Once an American...

Since I've been here, I've found that some of my little mannerisms, sayings, and overall habits have changed. I wear scarves almost every day as an accessory, am an expert on taking public transport, dress up to go anywhere (back at Luther, this time of year was when I would wear a sweatshirt and jeans 5 days of the week), and say things like "I quite like that last bit" or "Hannah, that's brilliant!" or "You've made me quite cross" (the last one least often than the rest). I haven't driven a car, watched TV, been to a movie theater, or eaten a cheeseburger in the last 2 and a half months. I am used to paying between 2-3 euro for a cup of nonrefillable coffee/water/pop, constantly watching where I'm walking for fear of what I might step into (have I mentioned that dog owners don't pick up after their dogs?), and not being able to eavesdrop on conversations or understand what most things are on a menu. And while on some level, I am grateful for all of these things, because they mean I'm in Europe and am starting to feel more like a "European," after this weekend, I realize now more than ever that deep down I will always be an American. One of my friends from back home who is living in the UK right now came to visit, and we found ourselves reminiscing about what we miss about home and some of the first things we would do when we come back. My list of what I miss about the States includes the following:
-Singing in the car
-Knowing exactly where I can go to buy items like a tablecloth, hammer, or camera battery and needing only a 5-10 minute drive to get there
-Cozying up in front of the TV for an episode of one of my favorite shows
-Renting a movie for longer than one night
-Wendy's dollar menu
-Skim milk
-Not feeling guilty for speaking English
-Coffee-to-go
-Service with a smile (it's taken me a while to grasp that the customer is NOT always right in Brussels)
-Common courtesy. The phrase "No, after you" (even in French) will never be heard here.
-Not feeling weary about telling people where I come from (the reactions have not always been positive...a little different from last year)
-Huge, greasy breakfasts

Yet even with all of these, I would never change my mind about my decision to come here. This experience has been one of the greatest things I've ever had, and it's still only the beginning. I love Europe and adopting some European habits, but I will always be an American, and love to be American, even when I do find things with which I don't always agree. It's dependable, and it's my home.



PS: And what I miss the most, by far, is my wonderful family. Thanks for being such avid readers. I love you.

Never knew I could feel like this...

...about a city.

I don't know why I still find myself surprised that one city can be so amazing. Although it was sad to see Megan off, it was good to just be contained in the city this weekend and relax. The highlight of my weekend was Sunday. We had a beautiful, sunny day and I spent much of it outside, browsing our town's market and walking through my favorite park. I went with another intern, brought a blanket, and just sat down in the grass to soak in the sun and sites. I ended the day by going out to eat with some other Luther alum who work at the school and one of our professors, Jim Langholz, who is visiting Brussels this week. We went to what is, apparently, a famous seafood restaurant where I had my first mussels experience. Results: loved it! Could be because they were smothered in cheese and herbs, but I loved them nonetheless. Now I can officially say I've had "Mussels in Brussels," because if it rhymes than it must be great, right?

Turning 23...London style

23...it just sounds so much older than 22. The first time I had to actually say my new age was Sunday on the tube in London when we met another American who asked what we had done the night before. I told him I celebrated my birthday. And when he asked how old I turned, I took an extended pause as I had to actually think about my response, "23."

London turned out to be relaxing and beautiful. We spent the day Saturday walking through Portabello Market and along the River Thames and then spent the evening going out to eat, watching the musical Wicked, and going out to a few of London's pubs. The highlight of my entire weekend was the musical performance of Wicked. The musical would have been wonderful on its own, but we were lucky enough to be in the presence of Idina Menzel who played the original "Wicked Witch" when Wicked came to broadway. It is her voice you hear on the soundtrack and her voice which contributed to Wicked's undeniable success. I found myself crying, laughing, putting my hands up to my face, and just altogether in disbelief that I was so fortunate to see her perform.

Sunday was spent doing more walking, watching a 10k race between North and South London in Hyde Park, and shopping near and in Harrod's, the shopping landmark of London (made up of clothing and accessories by the world's most renowned designers). I made one purchase in Harrod's (granted it was lipstick) but felt just a glimpse of glamour walking through the streets carrying my Harrod's bag. Ooh la la!

Altogether another great European getaway. I'm think I'll be taking it easy on the traveling for the next couple weeks, as fall break is just two and a half short weeks away when I will be traveling around Eastern Europe and I will need some down time to be refreshed!

On a less happy note, my dear friend and travel companion, Megan, will be headed back to the States this weekend as it will be the end of her student teaching practicum. I'm going to miss her terribly but am just so glad she got to be here at all.

Until next time...
Cheers.

Top 11 Things to do in Dublin

Our own version
by: Megan, Chelsea, and Tori

11. Stick to taking on the city by foot (when time and distance allow).

10. Find a reliable tour guide to lead you through Trinity College. Only those who use umbrellas as their leading sticks are acceptable.

9. Choose your favorite Guinness advertisement before taking the tour.

8. Visit the Globetrotters Hostel, if not to stay, then to enjoy their delicious breakfasts.

7. Sample a cafe vienna or mocha at the Joy of Coffee in Temple Bar.

6. Sample the market's fair trade coffee while listening to the guitarist who plays in the alley off of the market center near Temple Bar.

5. Ask a native Dublinite to tell you a joke (only do this if you have at least 30 minutes to listen to it).

4. Keep a log of all of the witty and absurd names of stores, restaurants and pubs. (See: Knobs and Knockers, Hickey's, Hairy Legs, Abrakababra, etc...)

3. Drink a Guinness from the Gravity Bar on the top floor of the factory.

2. Enjoy traditional Irish cuisine at the Quay in Temple Bar.

1. Spend all of your evenings at The Celt, listening to whichever amazing live Irish band happens to be there. Don't forget to practice your Irish jig!

Getting there is supposed to be half the fun...

Perhaps.
Or just the most stressful.
Probably both.

This weekend Megan and I visited Dublin with another one of our friends who was traveling from Antwerp. In order to get to Dublin, one must take several modes of transportation from Brussels before reaching the final destination. From our house we must first take the tram to the metro stop, take the metro to the train station, take the bus from the train station to the airport, and then fly from the airport to Dublin. Our flight was leaving at 7:20 on Friday evening. I thought if we gave ourselves three hours to get there, we would have plenty of time to arrive before the "strictly 40 minutes" before departure time. I was mistaken.
We left our apartment at 4:40, laughing merrily and agreeing that it was quite good for the two of us to leave within 15 minutes of our anticipated departure time. We arrived at the tram stop five minutes later. While we were waiting at the stop, we ran into two other teachers from ISB, Norah and Niall, who were on their way to the city. And this is where the adventure begins...

Norah: So where are you girls headed?
Tori and Megan: (grinning) Dublin!
Norah: Wow, that's great! So how are you getting there?
Tori: We're taking the metro to Midi (the train station) and then catching the bus there.
Niall: Oh great. So do you know what time your bus leaves from Midi to the airport?
Pause. Megan and Tori glance at each other.
Tori and Megan: No?
Norah: Oh. Well they don't leave too often, you know. Like once every hour?
Tori and Megan: Oh...really?
Niall: But you should be fine. What time does your flight leave?
Megan: 7:20.
Niall: Oh...(steals a quick glance at Norah who is grimacing). Um...yeah...you should be okay.

We arrive at the metro stop at 4:55. Niall and Norah get on the same metro as us and do their best to ease our fears. Norah tells us she thought that the bus left two hours before a flight leaves, which would put the bus departure time at 5:20. Generally, it takes at least 30 minutes to get to Midi from our metro stop. This is when the panic starts to kick in.

Norah: Really, girls. You should be fine. Do you know where to catch the buses at Midi?
Pause. Megan and Tori glance at each other.
Megan and Tori: No...
Norah: Oh. Well, here, let me draw you a map.
Niall: Or better yet, just let us go there with you and show you the way. We're really in no hurry.

Megan and I gladly accept their offer. We have to make one transfer on the metro onto the metro that would take us to the train station. We jump off the first metro, and the four of us sprint to where we would be transferring, only to find that about 100 other people are waiting for the same metro. The metro pulls up shortly after we arrive. We do our best to beat the herd of people, and I think for a minute we had made it when Megan starts stepping into the metro, until the doors start shutting on her. Norah leaps forward and wraps her arms around Megan's waist to pull her back out of the metro. Once Megan's body is out of the doorway, the metro doors shut all the way, but latch on to Megan's flip flop, pulling it off her foot, and leaving it sticking out of the door. With the reflexes only a kindergarden teacher could possess, Norah leaps forward again to pull the flip flop out of the door before the metro takes off with it in its doors. She pulls it out, falls on the ground, and holds up the flip flop in victory. We only have a brief moment to celebrate, as the next metro arrives a short three minutes later.
We take the second metro with little commotion to Midi, arriving at exactly 5:30. The four of us push our way out of the metro, and proceed to sprint through the entirety of Midi towards the bus, the only mode of transportation left between us and our airplane. We arrive at the bus stop at 5:40 and ask the nearest man to us when the next bus was arriving. "6:00," he replies. We breath a sigh of relief. If the bus only took 45 minutes to get to the airport, that would leave us with 35 minutes before our plane departed. The man to whom we spoke assures us that he arrived at this airport with 15 minutes before his departure and they still let him on. Megan and I, still trying to catch our breath, smile at each other, relieved by our first "break." Norah and Niall leave us at this point, wishing us well as we tried to find the words to thank them for literally saving our trip.
Sure enough, the bus to the airport arrives within minutes, and we board almost immediately. I look at my watch. It's 5:47. "Wow," I say to Megan. "Maybe we'll even get to leave early!" The following is a time-tracked excerpt of my thoughts while sitting on the bus:
6:00-Still parked. Okay, time to leave!
6:01-Still parked. Maybe there are still some people waiting outside.
6:02-Still parked. Maybe my clock is fast.
6:03-Still parked. Why is the driver getting out of the bus?
6:03:30-Still parked. Why is the driver getting into his car?
6:05- Still parked. Okay, the bus driver is getting back in.
6:05:30-Still parked. The driver reaches down...(to put the bus in gear???)...and lifts up...is that...the cash box? Why is he counting the money now?!
6:06: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!
6:07: Megan and I begin to pray.
6:08. I lose the ability to think.
6:09: We're off!

We arrive at the airport at 6:54, 26 minutes before our flight was due to take off. We sprint through the airport, Megan almost knocks over a child, and arrive at the check-in counter praying that the woman behind the counter had been waiting all day to fulfill her good deed of the day. Still gasping for breath, I ask the woman behind the counter, "Can we still go to Dublin??" The woman replies with an emotionless "Yeah."
She fiddles around on the computer.

Megan and I are holding our breath...

"Your flight is two hours delayed. You are both very lucky."

It took a few seconds for it to sink in. You mean I almost had a self-induced panic attack for nothing? I guess more than anything, I was just relieved we hadn't spent the 100 euro it would have cost to take a taxi.

Lesson learned: Memorize all tram/metro/train/bus schedules before thinking you know how long it will take to get somewhere.

Dublin was amazing. Not exactly what I had been picturing, and it rained nonstop, and our hostel smelled like rotten body odered clothes, but with a few glasses of Guinness, live Irish music, authentic Irish food, delicious coffee and great company, I realized all the "stress" felt before was completely worth it.

I will post pictures in my next blog.
Cheers.