"Welkom op mijn leven in België"

Welcome to my life in Leuven.

The time has come and I am finally here in Belgium! This has been in the works for quite some time. Growing up, I knew I wanted to spend a semester abroad, I simply had no clue where I would end up. Upon arriving on Hanover's campus, I discovered the "Programme in European Culture and Society" or "PECS" as we like to call it here and instantly knew this was where I wanted to be.

So. After piles of paperwork, sending visa forms across the country and back, and booking flights , I am here! Exhaustion would be an understatement to describe how tired I was after arriving in Leuven. Thankfully, no luggage was lost and taking the train was simple from the Brussels airport. Like the previous two times I've landed in Europe, my heart skips a beat gazing out the plane window as the clouds disperse to reveal the first glances of the European countryside.

First impressions of Belgium? It's extremely green and lush... and it rains almost as much as it does in the United Kingdom (who knew?) Nevertheless, I am so happy to be here. My main concern upon arrival was figuring out how to carry my two suitcases across an airport, onto a train, and throughout Leuven before reaching our dorm, but somehow I did it without breaking any of the wheels off my suitcase (no repeats of France here!)

Izzy and I are living in a dorm/house named "Junior House". It's located on a quiet street quite close to the train station. It's also only a 5-10 minute walk from the city center and it is absolutely beautiful. We lucked out, as our dorm is pretty large and we are one of the only rooms with a balcony. Yes, you heard me - a balcony! It's so lovely getting to open our door each morning to stand outside, breathing in the fresh air. It's the little things, my friends.

The view from our balcony.

"J-House or Junior House", our home for the next 5 months. 

While our first day mainly included rest and unpacking, we did explore a bit of Leuven on Tuesday. Izzy has a Belgian buddy, Annelien, who ended up showing us around. We all had so much fun together, and even got to taste our first bites of Belgian chocolate at one of her favorite chocolate bars in the city. I love this place. While I'm still learning my way around, the town really isn't too difficult to navigate. As long as you can make it to the city center, you are basically good to go. This week alone, I have walked over 25 miles. I am also learning how to cook my own meals (and that in itself is an adventure.)

Thursday included an afternoon in Brussels. Izzy and I both bought cheap train tickets and went into the city to explore. While the main goal was to get her money exchanged, we ended up seeing a lot more than planned. Unfortunately, it was extremely rainy and a bit windy, so trying to enjoy the views of the Royal Palace of Brussels was a bit of a bust. But, I know I will be back. 

By the time it stopped raining, we made our way to "Grote Markt" or the "Grand Place", which is surrounded by ornate buildings covered in gold and beautiful architecture. It was absolutely breathtaking. Through doing some research, I learned that this place housed the original town hall of Brussels and has buildings dating back to the 14th century. How amazing is that? This is why I love travel. The idea of being transported back in time, imagining all of the history that took place in these breathtaking spots is just magical. 

Grote Markt, the Grand Place of Brussels. 

Some of the guild houses covered in gold.

Our last stop for the day was at Maison Dandoy for some Belgian waffles. Started in 1829, they had a tea room upstairs where you could enjoy a warm drink and a waffle of your choice. Of course, I went for the one covered in chocolate (pourquoi pas?). The atmosphere was perfect. We sat by a window that overlooked a busy street and got to enjoy the pure bliss that is Brussels in the rain. 

Making Leslie Knope proud.

All in all, a fantastic first week. Tomorrow is our daytrip to Antwerp and then classes start Monday! I can't wait to continue making this city my home, signing up for classes that I love, and to continue meeting new and wonderful people.