Nom NOM!!!

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1/28/11


     Today started off rushing to meet the Free Preparatory French class (which if you are late - no admittance for the course) at the main campus.  So a little background on how to get there, Eleah and I have to dash across two bridges without getting hit (yes there are walkways) then down the road that we both thought was the Quai Orban that we need, but it was not the right one.  Once there, we need to make sure we do not slip in the mud and not get blown across the walkway from the wind coming off the river.  After we jimmy around some construction and literally run across one of the main roads to the door we need.  We have seconds to spare.  Flying up the stairs to the meeting area, we pant because we are out of shape.  Explanation on this point, we are not in shape for the short burst of running in the cold of Liege.  No amount of ballet and Brazilian Jiu-Jitzu can prepare you for this type of situation.  Well maybe for the experts and their amazing breathing skills but for two girls who are in manners of speaking novices to these arts, not so much.  So as Eleah and I are gasping for air, Katie just smiles.  Yes, Katie was smart and got there early.  Someone was smart on not sneaking those extra minutes of sleep before leaving, also living only five minutes for the college does help instead of fifteen.  But that is not such a great matter, time budgeting is.  However who are we kidding, we are college students who will sneak some more Zzzz's if we can.
   Once situated in the Prep class, the teachers hand out test to gauge how much French we know.  So naturally I attempted a bit, but was done within minutes of starting.  And amazingly was done with the entire process before a lot of the class.  What can I say, I am amazing at French.  Yes, that would be sarcasm that you are reading.  After Eleah and Katie were done rockin' out the test and blowing away the professors, Katie and I got our European phone sims cards.  After separating ways, Eleah and I hit up the cozy little cafe we found the other day.  As we are sitting up stairs, we find two fury little friends, Ralphy and Gunther.  Our two pet mice.  Yes I know this may make some queasy, but these guys were absolutely adorable.  And since we cannot have pets, well lets just say we do now. About an hour of talking later, we make the trek back to our side of town.
    After reaching our side, the agenda was to attack the two shopping lists we made the night before.  For future reference, we Americans tend to be spoiled with a Wal-Mart or Target.  Behind the flat that we are staying in, there is the convention center (mall) that we found some of our items in.  A little background on this mall, yes there are a lot of clothing stores but there is only one store in which you can get bedding.  And there is a grocery store in a mall.  Listen up America, a grocery store in a mall type setting is very nice and convent. Since we as a culture are big on convenience, try this concept out.
   Again after many stops between the grocery store and the apartment due to heavy hands, Eleah and I make ourselves at home.  Hours of skyping, facebooking, emailing to our family and friends back home and signing our contract for the flat, we break out the groceries.  In this fun bag of groceries we have two bottles of wine, one Merlot and other Grenache (a bit drier that the previous).  Well lets just say Eleah and I are finally relaxing after a long week.  Recap on our weeks,  on Monday we were in the United States of America!  It is now Friday here, can you believe it.  In a span of less than a week we go from basking in the culture and life we grew up in to experiencing and adapting to a completely different culture.  I must say that any student that does this, is one amazing person.  Because personally not everyone can do this, live for 6 or more months in another country (absorbing another culture and way of life).  However one is not just sitting on the side lines of culture, you are actively participating with the vastness of God's people and how we all interact with one another.  Granted this is slightly deep, but think about it.  Going to another country as a college student, you are not only getting away from the parents, but you are given this wonderful gift bestowed to you to learn and understand how the depth of God's creativity.  That one deity carefully thought out the mental processes and culture, you name it, he did it.  Is that not amazing?  I know some people may not think this is not amazing, but think about this.  How cool is it that over a million people live on the same planet as you and we are all different yet we are all the same.  Is it just me, but one has to know that there is a mastermind behind this wonderful phenomenon?
   Anyways, now that Eleah and I are settled (skyping still or writing this blog) we are currently on the second bottle of wine out of the two that we bought (and singing the Nom NOM song).  And we will see how this night goes.  But the eta of the night is a "girls' night in" and more bonding.  So we will see how it goes.  But until then Au Revior!!!

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    A special Thank You goes out to a distant relative of mine, Ziggy and Anne Schmerber.  Thank you so much for the hospitality that you have already shown me.  I wish you health and wealth.  And I ask everyone reading (whether you believe or not) to pray for the family's health.
    To friends and family, I miss you and wish you well!