Happy Birthday To You!

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!

As I write this post, it's almost tomorrow here. Jon and I have been compiling all of our papers for our BIG appointment tomorrow.

I have a special gift - a post just for you. Something told me you were curious, and even if you weren't I thought you would enjoy it. I wanted to share a typical day in my life. You know, that *seemingly* Boring Beyond Belief Belgian life I've been talking about...

I'm warning you now, this post is long, but only because I took so many photos.

This was the scene outside my window on the train this morning. It had stormed pretty bad last night, and I wasn't expecting to see the sun at all today. But she came out for a bit just before 8:30 a.m.

Lovely, eh?

Now, let's go back to last week. I have been thinking about doing a post like this and had actually started to document my day sometime last week. I think this was last Wednesday or Friday, but the weather was cold and clear...

For this photo, I am standing where I usually catch the bus in Leuven. Our apartment is behind the St. Peter's church on the right. Everyday bells ring on the quarter hour, starting past 9:00 a.m.

The train station in Leuven, which is actually quite nice...

This is the train I take.

Do you see the number 2?

That's for second class passengers. Like me!

The train to Waterloo leaves Leuven on the :08's of every hour. I am scheduled to arrive in Waterloo 1 hour +12 minutes later. Lately, there have been consistent delays.

Here are some things I do to keep busy on my commute. First, I always check to see if Metro, the free paper has a Sudoku puzzle. I've gotten very fast, and they are mind numbingly addictive. I usually sip my cappuccino, typically my second of the day, while I knit, crochet or read. Occasionally I listen/watch my iPhone, which is now used like an iTouch. International roaming charges? No, thank you!

Here, I prepare a lesson for tomorrow's private English lesson and catch up on my 5th grade reading: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

I pass through Brussels everyday, blah, blah, blah.

However, I like this stop at a small station outside of Waterloo.

I like the shelters and the graffiti.

This is Waterloo Station:

Exciting, right?

I make my way to the bike parking to pick up Humphriet, my bright green bicycle.

Can you spot him?

There he is!

Before I ride, I don the latest cycling fashion. I am bringing back the tight-roll, but going a step further and pushing it inside my sock. I do this, so grease won't get on my pants.

FYI or TMI? Those socks are wool, and I am wearing wool leggings underneath my pants.

Now for Part II: the bicycle ride.

Parts of my ride are on the street:

Parts are on this skinny trail:

And some parts and walked because some people don't know how to park!

Finally, I arrive at my destination:
You know? A school is a school, no matter where you are. At least to me it is. It takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to ride to school from the train station, and about 15 - 25 on the way back.

I usually have some down time before I start, so I usually just sit in the lounge and drink another cappuccino. This day, I wanted some juice so I went to the cafeteria. Check out the decorations!
Also, note the trays and glasses that are set, waiting for the children. It sort of reminds me of IKEA.

Here are some high school art projects that decorate the cafeteria. I like these:

What do you think?

The kids are studying a unit on light and sound. These kids LOVE science! I can't get over it, I don't remember loving science this much. Today, the kids had presentation on light and color in the Performing Arts Center, which like Dallas' is also called PAC.

The set from the play The Canterbury Tales.

Of course the girls pleaded, "make it rainbow!"

My journey home is pretty much the same as my journey there, except there are screaming high school students the first twenty minutes or so, then the business traffic from Brussels push their way onto the train. I tried to take a picture of the Red Light district for you, but I wasn't close enough. That's about as exciting as it gets on the train.

We do make a stop at Brussels International Airport everyday.

Passengers get on and off with their luggage and inevitably I imagine all of the exotic locations people are going without me.

It's dark by the time I get home - but this is my favorite part of the day. I love, Love, LOVE walking off the bus, towards our apartment and seeing the old town hall.

Isn't it gorgeous?

We live above an olive/middle eastern import store and these creatures live in our stairwell. It's always fun to fumble in the dark and turn on the lights to see this:

Do you need 6 foot wooden psychedelic neon painted camel?

Typically, I cook, but tonight was a celebration in honor of you, and the fact that I couldn't stomach anymore leftovers. :)

We tried a restaurant called Dewerf.

Jon had a "man's meal," beef and baked apples served in a bread bowl.

I had the broccoli bacon quiche with a side salad.

Jon won tonight's plate challenge.

Lekker!

Because it was your birthday, and because you love chocolate cake so much, I ordered one in good faith that it would be the best chocolate cake I had ever tasted. After all, this is Belgium...

Alas, it was dry and hardly tasted of chocolate at all.

I stuck the Prince cookie on top symbolizing my wish for you... Someday, your prince will come. Or the artist formerly known as Prince will come.

Happy Birthday Steph!

I am truly enjoying this LYMI Belgian experience, and have you to thank for it. I wish you the best year of your life, continued success and creativity and strong poses. This is the time of our lives. Thanks for helping me enjoy mine.

Much love,

xoxo

~LYMI