fun to walk through it- i loved it and took tons of pcitures-- so cool.. we almost went on one of those swings that goes around ina circle (kinda kid like ride) except this one rasied you about 300 feet in the air-- we went on a ferris wheel down the raod instead because it was a euro cheaper-- 3 instead of 4.
very fun and cool experience. we took the metro from what we think was central station (where i came in) and went to the atonium (which is the eiffel tower of brussels) it even had the lights at night like the eiffel tower- except they werent blinking tonight- i heard they are at midnight- one girl -darcy - and her bf went to a concert at the atonium last night from midnight til 6 am... crazy!! i bet it was quite the expierence-- it was techno/electronic i'm pretty sure
have some great pictures -some of which i really tried to load earlier but they'll have to wait
im starting classes tomorrow at 830 in the morn and another at 1:30 (13:30 ) i think. it will be fun to see everyone again . looking forward to it -- should probably make myself a sandwich and also we're going to go shopping for notebooks
glad to be here- i got homesick last night- it was rough for maybe an hour - but then i knew i just needed God as my solace and so as i was unloading the dishwasher i thought i'd put on some music or reflect and iended up listening to john ortberg book which ive listened to before ;) actually got it for my dad for fathers day but (austin) and i have both listened to it before him ha. its great though adn it helped me to be reassured adn comforted. He is my Savior and im sooo so thankful He is here with me and will never ever let me down or leave me, and He does not expect me to have it all together at once- God is sooo great i'm soo blessed and so thankful.
Also, it helped to skype with you Mom and Dad. i love you!! you are soo wonderful - im sooo thankful for you. i love you sooo much. good to see you again tonight. would love to "spend more time together" but i will get to sleep!
love,
cnp
Brief
Had everyone over for dinner tonight. us girls went shopping for ingredients, Chicagoan Rebecca made guacamole, and we all enjoyed sauteed chicken tacos with very fresh avocados tomatoes, cheese, etc. almost got confused writing this- thinking i was in mexico ha--
going to sleep now- thank God for that-- i desperately need it and i might take a quiet day for myself tomorrow to go explore the city and shop/ also get some laundry done adn do some skype phone calls to catch up with you all ;)
love,
cnp
going to sleep now- thank God for that-- i desperately need it and i might take a quiet day for myself tomorrow to go explore the city and shop/ also get some laundry done adn do some skype phone calls to catch up with you all ;)
love,
cnp
Saturday, August 21, 2010
friday frits
While the date may appear as Saturady, this is friday to me still.
Went with a big group of vesalius college students to several different bars around the city; it was a tour of the night life on the weekend, and fun to hang out with my friends. I really enjoy some of the girls. and the boyfriend of Darcy--Dan is his name-- is really sweet.
Everyone came over to my house before we met up with all the students and that was fun to all go together-- i wasnt ready at all for them-- i'd fallen asleep and not woken up, then wnated to eat dinner (with my newly purchased groceries) and was scurrying around to get it all doen before they got here. I basically made it.
Dan is probably going to move in here b/c his hosuing runs out in some near future. That'd be cool to have a guy to protect us and be near-- he and i split frits with the spicy mayo they have here--it was really really good and hit the spot at 12 30 am.
During the day I had orientation things, I signed up for FRench I while they officialize my internship (they want you to be for sure signed up for four calsses and they cant sign you up until monday--strange/but wahtever)
We had a bit of chaos with "tall Chris" and Sabine, the resident director b/c Sabine was super stressed that chris was needing to move otu and in a bad host family's house in a crappy area and with a cat he was allergic to,, but anyawy that all got figured otu and i helped Sabine some. So thats great.
WEnt with my sweet new friend Nikki back to her place (which was fun to see-- Sheraton --woman from nyc with 2 kdis whose husband was beligan but he divorced her and now, she has nothing really-- in belgium when a couple divorces the woman gets hardly anything--only a small portion, so teh hub basically gto off scotch free and doesnt pay for much of anything or see teh kids... its really sad) but she's stayed over here i guess in hopes of the kids being able to see their dad.
nikki and jordan live together and we walked to the cutest vietnamese restaurant--it get going back further and further and had awesome outdoor seating--itwas super hot today-- like 28 degrees or so which would be about 80 back home- i loved it. we then went to colroyt for groceries and i got a TON-- i borrowed nikkis backpack to get home with all of them (b/c i had borught my improv grocery bag as i knew they'd charge you otherwise) and found lots of things i needed-- i think if i go back anytime soon i would just pick up a few vegetables and somethign salty for a snack--not sure what that'd be-- salted nuts or somethign? or try something new- got a new p.b. to try and trying their bread adn all sorts of thign-- love love love their milk and i even found low fat or skim actually (interesting b/c they give calorie counts etc for 100 g -so if only i could figure out how much that is haha but you can easily estimate with the servings )
Nikki helped me so much carrying things and i took a bus from her apartment/home to the tram to my house-- i was quite porud of myself for nto getting lost at all with my 3 heavy bags-- ick.
have a tour of brussels with vesalius tomorrow at 10 am.. actually 945 we're meeting at vesalius.. i hope sabine is happier-she's been super stressed out recently --she needs a holiday but the isa program denied her one b/c students needed housign and she wwas supposedly responsible... hard when politics and different cultures are involved-- good grief
had a good day, got a nap in, the weather made me sooo happy even though it was hot tonight... got to hang out mroe with our new chicagoan Rebecca-- so fun that there are 3 of us... marquette, bethel (me ;] ), and depaul
we're very proud
lots of jersey kids too
fun to have all these different backgrounds
love this exprience
thanks so much-- count my blessings--they're immense!
Went with a big group of vesalius college students to several different bars around the city; it was a tour of the night life on the weekend, and fun to hang out with my friends. I really enjoy some of the girls. and the boyfriend of Darcy--Dan is his name-- is really sweet.
Everyone came over to my house before we met up with all the students and that was fun to all go together-- i wasnt ready at all for them-- i'd fallen asleep and not woken up, then wnated to eat dinner (with my newly purchased groceries) and was scurrying around to get it all doen before they got here. I basically made it.
Dan is probably going to move in here b/c his hosuing runs out in some near future. That'd be cool to have a guy to protect us and be near-- he and i split frits with the spicy mayo they have here--it was really really good and hit the spot at 12 30 am.
During the day I had orientation things, I signed up for FRench I while they officialize my internship (they want you to be for sure signed up for four calsses and they cant sign you up until monday--strange/but wahtever)
We had a bit of chaos with "tall Chris" and Sabine, the resident director b/c Sabine was super stressed that chris was needing to move otu and in a bad host family's house in a crappy area and with a cat he was allergic to,, but anyawy that all got figured otu and i helped Sabine some. So thats great.
WEnt with my sweet new friend Nikki back to her place (which was fun to see-- Sheraton --woman from nyc with 2 kdis whose husband was beligan but he divorced her and now, she has nothing really-- in belgium when a couple divorces the woman gets hardly anything--only a small portion, so teh hub basically gto off scotch free and doesnt pay for much of anything or see teh kids... its really sad) but she's stayed over here i guess in hopes of the kids being able to see their dad.
nikki and jordan live together and we walked to the cutest vietnamese restaurant--it get going back further and further and had awesome outdoor seating--itwas super hot today-- like 28 degrees or so which would be about 80 back home- i loved it. we then went to colroyt for groceries and i got a TON-- i borrowed nikkis backpack to get home with all of them (b/c i had borught my improv grocery bag as i knew they'd charge you otherwise) and found lots of things i needed-- i think if i go back anytime soon i would just pick up a few vegetables and somethign salty for a snack--not sure what that'd be-- salted nuts or somethign? or try something new- got a new p.b. to try and trying their bread adn all sorts of thign-- love love love their milk and i even found low fat or skim actually (interesting b/c they give calorie counts etc for 100 g -so if only i could figure out how much that is haha but you can easily estimate with the servings )
Nikki helped me so much carrying things and i took a bus from her apartment/home to the tram to my house-- i was quite porud of myself for nto getting lost at all with my 3 heavy bags-- ick.
have a tour of brussels with vesalius tomorrow at 10 am.. actually 945 we're meeting at vesalius.. i hope sabine is happier-she's been super stressed out recently --she needs a holiday but the isa program denied her one b/c students needed housign and she wwas supposedly responsible... hard when politics and different cultures are involved-- good grief
had a good day, got a nap in, the weather made me sooo happy even though it was hot tonight... got to hang out mroe with our new chicagoan Rebecca-- so fun that there are 3 of us... marquette, bethel (me ;] ), and depaul
we're very proud
lots of jersey kids too
fun to have all these different backgrounds
love this exprience
thanks so much-- count my blessings--they're immense!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
...little more
forgot about the time for big store closing being 8 pm, not 9 pm-- 9 pm will be tomorrow, but i saw one of the "roommates" and she said that she leaves/moves out a week from tomorrow-- this mornign when i was trying to sleep in i was awoken by the 2 little kids-- maybe more screaming and singing and yelling for maybe an hour and a half-- i was able to fall back asleep some but even the mom was yelling up and out to them---
it was frustrating but what can i do---
i like "my " bathroom better and enjoy my room, but have the option of moving (without havign asked stephanie im just assuming) may have the option of moving upstairs one more to be further from teh children chaos-- it could be very different once their schools start--but on saturdays or sundays not sure if it will be annoying--- if i were to move id have the whole top floor pretty much to myself/and the other tenant-- its kinda nice to just have the kids that i KNOW i dont have to talk to, and then go up to the kitchen (but if i moved id be right there with the kitchen) i dont know all thigns to consider---
so i may may may have a week to think/decide and am asking for prayer--
my room is all set up-- has 3 lights instead of just 2, has a good location of desk, wardrobe, shelf for things by the door and seems lighter--whcih is nice, the other has another extra chair (which i dont really need) but whatever, and a slightly different bed, and another shelving unit (kinda like in the place of a closet--
i dunno we'll see, ear plugs could work and many weekends i could be getting up anyway or traveling so i might nto even notice not beign able to wake up and i think all this processing may be that i have decided God will take care of me and i can just stay on the floor im at--but it is somethign to consider so if you have any suggestions i'm open.
oxo
thank you all.
it was frustrating but what can i do---
i like "my " bathroom better and enjoy my room, but have the option of moving (without havign asked stephanie im just assuming) may have the option of moving upstairs one more to be further from teh children chaos-- it could be very different once their schools start--but on saturdays or sundays not sure if it will be annoying--- if i were to move id have the whole top floor pretty much to myself/and the other tenant-- its kinda nice to just have the kids that i KNOW i dont have to talk to, and then go up to the kitchen (but if i moved id be right there with the kitchen) i dont know all thigns to consider---
so i may may may have a week to think/decide and am asking for prayer--
my room is all set up-- has 3 lights instead of just 2, has a good location of desk, wardrobe, shelf for things by the door and seems lighter--whcih is nice, the other has another extra chair (which i dont really need) but whatever, and a slightly different bed, and another shelving unit (kinda like in the place of a closet--
i dunno we'll see, ear plugs could work and many weekends i could be getting up anyway or traveling so i might nto even notice not beign able to wake up and i think all this processing may be that i have decided God will take care of me and i can just stay on the floor im at--but it is somethign to consider so if you have any suggestions i'm open.
oxo
thank you all.
Sleepy
I have had another great day-- most recently we (like 7 or 8 of us) sat in a square and ate in Flanders-- i got a glass of red wine with taux something champagino (toast with mushrooms-- ) i should have taken a picture it was delicious and somethign very european/fun to try--- that was my late late lunch at around 5 and before had a few bites of a wafel with another girl--jordan --whcih had nutella on it ;)
we had trouble meeting up with e other for a while but it turned out ok (we were all lookign for h&m in different locations)
pray for me findign a coat-- i saw the cutest/and warm one in h&m but its in gray (whcih is ok--just not as much my color) and black--which is fine-- just nothing new... so i'm looking for something else affordable and the style im looking for and color-- fun though-- some girls were with me (a new one from CHICAGO!--who goes to marquette) was also with us--but anyway these girls are all soo loving, sweet etc and they say i have the perfect body type-anything looks good on me- ha what a compliment- so that was another self esteem booster ;)
fun to shop, i love tehse girls i was with-- i told them how i appreciate their genuineness and i love meeting up with them and they sadi the same to me--- im soooo incredibly tahnkful-- God has SOO taken caer of me--- speaking of which i think i m ay have mentioned that my phone needed a pin number to access it again after dropping and battery popping out--so i was hoping nd praying to find oen today-- i didnt find it in the office when i got there and i dug through the garbage adn typed in the pin number taht i found but it ended up not working (and you only have 3 attempts befoer it no longer works at all) sabine didnt think i had much hope at getting through to customer service like ppl and was thinking i was probably pretty doomed--- i felt bad but didnt give up adn assumed God could come through-- such a faithful merciful father-- Hallelujah--
so anyway, finally checked everythign once more and FOUND IT!! it was tucked inside a bunch of papers, folders etc (strange part about looking for it was that i told everyone that i keep EVERYTHING--- almost everything that i bought frmo teh phone thing i htoguht id kept so i couldnt understand why i didnt see it) but anyway it turned up and i was sooo thankful i was saying praise God and hallelujah! haha they all were happy for me-- soo thank goodness it works and 51 euros was not wasted!
anywho, great day, great friends, everyone i was with (which was a majority ) was understanding about everythign and sooo sweet and frinedly and happy to be all together-- they are soooo incredibly great i wish i could share them with everyone back home--- im blown out of my mind thankful and grateful to our God-- wow.
had a great afternoon-- and it was SUNNY which is alway s a blessing and will go back out ina little-- im going to go to the market/store and find some groceries before we go out at 9-- im in need of a coat as its way chillier here so again, thats a pryaer requeset that i find one that i like and reasonable price-- i am being choosey so its partly me-- but anywho, thanks for all your prayers. thanks for all the support--
i know and am soaking in every moment because I know i am sooo blessed.
love you,
cnp
we had trouble meeting up with e other for a while but it turned out ok (we were all lookign for h&m in different locations)
pray for me findign a coat-- i saw the cutest/and warm one in h&m but its in gray (whcih is ok--just not as much my color) and black--which is fine-- just nothing new... so i'm looking for something else affordable and the style im looking for and color-- fun though-- some girls were with me (a new one from CHICAGO!--who goes to marquette) was also with us--but anyway these girls are all soo loving, sweet etc and they say i have the perfect body type-anything looks good on me- ha what a compliment- so that was another self esteem booster ;)
fun to shop, i love tehse girls i was with-- i told them how i appreciate their genuineness and i love meeting up with them and they sadi the same to me--- im soooo incredibly tahnkful-- God has SOO taken caer of me--- speaking of which i think i m ay have mentioned that my phone needed a pin number to access it again after dropping and battery popping out--so i was hoping nd praying to find oen today-- i didnt find it in the office when i got there and i dug through the garbage adn typed in the pin number taht i found but it ended up not working (and you only have 3 attempts befoer it no longer works at all) sabine didnt think i had much hope at getting through to customer service like ppl and was thinking i was probably pretty doomed--- i felt bad but didnt give up adn assumed God could come through-- such a faithful merciful father-- Hallelujah--
so anyway, finally checked everythign once more and FOUND IT!! it was tucked inside a bunch of papers, folders etc (strange part about looking for it was that i told everyone that i keep EVERYTHING--- almost everything that i bought frmo teh phone thing i htoguht id kept so i couldnt understand why i didnt see it) but anyway it turned up and i was sooo thankful i was saying praise God and hallelujah! haha they all were happy for me-- soo thank goodness it works and 51 euros was not wasted!
anywho, great day, great friends, everyone i was with (which was a majority ) was understanding about everythign and sooo sweet and frinedly and happy to be all together-- they are soooo incredibly great i wish i could share them with everyone back home--- im blown out of my mind thankful and grateful to our God-- wow.
had a great afternoon-- and it was SUNNY which is alway s a blessing and will go back out ina little-- im going to go to the market/store and find some groceries before we go out at 9-- im in need of a coat as its way chillier here so again, thats a pryaer requeset that i find one that i like and reasonable price-- i am being choosey so its partly me-- but anywho, thanks for all your prayers. thanks for all the support--
i know and am soaking in every moment because I know i am sooo blessed.
love you,
cnp
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Jumbles
:) this title makes me think of the "jumbles" that we do in florida in the newspaper (whcih i guess we could be doing in the trib as well)
So grateful for all of my friends at home-- I'm so blessed to feel SOOOO supported by all of you while i'm over here. I am forever thankful and forever and ever a much stronger and more Christ-like person because of each of you (family included).
Thank you for loving me.
I am very appreciate today-- it was not as high high of a day as yesterday--- but that's to be expected-- yesterday was soo fabulous its hard to live up to that 2 days in a row. I was much more tired today as Dad probably knows b/c he saw my computer still logged on at 2 am my time. Another girl- Caitlin - from chicago said she was up til 2 am as well due to all the time changes/busy day hype etc.
This school is MAJORLY about the beer, bars, and going out.
I do not think I will have a problem, its just a great experience to have b/c its SO different from bethel- there are several bars on campus and the student government doesnt really organize much expect events surrounding alcohol--- they will have beer chugs, beer pong, etc etc. Parents, grandparents, no worries. I will not be participating; I may go, but you have nothing to fear. You've raised me to know what's good for me and what isn't. I am glad to have such a different expeirence ESPECIALLY after all of the bethel culture--
its sooo good for me to finally be exposed to the real world--- i mean no longer do i have ANY christians-- i think there may be one who is also dating a christian (but she's not with us too much b/c she's from antwerp--shes the one frmo the states who is dating the belgian)
theres oen chrsitian girl who i think really portrays a "meet the tuckers" type lifestyle-- i mean, she said how its going to be a real pain to find the ONLY lutheran church in brussels and its all the way on the other side of town, adn i said, well cant you go to another church, adn she said, well, no, you see denominations have different teachings--- i was like, girl, it would be good for you to get out of "YOUR denomination" for a little while--- she said back home they're all "really close knit" -- thats when i asked her if they ever did outreach--- good grief--- no wonder one of the reasons the church in america is dying--- they're breeding old fashioned tract givers with no mistakes--- geesh-- i on the otherhand feel like all the bethel classes and teachigns about "how to bring faith into the workplace"... maybe i didnt pay close enough attention to that for the type of circle im currently in.
i'm used to the lifestyles of everyone here-- i have no problems with them -- but i love talking about my God and so i'm gradually dropping in mission trips, etc. rather than shove things down their throats-- now, family, i'm not saying, go to the other extreme, i think its true, as Jon and i were talking, now instead of the church saying NOOO to everything, now we say "sure, in moderation" to everything. so i do see the point of having a balance-- just all a part of my christian school upbringing-- nwo its the time for me to decipher how and when i'm name dropping J.C. into convos-- i'm not gonna put out the cheesy lines, but i will be real about who is my Savior b/c i want all of them to know Him tooo!!
interesting how thsi group is sooo close-- im happy with it though-- a couple girls and i went home early tonight b/c we were all tired adn exhausted from traveling the metro forever with some of the boys-- we were looking for some site seeing-- one guy said that the red light district was nearby and we were going to walk past,but didnt end up finding it (but traveled on the metro for an hour plus )
when jon and i rode the bus from amsterdam to brussels we saw a ton of prostitutes sitting on stools and chairs, standing ini the glass windows framing themselves for those walking by to "purchase some pleasure" -- it was soo sad-- i have such a scarred image of this one blond who had on what looked similar to a pink bikini (lingerie/underwear i'm sure) -- they all looked so expectant to find someone--- chris (a tall guy who was thinking of finding the red light district--said that he'dseen them in belgiium and they were all fairly ugly/ or old-- i remember seeing them at moulin rouge and they looke d fairly normal-- dressed in tights and skirts and a little extra makeup, but it was NOTHING like this spot on the way into the city of brussels--- there must ahave been at least 20 girls all in these different glass windows lining the streets-- the windows went from the floor to the ceiling and my heart just broke for them--- i have such a heart for them b/c its all about identity, meeting ends meet, and their value. Freeset (the ministry who takes the women off the streets in kolkatta to get them out of prostitution means SO much to me) God bless them-- i think that would be an awesome thign to be a part of for a year-- id love to go spend a year of my life ministering somewhere like that. how incredibly powerful -- to think of these women literally being given new lives and a new chance to be able to make money in some other way-- and how heartbroken and numb they must feel-- the damage must run SO deep. :'( wow.
sooo anyway--- that was a big take-away that i'll probably never ever forget.
anything else i should share-- it was a long mostly boring, monotonous day-- my phone battery popped out so i have no service till tomorrow when i get back into the office to retype in my pin # (every time the phone gets turned off you have to redo the pin) bummer
i'll meet "my neighbors" at around noon to go to the office and meet everyone else to go get lunch , and shop :) fun to have friends.. i love friends.
girls are super sweet that im closer to-- i like them-- not so much into the status type girls-- but im still friends with them-- im just not into the clingy-ness and i feel like those who care sometimes have less confidence and cling more. maybe some would say that about me, i dont know, its just fun to be with everyone.
one of my neighbors-darcy had her boyfriend around tonight so taht was fun to meet him. we got split into smaller cell groups earlier in the day for going out and getting to know the campus/tour etc, and they wre ok-- not super super thrilled- ill most likely save some friend making energy for my classes ;) and internship-- sweet! cant wait-- thank God i got it already locked in-- how amazing He is!!
lots typed again tonight-- nice way to chill out and process my journey over here-- writing more for me and some for you all (everyone from the south --which is many of the isa ppl-- are saying ya'll -- some even said i talked like a minnesotan!! AHHH oh no lol my worst nightmare--hehe i already knew itd rubbed off here and there though ;] )
have a tour of burssels on saturday monring and i guess a bar hop on friday night-- they say bars dont close til 7 am or somethign-- are you serious?? these ppl go crazy over here!! the president of the student government said that 'you wont have to worry' about bars closign before you get your fill. good grief... they also some 300 some beers over here and theres no way to try them all before going back to the states--... i guarantee many kids will be trying.
have a night to chill out-- its 10 pm now and will maybe take a shower and try ot sleep early tonight-- i need it. lots ahead of me still
love
So grateful for all of my friends at home-- I'm so blessed to feel SOOOO supported by all of you while i'm over here. I am forever thankful and forever and ever a much stronger and more Christ-like person because of each of you (family included).
Thank you for loving me.
I am very appreciate today-- it was not as high high of a day as yesterday--- but that's to be expected-- yesterday was soo fabulous its hard to live up to that 2 days in a row. I was much more tired today as Dad probably knows b/c he saw my computer still logged on at 2 am my time. Another girl- Caitlin - from chicago said she was up til 2 am as well due to all the time changes/busy day hype etc.
This school is MAJORLY about the beer, bars, and going out.
I do not think I will have a problem, its just a great experience to have b/c its SO different from bethel- there are several bars on campus and the student government doesnt really organize much expect events surrounding alcohol--- they will have beer chugs, beer pong, etc etc. Parents, grandparents, no worries. I will not be participating; I may go, but you have nothing to fear. You've raised me to know what's good for me and what isn't. I am glad to have such a different expeirence ESPECIALLY after all of the bethel culture--
its sooo good for me to finally be exposed to the real world--- i mean no longer do i have ANY christians-- i think there may be one who is also dating a christian (but she's not with us too much b/c she's from antwerp--shes the one frmo the states who is dating the belgian)
theres oen chrsitian girl who i think really portrays a "meet the tuckers" type lifestyle-- i mean, she said how its going to be a real pain to find the ONLY lutheran church in brussels and its all the way on the other side of town, adn i said, well cant you go to another church, adn she said, well, no, you see denominations have different teachings--- i was like, girl, it would be good for you to get out of "YOUR denomination" for a little while--- she said back home they're all "really close knit" -- thats when i asked her if they ever did outreach--- good grief--- no wonder one of the reasons the church in america is dying--- they're breeding old fashioned tract givers with no mistakes--- geesh-- i on the otherhand feel like all the bethel classes and teachigns about "how to bring faith into the workplace"... maybe i didnt pay close enough attention to that for the type of circle im currently in.
i'm used to the lifestyles of everyone here-- i have no problems with them -- but i love talking about my God and so i'm gradually dropping in mission trips, etc. rather than shove things down their throats-- now, family, i'm not saying, go to the other extreme, i think its true, as Jon and i were talking, now instead of the church saying NOOO to everything, now we say "sure, in moderation" to everything. so i do see the point of having a balance-- just all a part of my christian school upbringing-- nwo its the time for me to decipher how and when i'm name dropping J.C. into convos-- i'm not gonna put out the cheesy lines, but i will be real about who is my Savior b/c i want all of them to know Him tooo!!
interesting how thsi group is sooo close-- im happy with it though-- a couple girls and i went home early tonight b/c we were all tired adn exhausted from traveling the metro forever with some of the boys-- we were looking for some site seeing-- one guy said that the red light district was nearby and we were going to walk past,but didnt end up finding it (but traveled on the metro for an hour plus )
when jon and i rode the bus from amsterdam to brussels we saw a ton of prostitutes sitting on stools and chairs, standing ini the glass windows framing themselves for those walking by to "purchase some pleasure" -- it was soo sad-- i have such a scarred image of this one blond who had on what looked similar to a pink bikini (lingerie/underwear i'm sure) -- they all looked so expectant to find someone--- chris (a tall guy who was thinking of finding the red light district--said that he'dseen them in belgiium and they were all fairly ugly/ or old-- i remember seeing them at moulin rouge and they looke d fairly normal-- dressed in tights and skirts and a little extra makeup, but it was NOTHING like this spot on the way into the city of brussels--- there must ahave been at least 20 girls all in these different glass windows lining the streets-- the windows went from the floor to the ceiling and my heart just broke for them--- i have such a heart for them b/c its all about identity, meeting ends meet, and their value. Freeset (the ministry who takes the women off the streets in kolkatta to get them out of prostitution means SO much to me) God bless them-- i think that would be an awesome thign to be a part of for a year-- id love to go spend a year of my life ministering somewhere like that. how incredibly powerful -- to think of these women literally being given new lives and a new chance to be able to make money in some other way-- and how heartbroken and numb they must feel-- the damage must run SO deep. :'( wow.
sooo anyway--- that was a big take-away that i'll probably never ever forget.
anything else i should share-- it was a long mostly boring, monotonous day-- my phone battery popped out so i have no service till tomorrow when i get back into the office to retype in my pin # (every time the phone gets turned off you have to redo the pin) bummer
i'll meet "my neighbors" at around noon to go to the office and meet everyone else to go get lunch , and shop :) fun to have friends.. i love friends.
girls are super sweet that im closer to-- i like them-- not so much into the status type girls-- but im still friends with them-- im just not into the clingy-ness and i feel like those who care sometimes have less confidence and cling more. maybe some would say that about me, i dont know, its just fun to be with everyone.
one of my neighbors-darcy had her boyfriend around tonight so taht was fun to meet him. we got split into smaller cell groups earlier in the day for going out and getting to know the campus/tour etc, and they wre ok-- not super super thrilled- ill most likely save some friend making energy for my classes ;) and internship-- sweet! cant wait-- thank God i got it already locked in-- how amazing He is!!
lots typed again tonight-- nice way to chill out and process my journey over here-- writing more for me and some for you all (everyone from the south --which is many of the isa ppl-- are saying ya'll -- some even said i talked like a minnesotan!! AHHH oh no lol my worst nightmare--hehe i already knew itd rubbed off here and there though ;] )
have a tour of burssels on saturday monring and i guess a bar hop on friday night-- they say bars dont close til 7 am or somethign-- are you serious?? these ppl go crazy over here!! the president of the student government said that 'you wont have to worry' about bars closign before you get your fill. good grief... they also some 300 some beers over here and theres no way to try them all before going back to the states--... i guarantee many kids will be trying.
have a night to chill out-- its 10 pm now and will maybe take a shower and try ot sleep early tonight-- i need it. lots ahead of me still
love
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
God is my Provider :D
Wow!! what an absolutely AMAZING first day of life in brussels for real--- my time with Jon was good-- God always came through-- giving me sleep or helping us get to places--bus, trains, trams, etc-- on time, and giving a person to let us into my new home, and unpacking everything- having everythign I REALLY need-- so many things are sooo GOD and soo GOOD-- but-- it was still a little crazy -- i got stressed out with Jon when we were tyring to get to ISA etc, it was chaotic... but everything worked out.
Then, Jon came into ISA office, got help to get to the train to Amsterdam, and I sent HIM off.
I walked into the circle of ISA students (mostly USA kids, but one from bahamas, and i think one from canada perhaps; one girl is form chicago -- she's at depaul and i've gotten clsoe to her)
Then, a girl named Darcy showed up later in the day and she's the sweetest-- she lives only 3 houses down from me on Avenue de Cerisiers--- how sweet is that??
She and another 2 girls in ISA will b eright by me, so tomorrow we're meetign at 9:30 in the mornign to take the tram, or walk to ISA office/Vesalius for our school orientation. Our resident director SAbine is really sweet and she said I coudl host a mojito workshop in our office. Our office is right across from the school and we'll be able to bring lunch materials and cook/prepare/hang out/do hw/use computers in the office-- there are 20 isa students-- the biggest it has been for Sabine.
We spent some time getting to know each other and it was soo fun for me-- i lit up the room of students-- they all were so happy to have this little bubbly energetic (and they called me adorable; they'd love to "eat me up") haha many compliments-- the europeans told me i had pretty eyes, they'd give me discounts, and all sorts of offers-- of course i took none and Nikki (a really sweet girl whose heritage is from india) told me she'd look out for me, and this guy (whom i assumed "the best of," meaning I didnt think he was gay), turned out to be gay, but he told me he'd take care of me when they'd make offers to me. So that was comforting and then there are 2 super huge tall guys-- Greg and Chris who are also already claimed as my "big brothers" (and for all the other girls as well)
I would love to include thigns about how I'd been prayign for these thigns and God has answered my big brother prayer, friendship prayer, ppl loving me prayer, sooo many thigns... wicked awesome neighbors-- i dont have to worry abuot a host family and I STILL have ppl nearby.
There is a girl i met last night who lives in my hosue (julia is her name but you say it Ooooolea) she's super cute and sweet and is doing an internsihp aobut an hour away at Audi-- she'll beliving here til october and last night she said that we could go into the city /exploring together and i suggested we can make dinners etc together/go shopping-- iw as so excited to have her as my friend ..
i told everyone today how excited i was to have them as friends haha i'm so energetic around ppl. i love lov elove it. i am so energized from today. i figured out how to use the trams and metro and then on the walk from Diamante (from the tram to my house) i got lost and then decided to pull out my wicked awesome GPS that you got me Dad--- and it helped a trillion!!! Oh my goodness ANOTHER way God provided--- i love Him. :-D
Soooo good-- I also got called to from a car and some looks from ppl on the street but just kept a very determined ignorant/disdain from all these ppl and they quickly knew i meant buisness and left me alone
side note but i'd love to find a coat, and some other things next time when we go shopping. (oh a purse)
We (3 of us--- chicago girl Caitlin and big brother (even though he's younger) gregg (who is form virginia) both split a waffle with me-- it was soo good--- sweet sugary dough with strawberries and bananas (split on either side) and whipped cream and chocolate sauce--- heavnely... we also tried chocolates in this beligian (but asian owned/employeed) chocolate shop with samples--- trufles, dark chocolate, white chocolate, cappucino truffle-- so good, and many samples-- a tall "big brother guy" chrsi has been here a few times so he knew about this spot (he's from the bahamas and he'll be here the whole year)
We had meetings this morning and then went out to lunch and stoppe da restaurant where Caitlin and this couple (niels who is dutch and from an hour away (ameltorp) who is not a part of isa was there with us at the table and so was his gf who is from teh states and is staying with him and his family--- they've been dating 2 yeasrs and met in the states in high school) he studied abroad at her high school-- so its interesting to have them around---
i pracitced some french at the convenience store (really anywhere and everywehre-- the restaurant we went to and ordered mostly salads--- veyr good - and then i also got a delicious yogurt vanilla from convenience store-- it was delicious! i shared bites of it with girls)
the girl brittany who is dating niels told me to try (not very strong and easy to drink beers---) passion fruit (pallosa or somethign like that ) and kiek which is like cherry .at the end of the night we went to delirium and i got the passion fruit one it tasted SOO great--- it was like champagne and not very strong--- (this bar was a tourist spot but fun and packed-- it was a good experience i wasnt going to order anything bu ti figured first night- why not) but before the bar we grabbed dinner
i owe ppl 2 euro and 3 euro for waffle and beer--- it was too annoying to try to break a 20 euro...
had fish and fritz and wine for 10 euro for dinner and that salad for lunch for 9 euro plus that yogurt for 60 cent euro i think... think thats how much ive spent so far-- tomrorow lunch is taken care of --- sabine offers us coffee anytime and she ahs cookies --- very yummy like 10 x better tahn pepperridge farm mixture but similar in style
and we alll got phones--- mobistar-- so fun to all be the same so i think it sfree to each other
and all texts and calls are free incoming--- so if any of you want to text or call me feel free i can always receive!! andi have the online text number for when i'm at my computer and i have skype--- how wicked sweet is that?! i may not even need th skype $3/month---
God is soo good
had good friendships today--- great girlfriends-- love them-- and we also got taken out for non-alcoholic drinsk-- i got freshmint tea (it had so many mint leaves mom would have loved it!!) and sparkling water.
tomorrow meeting my "neighbors" at 930 to go together-- cant think of waht else but i really JUST walked in--- been going since 8 this mornign but i'm so energized form all those ppl-- going to shower but i love you all
thanks for ALL the prayers-- GOD is so good--- now its just thinking of how to be the best witness for these ppl--- its sooo fun though and i'm loving it. ha of course, no classes have started yet and we're all ALWAYS together so far-- so thats awesome--- its like the beginning last year before classes started wheni was just diong ra training all the time which was super fun--- i love the beiginngings-- so many adventuers
again, so thankful for the gps--- thank you Papa.
this is sooo long but it has been absolutely packed...
Gloria a Dios. Buenas noches. Bon
soo many ppl with amazing stories-- i lvoe it-- what a FANTASTIC break from bethel-- sigh- sooo good
Then, Jon came into ISA office, got help to get to the train to Amsterdam, and I sent HIM off.
I walked into the circle of ISA students (mostly USA kids, but one from bahamas, and i think one from canada perhaps; one girl is form chicago -- she's at depaul and i've gotten clsoe to her)
Then, a girl named Darcy showed up later in the day and she's the sweetest-- she lives only 3 houses down from me on Avenue de Cerisiers--- how sweet is that??
She and another 2 girls in ISA will b eright by me, so tomorrow we're meetign at 9:30 in the mornign to take the tram, or walk to ISA office/Vesalius for our school orientation. Our resident director SAbine is really sweet and she said I coudl host a mojito workshop in our office. Our office is right across from the school and we'll be able to bring lunch materials and cook/prepare/hang out/do hw/use computers in the office-- there are 20 isa students-- the biggest it has been for Sabine.
We spent some time getting to know each other and it was soo fun for me-- i lit up the room of students-- they all were so happy to have this little bubbly energetic (and they called me adorable; they'd love to "eat me up") haha many compliments-- the europeans told me i had pretty eyes, they'd give me discounts, and all sorts of offers-- of course i took none and Nikki (a really sweet girl whose heritage is from india) told me she'd look out for me, and this guy (whom i assumed "the best of," meaning I didnt think he was gay), turned out to be gay, but he told me he'd take care of me when they'd make offers to me. So that was comforting and then there are 2 super huge tall guys-- Greg and Chris who are also already claimed as my "big brothers" (and for all the other girls as well)
I would love to include thigns about how I'd been prayign for these thigns and God has answered my big brother prayer, friendship prayer, ppl loving me prayer, sooo many thigns... wicked awesome neighbors-- i dont have to worry abuot a host family and I STILL have ppl nearby.
There is a girl i met last night who lives in my hosue (julia is her name but you say it Ooooolea) she's super cute and sweet and is doing an internsihp aobut an hour away at Audi-- she'll beliving here til october and last night she said that we could go into the city /exploring together and i suggested we can make dinners etc together/go shopping-- iw as so excited to have her as my friend ..
i told everyone today how excited i was to have them as friends haha i'm so energetic around ppl. i love lov elove it. i am so energized from today. i figured out how to use the trams and metro and then on the walk from Diamante (from the tram to my house) i got lost and then decided to pull out my wicked awesome GPS that you got me Dad--- and it helped a trillion!!! Oh my goodness ANOTHER way God provided--- i love Him. :-D
Soooo good-- I also got called to from a car and some looks from ppl on the street but just kept a very determined ignorant/disdain from all these ppl and they quickly knew i meant buisness and left me alone
side note but i'd love to find a coat, and some other things next time when we go shopping. (oh a purse)
We (3 of us--- chicago girl Caitlin and big brother (even though he's younger) gregg (who is form virginia) both split a waffle with me-- it was soo good--- sweet sugary dough with strawberries and bananas (split on either side) and whipped cream and chocolate sauce--- heavnely... we also tried chocolates in this beligian (but asian owned/employeed) chocolate shop with samples--- trufles, dark chocolate, white chocolate, cappucino truffle-- so good, and many samples-- a tall "big brother guy" chrsi has been here a few times so he knew about this spot (he's from the bahamas and he'll be here the whole year)
We had meetings this morning and then went out to lunch and stoppe da restaurant where Caitlin and this couple (niels who is dutch and from an hour away (ameltorp) who is not a part of isa was there with us at the table and so was his gf who is from teh states and is staying with him and his family--- they've been dating 2 yeasrs and met in the states in high school) he studied abroad at her high school-- so its interesting to have them around---
i pracitced some french at the convenience store (really anywhere and everywehre-- the restaurant we went to and ordered mostly salads--- veyr good - and then i also got a delicious yogurt vanilla from convenience store-- it was delicious! i shared bites of it with girls)
the girl brittany who is dating niels told me to try (not very strong and easy to drink beers---) passion fruit (pallosa or somethign like that ) and kiek which is like cherry .at the end of the night we went to delirium and i got the passion fruit one it tasted SOO great--- it was like champagne and not very strong--- (this bar was a tourist spot but fun and packed-- it was a good experience i wasnt going to order anything bu ti figured first night- why not) but before the bar we grabbed dinner
i owe ppl 2 euro and 3 euro for waffle and beer--- it was too annoying to try to break a 20 euro...
had fish and fritz and wine for 10 euro for dinner and that salad for lunch for 9 euro plus that yogurt for 60 cent euro i think... think thats how much ive spent so far-- tomrorow lunch is taken care of --- sabine offers us coffee anytime and she ahs cookies --- very yummy like 10 x better tahn pepperridge farm mixture but similar in style
and we alll got phones--- mobistar-- so fun to all be the same so i think it sfree to each other
and all texts and calls are free incoming--- so if any of you want to text or call me feel free i can always receive!! andi have the online text number for when i'm at my computer and i have skype--- how wicked sweet is that?! i may not even need th skype $3/month---
God is soo good
had good friendships today--- great girlfriends-- love them-- and we also got taken out for non-alcoholic drinsk-- i got freshmint tea (it had so many mint leaves mom would have loved it!!) and sparkling water.
tomorrow meeting my "neighbors" at 930 to go together-- cant think of waht else but i really JUST walked in--- been going since 8 this mornign but i'm so energized form all those ppl-- going to shower but i love you all
thanks for ALL the prayers-- GOD is so good--- now its just thinking of how to be the best witness for these ppl--- its sooo fun though and i'm loving it. ha of course, no classes have started yet and we're all ALWAYS together so far-- so thats awesome--- its like the beginning last year before classes started wheni was just diong ra training all the time which was super fun--- i love the beiginngings-- so many adventuers
again, so thankful for the gps--- thank you Papa.
this is sooo long but it has been absolutely packed...
Gloria a Dios. Buenas noches. Bon
soo many ppl with amazing stories-- i lvoe it-- what a FANTASTIC break from bethel-- sigh- sooo good
Monday, August 16, 2010
Home in Brussels
Jon and I arrived to Brussels at 4 o'clock or so and took a taxi over to my new house-- havent met the woman I'm renting from yet. Just met her.
Will post more later :)
Will post more later :)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Amsterdam
I'll try to post a picture or two one of these days-- i'm kind of living in a makeshift lifestyle until i get settled into my Brussels home.
I noticed "lazy cop" which prevents cars from going through opposite directions at the same time.
I wish i would have carried my dictionary around with me to practice my Dutch.
I got up for church b/c i knew Jon really wanted me to go with, but then slept some more later, and eventually made it into the city. It was fun to explore. Got my first long island iced tea and split a burger with Jon.
Lots of Dutch are skinny and tall-- i wondered if that were genetic or lifestyle--- everyone seems to think its some of each. Good day-- worn out.
Going to bed. Leaving for Brussels at 11:30 tomorrow morning.
I noticed "lazy cop" which prevents cars from going through opposite directions at the same time.
I wish i would have carried my dictionary around with me to practice my Dutch.
I got up for church b/c i knew Jon really wanted me to go with, but then slept some more later, and eventually made it into the city. It was fun to explore. Got my first long island iced tea and split a burger with Jon.
Lots of Dutch are skinny and tall-- i wondered if that were genetic or lifestyle--- everyone seems to think its some of each. Good day-- worn out.
Going to bed. Leaving for Brussels at 11:30 tomorrow morning.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Day One with Jon
Today was great. Jon and I went to Tyndale to visit and get a tour and meet a few people from there.
We saw Jason, Jon's "office," and all the work he has done. It was fun to see in person-- felt like i'd already been there from the videos he'd sent.
We then came back and i napped for a couple hours? and groggily/barely woke up a second time and went to Amon (favorite spot for ribs). It was good; i had my first "fritz" and also yummy Italian style pizza like at 15 South.
We came back, saw cops (which are rare around here, i'm told) and met Rachel who Jon works with. <Jon is currently giving me instructions on how to comfort his cat in the middle of the night, as I will be taking over Jon's spot in his bed>
Went for a nice walk past the canal bridge and to Jon's "lake spot"
Have a headache and ready for bed, i believe.
Jon's really taking care of me. I'm glad to have an adjustment period, as this is normally the time that I get most homesick. It will be nice to be settled into my Brussels home though. I'm sooo excited to start my internship!! :-D
I love you Parents, you are so great to me. I am having fun observing things and askign lots of questions and trying to learn. It's great to observe. I'd love to sit and people watch with you Papa ;)
Can't wait for you to come over here! =) ... Jon says we should find a Dutch person to ask our/MY questions to ;) lots of smileys. ok. love to all.
We saw Jason, Jon's "office," and all the work he has done. It was fun to see in person-- felt like i'd already been there from the videos he'd sent.
We then came back and i napped for a couple hours? and groggily/barely woke up a second time and went to Amon (favorite spot for ribs). It was good; i had my first "fritz" and also yummy Italian style pizza like at 15 South.
We came back, saw cops (which are rare around here, i'm told) and met Rachel who Jon works with. <Jon is currently giving me instructions on how to comfort his cat in the middle of the night, as I will be taking over Jon's spot in his bed>
Went for a nice walk past the canal bridge and to Jon's "lake spot"
Have a headache and ready for bed, i believe.
Jon's really taking care of me. I'm glad to have an adjustment period, as this is normally the time that I get most homesick. It will be nice to be settled into my Brussels home though. I'm sooo excited to start my internship!! :-D
I love you Parents, you are so great to me. I am having fun observing things and askign lots of questions and trying to learn. It's great to observe. I'd love to sit and people watch with you Papa ;)
Can't wait for you to come over here! =) ... Jon says we should find a Dutch person to ask our/MY questions to ;) lots of smileys. ok. love to all.
Amsterdam arrival
I don't exactly know what day it is, but my flight went well. It was great to have you, Mom and Dad, drop me off at the airport. Good flight to Philadelphia and fun to talk on the phone to Mom, Dad, Aunt Debbe, Tricia, and then Austin separately.
We took a while to take off, but I was able to text during the waiting.
I feel very strange writing this to the "unknown," I'm much better at writing lengthy emails to specific people. If it's a journal, I'm writing to God (or used to be self), so this is a weird concept that "you" might be reading what i'm writing to the "nebulous void," as Jon says. ;)
I'm so so so happy to be here with Jon. What a blessing it is to have him pick me up at the airport--how great to see a familiar face when I arrive. And one I couldn't wait to see, at that.
We filled up my water bottles, observed the interesting airport, and talked about socialism and Euro/US dollars on the drive home.
Man on the airplane said that he'd lived in Belgium for 4 years as a part of the military and he recommended several cities, hot air balloons, and the "french fries" which are called fritz (or who knows how they're spelled)--Jon said they originated in Belgium. Flight attendant said she loved brussels--maybe one of her favorites. Exciting. and so excited that Jon is spending the night in Brussels!
Jon gave me lots of treats and we're eating a sugar bread--its dense and Jon says, "i'm like that all the time" haha i'm happy to be with him making me laugh again ;)
He's finding pcitures he never knew he had-- he really cleaned up the place and it looks great ;)
Not sure what to do next-- nap or go out-- excited !!
Love to all.
We took a while to take off, but I was able to text during the waiting.
I feel very strange writing this to the "unknown," I'm much better at writing lengthy emails to specific people. If it's a journal, I'm writing to God (or used to be self), so this is a weird concept that "you" might be reading what i'm writing to the "nebulous void," as Jon says. ;)
I'm so so so happy to be here with Jon. What a blessing it is to have him pick me up at the airport--how great to see a familiar face when I arrive. And one I couldn't wait to see, at that.
We filled up my water bottles, observed the interesting airport, and talked about socialism and Euro/US dollars on the drive home.
Man on the airplane said that he'd lived in Belgium for 4 years as a part of the military and he recommended several cities, hot air balloons, and the "french fries" which are called fritz (or who knows how they're spelled)--Jon said they originated in Belgium. Flight attendant said she loved brussels--maybe one of her favorites. Exciting. and so excited that Jon is spending the night in Brussels!
Jon gave me lots of treats and we're eating a sugar bread--its dense and Jon says, "i'm like that all the time" haha i'm happy to be with him making me laugh again ;)
He's finding pcitures he never knew he had-- he really cleaned up the place and it looks great ;)
Not sure what to do next-- nap or go out-- excited !!
Love to all.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Welcome
Thank you for visiting my blog! I will be using this to communicate all of my wonderful adventures while abroad! Check back often for new pictures and stories!
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