Bonjour mes amis!
Here I am, in the south of france, using a french keyboard. crazytasic. I'm going to try to write down some of the things i've done so i can relax later. here goes :)
Let's start with places I've been:
Brussels
Blankenberge
Lourdes
Paris (in two days)
Feelings:
It was really strange to be in brussels with my bro and sis. I will remember to my dying day the pervading sense of calm there was in the square while we drank our cappuccinos. The sun was shining on the rustic buildings, making patterns on the cobblestone road with the fallen leaves. The trees are turning yellow, their wide round branches like a golden marzipan ball. The streets are crowded with people going to the open market, but everything is quiet. I can hear the man down the street on his guitar. It's crazy, being surrounded by so many people who look like me. They have my cheeks, my eyes, my fashion sense. It is comforting to realize that my particular brand of style actually does come from somewhere. That's right, style is genetic. Anyway, all of the pieces came together in a whole that made me feel at home. Right down to my bones. I noticed then that for the first time in a long while, I wasn't hurting or sad. I was able to just be.
Blankenberga was strange because almost the entire side of my mom's family was there. I realized that all of my quirks and my ideas on social interaction that I thought made me wierd COME from somewhere! I was not afriad to speak, people listened to me, and even though we had a language barrier we understood each other. I suppose it is the same in every family, but it helped me to realize that all of the things I've been trying to fix in me are normal, not wrong. Just different. All the way down to my speech pattern. It was overwhelming. I think I will try from now on to be content as I am.
Lourdes is surreal. It's exactly how I pictured it from the old movies. Well... maybe with some commercialism mixed in... I have for the most part been agitated because the people below me in the hotel wake up altogether to early in the morning and i haven't been sleeping well because of it. But, that's for later.
Lodging:
In Brussels; we stayed in the NH hotel called Atlanta. My room was very small, but the bed was large and comfy, there was central heating and air, and when I opened my curtains I was rewarded with a view of the city.
Blankenberge marks the beginning of the distant family trip. The interest here was in saving money. This is a coastal town and a holiday spot for Belgians. My room was room six, at the top of seventy five stairs (which my cousin wendy aptly commented that you would be sober by the time you reached your bed). The apartments are owned by an accomadating woman named odette, who bought the place with her husband who died soon after. The place still needs some fixing up but she has no one to help her do it now. She was an extremly hospitable host. My room was one of two with a private bath. I also had a steam heater, and a great view of the church next to the building. It was pleasant to sleep with the windows open.
Here in Lourdes, we have three apartments. Normally visitors are required to bring their own sheets and towels. There is no heating or air, but there is a nice sitting room and my parents room has a kitchen. There is a garden outside with pumpkins and roses and kittens. I like it, except the walls are too thin. I needs my sleep!
Major markers:
belgium is known for several things: Waffles, chocolate, fries, beer, Monica Pis (sp), the grqnde plaz, and comic books. I think i'll expand on each of these later.
Lourdes is known for the miracle of the apparitions of St. Bernadette. I think I'm done for today. If you're curious what i'm up to, check out bernadette.
Ciao for now!
Let's start with places I've been:
Brussels
Blankenberge
Lourdes
Paris (in two days)
Feelings:
It was really strange to be in brussels with my bro and sis. I will remember to my dying day the pervading sense of calm there was in the square while we drank our cappuccinos. The sun was shining on the rustic buildings, making patterns on the cobblestone road with the fallen leaves. The trees are turning yellow, their wide round branches like a golden marzipan ball. The streets are crowded with people going to the open market, but everything is quiet. I can hear the man down the street on his guitar. It's crazy, being surrounded by so many people who look like me. They have my cheeks, my eyes, my fashion sense. It is comforting to realize that my particular brand of style actually does come from somewhere. That's right, style is genetic. Anyway, all of the pieces came together in a whole that made me feel at home. Right down to my bones. I noticed then that for the first time in a long while, I wasn't hurting or sad. I was able to just be.
Blankenberga was strange because almost the entire side of my mom's family was there. I realized that all of my quirks and my ideas on social interaction that I thought made me wierd COME from somewhere! I was not afriad to speak, people listened to me, and even though we had a language barrier we understood each other. I suppose it is the same in every family, but it helped me to realize that all of the things I've been trying to fix in me are normal, not wrong. Just different. All the way down to my speech pattern. It was overwhelming. I think I will try from now on to be content as I am.
Lourdes is surreal. It's exactly how I pictured it from the old movies. Well... maybe with some commercialism mixed in... I have for the most part been agitated because the people below me in the hotel wake up altogether to early in the morning and i haven't been sleeping well because of it. But, that's for later.
Lodging:
In Brussels; we stayed in the NH hotel called Atlanta. My room was very small, but the bed was large and comfy, there was central heating and air, and when I opened my curtains I was rewarded with a view of the city.
Blankenberge marks the beginning of the distant family trip. The interest here was in saving money. This is a coastal town and a holiday spot for Belgians. My room was room six, at the top of seventy five stairs (which my cousin wendy aptly commented that you would be sober by the time you reached your bed). The apartments are owned by an accomadating woman named odette, who bought the place with her husband who died soon after. The place still needs some fixing up but she has no one to help her do it now. She was an extremly hospitable host. My room was one of two with a private bath. I also had a steam heater, and a great view of the church next to the building. It was pleasant to sleep with the windows open.
Here in Lourdes, we have three apartments. Normally visitors are required to bring their own sheets and towels. There is no heating or air, but there is a nice sitting room and my parents room has a kitchen. There is a garden outside with pumpkins and roses and kittens. I like it, except the walls are too thin. I needs my sleep!
Major markers:
belgium is known for several things: Waffles, chocolate, fries, beer, Monica Pis (sp), the grqnde plaz, and comic books. I think i'll expand on each of these later.
Lourdes is known for the miracle of the apparitions of St. Bernadette. I think I'm done for today. If you're curious what i'm up to, check out bernadette.
Ciao for now!