First Week in Belgium

Friends,
Glenn, Amelia and I were scheduled to leave Greenville Airport on Sunday the 30th, but bad storms in Atlanta prevented us from getting out of GSP. And when we found out that it would cost over $100 to take a shuttle back to Clemson (one way), we opted to rent a car to get home and sleep in our own beds. My mom would have said our returning home was "all in devine order" because when I got home, I had made a small mistake with the pool that would have been costly and perhaps also dangerous if it had gone on for several days until Cousin Russell came to house sit. Though we had planned to veg out in our "gifted" time, we ended up shutting down the pool (in record time) and finishing up some things we'd left half-done.

Take two: Monday we took an early flight out of GSP to make sure we'd get out of ATL, and all things ran on time. To keep Miss Pickle busy, I had wrapped a little present for her to open each hour of our flight, several of which were packaged craft projects. She got a kick out of that.

Glenn & Amelia playing tic-tac-toe in GSP

We arrived at the Brussels airport Tuesday morning, and the folks at CUBC (Clemson University Brussels Center) had arranged for a taxi to pick us up. Then we got our first introduction to Belgian driving (wow!) and a constantly jammed-up ring road. The 25 minute trip took over an hour and a half, and I needed a Drammamine by the time we got to the house.

We are renting this little yellow house from Susan Reigeluth, Amelia's teacher at Montessori House Belgium. Amelia has a bedroom, we have a loft bedroom above hers, the house has a full kitchen and den area, fully equipped with fireplace, TV, wireless and toys and books for Amelia. I could say we got lucky, but I think Mom planned this trip for us. :) She'd have certainly been here were she alive and well.

Glenn asked Amelia this morning what her favorite things about Belgium are so far: the choclate (I'd agree), the waffles (I'd agree) and walking up the 226 steps to see the lion (on the 1815 battle site of Bonaparte's defeat). We'll post pictures from that later.

We have had to rent a car because living in Waterloo is a bit like living in Simpsonville and working in Greenville--not really navigable by foot. One difference, though: a very good and extensive public transportation system. Amelia enjoys walking to the bus stop, taking the bus to the street near her school and walking the mile or so down to her school. Not so fun in pouring rain, but it's been gorgeous the last few days.

Amelia at Montessori House Belgium on the playground.

Michelle & Amelia waiting for the bus.

This weekend we're planning to venture up to Holland to see the windmills (and to see if we can figure out why Holland has 2 names). Oh yeah, and I start teaching next week; the students get here Thursday. Working on syllabi, commenting on an MA thesis for one of my advisees and reading, reading and reading to try to prepare to teach a sophomore literature class I've never taught before. As we're learning to use the Metro, bus, train and tram system, we're also enjoying getting to know some new foods--and foods we thought we knew but didn't really. The 3 of us shared a waffle with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream and a crepe with fresh strawberries and strawberry goop on it. We had to convince Amelia that licking the plate is bad manners, but we did let her drag her finger through the leftover powdered sugar and chocolate sauce. Mmmm! I'll leave you with that thought.