The Venice of the North: Brugge, Belgium

On Friday, I trekked north toward the coast of Belgium to the romantic city of Brugge for a day trip for my art class. The city is a must-see for most tourists visiting Belgium, and now I can understand why. It was dubbed the nickname "Venice of the North" due to the numerous canals, cobblestone pathways, and weeping willows that drape across every street - it's absolutely stunning.

We lucked out, as it was supposed to rain all day while we were there. Instead, we had sunny skies the entire time, making for a perfect day to explore the city. I immediately fell in love. Our professor walked us around for awhile - we visited Sint-Janshospitaal (a hospital from the 11th century that has been converted into a museum with Flemish artwork from artists including Hans Memling). After, we headed across the street to Sint-Salvator's Cathedral to check out the artwork and architecture there as well. Who knew, but apparently Michaelangelo sculpted the "Madonna of Bruges" which rests inside this church that I had the chance to see it. Pretty neat stuff.

After we finished up with our professor, Izzy and I decided to find some food for lunch. All week I've been craving a big juicy burger, and so we happened to cross "Ellis Gourment Burgers" which is a chain found in Belgium and the Netherlands that makes these delicious burgers to eat. Since it was Friday, I decided to treat myself, and chowed down. If you know me and my obsession with sweet/iced tea, then you can understand why I was so pumped about the one I ordered in the photo below (2 months too long).

From here Izzy and I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the city - enjoy some of my favorite moments below.

Remember when I said I came across that Beguinage in Leuven that housed the religious women? Well, turns out they're pretty common in Belgium, and Brugge had a beautiful one we came across. Our professor told us we came the best time of the year, as the neighborhood had a field full of daffodils that had just bloomed. So gorgeous!

Thank you Brugge for a perfect spring afternoon!

A Surreal Moment

The purpose of this blog is ultimately for me to capture my adventures and moments in time abroad. Because of the Brussels Attacks this previous week, I wanted to dedicate a post not only to the victims of the attacks, but to document the experiences and emotions I was feeling at the time.

On Tuesday, March 22nd, I woke up at approximately 9:40 a.m. to my roommate sharing a text message from our Belgian friend who said 2 bombs just went off at Brussels International Airport. Immediately after receiving this information, I sat up in bed and logged online to start reading news reports informing us about what happened. At this point, we still hadn't discovered it was a terrorist attack, although I had a pretty positive feeling it was. We watched videos being posted of people running away from the building, shattered glass, dust flying everywhere. All of this was happening a 20 minute train ride away. At the initial moment, I didn't know what to think. Should I call my mom? Should I contact my school? It was 4 a.m. back home, and I didn't want to freak my family out with a text message. After a couple minutes, I decided contacting them would ultimately be best.

After getting dressed, I headed downstairs where all my housemates and I gathered around the TV to watch reports coming in from CNN. It's difficult for me to put into words how surreal of a time this was. Knowing all of this was happening so close by was not comforting, and hearing confirmations that it was a terrorist attack did not make me feel any better. Everyone around me was keeping fairly quiet, and it was at this point that I started receiving text messages back from my mom. Props to her, because she handled the situation extremely well. Being a parent, I could understand the extreme concerns one will have when your child is halfway across the world, but we talked for awhile and I assured her that I was safe in Leuven.

From here, we ended up going to our library to study and get some work done with a couple of Belgians. I couldn't get too much accomplished though, due to friends and family that were starting to contact me to make sure I was okay. I am extremely thankful to have been in Leuven when these attacks occurred - and for those who checked in with me. Not only did I first fly into Brussels International Airport upon arriving in Belgium, but I have visited the city multiple times, and I can't imagine being there when these attacks took place.

One of the girls in my house ended up being at the airport when the bombings took place that morning, and thankfully came out unharmed. I had the chance to talk to her the next day, and she told me all about her experience. She explained that at the time of the bombings, she was already past security, so she wasn't in the check-in area when they occurred. At the time, she was about to grab food before heading down to her terminal, when she said it sounded like there was construction happening (and that's what many of those around her first believed). She said the ceiling shook at first and then things started falling from above along with a lot of dust. At the time, she didn't know what to do and started crying, and described that many of those around her were fairly calm. They eventually evacuated everyone outside on the airport runway, where they had shuttles taking people out of the area. I can't imagine how traumatizing that experience must have been, and everyone in my house is so grateful she made it home safely.

I think one of the strangest things I observed that day was how normal things were operating in my town. Besides the fact that no trains were coming in or out of Brussels, restaurants operated normally, my school still had class (although my professors cancelled theirs), and people were going about their daily lives. It felt weird for me to be doing the same thing when 20 minutes away this tragedy was taking place.

The next day, a moment of silence was held at noon for the victims of the attacks all across Belgium, including in the big square of Leuven. While I couldn't attend myself, I was able to see the beautiful candles, flowers, and art that was displayed later on in remembrance of those who lost their lives. If there is anything positive I can take out of this difficult time, it is getting to play a role in the solidarity and unity this country has. It was a powerful and emotional moment to see how my town came together.

I've had a couple ask if I'm coming home or what my plans are next. Honestly -- I didn't even think about coming home even after these attacks happened. I love this place too much, and I truly feel safe in the city where I am located. If anything, these events were a sad reminder that I need to remain aware and smart about what I do going into the future. Studying abroad has been a dream of mine for so long, and I can't imagine giving this up. To my friends and family - just know that I am being as safe and precautionary as possible (and I will be home before you know it!)

Keep this country and the people in your thoughts and prayers. My heart goes out to those affected by these horrific bombings, and I can only hope for a day when peace will prevail over everyone.

There's Nothing Like a Sunday Stroll

Week 7 has come and gone. I am almost done with month 2 of study abroad and each day I am discovering little parts of Leuven I never knew existed before. I love my free days where I can just wander and explore the town. Today, I ventured out to Abdij Van Park (Dutch for "Parc Abbey"), just outside the city in the Belgian countryside. It was an easy and quick 20 minute walk from my house, and boy was I so thankful I decided to spend a Sunday stroll here.

The parc was built on the grounds of an abbey that was established in 1080. After doing some research on the area, I discovered that it went through many changes and developments - the church standing there today wasn't installed until the 18th century. Back home in Indiana, I love visiting Ritchey Woods - a little nature preserve about a 10 minute drive from my house. I think Abdij Van Park will definitely take it's place until I return in the summer. 

I had no destination set in stone, so I spent much of my time exploring different paths. Everyone was walking their dogs, spending time with family, riding bikes, or going on runs. It's days like today that make me so thankful I chose to study in Leuven. Sure it would've been great to study in the South of France or in the U.K. - somewhere where you always have the hustle and bustle of the city, but Leuven just makes this experience so much more authentic. 

I feel like I'm truly living life like a European. I can experience both the peaceful moments and crazy moments. I never have to take a metro to get anywhere and yet I can still explore all parts of the city. If I want to take part in the nightlife, I walk 10 minutes down the street. If I want to go for a run in the countryside, I turn right out my door and take the sidewalk out of the city. This place just feels like home. Knowing all of these special moments I've had with Leuven is going to make it that much harder to leave come June.  

Yesterday also included a visit to a market that we came across close to the town hall. It was so cute and full of fresh produce and flowers to purchase as well. This week I'm trying something new and making avocado chicken bombs for dinner, so I ended up buying 2 avocados as well as a fresh bouquet of tulips from a stand that brings in flowers from the Netherlands to brighten up the room.  

Besides this, classes are interesting. We made a trip to Antwerp on Friday because our art class was supposed to meet at the Rubenshuis for a field trip. We waited an hour for our professor to show up (which he never did) - so a few classmates and I ended up just exploring the museum ourselves. I'm really glad we did, lots of neat paintings and architecture to discover. 

Below I'm attaching a few random pictures from the week. This is our last week before our 2 week Easter Break. During our vacation, we are venturing to Spain and Ireland - so I will be sure to keep the blog updated with the new adventures that come!

J-House Hotel Party - The residence I'm living in does one of these each semester where each room prepares a snack/drink/game to play so everyone can see each others rooms and get to know one another.

Selfie Stick always coming in clutch.

Until next time.....! 

Dinant, You Didn't Disappoint

In my free time here, I've started to read lots of travel blogs to gain new insights and inspiration when it comes to exploring Europe. In doing so, I've come across multiple individuals who have put Belgium high up on their list of some of their favorite places they've visited. And now I can understand why.

If you ever have plans of traveling to Europe anytime soon, please put this little country on your list! While you've got to visit Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent, there are so many precious towns and cities to explore (and it isn't expensive to get to many places!) In working a little research magic, I came across the wonderful town of Dinant. An easy day trip from Leuven, we came for the gorgeous views and to climb the citadel that overlooks the town. 

Getting to your destination is just as much of an adventure as it is once you arrive. I've learned this very quickly. Upon arriving at the train station, I stopped by Panos for a Nutella croissant (something to indulge in when traveling) and got comfortable sitting on the train. I kicked back with my feet resting on the seat across from me. 10-15 minutes pass by, and the conductor comes through to check tickets. Once he arrived to me, I have never heard someone yell so much French. Lesson learned, but apparently you can get fined 25 euros for each FOOT you have rested on the chairs across from you. I pulled off the confused and scared little American card nicely, and thankfully didn't get fined. 

The farther south we traveled, the more French I was hearing. Dinant is located in the Southern half of Belgium -- and everyone speaks the language! I love it. 2 hours later, we pulled into town, with no plans set in stone.

After walking down the street, we turned a corner to this view.

Just stunning. See that huge rock behind the town with the wall? That was the citadel we climbed. Somehow I had this brilliant idea I should get back into running and ran 3 miles the day before. It's safe to say my legs were definitely not happy with my decision to take 300 something stairs up to the top.

But the view was so worth it. The original citadel (no longer intact) was originally built in 1051. The one we climbed today? Built in 1815. (Sorry mom for the following photos!!) but we stood up on the ledge to completely take in views of the city. Don't worry, it was extremely large, and we weren't the only ones doing it. Was it scary? A bit. But it was so exhilarating to just stand up on this wall, looking out over this tiny Belgian town and the beautiful countryside. One of those moments I will surely never forget. 

I'm on top of the world, HEY!

I even got to practice some French at a nearby restaurant where we grabbed some lunch. Dinant, you treated us so well. I can't wait to discover more hidden gems in Belgium while I still have time.

The Grand Béguinage // Groot Begijnhof van Leuven

Today was a dream ... in more ways than one. Not only was it 55 degrees and sunny (a rarity for Belgium), but I spent my afternoon exploring the most absolute beautiful place in Leuven. The Grand Béguinage is a completely restored historical neighborhood in the southern part of the city that is now owned by my university and houses students and professors alike. But the neat part about it all is the history about this place. The Beguinage was built in the 13th century - yes, you heard me. It's that old. And so romantic. And so peaceful. And so serene. I just want to spend all of my afternoons here.

Back in the day (900 years ago), this place was a community for unmarried, religious women. I caught myself saying multiple times, "Is this real? Am I actually walking through something as beautiful as this?" This is what I love about travel. Sure, you can go to the big cities like Paris, London, or Amsterdam and experience huge monuments, massive museums, and touristy places and have a good time. But how neat is it that this world is full of millions of little cities and towns full of hidden gems like Leuven?

Discovering this place was surreal as well. Leuven is a fairly big city full of busy streets, bike riders everywhere you look, plenty of apartments, restaurants, academic buildings. Soon after I turned a corner, things got quiet and the next thing I knew I was walking down a cobblestone path that led me to this quaint and quiet neighborhood. Barely any souls around, I could take in the sights and just completely lose myself in the moment.

I was immediately reminded of 2 movies: 1. The Holiday with Cameron Diaz. You remember when she goes on vacation and stays at that adorable cottage in the British countryside? This place was the Belgian equivalent. and 2. Harry Potter - Privet Drive. So many matching homes, it felt like I was in Surrey. Enjoy some of my favorite moments snapped below.

Thank you, Belgium

As of last Tuesday, I have been here for one month.

what.
what.
WHAT.

Time is flying by so fast. As much as I can't wait to see my family and friends when I get home, I don't want to leave. With everything I've done in the past month, I can only imagine what the next four will bring.

This being said, study abroad isn't all glamour and travels. There are tough days, days where you wish you could walk down the hall to your mom's room and talk to her about the challenges you're having. Days where you don't want to go to that boring class. Days where you just want to snuggle in bed all day. And that doesn't always happen necessarily.

But you push through regardless. Belgium has already given me plenty of opportunities to grow as an individual, and for that I am so thankful. I would say in general I am a pretty independent person, but this country has brought my independence to a whole new level. They say when you go off to college, you learn how to live on your own, how to manage your time, etc. But this place is different.

After going from a schedule at Hanover where I'm busy from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm at night to a schedule in Leuven where I don't have to be awake before noon only to be busy for 2-3 hours a day, accountability means something different. It means forcing yourself to do your school work, to make time for friends, to travel, and to find time for yourself.

I'm learning to find a balance between relaxation and productivity. I have more time to enjoy the things I don't get to at Hanover. If I want to take a break from homework to go take a walk outside, I can do that. (Let me tell you, there are some beautiful places to walk here). I'm learning how to do it all.

With this, I am looking forward to warmer days and the adventures that come with them. Meanwhile, we spent a chilly weekend in Belgium with one of Izzy's friends who was visiting from her study abroad experience in Italy. It was tons of fun, we ended up going to Brussels for the afternoon and showed her around Leuven which was lovely. Enjoy several pictures below:

Views from "Mont des Arts".

Belgian fries with "sauce Americaine" - still no clue what it was. I can't seem to get on the bandwagon with the mayo obsession here. 

Still on track with my waffle goal.

Tropismes - the coolest bookstore fit for royalty.

The Grand Place of Brussels.

Phi Mu love from across the pond. 

I will forever obsess of Kasteel van Arenberg. It is so serene and calming here. I almost forget I'm in Belgium when I visit. It feels like walking through the grounds of a peaceful Irish manor.

Happy Sunday friends - until next time.

Youda Best, Budapest (Part Two)

Here goes **Part Two** of my adventures in Budapest. I'm still in awe of how much we accomplished in such a short period -- but we had the best time and I couldn't have asked for a better experience (get ready for LOTS of pictures).

DAY TWO:
After getting plenty of rest, we woke up to grab breakfast before heading off on the day's adventures. We grabbed food at this place called Cserpes Tejivó, a little breakfast/brunch place to fuel up. One of the great things about Budapest? It's cheap. They do use a different currency there, the forint, although Hungary is a member of the EU. Their bills are measured in thousands, so for a typical dinner, you may pay 2500-3000 forints (around 8-10 euros). Our breakfast ended up costing 470 forints - so basically 1.50 in euros. And look at how great it was!

After getting my chocolate fix, it was off to Buda Castle. We hadn't ventured to the Buda side of Budapest, but the castle is perched on the top of this plateau that overlooks the city - well worth the visit. Traveling tip - pay for public transportation and the bus will take you all the way to the top of the plateau so you don't have to climb it or pay 10 euros to have a trolley bring you.

The views were absolutely stunning. You get this gorgeous look of the Danube River, you see the bridges connecting the two sides of the city, and there is a fantastic view of Hungarian Parliament (a must!) It's one thing to walk by that building, but you must travel to the Buda side of town in order to see a complete view of the building in all its glory. A mini photo shoot also ensued, so enjoy some of my favorites below.

After taking in some beautiful views, we grabbed lunch and then headed back down the hill. If you take some time to walk around the top of Buda, you'll get some great views of the mountains I mentioned behind the city - you can see little towns spread throughout and it's just stunning.

Once we took a bit of a breather at our hostel, we decided to go to this pub that Annelien loves to visit when she comes here. We were a bit concerned we wouldn't be able to go, as it was Sunday and everything is closed then in Europe - but the place was open and boy was I glad it was.

If you ever go to Budapest - stop by For Sale Pub. While it does have a bit of a Texas Roadhouse vibe (peanuts to eat at every table, shells and hay scattered across the floor), what people go for are the notes spread all throughout. Thousands hang from the walls and ceilings, written by people from all over the world who have visited. Of course we had to make our mark, so we grabbed one of the coasters and placed ours on a wall. Hopefully one day I can come back to find it.

Leaving our mark in Budapest. 

For dinner, we were craving pasta, so that's exactly what we went and got. With our bellies full of Italian, day two was a wrap.

DAY THREE:
Again, we slept in and enjoyed the morning. We grabbed a late breakfast at a place called Friccolla - all fresh ingredients, organic foods, extremely healthy (think of those trendy places in big cities that sell those green juices with ingredients you've never heard of it). I had a great sandwich on ciabatta bread with ham, mozzarella, and sun dried tomatoes which satisfied my morning hunger.

Once we finished eating, we stopped by a mall so Annelien and Izzy could do a bit of shopping. Like I said, Budapest is really cheap -- so if you're looking to shop, this is the place to go. Later on we took the metro to Annelien's neighborhood where she lived when she studied abroad here. The building she lived in was beautiful. While I can jazz up this city as much as possible through these posts - parts of it were saddening.

Budapest has lots of old buildings with beautiful detailing/architecture/etc., but many of them are deteriorating because no one is refurbishing them. Who knows why they aren't being cleaned up, but you could see paint chipping off many of the buildings, exposed brick, and rusted walls slowly falling apart. It was a beautiful tragedy - the city is so old, but no one is doing anything to fix them up.

Annelien at the metro stop in her neighborhood

At the end of her street - you come across Hero Square. Used to commemorate the Seven Chieftains of the Seven Magyars, it includes the tomb of the unknown soldier (also a place where many political demonstrations have taken place). After walking around for a bit, we stopped for food and then relaxed again before the final stops on our Hungarian explorations.

I don't know if it was fate or just a stroke of luck, but our hostel ended up being 3 minutes away from a cat cafe! It was the greatest thing. If you aren't aware of how these work, they're basically cafes where you can drink your cup of coffee while playing with kitties at the same time. So, I ordered my cat-puccino and did exactly that. So fun! I just wish there was one at home for me to go to. Makes me miss my cats even more.

One cat-puccino please!

Two more stops were to be made on this trip. First, we tried Kürtóskalács, a delicacy first made in the Hungarian-speaking parts of Romania for festivals that is now eaten on the reg. They describe it as a "spit cake" made with a sweet yeast. You can get it with different toppings (I went with chocolate because duh!). Very different, but yummy.

Our last stop: Szimpla Kert. They call them "ruin pubs" where you can eat/drink and socialize. They completely take over these old buildings and factories that are practically falling apart and refurbish them into restaurants. So cool and very funky. Originally, we were searching for a rooftop restaurant that would overlook the city, but we determined it would still be a bit too cold to do so.

All in all, Budapest treated us so well. As for my next couple weeks, I will be spending time getting to know my area a bit better. No major travels until our spring break hopefully. On my list for now? Visiting Lille, France (just a train ride away), possibly Luxembourg, as well as the tulip fields in the Netherlands once the weather gets a bit warmer. Soaking in every moment has been key, but I can't wait to see what new adventures Belgium brings me!