Bruges and Strasbourg

I went to Bruges for my first weekend in Europe.  I had a blast and did so many things.  I thought their streets were very nice because they were almost all made of brick.  I took a lot of neat pictures and I bet a few people are waiting for me to post these (mom and Brennan).  I may wait to do that at a different time. 

We didn’t have any troubles with the train and I was very surprised.  We made the first train as the doors were closing and it was last second decision.  We then made all the trains thereafter without hesitation.  I feel like I am learning a lot about how to get around by public transportation since we have very little of that where I live. 

I was surprised by how beautiful Bruges was.  A few of the people that I was with decided that they wanted to live there when they could afford it.  I doubt that it will ever happen but it was funny.  I decided as long as every weekend is somewhere as close as this weekend was, it will be a wonderful semester. 

I went up a bell tower and could see the entire city from there.  I took some really neat pictures.  I also went on a ride in the channels which are located in the middle of the city.  I had some amazing food which included waffles, French fries, and chocolate.  Belgium is the place for all of these! 

I went to Strasbourg my second weekend and it was also a lot of fun.  Since I did not have class on Friday I ended up leaving Thursday night.  Our train was fifty minutes late leaving but since it was direct to Strasbourg it was not a big deal.  We went up to the top of a huge cathedral in the middle of the city.  It was fun and we did lots of walking.  I ran out of things to do so we ended up relaxing in a park most of Saturday day.

 I also discovered that I love kebobs.  It is a type of sandwich and I will post pictures on my facebook.  The sandwich can be made with beef, chicken, or lamb.  I like it with chicken or lamb.  The sauce is what really makes the sandwich though.  I believe I had a total of four on the trip.  School is going well but I must say the weekends are the best part.  I can’t believe I have been here for over ½ a month! 

Classes

This week was my first week of classes. I am surprised by how much reading I have had, this is not my favorite way of learning as I would rather do anything but read. Nonetheless I am in Europe so I really can’t complain.


I have been here over a week now and I am now comfortable enough with the trains that I can get some work done on the train. It is nice when I have classes at the same time as my friends because we get to ride the train together, but I have realized that I notice so much more around me when I am alone. I am more aware to what others are doing and I feel a little less of an alien.

My “Rise and Fall of Hitler” class has started and my teacher will not be in Luxembourg to teach the second week so we are making up for it all this week. My teacher is an older man who speaks all from memory. He is very knowledgeable about dates and facts. We can all ask questions and he seems to know them without hesitation. He sits during class when he lectures because he gets tired if he has to stand the whole time. I think I will like this class I only wish we didn’t have four books with one the size of a dictionary!

Yesterday I was sitting at the school and I realized that I was not talking much to my host mom. I only see her at breakfast and it feels like we try to talk but a lot of it gets lost in translation. We have to stick to the most basic ways of communication. I want to talk to her more and learn more about her as well as the area. I told her that my Hitler class was having a class this morning and that is why I was up earlier. I then continued to ask her if she was alive during his time and how it was. After she realized what I was asking, she confirmed that she was alive during that time but she was too young. She says it was a dark time for Europe and it is in the past. She also said that they don’t really talk about it and that ended the conversation. There was some that I didn’t understand that she said and I wish I would have known what it was, but I didn’t want to keep asking. Perhaps it will come up again and we can continue to talk about the subject or stories that she has heard but I don’t want to over step my boundaries.

I am planning on going to Bruges this weekend and I’m not sure what we will be doing but it should be fun and I will definitely have a waffle.



Several additional things I have noticed include

1) Most people in Luxembourg know many languages.

2) Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and many restaurants close as early as 18:00 (6:00 p.m.)

3) When walking into a store it is the customers job to greet the clerk.



I need to get back to reading. I hope you enjoy this!

Enjoying Europe!
 
-Brad Granger